MINI EVENT: SHINE ON

[sticksandbonesmods]

SHINE ON

!

WISHING LANTERNS

Approximately one week after the volcano game ends, a waning crescent rises over Aldric’s Grove. With it comes a rather comforting feeling of warmth and love, permeating the air like incense, and negative effects from everyone seem to disappear for the night, too — like Felicity’s bad luck aura, for example. No longer does the Grove feel foreboding, as if something awful could happen at any moment. For once, it almost feels like home — if you can get past the fact that, a week ago, you were stuck in a volcano. Despite this, you overall feel a bit happier, a bit lighter, like you could float away any second — metaphorically. You aren’t actually going to float away.

Other things, however, will. Namely, the thousands of lanterns that are filling the night sky, coming from both within the Grove itself and outside of it, beyond the inaccessible fog-wall keeping you all trapped within. They glow brightly in the dark as they rise into the skies, up and up and gone. More quickly replace them, and the Grove will remain lit-up like this throughout the night and into the following morning.

As you take in the sight, the Shopkeeper and Trader wave you over. There are several wooden tables set out, most of which contain a feast to be devoured — help yourself! — and one of which has supplies for making your own lanterns, or pre-constructed ones if that isn’t your forte, alongside candles and markers. "Write a wish on the lantern, light the candle, and release it into the sky," the Trader instructs, "one day, it might be granted."

!

LITTLE GUYS

An hour into nightfall, small animals rush into the Grove from beyond the fog wall, bringing with them various objects in their little mouths. Some bring food foraged from the forest, such as mushrooms and fruits. Some bring fish from the river. Some are carrying items, and will seek out the owner of said item to plop it into their laps or hands or even directly into their pockets. Everybody will receive one small (no larger than your hand), non-magical, sentimental object from home from the animals.

They’ll stick around to play, too. Some of them might even try to run the Shopkeeper and Trader’s stalls, since those two are so busy. Others can be found doing basic chores around the Grove, like picking up debris and other garbage and throwing them away. The animals don’t entirely understand what is trash and what isn’t, though — some might take your pen from your hand while you’re writing a wish and chuck it into the can. Not all of the animals will be calm company, either; the foxes in particular love to play games of "chase", and the moth-winged rodents like to bury themselves in people’s hair to keep warm. They will try to eat your food if you leave it unguarded.

As the dawn breaks and the sun rises, the lanterns in the sky all disappear, and the animals head back into the fog with cheerful yips and chirps. Should you choose to go back to your rooms, you’ll find something special waiting for you on your pillow.

!

OOC

Hello hi if you have not told us what your character would wish for yet, you are free to do so so that we may give you A Thing. Due to Caoimhe’s wish, everyone will get a glass-encased lotus flower, a symbol of hope, as well.

List of Granted Wishes (CLICK TO EXPAND!)

Fel: A framed photo of her cat with a pawprint "autograph" in the corner

Gnosis: A handwritten letter with familiar-looking calligraphy

Elsword: A robotics textbook with a note on it reading, "This isn’t FOR you. FIGURE IT OUT."

Chung: A nice blanket

Mizuki: A self-help book detailing how to make people happy

BB: A dress and the matching shoes and socks

Caoimhe: A book of fables, provided by the Shopkeeper when he realizes she didn’t wish for anything herself

Add: A small scroll of paper dropped into his hand by one of the little creatures- it looks as if something had tried to destroy it before it was retrieved. It reads, "Holiness can cure impurities." But nothing else remains

Toge: A plush panda. Size: A bit too big.

Irene: A tree branch reaches out to Irene and hands her a crumpled-up piece of paper reading "SECRET! GO TO UR ROOM :)" If she goes to her room, there's another crumpled-up piece of paper that says, "Secret!! I'm closer than you think! :)"

Rennuid:

Natsuno: A book titled How To Leave: Quitting the City and Coping with a New Reality, which has a sticky note on the inner cover reading "I don't think I can send you back alive since you're legally dead :O"

code

Comments

QUESTIONS

[sticksandbonesmods]

 

[amhran]

no question just... event is super cute... love it ty mod team!

[sticksandbonesmods]

WE HOPED U WOULD LOVE IT we're glad to hear it... we are still figuring stuff out as mods so feedback is good, ty <3

Re: QUESTIONS

[amethystic]

not a question but a declaration: fel is going to "ask" the forest to go in and she's coming out with a wild strawberry plant

[amethystic]

i. stray italian grayhound

( she's... finally willing to leave the house, after everything. her cardigan is too singed and burnt to wear, leaving her only in her skirt and tanktop. those, at least, she's been able to clean. bandages litter her legs, her back, her arms, her neck- even one on her cheek. she smells like a number of herbs, and exhaustion drips off of her like honey.

the lights are all too much, almost. and yet, she doesn't once go inside, instead sitting on a bench.

she wants to hold on to the aches- she harbors her pain like a magpie collects trinkets, even if she can smile easily and laugh and joke about. but for once, just this night... she lets go. )

... I wonder... who's making the lanterns outside of the grove?

ii. they're just liddol guys

( at one point, she means to lay down and stargaze a little. and then a- a fucking. fuzzy. moss. flying squirrel thing jumped right onto her stomach with as much force as its .5 pound body could muster, dropping something onto her lap. with a confused squeak, felicity sits up and the little thing just...straight up burrows into her hair while she's left to look at what it's given her.

...






oh.

sitting within her lap is a single book. it's- it's well loved, the spine having clear marks from many nights of late night reading, stickynotes and bookmarks and tabs poking through the pages, the scent of an old cherry-scented highlighter mixed with the aged paper and ink- felicity always truly loved the last unicorn, but this was the copy she'd kept with her all her life.

the little squirrel (it's not a squirrel) seems to chirp gently, pressing a nose against her cheek before burrowing further into her hair. )

iii. from one star to another

( there's a single framed photo of a beautiful, fluffy white cat with purple eyes and a single pawprint in the corner. felicity is laughing against her folded arms on the table, genuine and muffled only by herself. good talk- )

Picnic & Dancing Prompts

[mooninthewater]

( This is not a toplevel, rather just some more Options(tm) that Mizuki/Felicity have worked to put together! )

!

PICNIC

On top of the food provided for them, Mizuki and Felicity have both provided their own dishes, spread amongst spread out blankets and inside of baskets. Anything hot or not basket-worthy is placed lovingly on trays and... mildly guarded by Mizuki as well, who will pull at the small critters who try to steal some of the food. (He tries to offer them raw tentacle instead...)

As usual, any meat-dishes made by Mizuki looks like they just ooze something sinister in a way that it should probably be censored if this truly were a video game. And, more than half of his food are meat dishes, so have fun with that! Felicity's consist mostly of baked goods like pies and cakes, but one can also find apple drinks, fried fish, and other Southern-style comfort foods. As well as dozens of apple roses.

!

DANCING

Wanting morale to be high for this, Mizuki has also set up his phone and a wireless speaker from his collection of electronics and set them up somewhere convenient for everyone to enjoy music along with the lanterns and feast. The playlist he has on is something called "Normal Music To Play If Someone Hands Me An Aux Cord" (so do with that what you will).

Dancing isn't required, of course, but no one will stop you if you just so happen to find these jaunty little tunes to your liking. Or complain about it. Whichever, really!

[shineprism]

i. there was a title here but then chung saw a dog-

( this is the best day. things feel alright, and there's beatiful lanterns all over, and there is a fox and a dog and he has been playing fetch with the foxes and rusty since he stepped outside- it's 98% perfectly genuine joy. but there's part of him that's using it to ignore the letter stuck in his back pocket, the last letter his father left to him. as grateful as he is to have it, no one needs chung getting depressed over it.

at one point he throws a stick and- )

Oh no- Look out! Animals incoming!!

ii. maximum coze

( this chung has nothing to say. he is sitting contentedly with a brand new cozy blanket wrapped around him, warm and happy. he has apple cider and some food from the trader and shopkeeper and even mizuki and felicity's table- yes he's even trying the most dubious-looking fish he's ever seen in his life. currently he nibbles on an apple-rose, happy. )

... This is nice...

i

[simplicitas]

[Elsword is also out here playing with the animals... both his arms are bandaged up for Reasons, but they're still able to be moved, and that means throwing sticks and being shocked when Leon brings back what feels like a tiny log instead of a stick, what the fuck. You're a lion. Where did you get that.

Chung says "animals" and Elsword is half-expecting to be attacked. Which, he sort of is — the rodent-moth-things fly out of nowhere and attach themselves to Elsword's shoulders and hair and immediately begin trying to build a nest.

Oy.]

Re: i

[shineprism]

( chung is torn between wincing and giggling behind his hand, honestly. closing the distance, he gently reaches out for the rodent and tries to pry it back- )

Sorry, Elsword. We've been playing, but they're also very cuddly things, aren't they?

…and now for my real toplevel-

[mooninthewater]

I. Can you tell me where the hope has gone? (OTA)

[ Talk about some emotional whiplash. Were Mizuki a more empathetic individual, he might have even thought something so light-hearted and upbeat this soon would actually be difficult for people. Alas, he isn't, and he's giving into his need to constantly try and boost morale. He wants people to be happy. He wants his friends to not suffer.

But for the ones who didn't survive the horrible game? They're getting a hug. There's no if's or but's about it. (Elsword is also getting a hug.) (And anyone else who looks like they need it, honestly.) ]

II. Can you tell me where the love went wrong? (OTA)

[ Mizuki wonders if this taffy that the small critters have brought him is the same one he left out for Zahliya... It's probably not all that good by now? He'd be surprised if it weren't totally stale, actually.

He's not focused on that so much as he is on the small creature itself, picking it up by the scruff of it's neck and looking over it carefully. The smallest of hums as he really examines it to look for any sort of usual warnings before he simply asks the air: ] Are you... edible?

III. Do you remember what it sounds like? (OTA)

[ For a rare part of the event, one might see Mizuki being the very uncharacteristic wallflower. At least, uncharacteristic in that he's visible, as his wallflowering is usually done while in his camouflage. He seems… contemplative. Very deep in his own head as he scans the floor, thumb rubbing against the moon phases on his umbrella strap.

Some people were talking about how… negative effects seemed to have been turned off…? Does that mean… his, too? If the "good" stuff was "turned off" for that game, then maybe…? But… Mizuki tenses a little, unsure if that meant he was included in that. Even if there was a 99% chance that he was, it's the 1% chance that had Kal'tsit's voice ringing in his head that he needs to keep them hidden. But wouldn't it be nice to let loose for a little while?

In a fitful loop of upset, Mizuki's form briefly glitches, looking around for something else to distract himself. Maybe now he could go write those wishes so he doesn't have to think about this anymore… ]

IV. We can turn the love back on (Wildcard)Feel free to hmu @ rubiesriot or on Discord @ rubiesriot. Or just slap me with a reply honestly. Wanna dance with Mizuki? Talk to him about the event? Beat him up and take his lunch money??? Go nuts, tbh.

III

[simplicitas]

[but like, after Mizuki hugs him,

Elsword sees the glitch out of the corner of his eye and looks up. He's sitting at the table with the lanterns trying So Hard to fold one and make his own, and the Trader is so gently trying to explain this to him. He does not have Gentle Hands. He has fuckin Manly Meat Hands that are rough with everything. Delicate work is not for him.

But he waves Mizuki over anyway, trying to see if he'll come do Lantern Things with him. He's gonna ask what Mizuki will wish for in a second—]

i (very sorry for being Late)

[amethystic]

( she's been so tired, since reviving. burns mar her legs, mar her back and her shoulders and her wrists and her chest up to her jawline- she feels... a lot of things, all of them terrible. she can't even hide in her cardigan anymore, because it's too burnt but not burnt enough to warrant repair by the forest.

but she does eventually wander out, because she owes mizuki some time and because the lights were too pretty not to investigate.

and immediately, she is scooped into a hug. she blinks for a moment, before she realizes... just how badly she may have needed this. )

Ah... Hey, Mizuki.

( like she's trying to play it cool, despite how she slowly crumbles into the hug. )

[harmacy]

[power nap]

[Add is sprawled out unconscious in the grass having the time of his life. This is the best fucking sleep he's had in over a month and by El he is going to make the most of it.

Dynamo is on standby to sate his paranoia... so, y'know, don't try to pull anything you're not ready to get electrocuted for. If you sit next to him there is a non-zero chance he will grab onto your hand like the clingy bastard he secretly is tho.]

[little guys?]

[Mixed in with all the cute little animals is a slightly larger, significantly more metallic animal(?) that looks like a glowing noodle dragon.

Here are some fun facts about your new arm/neck/head accessory, Karte:

• it is at least five feet long from snout to tailtip
  
• the only reason you are not crushed under the weight of all that metal is because it is also hovering all the time
  
• its tail generates an uncomfortable amount of electricity (unless you are someone like Add who enjoys the constant electrotherapy)
  
• if something can fit in its mouth it will have a taste, this is how Karte says hello
  
• speaks only in loud hissing
  
• also makes a whirring motor noise if you stroke it (bites if you Do Not for too long)
  
• very excited to chase things
  
• very unhappy when being ignored
  
• will occasionally pick up shiny rocks/metal bits/"interesting things" and pile them ontop of Add, it is Gift for Master
  
• may or may not be trying to steal your things at this very moment, it's fine they are Gift for Master or snack!!!
  
• if you are Friend Of Master then you get extra electroshocks, the best kind of warm and tingly hug

Karte may also be harassing the other animals... it's fine. dwbi. come say hi to the weird metal noodle.]

[???]

((something something obligatory wildcard option hi its me BlueFlewFedUQueen these prompts are lazy but i'm tired let me have dumb threads,))

[power nap]

[amhran]

[ Caoimhe will see Add and sit somewhere by him to play her harp for him. Get song of rested bitch!!!! Dont mind her shes just... Quietly playing it, its to help you rest more!!!! ]

little of both honestly

[mooninthewater]

[ Mizuki follows the little noodle boy with interest, if just because he's so different from the other critters running around. Namely that Mizuki wouldn't get a satisfying meal out of him. It isn't until he stops to pile something on Add that he realizes that… that's probably why. Huh. Alright.

Mizuki's going to happily approach then and plop next to Add to pet the noodle. ]

what if leon was there

[simplicitas]

[Leon licks Karte directly across the metal faceplate. Hi. Get loved idiot.

Somewhere in the distance Elsword is sitting by Add braiding his hair but that's not what this thread is about—]

also a little bit of both

[amethystic]

( felicity is... not as surprised as she expected to be, finding add like this. dynamo gets gentle boops, and karte gets a pet on the snoot, before she crouches beside him.

...

and one by one, she starts putting little flowers into his hair. )

[succiduous]

i. no he's not superstitious he's just doing this for clout

[The shadowy figures say "make a wish and it might come true" and Gnosis literally says "that's a scientific improbability" and walks away. Anyway, he comes back fifteen minutes later not because he's superstitious and believes in that shit, but because he's definitely going to prove a point that merely wishing for something to come true Does Not Make It So.

So, yeah, he'll be making a lantern, and he'll write a wish on it, and he won't tell anybody what it is because it's very clearly something personal, evidenced by how he tries to body-block the message from being perceived. Shut up. That text does not say he wants to know if Karlan Trade and, more personally, Enciodes and his family are doing. That's not what that says. He doesn't care about anyone fuck you—]

I'm not entirely sure what "wishing" is supposed to do for anybody, but I suppose I won't knock someone else's culture, either.

[bro you literally— you literally told the Shopkeeper and Trader this was stupid fifteen minutes ago, what?]

ii. *sad bird noises*

[hey guys

turns out if you wish for something it might come true the liars who are in charge of this place will pen you a whole-ass letter to try to fuck with your emotions, which WOULD WORK, if Gnosis had emotions.

...

Shut up, he's not putting the letter that looks like it came right from his Feline business partner into his vest pocket, he's not doing that at all. He should destroy the thing with his Arts to really prove to the Shopkeeper and Trader that wishing is bullshit and that they can't fool him with their cheap tricks. He should do that.

But the calligraphy is almost unmistakably— ugh no okay not thinking about it. Nope. This thing will be destroyed... post-haste, probably. (It won't be, it'll live in his dresser drawers forever.)

But for now, it goes in his vest pocket while he tries to convince himself he's going to destroy it, as he's leaving his inn room the day following the lantern festival. Distracted, he accidentally walks into you—]

Excuse me.

[He's going to the kitchen to make tea and maybe roast paper over the oven (he's not doing the second thing at all but he's THINKING ABOUT IT)]

ii

[neverleave]

[Some people are distracted by familiar calligraphy, others by rude book gifts and cute animals delivering friendship bracelets made by their now-lost bestie.

(Maybe Natsuno is also distracted by his horrible fiery death. Just a little - it WAS a week ago)

He grunts when the man bumps him, but does a double take after a moment. Mizuki pointed this guy out as a possible source of information.]

Mr. Gnosis, right? Do you have time to talk?

II

[mooninthewater]

[ Mizuki's holding his own book. Is he happy with it? Not exactly, but he's not unhappy, either? It's sort of just a neutral feeling. He wasn't expecting anything at all, and he figures this book would be nice to put in that new building he and the Shopkeeper made. It's still got a couple more renovations to go through, but he has a place in mind for the book, at least.

He hears Gnosis behind him, but makes no effort to turn around just yet. Not until he's bumped into. Ah…??? ]

Mister Gnosis?? Is everything alright? [ He's not usually distracted, is he? ]

[amethystic]

You totally did, though.

( she was there, she heard everything and watched as the trader definitely didn't roll her eyes while no one else was looking. anyways. hi. hey. offers an apple rose. she made treats. ignore the blatant bandages all over that she can't hide because her cardigan got burnt but not destroyed and she hasn't replaced it yet. )

Doesn't matter in the end, though, does it? ... But they do like their lanterns.

[devilishkouhai]

⒈ LITTLE GUYS

WHAT IS THIS!!!! YOU THINK ITS A JOKE?!?!

[ BB has in her hand a book, and seems to be yelling angrily at these cute little animals. ]

BB DOESNT WANT THIS STUPID CHEAP BOOK!! ABOUT A FAILED STUPID HERO!! WHO THINKS ITS OKAY TO GET HIMSELF ABUSED AND USED BY OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE OF HIS SICK TWISTED SENSE OF JUSTICE!!!! THAT INSOLENT DUMB PIG!!!! [ Angy BB noises. Stomping her little feet, she is totally wearing her cute new red dress. ] BB DOESNT WANT THIS!!! HES A NUISANCE AND DOESNT MAKE HIMSELF USUEFUL WHEN HES SUPPOSE TO BE!!! [ BB suddenly vaults the item straight across the Grove. ] JUST A DUMB ASS!!!

[ A beat. ]

...

[ She starts running after it and grabs it off the floor huffing. ]

Stupid dumb gift, stupid dumb book... BB knows what she'll do with this. [ Evil gremlin giggling noises ensue.. ] Hehehe...

[ Then she mumbles and walks over to some table and starts doing arts and crafts... ]

⒉ The Servant Problem...

[ BB sits at places, seems to be off in thought thinking sometimes. With her Robin Hood Book in hand, that has piggy ears plastered on it and seemingly defaced by her doing. With a bunch of mustaches across Robins face and silly little bits like that throughout the book.

Anyway, she sits at places. Up until this point, she has been self modifying herself thoroughly to make sure there were no scratches or bruises to be interpreted by anyone. Up until now, any injuries her body sustained usually did heal up and those that werent. Were hidden by her abilities. However, at this point now, she has a deep purple bruise under her eye, cuts all around her legs that seem to scar over. Bruises along her arms too, that are all easy to see when she wears the red dress she just got. More deep cuts, bruises... Kinda messy - her hair is pretty though, and etc... Of which she has no shame in showing at this point, it doesnt seem to bother her.

More important matters seem to be on her mind. Like sustaining the powers of her servant abilities, is what is eating away at her. Now that the manor was no longer exuding a plethora of magic, BB was struggling to maintain her abilities - and herself by proxy. Although the fog was thick with magic, as well. It maintained itself outside of the grove, completely out of her hands to use for herself.

BB COULD, continue to request Holy Grails from the Trader. This would suffice as magic for the time being, especially since she, specially knew how to use them. Unlike the other servants. However, that begs the question of constantly paying another person for goods - not that she is against that. As someone who usually always is selling goods herself.

Its just... This was a lot that grievanced her. And her seemingly incapacity to be patient, and let her new physical body heal on its own. Yatta yatta.

She is sitting there, deep thought - is the moon out? Deep thought, and looking at it. ]

1

[amethystic]

( felicity just watches, nibbling on an apple-rose. homegirl sure is working herself up into a tizzy. ... well! none of felicity's business. she turns around on her heel and goes to walk away.

she will not get away with this or we'd have no thread, though. bb, look! its your witch. )

[cursedwords]

I. Lanterns

[Toge is a man of few words, obviously and while he did suffer a terrible death, and anyone who caught that would’ve been treated to him being swallowed up by lava completely silent even as it took a little time to meet his demise. He’s been trained to keep silent, it’s part of what he’s done to manage his curse.

It’s probably more creepy to witness than anything.

But true to rumour he’s completely intact – well as intact as he was when he got there – and back to normal. If Toge has any thoughts about the experience, he hasn’t shared them. He’s been blending into the background, observing. He does that, a lot.

But his mood is lifted, unnaturally so by this night and so he’s not brooding, nor does he look it and when he’s given the chance to write a wish he pauses to think about it.

He’s tapping the pen rhythmically on the paper as he considers. ]

II. Little Guys

[ Toge’s not expecting when the animals come bring people gifts and while people are getting sentimental things, Toge doesn’t have anything like that to come his way. He’s not attached to his belongings at school, or at home.

Why would he be? It’s just how things are.

And yet what is brought and dropped to him is a massive seven foot tall panda plush. Toge blinks at it, bewildered. Just like his friend only this thing is actually bigger than Panda himself. The idea tickles him.

There’s the slightest, gasping sound before he covers his mouth through his collar, cutting off his laughter.

After that, Toge can be seen attempting to move it around gracefully – impossible because it’s almost two feet bigger than him – or propping it up against a tree or a wall and throwing himself against it like it’s his own personal back cushion, sitting on one of the legs. It’s probably a rather funny or cute sight, not unlike when he’s normally hanging out with Panda.

This one’s not alive, but it’s pretty cool. ]

III. Wildcard

[ Toge can be tapped for conversation about pretty much anything and he’ll do the legwork of using his phone, no matter how inconvenient that is. ]

ii

[amethystic]

... Holy crap, how did they carry that?

( she'd meant to come check on toge but got. immediately blindsided by panda, holy shit. it's magnificent. it's soft. she's a little jealous, genuinely.

grinning for perhaps the first time tonight, she wanders over with a glass of what looks to be apple cider (nonalcoholic, tragically). when toge settles into his next position on the bear, she offers it to him. )