sticks and bones. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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sticksandbones2023-10-04 03:16 pm
sticksandbonesmods) wrote in sticksandbones2023-10-04 03:16 pm
Entry tags:
- !event,
- !tdm,
- arknights: gnosis,
- arknights: irene,
- arknights: mizuki,
- baldur's gate iii: astarion ancunín,
- baldur's gate iii: taliira a'daragon,
- digimon survive: haru,
- elsword: add,
- elsword: elsword,
- fate: bb,
- i'm the grim reaper: brook,
- jujutsu kaisen: toge inumaki,
- murder drones: n,
- original: caoimhe ailbhe,
- original: felicity morais,
- original: kiera canorus,
- original: lancelot,
- original: luca aurelius
Event & TDM 005
SPOOKY SCARY SKELETONS
WAKE UP
cw: immolation, sinkholes
When your eyes open, you’re lying in crisp, blackened grass. The sky is dreary, the world around you is still and silent. Were it not for the ash raining from the sky or the acrid tang of burnt flesh, it might almost feel peaceful. Familiar-feeling memories wash over you — a town burning, the cackling of an unknown beast, the shrill screams of friends and loved ones dying a slow, painful death—
Where did that memory even come from? You’d better shake it off and rise to your feet before the ash buries you, too. It isn’t real… right?
The town you’re in is dilapidated and charred. Something snaps under your feet, and when you look down, a bone lies pressed into the earth, perfectly broken into two neat pieces. You press on, toward the destroyed remains of houses — some missing roofs, some collapsed in on themselves, others still weathering the test of time — to where the trees are vibrant and orange, to where the grass has regrown and the buildings stand tall. You press on… and your foot catches in the mud, a hole opening up beneath your feet and dragging you in. If you’re quick enough, you might be able to escape the collapsing earth before it buries you alive in years of muck and decay. If not… perhaps you’ll be lucky, and someone from the nearby settlement will bail you out.
Hopefully you won’t have to wait long.
When your eyes open, you’re lying in crisp, blackened grass. The sky is dreary, the world around you is still and silent. Were it not for the ash raining from the sky or the acrid tang of burnt flesh, it might almost feel peaceful. Familiar-feeling memories wash over you — a town burning, the cackling of an unknown beast, the shrill screams of friends and loved ones dying a slow, painful death—
Where did that memory even come from? You’d better shake it off and rise to your feet before the ash buries you, too. It isn’t real… right?
The town you’re in is dilapidated and charred. Something snaps under your feet, and when you look down, a bone lies pressed into the earth, perfectly broken into two neat pieces. You press on, toward the destroyed remains of houses — some missing roofs, some collapsed in on themselves, others still weathering the test of time — to where the trees are vibrant and orange, to where the grass has regrown and the buildings stand tall. You press on… and your foot catches in the mud, a hole opening up beneath your feet and dragging you in. If you’re quick enough, you might be able to escape the collapsing earth before it buries you alive in years of muck and decay. If not… perhaps you’ll be lucky, and someone from the nearby settlement will bail you out.
Hopefully you won’t have to wait long.
KEEP MY HEAD TOGETHER
Somewhere on your body is an intricate, black mark that doesn’t come off no matter how hard you scrub. Perhaps there are two, or even three, or more. You don’t exactly remember getting these small, medallion-sized tattoos — it’s almost as though you woke up with them. Better make sure no one’s drawing on you in your sleep.
As the day progresses, the effects of these marks become apparent. Suddenly, everything hurts — a dull, throbbing pain as if you’ve been stabbed. Perhaps the pain is quick and sharp, like you stubbed your toe on the inn’s coffee table. Perhaps it slowly burns, like hot coffee accidentally splashed on your lap. No matter what the pain is, you feel it at less of an intensity than you would if you’d actually done these things. Later, you might meet with the person who shares a mark with you, and maybe they’ll tell you — they stubbed their toe, they spilled their coffee, someone randomly stabbed them, how weird is that?
These marks link you and your partner(s) — any pain they feel, you’ll feel, too, albeit at half the intensity they do. If you’re sharing that pain between three people, it’ll be at one third the intensity.
Negative emotions, though? Those, you get at full throttle. If those you share a mark with cry, you’ll cry, too; you feel their rage at being stuck here as though it were your own; you long for home, and you miss a mother that isn’t yours. Fight through your blurring sense of self, friend. Surely you’ll get used to it soon. After all, these will stay on your body for the rest of the month.
As the day progresses, the effects of these marks become apparent. Suddenly, everything hurts — a dull, throbbing pain as if you’ve been stabbed. Perhaps the pain is quick and sharp, like you stubbed your toe on the inn’s coffee table. Perhaps it slowly burns, like hot coffee accidentally splashed on your lap. No matter what the pain is, you feel it at less of an intensity than you would if you’d actually done these things. Later, you might meet with the person who shares a mark with you, and maybe they’ll tell you — they stubbed their toe, they spilled their coffee, someone randomly stabbed them, how weird is that?
These marks link you and your partner(s) — any pain they feel, you’ll feel, too, albeit at half the intensity they do. If you’re sharing that pain between three people, it’ll be at one third the intensity.
Negative emotions, though? Those, you get at full throttle. If those you share a mark with cry, you’ll cry, too; you feel their rage at being stuck here as though it were your own; you long for home, and you miss a mother that isn’t yours. Fight through your blurring sense of self, friend. Surely you’ll get used to it soon. After all, these will stay on your body for the rest of the month.
THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
A week into October, a skeletal visitor comes rattling into the Grove, wearing a top hat on its bare cranium and a name tag on its ribcage: “Mr. Bone-Jangles”. Mr. Bone-Jangles cannot speak, but he’s very excited to take willing people into the burned town and lead them toward the far north of it, where a small army of fellow skeletons have put up a circus tent. Pumpkin-shaped flags decorate the scorched remnants of a street, and mysterious skull-shaped lights float in the air. Mr. Bone-Jangles joyfully motions to the tent, where a banner placed over the tent-flaps reads “MASKERADE”... you assume this is meant to be “masquerade”, but it would be rude to point out the spelling error. Skeletons don’t have brains.
Before you can even enter the tent, Mr. Bone-Jangles’ employees direct you to a smaller tent set up to the side, demanding with clacks of their jaws in morse code that you put on your costume and mask. Costumes are optional; masks are not. Luckily, all of these are free. The costume tent itself is entirely empty save for one giant mirror which, when gazed into, shows you standing in your outfit of choice. Once you exit the tent, you’ll be wearing that outfit, and the skeletons will hand you a wooden mask in any design you feel suits you, matching or not. Where did your old clothing wind up? Great question! They’ll be teleported back to your bed in a wrinkled heap, but you don’t have to worry about that until the party stops. And speaking of that mask… when you put it on between the party start at 10pm and end at 6am, it won’t come off no matter how hard you pull until 6:01am approximately.
The skeletons insist you don’t try to tug your skin off, though, and instead direct you inside the masquerade tent itself. It’s almost akin to being teleported to another dimension — a grand ballroom is decorated with classic Halloween decorations, a buffet of spooky-themed snacks is laid out on the tables, the music is almost too loud, and a lounge is set up off to the side for those who’d like to rest between dances. If you lack a dance partner, worry not — the skeletons are more than happy to waltz with you. And, if you’re of age, they’ll serve you any liquor you’d like.
Stay too late, though, and the skeletons will kick you out. They’re stronger than they look and aren’t afraid to toss you like a wet rag onto the burnt streets. Once the party ends for the night, you won’t be able to get back into the tent no matter how hard you try, so don’t leave anything behind!
Before you can even enter the tent, Mr. Bone-Jangles’ employees direct you to a smaller tent set up to the side, demanding with clacks of their jaws in morse code that you put on your costume and mask. Costumes are optional; masks are not. Luckily, all of these are free. The costume tent itself is entirely empty save for one giant mirror which, when gazed into, shows you standing in your outfit of choice. Once you exit the tent, you’ll be wearing that outfit, and the skeletons will hand you a wooden mask in any design you feel suits you, matching or not. Where did your old clothing wind up? Great question! They’ll be teleported back to your bed in a wrinkled heap, but you don’t have to worry about that until the party stops. And speaking of that mask… when you put it on between the party start at 10pm and end at 6am, it won’t come off no matter how hard you pull until 6:01am approximately.
The skeletons insist you don’t try to tug your skin off, though, and instead direct you inside the masquerade tent itself. It’s almost akin to being teleported to another dimension — a grand ballroom is decorated with classic Halloween decorations, a buffet of spooky-themed snacks is laid out on the tables, the music is almost too loud, and a lounge is set up off to the side for those who’d like to rest between dances. If you lack a dance partner, worry not — the skeletons are more than happy to waltz with you. And, if you’re of age, they’ll serve you any liquor you’d like.
Stay too late, though, and the skeletons will kick you out. They’re stronger than they look and aren’t afraid to toss you like a wet rag onto the burnt streets. Once the party ends for the night, you won’t be able to get back into the tent no matter how hard you try, so don’t leave anything behind!
DON’T CHASE THE DEAD
Turns out, the masquerade isn’t just for one night, but for every night for the rest of the month. On the second night of the masquerade and on from there, ghosts appear in droves, gathering at the party and in the burned town for a night out. No matter how hard you try, you can’t get their attention; they’ll merely pass right through you as if you aren’t there.
Some of the ghosts look eerily familiar to you, like people you knew in the past who aren’t here now. It could be your mother, your brother, a close friend, or maybe your old neighbour or coworker. Each is dressed in masquerade attire, each intends only to party until the sun comes up, and at that point, each ghost fades from the world as if dissolving away into nothingness.
They’ll be back the next night, of course. And the next. And the one after that. Until finally, the last day of the month rolls around, and the ghosts aren’t there. If you come to the burned town at 6am, you’ll be greeted by the sight of the skeletons packing up their tents and decorations. And if you stick around until 7…
Mr. Bone-Jangles takes off his top hat and takes a bow, waves one last goodbye, and then him and his skeleton crew take a dive into the sinkhole that was, somehow, underneath the masquerade tent the whole time.
Some of the ghosts look eerily familiar to you, like people you knew in the past who aren’t here now. It could be your mother, your brother, a close friend, or maybe your old neighbour or coworker. Each is dressed in masquerade attire, each intends only to party until the sun comes up, and at that point, each ghost fades from the world as if dissolving away into nothingness.
They’ll be back the next night, of course. And the next. And the one after that. Until finally, the last day of the month rolls around, and the ghosts aren’t there. If you come to the burned town at 6am, you’ll be greeted by the sight of the skeletons packing up their tents and decorations. And if you stick around until 7…
Mr. Bone-Jangles takes off his top hat and takes a bow, waves one last goodbye, and then him and his skeleton crew take a dive into the sinkhole that was, somehow, underneath the masquerade tent the whole time.
SPARK NOTES
CLICK TO EXPAND!
You find yourself in a burned-down town. As you try to leave, a sinkhole opens beneath your feet and sucks you in. Screaming for help is a viable option.
Everyone is now sharing pain and negative emotions. Please try not to get stabbed so that your partner(s) don't have to also feel stabbed. You can pair up with as few or as many people as you want, as long as you're paired up with minimum one other person.
Welcome to the masquerade! Mr. Bone-Jangles hopes you have a good time. Masks and Halloween costumes are provided free of charge, but be careful, because donning the masks between 10pm and 6am makes them unable to be removed until the party stops at 6. There's tons of food and drink, and liquor for those who are old enough to have it. Just don't stay past the party's end or the skeletons will yeet you out onto the street.
The masquerade goes for the rest of the month, and after day 1, it'll be frequented by ghosts who look like people from your past. They don't seem to notice you and will float through you if you stand in their way. At the end of the month, the skeletons pack up the party, the ghosts disappear, and the skeletons jump into a sinkhole underneath the masquerade tent. Goodbye! Happy Halloween! Mr. Bone-Jangles sends his regards.
Welcome to the fifth TDM & Event Log of Sticks and Bones! This log is game canon. The prompts are meant for all players, current and future, so have fun! Our applications operate on a rolling basis, so applications are open with no end date unless we suddenly cap players. If there are any questions, please direct them to the "questions" header below.
❖ None yet!
TDM TOPLEVELS!
❖ Vash (Trigun Stampede)
❖ N (Murder Drones)
❖ Rin Tohsaka (Fate/Stay Night)
❖ Rui Ninomiya (Gatchaman Crowds)
❖ Ain (Elsword)
❖ Hiyori Iki (Noragami)
❖ Taliira A'Daragon (Tav) (Baldur's Gate III)
❖ Genjiro Chibana (Handead Anthem)
❖ Haru (Digimon Survive)
❖ Samatoki Aohitsugi (Hypnosis Mic)
❖ Leon S. Kennedy (Resident Evil 4: Remake)
❖ Grusha (Pokemon: Scarlet & Violet)
❖ Woljif Jefto (Pathfinder: WOTR)
❖ N (Murder Drones)
❖ Rin Tohsaka (Fate/Stay Night)
❖ Rui Ninomiya (Gatchaman Crowds)
❖ Ain (Elsword)
❖ Hiyori Iki (Noragami)
❖ Taliira A'Daragon (Tav) (Baldur's Gate III)
❖ Genjiro Chibana (Handead Anthem)
❖ Haru (Digimon Survive)
❖ Samatoki Aohitsugi (Hypnosis Mic)
❖ Leon S. Kennedy (Resident Evil 4: Remake)
❖ Grusha (Pokemon: Scarlet & Violet)
❖ Woljif Jefto (Pathfinder: WOTR)
no subject
oh NO ]
Ssssuuusususususpicious stalker-like auras!
no subject
[ He looks a little bit surprised. It's not just her being flustered which is always greatly amusing, but it's been quite awhile since he's stalked her. It makes him wonder...
Well, if she doesn't know, he doesn't have to tell her. That's a freebie. ]
I can always stalk you now. [ He teases with a light smile this time, best to avoid any unpleasant conversations for the time being, especially if she doesn't know about them. ]
1/2
look, hiyori will NEVER FORGET his over-the-top ways. his constant messaging. breaking into her room while she's IN A TOWEL. wearing her uniform. possessing her body. etc etc. ]
That wasn't an invitation!
[ as the words leave her, she finally seems to notice how her hand is attached to his. here's some more flustered hiyori for you, yato. she's looking a bit dangerous, though, as she tears it away and holds it to her chest while staring at her palm.
sweaty, jersey-wearing-- ]
no subject
Where's your costume? [ a beat. ] Did the skeletons already think you were wearing one...?
no subject
Everyone will want one!
[ He grins rather widely, really selling it. The truth is he just slipped by them and they haven't caught up with him yet. What are they gonna do to him? He's a god.
He didn't feel like dressing up, too many things are incredibly strange, including the moving skeletons. Severe bleeding between the near and far shores. It's an unsettling place. ]
no subject
it's true. even she - as a half-ayakashi - can sense there's something very strange about this place. as if the dancing skeletons didn't sell it or the spooky ghost town or the sinkholes. but she's GOOD with strange now.
hence!!
still, yato will be yato and his presence here brings her a weird comfort. like everything is going to be okay. like she's a little more herself. ]
You do stand out a lot. [ she makes a vague gesture to her face and her butterfly mask and his lack thereof. ] You're the only one without a mask, too.
no subject
Yato is used to it, it doesn't really cross his mind.
Hiyori though, every time. He smiles at her. ]
I wouldn't want to deprive anyone of my pretty face! [ Another grin, ah he's a bit of a pest isn't he? ]
no subject
beneath her mask, hiyori can feel her cheeks go warm and she does not like it one bit. ]
Looks aren't all that important.
no subject
[ Yato gushes because that was always his marketing strategy.
...is it working? ]
no subject
...
argh. that's not true, either. that jersey really is a part of yato!! ]
Where did you hear that a jersey, boots, and a scarf is a distinct style anyway?
no subject
[ The jersey...and it was probably like 1987, when his short shorts fell out of fashion, but nevermind! The jersey is timeless!
The scarf is just a happy accident due to accidental theft. ]
I think it's fine and memorable.
no subject
anyway! magazine is such a normal answer, she's kinda thrown. once she collects herself, a small smile appears on her face again. ]
Okay. Maybe it's memorable. [ she will GIVE HIM THAT. but "fine"?? ]
You do look comfortable most of the time, too...
no subject
I'm glad you're coming around. We just have to get you one.
[ Has it been his secret plan all this time? Most definitely. ]
no subject
No, thank you.
[ IMMEDIATE. REFUSAL. as she takes one of those cookies from the table. ]
no subject
Aw, come on, you said it yourself it's comfortable and you could look like a true disciple of Yatoism!
[ Yato is more and more convinced that he knows things Hiyori does not. He's also fairly certain he's had this conversation with her and while he smiles slightly and teases her he can't help but feel a little off-balance.
It's alright. Gods are master secret-keepers after all. It's just that it would be nice if he could...
No. He is not going to share his burdens with her. This is good. This is something to be cherished and to remember fondly later when everything has gone to hell and back. ]
1/2
Why can't I be a true Yatoist in my normal clothes?!
[ whether or not he wants to SHARE his burdens isn't so much a choice, anymore. those negative emotions flood into her, one by one, and she puts a palm over her chest. over her heart where it aches.
her brow furrows and she frowns to herself. ]
no subject
a name
NO. it's one of those intricate black marks and it's set on the inside of her wrist. ]
How do I get it off? Is this a tattoo? If I go back home and Mother sees this, she'll disown me...
no subject
You can be, but obviously the most devout followers will purchase their very own jerseys from me. [ So he's just grifting. Again. ]
[ He leans in to look at the mark with a small frown. ]
That...I don't know. Sorry. If it doesn't come off, I'll think of something.
no subject
since she is his only follower though, she's not listening. how he is OBVIOUSLY, BRAZENLY just trying to get her to wear matching clothes with him. or buy something from him.
a frown tugs her lips down, too, as she touches the mark with her thumb. ]
It's been here ever since I've been... [ should she tell him? ] Since I started feeling emotions that aren't my own. You know, like how you can feel how Yukine-kun is feeling? When he gives into temptation. Just now I felt this pain in my chest like my heart was aching.
no subject
He would keep teasing her, but the subject has shifted. ]
Yeah, that's pretty...strange. [ He has a mark like that, but it's hiding under his sleeve. He puts his arms behind his back subtly. ]
Maybe you're connected to someone. [ Now that Yato knows, he needs to shape up, because that's how feelings work and he can just will himself not to be heartsick over everything that's happening.
The opposite happens, he feels worse which likely means she can tell that. ]
no subject
[ despite how sharp hiyori normally is, he gets away with putting his arms behind his back. probably because she's looking at the mark on her arm so intently, brow furrowed and lips thin. ]
Yeah, but who? They've been hurting so much for a while now. I want to help them. Nobody can live like this. They shouldn't. [ her hand clutches at her blouse over her heart as the pain increases, twisting up the fabric as she continues on without much of a pause. ]
A-and what if they can feel how I feel? I smacked my cheeks earlier! And I scraped my knee when I was in the woods! What if it hurt them too?! [ calm down, hiyori. or you WILL affect the person you're connected to. deep breaths! ] So I've been trying to stay positive. I don't want to make things worse. Even if I have no idea where I am or what's going on or how we're supposed to leave...