look at me, i'm the wound you tried to hide

[promittere]

ANDANTE ALLA WANING CRESCENT

Another day dawns for the Sage's wizards. It's been a month, now, since arriving in this world and being given a task nobody seems to fully understand—though after the jobs the Southern and Central wizards have taken on, it seems like it might just be possible after all.

And it seems like there's another task for the wizards, from the Eastern nation. However, unlike the other requests the Sage has been fielding, this task is far too big for five wizards alone. This is a task everyone will need to help tackle, whether they like it or not. Those that aren't particularly altruistic will still be whisked together by Tatara and Lazuli both, and they may still find the journey...illuminating. Answers to what happened to the original wizards may be just within reach.

Traveling via the elevator at the manor is familiar to some of you, at least, Lazuli setting a mana stone into the control not a surprise in a the slightest. The fact all of you can, somehow, fit in the elevator comfortably may be a surprise, but it's best not to dwell on it too much. You'll be staying at the City of Rain, Lazuli tells you with the air of someone reading you a court sentence, but you've been tasked with clearing up the site of some sort of disaster. He doesn't have much information beyond that—a fact that seems to greatly annoy him—and he warns you not to break any of the City of Rain's laws well before you're out of the elevator.

Which that shouldn't be too difficult, right? Right...?

Perhaps not, as the rules of the city are extreme. There are certain areas which forbid socialization and talking entirely, some areas where only talking to strangers is forbidden, only a handful of businesses allow chatter of any sort, and the list goes on. The most pressing law of all, though, is very simple: no use of any sort of magic within city limits. Do your best to follow the rules because breaking them will result in an arrest, and do you really want Lazuli and Tatara bailing you out? With the rules laid out and lodging sorted, Lazuli ushers you to the site you're tasked with dealing with. You will have downtime to explore the city, though, as it's expected to take several days to clear things up.

The site is a terrible, terrible mess. In what must have once been a peaceful patch of wilderness, there now sits a terrible gouge in the earth, several meters deep and twice as wide across, hollowed by what must have been a powerful force. The dirt is gray and sandy, dead in the manner the Southern wizards will recognize. Plants on the edges of the crater are dry and withered and splintered and broken. Permeating the air is a lingering dread, one both Southern and Central wizards will immediately recognize...

But it is clear now, now that your magic is considerably stronger, that the spirits are agitated by the disturbance in the fabric of magic. Dark clouds hang low over the site, and low thunder rumbles in the constant threat of a storm that will never come. The spirits' agitation, coupled with the dread hanging in the air, will feel uncomfortable, and perhaps leave the more sensitive of the bunch feeling on edge. This is not something that can will resolve on its own, so your most important task is to calm the spirits. That means doing the things they like: playing music, dancing, praying, telling stories, wearing fanciful and whimsical clothes to soothe their temperaments.

Your second most important task is to clear out monsters. The unusual energy in the air is attractive to beasts magical in nature—they slink out of their hiding places in the deep wilderness to the area, and their presence is threatening the humans who regularly use the nearby routes for trade and to commute. Kill them, take their mana stones for yourself. Win-win.

The third task is general clean-up. Remove the dead plants from the earth, remove the broken trees and any natural debris that might prove to be a hindrance. Characters are more than welcome to search inside the crater for any hint or clue as to what might have caused this strange explosion, but they'll find the site picked clean, earth having fallen into cavities where there might have been larger objects present at one point...like someone was here to clear out any evidence.

JOB BOARD

Reinforcement. Peace in Granvelle Castle has been restored. A liveliness and energy has returned to the castle and the surrounding parts of the city that hasn't been seen in nearly a month. Thank your Central friends for their hard work!

Their issues aren't quite resolved, however. The castle is asking for help in creating and then reinforcing a magical barrier around the castle. The barrier is a bit bigger than what one wizard alone is capable of at this point, so band together to create and reinforce what parts you can. Perhaps it's not a bad idea to use your own hair or blood as a conduit.

The type of barrier is specific, however—they want one that masks magical signatures. If you step inside, you'll feel a faint, but powerful presence within... What are they guarding?

Recycling. The Eastern country is known for its expertise in all things mechanical, particularly when it comes to clockwork. While not as bombastic or flashy as Western technology, the use of magic and mana stones being deeply frowned upon and rejected, Eastern artisans can create truly fantastical things just with gears and cogs and a bit of know-how... But, of course, sometimes it's better to scrap something and create something new than let the old items waste away, so some Eastern craftsman have asked for help gathering clockwork automatons and other creations in order to melt it all back down. Some of them seem a bit nervous and harried, but it's an easy enough job to scrap automatons and cart junk around.

Monster hunting. The few settlements in the North have been sending in frantic request after frantic request. There has been a disturbing increase in monster activity in the North, and the native Northern wizards are as unreliable as ever. They need your help in thinning the numbers, and that's all they really ask for—you can keep all the mana stones you earn.

For those of you who haven't been to the North yet, the weather is harsh, no matter the season. Protection on oneself to survive the negative degrees is crucial; make sure your magic is up to snuff enough to keep yourself at least room temperature. And using your magic to battle on top of that? This isn't going to be an easy job, not at your level. Be cautious, and good luck.

Mana areas & amulets. You've been here for a month now, and living in an unfamiliar place, alongside unfamiliar people, using unfamiliar magic must be wearing you down. Isn't it? In that case, it's time for the last piece of your wizardhood puzzle: your mana area.

Mana areas are spots where wizards feel most at peace with themselves, most whole, and a place where they can refill on the emotional load they've been chipping away at for their magic. It can be a specific location, or a conditional circumstance. Find more detail on the magic page. Your task—given to you by your sage and your mentor—is to traverse the continent, find your mana area, and recharge your batteries, so to speak. While there, make an amulet to take back with you, like a portable battery.

WANDERER TASKS

Listen to the spirits.

You've been here long enough that it's time to see if you can actually communicate with the spirits who've laid claim on you and have been empowering your spells. Try your listen and see if you can hear what they have to say to you.

OOC Note: For those attempting this task, ping one of the mods and roll a dice! Based on the dice roll, your character will get a little tidbit from the spirits... Or they might not hear anything yet, but they can always dedicate themselves to their studies and try again after leveling up!

TATARA ACTIVITIES

Don't make promises.

If you've made a promise, don't break it.

If you break a promise, you'll lose your magic. And I don't know if I can help you anymore or send you home if that happens. I'm sorry this is so late. But please...be careful.

OOC NOTES

🌙 Welcome to your third event! Everyone's lasted a month, congratulations! Keep working on your magic, keep forging those bonds.
🌙 As your characters settle into the world, they might find themselves irresistibly drawn to crowds, to music, to dancing. It's hard to resist the allure of a gathering, and it's hard to keep yourself from swaying to music when it fills your ears, no matter what sort of person you used to be. You're changing...
🌙 As we enter the second month, we are announcing a deadline for finding your pairs. This will be Friday, June 14 at 11:59 PM EDT. Remember, you may submit a guess at any time, and there is no penalty for getting a guess wrong, so long as you have a thread to back up your guess and consent from your partner. The pair page is here.
🌙 Your OOC plotting post is here! Remember to keep all wider plotting on this post, as not everyone checks plurk or discord frequently.
🌙 Next up for missions is East. Let's hope they don't have to talk to anyone for this one.

» NAVIGATION

Comments

[1145pm]

[ If Khun catches it or not, Tatara doesn't really seem to care. The shadow of surprise crosses his face when his lips come to his palm, but it's quickly replaced by the burst of a grin. He's probably never going to get used to it, but he still doesn't hate it. ]

As much as I'd like, I can't very well make an old fashioned outta your kisses, can I?

[ He wiggles his fingers. If he pokes Khun's chin in the process, then that's just a bonus.

His voice just a touch lower, but the grin on his lips creeps into his tone and onto his cheeks. ]

The other kind.

[lighthaus]

[ his chin is totally getting poked. the curve of his lips soften briefly at the expressions before him, but it doesn't take him too long to school them back into something proper for this game of theirs.

he lets go of tatara's hand to conjure his sugar, a pleasant light blue the same shade as his hair. there we are, proper payment, which he drops into the still outstretch palm with a little bit of flourish. ]

Consider it an early tip then, but this means you really can't disappoint me.

[1145pm]

[ Tatara admires the soft (in his opinion) blue of the sugar—he's never seen Khun's sugar before, has he? Even if he has, it's still nice to look at.

He rights himself with a little bow. ]

Your money back if it ain't up to your standards.

[ How does this work if there was no money in this exchange... Eh, he'll think about that later.

He'll deposit his cig elsewhere while he gets to work, grabbing two glasses for two old fashioneds and sprinkles the sugar in both. He sticks his tongue out as he concentrates on measuring for a brief moment; when he can think, he glances at his customer. ]

How you been, then?

[ A genuine question as to how Khun's doing, but it's pretty obvious by now that he doesn't mind if their little play continues. ]

[lighthaus]

I won't forget. [ khun has no idea how this works without money either, but a point is a point. ]

Busy, busy, but that's the way of things, isn't it? Work and play do go hand in hand at least. And yourself? I hope you haven't been running your work all on your lonesome.

[ in much the same way, this is also an actual ask. khun's been busy lately trying to find a suitable amulet (his mana area was easy to find), but that will not stop him from checking in on tatara.

even if tatara does a very good job at distracting khun in turn; he caught the glimpses of that tongue and smiled into his hand, elbow resting on the counter as he waits. ]

[1145pm]

[ He pours, mixes—for all his playing, it does seem like Tatara knows what he's doing, and is comfortable doing so. He definitely isn't guessing how to make an old fashioned.

He nods along, understanding, like a good bartender should, in his charade. He watches as he pours the liquid in that Khun's sugar reacts, and for the briefest moment, his eyes widen behind his sunglasses.

When he lifts his head, there's a little smile on his lips. ]

I s'pose things've been pretty hectic. There's suddenly a whole lotta crap on my plate, y'know what I mean?

[ He lifts the glasses, Khun's sugar swirling through the amber liquid like stars through a golden galaxy, and places one in front of Khun, and the other down in front of himself. ​]

A sage's gotta do what he's gotta do.

[lighthaus]

I'm no stranger to a busy schedule, no. But I'm also one to delegate and use all my resources at hand. [ it's one of his favorite things to do even if it's one of the most difficult things to do since it requires wrangling people's true abilities and natures, usually without their help. that's not important though, because khun is absolutely making note of all of this, even if he's staying in character for now.

...huh, he's never seen an old fashioned sparkle like that before. this is also the first time he's seeing a drink mixed in this world rather than already poured, like in flutes at the ball. it's gotta be the work of the sugar which is a bit weird to think about, but since the aesthetic is entirely his in all the ways, he ultimately winds up thinking it's pretty to look at rather than strange. ]

Suddenly though, why the change? [ he'll lift his glass in cheers and then take a sip. how is it! ]

[1145pm]

[ Tatara lifts his glass in turn, little smile on his lips. Cheers!

It's good! Tatara is no master mixologist, nor does he have absurd talent for making drinks, but it's clear it's something he's comfortable with and skilled at doing. Practically living and working at a bar has had its benefits, it seems! ​]

A lotta problems and things that were holdin' the castle back got squared away when the Central folks went 'n' took care of it. [ He shrugs, peers into his glass. ] They got a whole month of catchin' up to do. An' they need me for some of it.

[ And he sips... Oh. This is nicer with Khun's sugar. Or maybe that's just placebo. ]

[lighthaus]

[ oh, the notes of caramel, vanilla, and bitters go along well with the addition of the sugar. a bit sweeter than he's used to, but with the other flavors he doesn't mind. ]

Now that just sounds like code for frivolous meetings. Or is it more than that?

[1145pm]

A little more'n that.

[ Tatara's watching the sparkles swirl in his drink before he takes another sip.

When he looks up again, there's a more serious Tatara. Sage Tatara, perhaps. ]

Some...key people of interest have found their way back to the castle. [ He even drops the accent. ] So now it's all about...stopgap policies, supposed handover procedures, interim care, security, un-scrapping plans that got scrapped...

[ He sighs, but as his breath finds his end, he chuckles a little bit. ]

It's a lot. And nothing I'm really built for.

[lighthaus]

[ khun sets his drink down, blue eyes focused. on his end there's not much to drop, but things to pick up. ]

I am. [ literally, in every single way. ]

Tell me what you need.

[1145pm]

[ The look is another shock to his heart—he makes a little mental note to tell him when they're not in Khun-Sage mode. ]

I think I need to learn how to take notes better. There are a lot of things I don't understand and I'm never sure if I should spend my afternoons trying to learn Central policies or working on how to send all of us back.

[ He sighs, removes his sunglasses, and takes another sip. He can feel himself on the verge of tipsiness—he's very lightweight. ]

I think it'd be easier if I just had you with me.

[lighthaus]

[ with the sunglasses off, khun visibly relaxes slightly, the tension in his hands loosening. he puts a hand around his drink again, circling the rim of the glass with his finger as he listens.

there are more than several thoughts he has, but he has to get the obvious solution out of the way first. before that though he takes a sip of his drink, finding some satisfaction in the irony he's about to display. ]

Then take me with you, I'll behave~. [ said with the most innocent face he can muster, which is actually ridiculously spot on because he absolutely knows how to sell pretty much anything. again, what he was raised for. ]

[1145pm]

[ The look tickles Tatara so much that he chuckles, the tension he gets from thinking about meetings melting away a little bit. Or maybe that's the booze (which has Khun's sugar in it, so it all circles back to him anyway)? ]

I know you will. I could bring you with me tomorrow, and you can tell me what you think. [ He has no reason not to trust Khun, so why not? That, and he hasn't been explicitly told no wizards are allowed to come with him, so it's probably okay?

He lifts his glass for another sip, and after a moment of thought, he speaks into his glass with a little tease. ]

Hmm... I'm not sure what I'd do with you if you didn't behave.

[ hee hee hoo hoo ]

[lighthaus]

Then it's a—meeting. [ see he really does just talk like this, but he makes the extra effort here. his ridiculous countenance relaxes, a sly smile lingering. ]

But you're not getting any help from in that area. I was a terrible student and used to cut class and nothing really stopped me back then. Maybe if you got creative~. [ also teasingly, as he takes another sip of his drink. ]

[1145pm]

[ To be honest, he almost fell for it. Tatara giggles, both at his misconception, and because the misdirection reminds him of the first time that happened. Hmm. Maybe he just likes Khun. ]

Aww, but I was hoping you would give me ideas. I used to cut class, too... [ And he never felt bad?

... :thinking:

He leans forward, eyes wide and pleading, lips pouted. ]

Aguero?

[lighthaus]

[ if he were to think back to that time in the bath, he might have realized that his heart was just ahead of head. or maybe fate's just funny like that.

not that he has a thought for that now with what's been presented before him. the name still gets his heart to beat faster and he leans in too, lips wet with cocktail. ]

You'll have to offer me a little more than that, Tatara. [ he stops just short, eyes bright. ]

[1145pm]

[ Tatara loses his composure for the briefest of seconds, eyes flicking down from his eyes to the sheen of his lips, and he almost loses his own train of thought.

But he decides to go through with his plan. A mischievous grin flashes over his own lips as he reaches out, intending to pluck Khun's glass from his hand—

Except without looking, he misses (4). Instead, his fingers settle on Khun's, giving him away, and foiling his plan. When he realizes he messed up, he bursts out laughing. ]

Man! I was going to take your glass as punishment! [ He goes for the kiss anyway, because he can't help. ] Oh well.

[lighthaus]

[ pfff. now he's laughing too, and of course he's returning the kiss and quickly stealing another as is his right. ]

I thought you said you needed ideas!

[1145pm]

I do!

[ Khun's laughter only feeds into his own, as does the kiss. Tatara chases, but doesn't plant another quite yet. ]

I thought taking your drink was gonna give me ideas! [ There, there's another kiss. ] But now I'm back to square one!

[lighthaus]

But it's not such a bad place to be, is it? [ solely (yeah right) to emphasize his point, he goes for another kiss.

speaking of places- ]

What is this anyway? [ playfully tugging on tatara's scarf, though he means in general. ]

[1145pm]

[ Hehe! There's a big, silly grin in that kiss, and the only reason Tatara doesn't go in for yet another one is because he feels the tug on his scarf. He stops just short of Khun's lips, his eyes drop down to look (he can't see it). ]

Oh, this? [ He puts his hand over the other's. ] Celebrating an old friend's birthday. It was last month, but things were so busy, I missed it.

[lighthaus]

[ oh, he blinks once at the hand now ontop of his and then smiles, soft. ]

I see. They have a distinct taste to wear sunglasses indoors, but the scarf isn't so bad. [ mostly he likes being able to pull tatara like this, even if he's been thoroughly disarmed in this attempt. ]

You should tell me more about them. [ his eyes dart back up to the other's, blue reflecting coral. ]

But before that, tell me your own birthday.

[1145pm]

[ He probably wouldn't mind being pulled like this—

The way he smiles, the way his eyes soften just a touch is his way of saying yes. He'd love to reminisce, when the time comes. ]

Hm?

[ His own birthday? Tatara lifts his glass, but he can't very well take a sip, so it has to settle near his cheek. ]

I think you should guess. [ He grins, mischievous. ] Here's a hint: it's a holiday.

[lighthaus]

[ a holiday... there's an unique expression tatara can catch given their proximity, a genuine look of bewilderment. it doesn't last long and clears into a breezy smile, wide and guileless. ]

What's the price for a second hint?

[1145pm]

[ A unique expression, just for Tatara? His eyes twinkle with delight, and he decides to give Khun another quick kiss. ]

Tell me your birthday.

[ pay up!! ]