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

[lustro]

Yes -

[ He deliberately presses only the softness of their breasts together - and imagines… ]

I didn’t know - I didn’t know I would? I’ve never been interested before… But - I think it’s just you.

[ If he were a little braver, if they were alone, he’d take Mika’s hand to between his legs - and show him this new… heat… that seems to mean - ]

I think, um, if I were in my usual body - [ His cheeks darken, making him look cherub shy. ] - you’d know right away.

[shortleash]

( , Ah, )

You're still—?

( Well, it makes more sense that Ginger's aroused in a new way than it being gone entirely, he guesses... He swallows, Ginger's chest - soft - he'd been trying not to focus on it (is it weird?? Well, clearly Ginger doesn't think so), but... )

... It's not like I've ever been interested in how anyone else looks...

( He's really only paid attention to it - and recently - with Ginger. The inn made and impression - and ... this does, too. He feels something stirring, but he's not sure what.

Tentatively, he pulls Ginger in toward him - holding him like he would a proper embrace, but, mm, there's definitely that gentle pressure between them. )

... Did you want to show me?

( He leaves it, as usual, up to Ginger - because Ginger doesn't always want to engage in that part of him.

Still, Ginger looks so cute all the time, but especially when he's self conscious (is that bad to say?). The way he wears his beating heart now, though, shades a little softer beneath the fresh curve of his eyelashes, and the gentle cascade of his hair; Mika finds he wants to play with it terribly - brush it aside, for every excuse to caress Ginger's face in the process. )

[lustro]

[ And no matter the softness between them, the difference in their sizes, it still kind of feels like there’s a pillow in the way. It’s a very nice and lovely pillow, but Ginger wants to slot together closer - to feel where Mika’s heart shakes to life when Ginger’s (theirs) beats. They would have to be laying down, maybe -

He locks his arms around Mika’s neck, the fingers of one hand tickling the hair at his nape. ]

I do, but -

[ On the one hand, he does - want them to explore just like this - but privately, without all this fabric in the way. He wants to know - is Mika wearing a bra? Panties? What color - he thinks his sweet heart would look cute in any - but seeing it… would be… really nice.

He also wants to feel this Mika against his usual self - to cuddle the most beautiful softness and familiarize himself with this new shape of love. ]

Maybe - soon? But I… I want to talk a little more.

Even though… [ The blush spreads to his ears, hidden. He’s glad the blouse is as long as a short dress, though he doesn’t think anything would show up through the black of his bottoms anyway. ] This - um - I feel kind of antsy, like… I want to get up on my toes and just fall with you - and roll around together.

[shortleash]

( Ginger - for someone so tied up in his physical passions (not entirely by choice, but still!) - really has a way of working up a saccharine smile onto Mika's lips, lovestruck like he's seeing Ginger for the first time.

In a way, he is, at every moment - and not simply because their changed forms. He's never seen Ginger look the way he does at this moment before, and he'll never quite see it the same way again - there's nothing he can grow tired of; nothing to take for granted.

How often, besides, will he get to see Ginger's cheeks so apple-red, from an angle that's almost eye to eye? )

... Do you want to?

( Held snug against each other - not a perfect fit like this, but nothing he'd trade away if it meant any sort of distance from him - he feels like they could tip over the balcony and... if there isn't a fresh patch of grass watching for them, he thinks they'd be able to flit off and find something that'd let them fall into each other - fall for each other, over and over again. )

Let's go on a date.

( hehe )

[lustro]

[ Date…!!! The borrowed color on his lips spread wide into an excited beam and the lipstick stain on his cheek nearly disappears under the red excitement that brightens his face. ]

Yeah!

[ He hugs Mika quickly, pressing their cheeks together - tonight seems to be a night of pressing things together that are just a little smoother, a little softer - until everything js a little warmer, a little hotter. Mika’s cheek is really… Mmm. Lovely. He nuzzles into it. ]

Yeah… Please, let’s. I want to do everything - if it’s with you.

[ He pulls back and his eyes adore Mika. ]

There’s the - night markets, I think. But we can go to any country - or if our date is rolling around in the fields somewhere under the night sky, that sounds fun, too.

But - [ he continues in a laughing tone: ] - wouldn’t the stars be jealous of how beautiful you are?

[shortleash]

( 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?

[lustro]

[ 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. ]

[shortleash]

( 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. )

[lustro]

[ 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?

[shortleash]

( 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?

[lustro]

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.

[shortleash]

( Well, if pink dusts Ginger's cheeks, Mika's start to match. You'd think that with every sappy word Ginger says, he's just get used to it - jaded to it, as vampires are wont to do - but Ginger always remains fresh, like the first ever sight of sunrise; like coming over the dunes to see an oasis.

He looks back over his shoulder briefly - then thinks better of it as his broom falters in his heart's distraction - but in that briefest moment was bright-cheeked Mika, his gaze searching for Ginger's. )

... Some things are only bright because they reflect the light of something else, you know.

( Not naming names......... but like the other person's on this broom...

Gently they begin to descend into the sea of dazzling lights, Mika bringing them down around the corner, in some alley, from one end of the outdoor market. He was mindful to take them down a winding route that didn't make them too obvious; he didn't really want humans identifying them by face as wizards (witches). )

Blue and gold it is, then. ( As his heels gently touch cobblestone floor. ) Blue for you, of course. Pretty like the sky. No way I'm pairing something that's meant to represent me with anything else.

[lustro]

Yeah.

[ Soft the way it’s said. Because Ginger agrees: some things are only bright because they reflect the light of something else. It’s Mika’s bright cheeks, startling in its beauty, brief as a breeze - but so divine on Ginger’s own soul. This writhing, twisted thing that reaches out only for Mika’s love. Colorless, an abyss, until it’s touched by soft pinks and reds freckled by gold. Yes, some things.

When he catches Mika’s eyes, he wonders if the other sees it: the want that’ll never, never ever go away. He could give Mika a sliver of his heart daily, and each piece would continue to grow, photosynthesizing under love, endlessly yearning. ]

The sky is only pretty because of the sunlight. And the night is only memorable because of the starlight, the moonlight.

[ Their feet are on the ground, but Ginger - clings. The arms around Mika’s waist (curvy, lovely) stop him from stepping away - from turning. Just a moment, cheek to shoulder. ]

I think we can be mirrors, but the worst parts of me - what I think are the worst parts of me - aren’t so bad when I see them in your eyes.

[ And to Ginger, his boyfriend is perfect, scars and all, so that’s that. ]

If I’m pretty, well… You make me… pretty. And happy. And giddy. Hey, Mika, did you know we’re on a date?

[ As though Mika wasn’t the one to ask first. ]

[shortleash]

( He doesn't expect Ginger's hold, but he welcomes it, settles into it, as if he were always meant to be there. The broom dissipates from below them, dissolving into something sweet-scented, like black sugar, before it wisps into nothing; a little different than how it used to dismiss itself, by dissolving into black ash.

A subtle difference, but a difference all the same, all for the better.

He is quiet as he listens to Ginger, his expression softening - pensive, but thoughtful.

But, by the end of it, he smiles.)

Yeah. We're on a date.

( What Ginger says, he could say to Ginger in turn - that Ginger has this way of turning back around these ugly things in Mika and making them look like something beautiful and new.

Alike enough to get it, but just different enough not to fall into themselves - he thinks. )

And we're gonna go on a thousand-thousand more, minimum. ( Just as a starter. ) Because I can't think of any part of you I don't like, and... if we're mirrors, then...

( Well, maybe Ginger feels the same. He knows Ginger does, but it feels - presumptuous, almost arrogant, to assert it for Ginger. But he knows, at least he thinks he knows, as surely as he feels Ginger's arms fast around him. )

Well, it'd be a privilege to reflect you.

[lustro]

[ Eventually he’ll connect the dots: the need to sleep more and more, their sleep cycles syncing; the color tinting his pale skin, at the corners of his lips when he smiles; the light in his eyes, the fading shadows under them. All of that to mean Mika’s magic is just a little sweeter, a little more lush.

But not today.

Today, the idea of a thousand-thousand more dates takes priority. ]

More than that - a thousand-thousand-thousand. [ At minimum. He presses a kiss to Mika’s shoulder and then slides his arms away. If only because they can’t walk around like this - Ginger’s not tall enough in this form. ]

… With you… [ He reaches out for Mika’s hand, fingers ready to cling. ] I’m never - I’m not afraid to see what’s reflected in your eyes. At the beginning, yeah, because - you know. I’m so much. I want so much.

[ But Mika has always made him feel just right. ]

So that’s why we should add a couple of thousands. Though, I guess… I don’t really know what people do on dates?

Is there anything you want to taste? [ …Through Ginger… ]