thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

[promittere]

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

Comments

[jokey]

[No, no, Kurapika is right, and the harsh truth is what Akira needs to hear. Solomon didn't tell him likely because he knew Akira would try to interfere. He would have insisted on going with him, on lending him his aid, whether he was capable of helping or not. Solomon didn't want that. Solomon is just like Akira in terms of sheer stubbornness, and so it only makes sense, doesn't it? Of course he'd leave Akira in the dark.

The silence stretches on, Akira's arms wrapping tight around Kurapika. A moment of vulnerability, one he'll only share with him. Kurapika is the only one he can share it with.]

I told him not to show his face around me until he apologizes to Bruno for wrapping him up in his drama, but... we'll talk again. I'm sure of it.

[But is he ready to atone? To apologize? He should have all the answers, he should know, but he doesn't. He doesn't. Akira stays pressed to Kurapika and hooks his fingers into his shirt, at a loss when he, of all people, should know the right answer like it's second nature.]

I don't want to sit around feeling sorry for myself. Never.

[revengier]

I do. Even if you don't consider it a gift, I do.

[revengier]

[ Wow!! ]

More like ignoring his calls for two years straight.

[revengier]

I'm prepared to die.

[ His words come quick, as if he's said as much plenty of times before. ]

Rather... I was. I don't know that that's the case anymore.

[revengier]

[ He takes a breath, trying to allow himself to feel stable despite the shakiness of his own surroundings. All he has to do is ride this out...

But he can't help the way his eyes linger on what he believes to be a younger Jing Yuan. ]

And how have they been active? Burning buildings down?

[revengier]

I am. I have no shame in admitting that I consider you a friend. A good friend, even.

[jokey]

[Does he answer this question honestly...? Eh, it's Ahito. He's not going to snitch on him. Honest answer it is.]

Somewhere in the ballpark of 20 bottles. If we throw our little shindig at the bar, that should take care of any picky drinkers.

[foresightis2020]

[ Unfortunately, there are indeed fanciful images crafted indeed; of two close individuals who held quite a great deal of trust in another. Pouring over strategies, and the like; but it not always being such a droll affair.

As it is, he witnesses the smile that sees no light from Robin. It feels different from anything strictly relating to mourning. But he does not doubt that it stems from hurt feelings in relation to such an acute and deep loss. ]

I imagine you would have been...most likely, anyway.

[ It would have been odd if Robin hadn't been. He begins to consider asking, in earnest truth, though he does plan in doing so to offer a way out as well, given the personal nature of it.

Not that he is given much time to present it, since suddenly, a collection of memories wash over them for viewing. Almost completely without warning, but there had been a bit of a herald of it before. ]

[revengier]

[ He likes Bruno, but that particular piece of this little drama puzzle isn't one that Kurapika is involved with, so he doesn't chase that line of questioning. His concern here is his boyfriend almost dying in the snow. Kurapika is quiet, breathing soft and steady even as Akira's fingers grip at his shirt. ]

You shouldn't. That isn't the kind of person you are.

[ The surety with which Akira carries himself is one of the things that drew Kurapika to him, after all. He can't entrust his heart to someone filled with self doubt.

...But that doesn't mean he'll leave Akira to fend for himself when he feels it. ]

It seems to me like you owe one another apologies. Will you approach him first, or will you wait for him to come to you instead?

[ Kurapika wants to hear Akira's thoughts on his next step, but he's here for guidance too, so he throws in his two cents anyway. ]

Seeking him out yourself will likely repeat the events that led to your frustration in the first place.

[dyingtohealyou]

[Giving an impressed whistle.]

Just how long have you been sitting on all that?

[jokey]

[He doesn't feel good leaning on Kurapika for support, much less anyone else, when he's supposed to be strong enough to stand on his own. This isn't like him. This isn't becoming of him, isn't befitting, and he'll apologize to Kurapika for it later. It isn't his place to mire himself in weakness.

Little by little, Akira loosens his grip, straightens up. The heat's soaking in, breaking through the chill that gnaws at his limbs. He holds Kurapika loosely around the waist. He's fine now.]

I need time. Knowing Solomon, he'll seek me out eventually. When that time comes... I'll be ready.

[He won't allow himself to be anything less.]

[revengier]

You will. You wouldn't be anything less.

[ Akira tends to tackle things head on, after all, and Kurapika trusts that he'll be able to sort his own emotions out in that time. Though, he doesn't have to do that part of it alone either.

Which is why the fact that Akira already loosens his hold makes him frown, and not just at the slight loss of heat between them as he straightens up. ]

...You can continue to hold onto me, if you like. I know you move on quickly, but it's alright if you want to stay like that for a while longer. [ ... ] Even when we get back to my room.

[ After all, Kurapika wants Akira to feel like it's okay to be vulnerable with him. What's the point of being together if he can't be? ]

[jokey]

[Please, compliment him more. Akira's preening over here.]

Not that long. A week, maybe two, but the idea of throwing a party's been brewing in my mind for a lot longer.

[jokey]

[...Ah, don't threaten him with cuddles. Akira might take him up on that, though he hesitates to go back to wrapping himself around Kurapika's back like a stubborn koala cub.]

Doesn't that put you off? Me being all... [gesticulates into kurapika's shirt] ...clingy and weak?

[revengier]

[ For that, he actually turns his head back to give Akira a Look. ]

Why would it? Does it seem like I care about that?

[ Come on, Akira. He might not consider himself a good person, but he's not going to be put off by Akira leaning on him. ]

Isn't that the whole point of what we have between us? I want you to be comfortable showing that side of yourself to me. Idiot.

[jokey]

Mmngh.

[You've got him there, Kurapika. Embarrassing... Before Kurapika can appraise the flush that's burning across Akira's face, he drops his forehead against his shoulder. There. Close enough for you?]

You know it's not that easy. You can say that, but in practice, I bet it's a major turn off.

[revengier]

You're right, Akira. I'm never sleeping with you again now that you've shown weakness.

[ He shakes his head, hand settling over one of Akira's. ]

Do you really think something like that would go through my mind? Be realistic for once.

[dyingtohealyou]

People could probably use the chance to unwind, especially with how busy they've been keeping us.

["They" being anyone from ghosts to the various country officials putting in job requests.]

[jokey]

[Akira gasps! At least he's feeling well enough to engage in a bit of drama, eh? He claps his hand over Kurapika's mouth.]

That's waaay not what I meant. Don't be crass.

[This isn't about sex!! Akira drops his hand, but not before rubbing his thumb along Kurapika's cheek.]

But if you're offering to keep me warm in bed, I won't say no to that. I could tell you another one of my tales of derring-do.

[revengier]

[ Before Akira moves his hand, he'll feel Kurapika's lips quirk up at the corners against his palm. ]

I was already planning on it, but I'll make a formal offer. Would you join me in bed, Akira? In exchange for one of your tales, I'll tell you whatever you'd like to hear.

[ Kurapika has a lot of tales, ones he can't easily sort through, but he'll let Akira ask him for whatever he'd want to hear.

Thankfully, they're already close to the manor, and it looms in the distance, its bright lights contrasting against the darkness surrounding it. ]

[jokey]

Exactly. And the more tightlipped among us, maybe you, might feel better with a bit of alcohol loosening their lips.

[No need to tell him that he falls right into the same category. Akira knows, but he's not passing up any opportunity to rib Ahito for being the kind of guy who keeps much to himself.]

[dyingtohealyou]

Yeah. She's not connected to any of the stuff my parents were involved in. Though she wasn't exactly expecting to have to raise another kid, either...

[There's a rare flicker of - guilt, if just a little. He doesn't believe for a second it's his fault they're in this position, but it doesn't exactly feel great draining finances, either.]

Either way, we make it work.

[dyingtohealyou]

...Dang. Did you ever miss anything important?

[dyingtohealyou]

[Speak for yourself Akira, he's been inflicting his trauma on people since like day one.]

You're not going to make me wait that long for storytime, are you?

[lighthaus]

You've come so far. [ a beat. ] I didn't really do friends until recently, so I guess that makes two of us.

[ he's not allergic, but it's still kind of weird to say. ]