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

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. )

[mooninthewater]

[ It's funny how Mizuki is somehow delicate, afraid that if he holds her too tightly, he'll hurt her. Yet, all the same, it's warm and cozy and still very secure. Very akin to a weighted blanket, actually.

He tenses a little when she speaks, a little shaky with his own voice. ]

I'm sorry.

[amethystic]

( oh- don't mind if she just. melts into the hug, actually. it's just what she needed, on some level.

when mizuki apologizes, she blinks, almost says 'don't', and then stops herself. they both know he had no hand in it, that's not what he's apologizing for. but she's still not used to this sort of treatment... )

... I'll be okay. I just need a bit of time. ... Not the first time I died, anyway.

[mooninthewater]

…That's worse. You realize that's worse, don't you??

[ Squeeze— ]

I'm here for you now. I-I don't know how to help, but… I'm glad you're here.

[amethystic]

... I ... It's just facts, for me.

( does it suck? yes, of course. but shes still standing, isn't she? she's still here, regardless of what anyone else has to say on the matter. )

... Hugs are always good. That's good.

[mooninthewater]

Saying it that cooly will only make you forget the value of life, Felicity.

[ He knows that if there's a "revive" here, then death isn't nearly as potent as it should be. But the second they treat it like a commodity is the moment they lose their humanity.

Hell, even if video games, don't you try your best to get the best, deathless run? ]

You can have as many hugs as you need, then. I... I'll do anything else you need, too, just let me know, okay?

[amethystic]

I didn't say that. I know not everyone gets to come back. But not everyone has to live with remembering their deaths either. There- there's no fixing it, or making it better, so why dwell on it? All I can do is keep moving.

( it's all she could ever do. for death, for loss, for other injuries. no time for tears, she has to be in the fear, carrying on- )

...I will.

[mooninthewater]

... I disagree. Giving yourself time to grieve and... feel is part of the "moving" process. Time to share your emotions and seek comfort from others and...

[ There's a brief silence as Mizuki tries to find the right words. He's never been good at this part, but he's doing his best to learn that maybe smiling through everything isn't a very good thing, actually. ]

... and connect with others, to know you're not alone.

[amethystic]

... That's not a luxury I could ever afford.

( does she even know how? ... something in her chest hurts, and she would look away if they weren't in an embrace. just- just keep walking. just keep moving. )

[mooninthewater]

It's not luxurious, and also, you can now. It's okay to talk to us.

[ He picks up a hand so he can brush the back of her hair. ]]

You can talk to me.

[amethystic]

( felicity wants to argue, wants to shout down her own weakness and rip out those budding tears like that'll make all the hurt go away (it never does so why would it make a difference now?) and scream to the universe that she's fine, just like she always did.

she wants to let all the words about how much immolation hurt, how horrifying it was to linger consciously in the lava even after she had no physical remains, how humiliating that jeering "better luck next time" felt-

she wants to be safe, for just once in her life. even if for a moment.

no words come out. but mizuki might feel something damp on his clothes soon, the way felicity curls up against him to hide those shameful tears. for someone meant to lead and conquer, she always was pathetic. )

[mooninthewater]

[ Mizuki doesn't make any motions to pull away. The opposite, actually, as he lets some of his stingers reveal themselves from his shadow to make a little nest around Felicity. They don't touch her, but just stay around her in such a way she is at least hidden from nosy, prying eyes. Not that they're particularly in the middle of anything, but still.

Mizuki brushes her hair and simply rocks back and forth, as if imitating the motions of being out in the ocean, drifting in the calm waves. ]

[amethystic]

( the shield helps, but it also keenly reminds her that they're in public. her grip tightens a little and she barely manages a whispered request: )

Not here- not in public... don't let me cry in public...

[mooninthewater]

[ …Ah. Okay. Mizuki nods, and very gently lifts Felicity so he can slink away somewhere indoors. Since the festival is closest to the Inn, it's to Mizuki's room they go. ]

I LOST THIS... WEH

[amethystic]

( for as frail as felicity looks, she's much heavier than would be expected. ... not that it will ultimately matter to mizuki. the moment they're somewhere private, she crumples further, but is entirely unwilling to let him see her face. )

[mooninthewater]

[ In some effort to be comforting, Mizuki brushes his fingers through Felicity's hair. ]

It's alright. You can let it all out now, okay? I've got you.