lunaecalamitas | thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

NEW MOON ADAGIO

Between the constant requests from the North and the sense of tension that pervades the manor, Sage Tatara makes an executive decision: we're going North, baby.

Of all the things that have happened thus far, let this be the ultimate test of your magic. Even as we near summer, it's frigid. Protect yourselves and your allies from the cold. Protect yourselves while also fighting off monsters (or other territorial wizards, should you make the terrible mistake of wandering into another's territory), flying through the vast wilderness, or protecting the poor humans who need your help to survive. Time to blow off some of your steam. Just be sure to obey Tatara's one rule: don't kill each other.

One particular problem of note is in the Forest of Dreams. Without its guardian, many of these rogue monsters and dangerous predators, displaced from their normal habitats, have found their way into the forest. Many of them, however, are unable to survive against the fatal toxin, and there are plenty of animal corpses and mana stones that litter the forest. It might be best to clean these up before the forest guardian returns...

That said, the toxin is yet another thing you must protect yourself against in addition to the cold. While you can likely keep yourself from dying from the toxins, you may not be immune to its effects. This deadly toxin causes anyone who breathes it in to dream and hallucinate vividly, be it images of the past, imagined futures, thoughts of the present processed and warped...

Strangely enough, those nearby may end up sharing in your dreams... Did you want the darkest recesses of your thoughts, hopes, and fears unearthed for others to see?

Those who decide to venture far past the more populated (in relative terms) parts of the North may find themselves stumbling upon what looks to be an abandoned bandit hideout. It seems it's been abandoned for quite a while—nothing to loot here, sorry!—but there sure are a whole lot of monsters that have decided to make this hidden corner of the North their home.

While you're at it, you may find a nearby cave. Beautiful crystals dot the walls and the floors, and there are small pools of hot spring water free for relaxing. It seems to be relatively free of monsters, too. So maybe this wouldn't be a bad spot to relax, away from everything else?

However, there's one thing that makes this cave truly unique, and it isn't the vistas or the springs—it's the bats. These bats hear echoes of the past and replay them for visitors. Should you stay a while and listen, a bat may pay you a visit. And when it does, it may play for you the voices from the memories of visitors past, whose stories may hold a clue or two to your circumstances...

While the Forest of Dreams is a memory/dreamshare free for all, the aural memories replayed by the bats in the Cave of Time will come from one of the original wizards only. If you'd like an audio replay of a perhaps significant moment either in their personal life or a clue as to what happened to them (it will be randomized), then please reply to this comment!

JOB BOARD

Clean-up and repairs. While thanks to the hard work of your Eastern friends the worst was prevented, the City of Rain emerged from their short ordeal a little worse for wear.

Buildings need repair, blood needs to be cleaned off the streets, the injured need help. This is, perhaps, the only time you will be allowed to use magic openly in the city (you've been given permits and everything!), but you still are not allowed to talk outside of designated zones. Please, please don't get arrested...

As for the scrap that litters the streets? Unfortunately, you'll have to take it back to the scrapyard. But this time, there's a big, roaring bonfire out there. Just chuck all the scrap and debris in the fire. The city isn't taking any second chances—extreme situations call for extreme measures.

Reverence. Several Northern villages are currently outside the protection of a wizard, and have requested the sage's wizards' presence. They're terrified of the monsters and worried the barriers for their villages will fail sooner than later. They don't simply ask for help for free, however, and these smaller villages are steeped in their tradition—they'll pay you their respects, praying to you, offering you gifts, groveling at your feet, in hopes for a modicum of your time and protection. Do their offerings please you? Then assist them with what you deem appropriate for their worship to you: kill a few monsters for them, or a lot if you're pleased. Strengthen the barrier a lot, or not at all if you're displeased. It's up to you! You have the power here. What's it like to be a god for a day?

Ladies' night. The monthly lady officers' gathering is coming up in the City of Affluence—it's an exclusive meetup for the women involved in and related to Western military and bureaucratic affairs. Anyone is welcome, so long as they meet two requirements: they are outwardly presenting feminine, and they have an invitation to the gathering. Here's your chance to flex your transformation and glamour spells! Infiltrate the meetup with a disguise and a fake invitation, mingle, enjoy the drinks, the jazz, the entertainment, and find out what you can... What's the Western army up to? Be careful, though—don't get caught and kicked out!

The attendees seem to be excited about the new phantasmagoria technology and the upcoming display, and many whisper about the upcoming Venator meteor shower...

G'RAHA TASKS

Greetings, new friends! I am G'raha Tia, and while I hesitate to call myself a mentor or a replacement for the one you had, I am eternally grateful for the assistance I received and will do my best to help your cause in any way I can. To that end, I feel I may need to be caught up to speed on the events and get to know all of you.

We can have some tea and sandwiches and have a discussion! That's the best way to learn, sometimes.

TATARA ACTIVITIES

Even if we're not here for very long, I think we should leave our mark (not literally! Don't paint on the walls!). I got paint and big paper in the dining hall, but no brushes... Do you know what that means? Finger paint! Finger paint a portrait of yourself with your name and I'll hang it up in the library when they're all done!

Thanks to Cid and Khun, my camcorder works now. The thing is, what's the point of filming anything if we have no way to watch the film?! Could you guys work together to make some kind of projector? Or like...VHS player? We could have a movie night together!

OOC NOTES

🌙 Welcome to your fourth event! It's your dreamshare and memshare event! Ready to open up with your deepest and darkest secrets?
🌙 We're halfway through the game. How do you feel?
🌙 Back at the manor, Kurapika and Maya have set up a bulletin board! Leave comments, argue with your neighbors, have fun. Be nice. Don't set it on fire.
🌙 On the admin side of things, Lav has swapped out Wanderer for G'raha! Please say hello to your new mentor NPC.
🌙 Your OOC plotting post is here! Remember to keep all wider plotting to the post, and remember to check back frequently, since not everyone checks plurk or discord all the time.
🌙 The next country to go on their mission is North. Do you think a PVP-enabled mission will go well?

» NAVIGATION

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[It doesn't, and Urianger can scarcely believe it.]

"I...I'm sorry. 'Twas remiss of me...not to deliver the news in person." [He finally responds with a shaky voice. He still can't bring himself to return the embrace, not with his guilt hanging so heavily over him.] "No, 'twas more than that... 'Twas I who..."

[Before Urianger can even begin to blame himself for his family's grief, Wilfsunn interrupts.]

"Our daughter was disillusioned after Master Loisoix left her behind. The day the Scions called upon her was the happiest I'd seen her in years. She made her every choice of her own free will. No one could have ever forced her to do otherwise."

[With Moenbryda's name being spoken of in the past tense, the only natural conclusion to all of this is...]

"Don't blame yourself for her death. Celebrate her life. You know that's what she'd want."

[Indeed, some time ago, Moenbryda had lost her life. But...it was more than that. She had given her life in the pursuit of defeating the Ascians- immortal beings who sewed chaos and destruction upon Etheirys. Her death was a noble one...and Urianger hasn't stopped blaming himself for it up until this point.]

"If there is one thing we resent you for, it was that we could not be there to mourn her with you." [Bloewyda adds, tears beginning to well in her eyes as she thinks back to the letter Urianger had sent them.] "Reading the words you penned in that shaky hand... We must have cried as much for you as we did for her."

[With these words from his parents, Urianger begins to break down. He wraps his arms around Bloewyda tightly.]

"I'm sorry. I truly, truly am... I knew not what to say. Knew not how to express my feelings..." [His arms shake as much as his words. All of the grief he had bottled up begins to spill out.] "The poems and platitudes of wiser men. Musings of sadness and loss... Studied and memorized...and meaningless in the moment."

"Silly boy..." [His mother chides, gentle and loving.] "We are powerless before such grief. Even now, try as I might, the words escape me... But in our hearts, we know. We always know."

[Silence falls as the family shares a moment of quiet tears and warm embrace.]

Edited 2024-06-19 01:02 (UTC)

[...Wow, what an eclectic group. When you're someone like Kurapika, chances are you'll keep interesting company, but what they all seem to have in common is a good heart. Makes sense, knowing what Akira does of his boyfriend. Kurapika has a fondness for the honest and the outspoken and for the bleeding hearts of this world.

There's a smile in Akira's tired laugh, tucking himself up beneath the curve of his jaw.]

Sounds like you lucked out. What good friends.

[...But he's getting deja vu here. Hold on.]

That Leorio guy sounds familiar.

[ He has good, incredibly kind friends. It's why he tried to distance himself. After all, Kurapika's greatest weakness is someone with a good heart... too bad he couldn't run away so easily here.

But at least that means Akira was able to catch him.

This position honestly isn't bad, and Kurapika is settling into it nicely, practically melting against Akira as he closes his eyes and hums in agreement.

Until he brings up Leorio. Stiffening, he lets out a sigh. ]

What do you mean?

[Akira snorts, sitting up on his elbows to show off the incredulous look on his face.]

Are you serious?

[Kurapika, you need to ask???]

He sounds a bit like me. Should I be worried?

Are you serious?

[ He frowns, but the way his lips turn down? It's a pout more than anything else. ]

Why would you ever need to be worried?

[ Akira is obviously joking, but here Kurapika is anyway, like a cat with a puffed up tail. ]

You're similar in some regard, yes, but not enough that there's a threat of any kind.

Oh...

[ They appreciate the hand with a very brief glance of those injuries being patched up. They close their eyes too. ]

I hope either of you don't have to deal with those people again. You don't need me to say it's horrible, but... my mother would smile like that when she's in pain.

...She never will.

[For better and for worse.]

And as for me - if all goes well, I'll only see them one more time.

( dear r/relationships i (16m) can't stop wanting to kiss my bf-slash-presently-gf (???m) and idk how i'm supposed to go on a date without getting distracted by kissing him please advise,

So he doesn't resist the impulse - he lets it carry him, the way Ginger hadn't held back in nuzzling him. Lithe fingers threading through Ginger's locks to lock against the back of his head and kiss him brief, soft lips pressed enough to transfer (lipstick for the both of them, once more). He decides he won't tell Ginger about all the marks he's leaving on him - he just wants to know when he'll notice. When they pass a storefront? When they skim the lakeside?

It's such a silly, little thing, but it makes him excited. These little things - these features that death had worn down into a flat, featureless expanse in his heart - take life again, bit by bit. )

Me? Have you seen you?

( Grinning - pink-cheeked at the compliment, especially since he's all self-conscious (about everything, from his looks to his makeup to his chest that - he didn't realize it was so big, when he'd put it together, until he got to the party, and then it was too late to change it,

But he'd fumbled earlier - he'd fallen in love with Ginger all over earlier, so please forgive him - but now he's steadier on his feet and manage to say: )

You're gorgeous, Ginger. If there's a single thing that doesn't fall in love with you tonight, I'd say they don't have eyes at all.

( But Mika definitely does, and he gets to feel his heart skip a beat every time he hears Ginger laugh like that - or, maybe it's just his heart telling him how it'd feel if it could skip, if it could beat.

He unwinds from Ginger finally (reluctantly,) to take Ginger's hand in his (not reluctantly). In his unoccupied hand appears his broom. Apparently, he seems keen to drive them this time. )

I'm kind of curious about the night markets. I've never been to one. ( Nor would he really care to see one, but, with Ginger... Anyway, he's just thinking of a quick look. ) And then we can dip out to the fields. East has some really pretty ones. How's that sound?

[ And all Bruno can do is stand by and watch, sharing in that same grief and tears even though he's outside the memory itself, only looking in. He isn't sure if the memory brings tears to his eyes or his own soft heart, although he would suspect it's both.

He's glad to see Urianger with those who share in his loss, able to grieve with those closest to him, but in the same thought, he wishes whatever must have happened had never done so.

Losing someone so dear... and she must have been, this Moenbryda.

What a strange vision for the forest to offer, with so many mixed emotions. ]

[As the fog begins to creep back in, Bruno is treated to Wilfsunn and Bloewyda reminiscing over their children's youths- of how much effort Moenbryda put into protecting the bookish young Urianger from bullies and trying to understand him and pull him out of his shell so that he would never be lonely again.]

"And look at you now. At the center of the crowd... The reason there even is a crowd, having brought these people together. You've no idea how proud we are."

[Just that affirmation alone nearly brings Urianger to tears a second time.]

"To see the boy our daughter trusted and believed in more than anyone...grow into the man she always knew he could be.

I can see her in you, too. Feel her. She walks with you, wheresoever you go. So thank you, Urianger. For being who you are."

[Finally, it feels like everything makes sense. With tears shed, so too are his guilt and reservations. His words begin to fade with the scene, growing more distant as all turns to white.]

"I... I think...I can feel her, too... The truth...of her life. Not sorrow...but hope. And love..."

[And just like that, they're back in the forest. Urianger has returned to Bruno's side, somber and contemplative.]

'Twas a great weight lifted from my shoulders that day, yet not a day doth pass that I do not think of dearest Moenbryda.

[It feels strange to have such a heavy memory shown to another, but Urianger ultimately doesn't mind if it's Bruno.]

Basically. Everyone outside the bureau's affected.

[ Oh, they're back here. Bruno gives a faint jump, startled when Urianger speaks again from a spot different from where he last saw him. Well, "him". ]

...ah. [ He turns towards his tall friend, looking up, his eyes still teary but he makes no effort to hide that. ] W-well, yeah? I mean, she meant so much to you, so of course she isn't far from your thoughts. You wouldn't want to forget her, right?

[ comment on r/relationships, downvoted 18 times: OP im confused reading this and you probably need to call the cops fr

He wrinkles his nose at Mika, smile turning lopsided. This form reminds him of his mom - and while people being in love with his mom is a common trend, it’s also a little bit of a sore spot. His mom was Rum and his sisters’ first love, too. ]

They’ll definitely forget about me once they see you. Look at your smile… [ Then Mika’s words catch up to him. ] You… think I’m gorgeous?

[ Small surprise, but he’s clearly pleased, warm all over. It makes him distracted as he follows along with Mika. It doesn’t matter if he’s in the front or the back, though he’s used to curling around Mika like the hug of clam around its pearl - laying claim, but needing him more than anything. Every moment, everyday. ]

It sounds good. Maybe we can buy something for our room.

[ Once they’re set, he murmurs something like ‘maybe it’s the hair…’ trying to guess at what makes him gorgeous to Mika tonight. ]

[Truthfully, it's hard for Urianger to not be a little misty-eyed too after reliving that. It's still a fresh memory, but no less poignant.

He shakes his head.]

Ne'er. And I shan't. She shall always be with me. Even here, on this distant star.

[He takes a moment to rub his eyes, then smiles down at Bruno.]

If...thou art at all curious about her or what thou didst see, I would answer thy questions. Mayhap after returning to the manor? I daresay we have earned a strong cup of tea.

[The forest has had enough fun with their memories and feelings at this point.]

( Mika can't say he's fond of the North; it's hostile and oppressive, yes, but it's discomfiting, the way it feels like the spirits don't want him here. Too weak for their appetite, surely - but it's bad enough that he feels the hatred of the sun bearing down at him for half the day already; he'd rather avoid places too crushing to exist in, if he can help it.

Fortunately, the cold and the toxin don't bother him much, as a vampire - unfortunately, that means he has to be much more careful keeping up his spells warding against the cold and hallucinogens much more carefully, because his body has no built-in alarm against it. He might not mind the cold, but he can still freeze into a fine block.

And he can certainly still hallucinate. )

... My ward feels steady enough. ( He keeps himself alert, his gaze searching for distant rustles in the trees - his attention fixed on that monster they're hunting. ) Do yours?

( His attention is a little too fixed on the monster, perhaps. As they walk in the deafening quiet of the forest, the soft crunch of snow begins to echo, faint - sounding, oddly, like footsteps on marble. But it can't be marble, can it? )

( Mika will take front seat on this metaphorical bicycle ride, the cushion of Ginger's chest no less something that draws pink to his cheeks this time than it was the first, and so their start is a little shaky - but, thankfully, they don't crash. (Losing focus on your magic and crashing because you're too gay for your bfgf would be truly tragic and he'd never live it down so he has very strong motivation to succeed here,)

"Our" room. His smile curls a little wider at that as they pull up over the rooftops, so they can see the dazzling lights of the West. He doesn't need to go too high since the market's not all that far - but he does, because he'd rather their ride be just the two of them, and he'd rather linger on their descend, having to circle slow before they have to merge with the world again. )

You've always been good-looking. ( Brief memories of Ginger impatient and hanging over him in the inn... anyway, ) So, yeah, you are. Always have been.

( Like this, and like that. Maybe it's weird to use "gorgeous" for a guy, and he was certainly self-conscious about using the word before - but more at ease now, he's committing to it. He can say it because it's true!!!!! )

We could get some of those things we talked about that one time. Something in amber?

( Mika's suggestion then was honey, but... whatever Ginger likes, really. )

[ Then there's also the potential for snowblindness...what fun for everyone and the family, huh.

Anyway, Jing Yuan also certainly has his spells up on his end, prepared for whatever may be upon them. He's had more and more time to perfect spells of this nature ever since his foray into the forest before, which seems so distant, though he had been practicing something to that effect even before that. ]

They do. I've ensured that they're as strong as they can be.

[ There's a pause at him hearing the strange sound...certainly enough for him to make commentary on. ]

...Do you hear that?

[ Rip Kurapika, that's one of the reasons why Day is fond of you. ]

Haha, if you were, I'd be a little afraid! [ It would cross straight into being uncanny. ] Awfully confident you can kick my ass though, huh?

[ Sidesaddle seems to be the only way to make this work comfortably - and his body is not used to folding together like that instead of than legs apart. It’s a little awkward, but hugging Mika from behind, arms snug around a more slender waist - that’s familiar. That’s real nice.

His forehead touches the nape of Mika’s neck as he lets the compliment macerate into syrupy sweet happiness. Softly: ]

Oh. I never knew you thought so.

[ Most people are attracted to his looks first before his personality shatters their pure image of him. But he’d… never really cared about most people. Just… a very select few - and now the most important person is saying he’s gorgeous. Wow… ]

… Well, you’re stuck with me forever, so…

[ Please continue to find him attractive. ]

That was back when we hadn’t even moved into the same room yet, wasn’t it? [ They’d been homodachis then. Before they dived into homodachuus. And after that homodic- ] Something in amber would be nice, but… I want something for us. So maybe green and gold?

( Ah... Ginger snug against his back (soft...), slender arms around his own thinner waist, forehead against the back of his neck... feels nice. He feels like he usually slots against Ginger in a different (still comfortable) way - maybe because he's the one holding onto Ginger? Maybe because Ginger's usually a little bigger than this?

But he likes this, too. )

Uh-huh. Sure am. ( And very gladly so! ) And that means I get to look at you very single day. Lucky me.

( But it's true he's never said anything about it... He doesn't think he's particularly humble about the things he likes about Ginger, but maybe he could be a little more articulate about it? )

Green and gold... Do you like gold?

( He figures the green's cuz it's his favorite color. But... )

... I've been a little more partial to blue, lately. So maybe we can swap that one out?

Well, yeah? Who wouldn't be curious?

[ But a cup of tea in the manor over this forest sounds like a blessing at this point. He'll summon his broom — a plain bristle broom, no decorations or embellishments to be seen — to his hand. ]

C'mon. Let's get out of here. I have, like, a hundred questions.

Lucky me. Waking up next to you still feels like a dream.

[ Ginger is the lucky one, the luckiest demon-angel-wizard alive. With how soft their everything is now, it feels as if they could melt into each other if he just pressed in harder. That he’s this close to Mika is a blessing; that Mika would share this form with him is a gift. ]

It’s… Don’t laugh. I think it’s the color of your soul. It’s… [ Cheeks dusted with pink happiness. ] … so bright, I would be able to see it from stars away.

[ - And know there’s his love. ]

I think blue would be glad to be paired with gold.

I see.

[ They won't ask further, taking a breath. Comet wants to believe something a bit more hopeful, but deep down, there's a feeling of knowing what "never" really means. ]

I hope you get that opportunity.... To get what you want.

That's what I'm hoping for, too.

[The sounds of surgery end, and Ahito finally removes his hand as the story between the two children continue. Mizuki, worrying at the sight of Ahito's face covered in bruises and bandages, and Ahito, trying to distract her from her concerns with baby castellas instead.

He's okay - he has to be. Because if his body fails, he won't be able to keep healing Mizuki, and if he can't do that, then...

...]

When am I ever not serious?

[Please don't answer that.

He can't see Kurapika pouting, but he can hear it in his voice. Cute. Now then, what to do about his competition...]

So it's not like that, huh? You never know. Maybe he has a crush on you.

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thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

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