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]

Aww, c'mon. I'm setting the mood.

[Don't be a wet blanket, Kurapika! Akira snickers and nips his collarbone.]

Anyway, I'd been hunting that sucker for months. I spent hours researching the best gear and bait to take him down, but he eluded me month after month. I'm not gonna lie, there were times when I thought about hanging up my rod and giving in.

[revengier]

[ He smacks Akira on the shoulder for that nip. You know he's sensitive, asshole. ]

You, giving up? How humiliating, nearly being defeated by a fish.

[ But also... he's now wondering if Akira is this intense about all of his hobbies. When the hell did he have the time to fish between everything else he mentioned? ]

[jokey]

[Another snort and Akira lets up, wiggling closer to rest his cheek on Kurapika's chest. No more bites, he promises.]

You're so harsh. If you'd seen the size of this thing, you would've struggled too.

In the end, I managed to catch him. My hype man Ryuji was there too, so if you don't believe me, you can ask him.

[...Does that imply he's taking Kurapika home to Japan? If Akira has things his way, he certainly will.]

[revengier]

I doubt it. I've done extensive weight training. A fish is nothing.

[ He has skills, Akira. Skills involving many things.

The phrase "hype man" has Kurapika muttering something under his breath, most likely some sort of judgment on the fact that Akira considers anyone to be that for him. Ah, but that little implication pulls his attention away from being an ass. ]

You intend to take me back, don't you?

[jokey]

Come ooooon. Don't put down my accomplishments like that.

[Kurapika would understand if and only if he took on that massive monster of a fish himself. Tch, hater...

Oh, but... ah. Yeah. Akira does intend to take Kurapika home, but he hadn't realized he let that slip. His lips purse, his answer delayed.]

...Yeah, but not right away. You have a mission to accomplish first.

[Deep breath in.]

I'm coming with you.

[revengier]

[ That delay speaks for itself. ]

You'll die if you come with me.

[ But he isn't about to force Akira to break a promise either. That wouldn't be fair, and Kurapika isn't the type to abandon anyone either. ]

...I'm still considering my priorities. There's a chance I might not go back. [ A pause, and his voice softens. ] I'm still thinking it over.

[jokey]

You don't know that.

[Whatever the challenges are, Akira is certain he can adapt and overcome them. He won't let Kurapika call him weak and incapable.]

...No matter what, I'll be by your side. I'm not about to break a promise to you no matter what's at stake.

[revengier]

I know.

[ He wraps his arms around Akira, squeezing him tight like he's afraid that if he lets go, the worst of his fears will come true.

Quiet, nearly a whisper: ]

I wouldn't forgive myself if you died as a result of my decisions.

[jokey]

[He's rendered silent by the concern in Kurapika's voice— the fear and the worry. Kurapika... Silently, Akira wraps his arms around him and holds fast.]

Then don't blame yourself for something that hasn't happened. You believe in me, don't you?

[Or does Kurapika truly see him as weak and incapable, unable to learn and adapt to the hardships of his world?]

[revengier]

I do.

[ That much, he can say without hesitation. Kurapika wouldn't even consider getting involved romantically with someone he didn't believe in. That simply isn't in his nature. ]

But it takes time to learn Nen, much more time than what we'll have. I can jumpstart it for you, I know that for certain, but it'll take you months to learn the fundamentals and develop your skill to a point where you can use it efficiently. Time isn't on our side and it's what we'll need.

[ So in the end, that's what worries Kurapika the most. ]

[jokey]

...Yeah. I get that.

[And he'll resign himself to that fact without question. Akira knows his limits, and moreover, he trusts Kurapika when he says the risks are too great to take.]

But there are other ways I can support you. I won't be a liability to you. You have to believe me when I say I'll do whatever I can to support you, including staying alive.

[revengier]

Don't ever think for a second that you're a liability to me, Akira.

[ He means it. What kind of person would he be if he saw his loved ones as liabilities? ]

The boat was full of Nen beasts... I saw someone become possessed by one and shoot two other guards. I've seen others crawling around, scoping out our suite just to see who they could take advantage of.

[ His hold around Akira tightens. ]

It isn't you. It's my world as a whole.

[jokey]

[His own hold tightens while he closes his eyes and tries to envision the world Kurapika lays out for him. By comparison, his world is about as dangerous as an ankle-deep ball pit.]

You need someone to take care of you after spending your day dealing with all that chaos. No wonder you were such a mess before we met.

[Kurapika doesn't know the meaning of the term self-care.]

[revengier]

...I wasn't a mess.

[ He totally was. ]

Are you offering yourself up to the task, then? Since you think I'm a mess that needs to be taken care of?

[ Despite his harsh words, he genuinely appreciates it, and that's evident in the way his hold hasn't loosened at all. ]

[jokey]

[...Kurapika is so fussy. Akira hums, amusement rumbling in his throat. He frees up a hand to thread into Kurapika's hair, ruffling it.]

That's what I've been saying, silly. You can't even remember to eat half of the time.

[revengier]

It isn't about forgetting to eat. I'm simply focused on more important things.

[ Like practicing his magic or reading... though he's especially bad when it comes to reading fiction. ]

[jokey]

Are you calling eating unimportant?

[Snnrk. He's not even going to try and hide his laugh. Kurapika deserves to get laughed at for that one.]

You'll die if you go too long without eating. Ever thought about that?

[revengier]

I’m well aware that it’s important.

[ Why is he even arguing this? This is so dumb!! With a huff, he loosens his hold on Akira. ]

You’re so annoying.

[ And yet, that’s what he likes. ]

I said earlier that you could ask me whatever you like and I’d answer. Go ahead.

[jokey]

And you like it.

[Heh!! While Kurapika loosens his hold, Akira wiggles in to get nice and comfortable.

What to ask, what to ask... He doesn't want to talk about anything serious right now, so—]

Tell me about your friends back home.

[revengier]

[ He doesn’t acknowledge that little statement with an answer! Mostly because Akira is right. ]

My friends… I’m shocked you believe I have any.

[ Just saying. ]

Gon, Killua, Leorio. They’re my closest friends, though I think I’d include Melody in that list as well. Gon is straightforward and earnest… the sort of person that’s valuable to have on your side, because he would do anything for you. Killua is smart and a bit rude, but he’s a good person. He tries his best to grow apart from the harsh environment in which he was raised.

[ There’s a lot more he could say about those two, but he’ll hold off for now. ]

Leorio is loud and annoying. He’s obnoxious and refuses to leave me alone. [ … ] But he’s a kind person, turning the tragedy he’s faced into something good to help others.

Melody has always known how to deal with the worst parts of me. She’s kind and considerate, but won’t back down from danger. I’m lucky to have her.

[jokey]

[...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.

[revengier]

[ 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?

[jokey]

[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?

[revengier]

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.

[jokey]

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.