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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Kurapika stumbles into the northern forest and finds his boyfriend dead in a glue trap. The end.

That would be funny, but there's nothing funny about finding Akira unconscious and face down in the snow. He's been here long enough that snow has begun to accumulate on his back, starkly contrasting his black clothing. Hopefully Kurapika doesn't trip over him and break an ankle.]

Akira!

[ He would know that slumped form anywhere, black clothing and all.

It's a good thing Kurapika can keep his cool, isn't it? It's why he immediately places a warming spell on Akira and lifts him up out of the snow, so that he's sitting upright rather than panicking. Even so, there's a definite nervous energy in his voice. ]

Akira. Wake up.

[ He needs to be conscious if he wants to regain any of his actual body heat. With a frown, Kurapika lightly smacks at his cheeks. ]

[He stirs to the sound of Kurapika's panicked voice, the call of his name ringing like bells in his ears. His mind's all fuzzy, and when he opens his eyes, he can barely focus on Kurapika. Still... at least he's alive, no?]

...Hey.

[What's up, homie?]

Is that all you have to say?

[ He frowns, deep enough that it's easy to see even as Akira can't focus his gaze at anything in particular. But now that Akira's awake, his voice has taken on a much calmer affect, and he presses a hand to his cheek, murmuring his incantation to cast a healing spell. The warmth that blankets Akira is soft yet fiery, filling his very veins with what should now be a familiar magical scent. ]

What were you doing out here?

[...Better, much better. It takes a minute for the heat to sink into his skin and clear the fog from his mind, but once it does, Akira can think coherently enough to give Kurapika an answer. He still can't move, however, his limbs tight against his sides.]

I was... looking for someone.

Someone who didn't want to be found, clearly.

[ How long was Akira even looking? With a sigh, Kurapika pulls out an extra pair of gloves from his pockets and charms them so that they're as warm as typical handwarmer from a supermarket before sliding them onto Akira's hands. ]

Who was it?

[ He'll summon up a broom soon, he just needs to work on getting Akira warm enough for the ride first, and he may as well question him while he's doing just that. ]

...Yeah. Something like that.

[Solomon most surely did not want to be found, and if Akira had the blessing of foresight, he would have left him be. Nothing can be gained from chasing down someone who doesn't want to be found. He gets that now.

Akira shifts, burying his face in Kurapika's clothes. He doesn't want to have this discussion right now, but he knows how Kurapika is. He has no choice.]

Solomon.

[ He certainly doesn't, evident by the sigh that escapes Kurapika's lips. ]

And what were you doing all the way out here looking for him? At least have some sense and know when to give it up.

[ His tone is scolding and his words are blunt, but he places a hand on the back of Akira's head anyway, fingers gently tangling in his hair. With his free hand, he summons his broom. ]

Well, you can explain all of it to me on the way back. We're not staying here.

...I know, I know. There's no point in giving me a hard time about it now. Besides... I found him.

[And if he weren't lacking in strength himself, he could have dragged Solomon back, not that he would have. He can't force that man to listen to sense, let alone influence his decisions in any way. He was a fool for having tried.]

Let's go. I'm not going to bother with him anymore.

[ He helps maneuver Akira onto the broom before getting on himself, taking Akira's arms and wrapping them around his torso. ]

Hold on tight.

[ And with just that as a warning, he takes off into the cold Northern sky. ]

I don't really believe you, by the way. You say you're not going to bother, but that's not really you. Would you give up that easily over someone you nearly died in the snow for?

[ Sorry Akira, but all he hears is bullshit. ]

Edited 2024-06-04 05:39 (UTC)

[He loops his arms around Kurapika and rests his cheek against his shoulder, comforted by his familiar warmth.]

Give up on the man I punched and kicked and ditched in the snow? Yeah. I would.

[He's not the least bit proud, but he's not above speaking the truth. If Kurapika is going to judge him, he deserves to know the full scope of the situation.]

[ Kurapika is silent for a few moments as they trail over a line of trees. ]

That isn't like you at all.

[ None of it.

That isn't the kind of behavior he expects from Akira, not at all. And so, he falls silent again, an expectation for some sort of explanation hanging in the air between them. ]

...No. Maybe not.

[Kurapika is right, of course. Akira went too far. His actions were wholly unjustified. The northen forest's influence can only be blamed so much for the way he overreacted, taking out every bit of pent of frustration on a man whose will could not be swayed.

Losing himself to anger, to sadness, isn't like him... so then who is he?

Akira leaves Kurapika without an answer.]

[ So that’s how it is, is it? With a sigh, Kurapika maneuvers his broom one-handed so he can rest the other hand over Akira’s. ]

Tell me what happened, then. I’ll pry an explanation out of you one way or another, so do the easy thing and tell me now.

[ Akira doesn’t get to continue without talking about himself and his feelings. That simply isn’t allowed between the two of them. ]

...I don't know. I was overwhelmed by emotion. That's not usually a problem I have.

[That's where the forest's influence may have come into play, but again, Akira's not quick to brush the blame off onto anyone or anything else. He's the one who struck Solomon, the one who abandoned him to the cold.

Akira's cold fingers embrace Kurapika's.]

I was worried about him when he disappeared. He didn't tell me where he was going or why, and when I found him... I thought maybe I could stop him. Make him see reason. In the end, all I did was lash out and hurt him.

[ He brings Akira’s hand up to rest over his heart, as slow and steady as it always is. Softly, he whispers another spell, spreading warmth between their hands. ]

Then there was a reason he didn’t tell you.

[ But he knows that answer isn’t good enough for someone as earnest as Akira. ]

There are some wills that are unstoppable, that you can do nothing to sway. Either you accept that or you move on.

[ And Kurapika would know about the difficulty of being swayed, wouldn’t he? ]

But you aren’t the type to move on, and you refuse to accept it. Avoiding him isn’t an option for you, not with the way you are. So, will you atone for your sins or wallow in your guilt instead?

[ There may be love between him and Akira, but that doesn’t mean Kurapika will go easy on him. He isn’t the type to let anyone off the hook, especially those he cares for. ]

[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.

[ 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.

[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.]

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? ]

[...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?

[ 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.

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.

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.

[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.

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