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sticksandbones2023-09-08 10:28 am
MINI EVENT: 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.
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[little guys?]
[???]
[power nap]
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what if all the animals also want a nap now... what if he just ends up looking like a Disney princess covered in magical rabbits and squirrels and foxes and birds. he has been doomed to an adorable fate. you did this.
Dynamo offers her a collection of grateful beeps, thank u for looking out for Master's health.]
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I think out of all of us here... He needs the most rest.
[ Is what she says gently to Dynamo. ]
little of both honestly
Mizuki's going to happily approach then and plop next to Add to pet the noodle. ]
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The dragon hisses in a terrifying manner as it lifts its head straight up in order to maximize the petting-ready surface area... Add doesn't seem to mind the electric lightshow happening literally ontop of him at the moment either, but honestly, this is pretty normal for him. He is snoozing. Life is good.
If Mizuki pets the noodle for long enough it will begin its migration to a new host. It feels kind of like touching one of those cool plasma lamps except its snake-shaped and coiling up your arm with two little clawed feeties.]
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Hi there. [ Quietly, of course. Don’t wake Add up! ] You’re very sweet. I’d say I’d get you some snacks, but I’m not sure what you’d eat. Batteries, maybe?
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the electricity doesn't stop tho it has not realized yet that some people aren't into that. you will learn to love it, maybe.
as for the question, Karte just sort of... opens its lil mouth and makes a ???? hiss, like yeah i will eat literally anything its favourite snack is ROCKS you cannot do worse]
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Here, would you like this?
what if leon was there
Somewhere in the distance Elsword is sitting by Add braiding his hair but that's not what this thread is about—]
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Karte is biting Leon's nose (affectionately) and coiling its tail around his paws (electrically, also affectionately)... so simple!!!! why are the humans not paying attention they are being such a good example over here]
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The electricity feels good on his big toe beans, but Leon has ideas. He pads over to where a nice flower is growing, momentarily wiggles Karte off of his snoot, and then plucks the stem with his teeth. Then, he cranes his neck so that he can give the noodle dragon a flower.
See, this shit is easy! And now Karte has a snack :)]
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anyway remember how Elsword is sitting by Add braiding his hair because that IS what this thread is about, fuck YOU wolfie (affectionate)
Add stirs, rolling over... and knocking all the stuff piled on his chest into the grass (thanks, Karte). That's annoying enough to wake him up, though not quite enough to make him get up. He sighs in an amused sort of way, tiredly picking at rocks and metal bits and a tiny little scroll and dumping them into his upturned hat with the rest.
Was Elsword there when he fell asleep? He knows he's there now, from the sounds of breathing and the gentle movements of his hands. It could only be Elsword.
Add doesn't say anything at first, content to savor this peaceful moment between them... but as he starts to doze again, mind wandering, unrestrained by his need to keep appearances]
... do you think we ever spent time like this in our past life?
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Well, he gets a different one. It's definitely unexpected. He hums...]
Probably. When we were little... Your hair wasn't that long, though. [Despite himself, a tiny smile pulls at the corners of his lips.] And I guess mine wasn't this white. If you grew it out in our past lives, I probably would've braided it then, too. ...I like your long hair. It's soft.
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You slept over a lot... that's what Nene said. [they knew each other. they were friends, most likely.]
If I'd met someone like you back then... I think I would've been a lot happier. [if he had someone in his life besides mother... a sister, a friend, or maybe... something more...?
a whole community of people, who might've even cared about him. yeah. wouldn't that have been something else?]
Hah. Too bad... I had to wait so long to meet you again.
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A nap under all the pretty lanterns would serve them both well.]
Probably because big sis wanted me out of her hair.
[Elsword doesn't remember any of his childhood, but he knows his sibling — she would probably drop him off at someone's house when she didn't want to babysit, and they're only a scant three years apart. What sixteen-year-old wants to hang out with a thirteen-year-old, anyway? Throw the whole kid out. She probably had to act cool in front of her own friends or something, can't do that with a little sibling glued to you.]
...it couldn't have been that long, though. We left our past lives behind and went to Elrios, yeah, but it's not like we didn't meet when we were teenagers there, either.
[He's not directly asking, but there's a question in his voice. "So long"? To Elsword, who doesn't know better, it's barely been long at all.]
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Sixteen years is a long time. [There's an unusual amount of gravity to his tone, something he can't quite hide in his current state. Even if he ignores the three centuries of time travel, dividing everything up into isolation, abuse, fear and loneliness, tiny moments of happiness that were burnt away into ash...
Sixteen years... Elsword probably would've guessed nineteen, but hey, maybe he's just misremembering, right?]
I would've liked to meet everyone sooner. I didn't really... have anyone...
[only mother. and even then...
He curls himself up just a little more. It hurts to think about. Once upon a time they had it all, and then the forest snatched that away. They could've been happy. A normal, ordinary, peaceful life.]
... sorry. It's just a thought I had. [meekly, trying to backpedal... you can forget it, it's not that important, look at him souring this cheerful mood... it's the first time he's ever come close to the topic, but even in this strange aura of peace, he finds it's still upsetting.
acknowledging it gives it weight and substance. he shouldn't trouble Elsword with this, he'd just be adding to his pile of worries...]
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..."everyone"... Elsword can't think of one person out of their group back home that wouldn't have liked to meet Add sooner, too. Even Ain. They weirdly get along sometimes (mostly when they're trying to hide bodies, unbeknownst to Elsword). Everyone really likes Add.
Elsword really likes Add.
He decides the braid is finished enough, the only thing he could possibly do is tie it off — and he seems to never have hair ties whenever this is brought up — so instead, he lies down behind Add and pulls him into an embrace with one arm, the other tucked underneath his head. He'd like to believe that, one day, his hugs will fix everything. Tonight probably isn't that night, but he holds fast to the idea.]
I wish I could have been there for you, then. I want you to be happy, too. I wish I could've made you happy back then, when you didn't have anyone else. Me and everyone else...
[But especially himself, and maybe that's greedy, and maybe he shouldn't say that part out loud.]
...will you let me help you be happy here? Maybe this place sucks too much, but— [Elsword takes a breath. "???" is back to torment him.] I like when you smile, and I like when we have moments like this, and I kind of want more of them. Give the word, and I'll do whatever it takes to help you feel better.
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I want to stay like this.
I want to see you smile back.
I want, I want...]
... don't act so recklessly all the time, and stay healthy... it's alright if you get hurt sometimes, but you have to come to me first. Let me be the one to help you...
[It sounds a lot like his usual deflecting... but it's how he truly feels. Let him be the most useful, the most wanted, the person Elsword puts above all others... he wants to feel what it's like to be loved.
Platonic love, like the friendship between two dudes who are not gay. Yeah.]
Do that for me, and... I wouldn't be against it, I suppose. [hugging it out in the grass or on the floor or whatever]
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I dunnooooo, [is that sarcasm, sir?] I'm pretty good at standing in front of projectiles and swords and stuff...
[He breathes out what might feel like a laugh against the back of Add's shoulder, where he's half a step away from squishing his face into. Somehow, their fingers wind up laced together, and Elsword squeezes Add's between his own. He's not going to question the closeness right now.]
I'll try, but only because it's you. ...and you know I'll always come to you if I need something. That's not gonna change. You're my favourite anyway.
[Haha, favourite doctor, right—?]
[not here]
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[A low, ominous chuckle escapes him... if he was being completely honest, he would've said "I'd prefer it if you got hurt sometimes", actually... but that could be going a little too far. Sane people don't enjoy seeing their friends in pain, even if it's temporary and treatable pain in the hands of a professional. It's one of those things he knows better than to speak honestly about.
... it'll be a thought he keeps to himself, whenever Elsword is in his care and he "forgets" to apply the anesthetic at the start. don't worry about it.
Besides, he can't get too carried away since he's the favourite doctor now.]
Repeated injuries can cause long-term damage. If you keep ruining your arms like that, you won't be carrying anyone to safety next time. [how are you gonna hug ur man in the grass if you lose both arms huh]
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Elsword, taking all of this extremely at face value and not reading between Add's sadistic little lines, simply says:]
You should preserve your painkillers for other people. I can handle it. [Playing right into Add's hands...] And yeah, sticking my arm in lava was not the smartest choice.
[He acknowledges this in the aftermath, but he's still gonna do it anyway because there was a chance that he could maybe have saved... the smouldering remains of a corpse (he'd like to think it was a life, idealistic as he can be).]
...but it's only some minor [major] scarring, since you had the Cure on hand, so it's okay. But I solemnly swear I won't go sticking my hands into dangerous stuff anymore.
[If he can help it.]
Besides, I can't do this, [squishes Add tighter,] otherwise. And I can't hold a sword. That would suck.
[yeah that last bit is the important part thanks for tacking that on at the end there]
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He is having a Feeling from that big squeeze, though... hm. This better not awaken something in him. He grips Elsword's hand a little tighter in return, fingers woven together.]
... Just don't scare me like that again. [jumping over a cliff and coming back well done, that's quite a ways past his friend-injury comfort levels] Cure is only useful if you're still in one piece. You're lucky I was able to treat it so quickly.
From now on, only stick your hands in the dangerous stuff I approve of. [like the deadly chemicals and acids he makes]
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also a little bit of both
...
and one by one, she starts putting little flowers into his hair. )