lunaecalamitas | and i'll stay yours, no matter sunrise, nightfall

and i'll stay yours, no matter sunrise, nightfall

WAXING CRESCENT PRESTO

Things haven't been easy the past two months for the new sage's wizards, but their hard work is paying off. All twenty-five, including sage and mentor, have been personally invited to the home of the newly-appointed Lady Diane Chenon of Borda Island, located in the Western Country.

Borda Island is a popular holiday desination located off the western coast of the mainland, and as the local ruler, Lady Diane's abode is nothing less than a beautiful castle—a gorgeous piece of architecture, even if it isn't as grand as Granvelle Castle.

She invites everyone to stay for an entire weekend. But when they all arrive to their destination, they'll find that she's...absent, due to sudden business she has to attend to. No matter, though. Her staff is ready to receive you anyway, and you're given free reign over both the castle and the island.

In the castle, the staff have set out an entire feast for the crew, with all sorts of food imaginable. From large savory dishes to delectable sweets, everything is exquisite, and it's set out in a buffet style so everyone can pick and choose what they want to eat. The castle also has stunning views of the town and the western expanse of sea beyond the mainland.

Outside of the castle, the world is your oyster. Borda Island's beaches are pristine, well-maintained, with silky sand and shining blue water. While there are several other beachgoers at this time of year, the sands and seas are mostly open for the sage's wizards to lounge in as they please. If you think your water breathing magic is up to snuff, then why not go diving? There are whispers of a sunken city far off the coast (if you think you can find it!), and you may be lucky enough to run across a mermaid...

The markets aren't far from the beach, and they hold a vast array of trinkets, activities, and foods catering to every taste imaginable. What's unique about these markets is that a large section of the markets are wizard-owned, which means there are plenty of magical trinkets for sale. And that also means the native wizards are quite curious about you, the alien wizards...

Alternatively, feel free to return to the mainland to visit the Nectar District, which is not that far, all things considered. This is the wizard-only pleasure district of the Western Country, for those who wish to indulge in a bit of depravity. And it is worth visiting at least once while you're here, if at least to connect with some native wizards and learn about wizard culture. But be careful, and do be home in time for dinner—it's hard to escape a Western wizard's charms once they decide they want to play with you.

As night falls, everyone is treated to a spectacular sight. Some may have heard whispers of its arrival, some may not. Either way, the Venator meteor shower darts across the sky as dusk falls.

The meteor shower has another name among wizards—the Lineal meteor shower. Wizards live for a very, very long time, yet their pasts and experiences live on in the teachings they hand down to their apprentices. The stars, too, live a very long time, and as the meteor shower comes by every year, they trace the slight differences in time and in these relationships.

In the past, shooting stars have been considered bad omens. And though the perception of them as simply natural phenomena has become more prevalent, the superstition remains. But some see them as travelers, foreign visitors who are here to usher in a new age of change. How do you see them?

Regardless, every wizard has a memory or two closely related to the meteor shower. Take a moment to look up to the shooting stars as they color the sky, and take in the life you have now—what sort of memory are you going to make on this night, and how will you pass it on?

JOB BOARD

Rekindling. Thanks to your Northern friends' hard work, the worst of the damages have been avoided for the City of Ice. But that doesn't mean they don't need your help still.

The earthquakes left by the chimera's rampage have rattled some buildings, and they need repair. The magical blizzards also seem to have injured some people and damaged some of the stained glass decorations the townsfolk value so highly. Collect crystals from the Forest of Ice to try and replicate them, and try to put in as much protective magic as you can—they need it.

They also request a barrier that blocks magical signatures, much like the one erected around Granvelle Castle. It seems their patrons are back and comatose, and they would like to avoid any attacks by other opportunistic Northern wizards...

Theatrical assistance and celebration. The West is a country of the arts, as well as science, which means there is always some sort of production going on that needs hands and talent. One of the largest theaters in the City of Affluence is in need of help with costuming, prop manufacturing, and is holding auditions for roles in their upcoming play. Maybe now's a good time to get some good publicity for wizards? Or the promise of remuneration and a share of the profits will be enough, as anyone who helps the theater or helps draw crowds to their new play will get quite the financial compensation. And free tickets!

Those more musically inclined or prone to stage fright can also help with the theater's upcoming parade through the city. Those with no marching band experiences can play the most important instrument of all, the cymbal. Or triangle, pick your poison.

If that's still too much, there's always passing out flyers to advertise the new production.

The advent of summer. The summer solstice nears, and the City of Clouds has asked for your assistance! Their yearly summer solstice celebration is coming up and they need help preparing for the festival. Their usual magical muscle is unfortunately still out of commission, so they've turned to the current sage's wizards for assistance. They need help building sets for their dances and music, setting up magical illusions and lights for the main event, and clearing the land where they'll have the food and activity stalls. This may not be as grand in caliber as your previous jobs, but at this point, it may be best to begin building regular goodwill among the natives of this world. Who knows if it may end up being your home...

G'RAHA TASKS

I've heard that some wizards have found that they're capable of a unique sort of spell with another wizard around them, and that those spells can be quite powerful. While I've yet to see any for myself, I've been doing some digging to see if I can understand where it comes from and how it might be replicable. To that end, I think it may be fun to host some sort of gathering where people can try out spells with their comrades and see what happens...?

(OOC Note: This is basically G'raha sanctioned speed-dating, so go wild with this!)

TATARA ACTIVITIES

You know what the best way to bond is? Food! We should have a huge potluck feast one day—everyone make one dish they consider to be their specialty, and we'll have them all out for dinner one day in the dining hall! Don't miss it! I expect all of you to be there!

I really want to fill out my sage tome. I haven't gotten everyone so far, so I'm relying on your trusty submissions! If you could please write down what you like, what you don't like, what you're good at, and what you're bad at and then leave your papers in a stack on a library table, I'd be ever grateful! Thank you~

OOC NOTES

🌙 Welcome to your fifth and final (?) event! Sick of sand yet? Have some more!
🌙 Everyone made AC and that's dope, actually. Thank you all so much for sticking with us!!! We're in the home stretch. Things may be low key right now, but do you think you're ready for what's to come?
🌙 A quick reminder of the deadline for submitting your pair guesses: Friday, June 14, 11:59 PM. There's still time to guess!
🌙 We'll also be closing the rewards page on Wednesday, June 19, 11:59 PM. That's your last chance to get your random items, and your last chance to get your mission rewards. Don't miss out!
🌙 Don't forget, your OOC plotting post is here! Please be sure to use this post, since not everyone checks plurk or discord frequently.
🌙 Our last group to go on their mission will be West. Don't fuck it up, Westies!

» NAVIGATION

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ talking to him like that and holding him tight - his braincells are warring between one another right now - truly his life is well, hard. ]

...I'm starting to wonder if I've went the wrong way. [ because here they are at the end of the jetty and half of him is currently thinking about the nearest room they could get some privacy in. the other half remembers that he should probably gather his fishing pole and the couple of fish he's caught at least.

he decides to leave their fate up to his boyfriend, looking at him over his shoulder. ]

[ Tatara chuckles in Aguero's ear; one hand lifts to poke at his cheek as he does. ]

You're going the right way. [ Usually they derail each other in a situation like this, but Tatara had come all the way around the island for a specific purpose and once he starts on a thing, it's hard for him to stop. gestures to his entire life ]

I wanna watch you fish.

[ But this is also true, because he didn't know Aguero fished?!

They can put a pin in this specific conversation and return to it later... :eyes: ]

Make it up to me later. [ they can put a pin in it! but aguero is still gonna take a moment to let some of the seaspray cool him off before he encourages tatara to get down.

right refocusing--he glances over to make sure the two fish in his bucket haven't made a great escape (they haven't!) and that his fishing rod is still in one piece. ]

Is that why you were trying to find me?

[ not that tatara would have known he was fishing, but the other parts of his brain are still rebooting. ]

Sure thing. [ Of course he will. With interest, since he's pretty sure he derailed Aguero's whole train of thought.

That's for later, though. Tatara's good with switching on the fly, so he's right back on track. If he's allowed down onto the rock, he'll carefully nestle in a spot besides Aguero and slowly remove the guitar on his back. ]

Not really. I didn't know you fished until I found you.

[ Hence why he wants to watch! And maybe even learn.

He pats his case, the hollow noise of both case and instrument resounding around them. ]

I wanted to play some music for you.

[ he is! the coziness helps assuage the other part of his brain he just yeeted into the sea. ]

It's an old hobby, I don't usually have the time to do it anymore. [ there's a blink blink and then a smile at the guitar, aguero not suspecting anything out of the ordinary since he's made it clear that he likes when tatara plays lately. he fetches his rod while he talks, needing to rebait it. ]

I'll tell the fish to cover their ears then because I don't want to share. What are you going to play?

Aww. [ Murmured as he twists to set his case down on the flat of the rock, and unpacks his guitar. The strings hum lightly in the wind as he handles it, filling the air like mellow wind chimes.

They'll just have to go fishing together another time. ]

I wrote a song for you. Two, actually. [ So maybe another reason why the fish shouldn't listen. He smiles as he settles in his spot again, nestled comfortably up against his boyfriend. ] Can I play for you now?

[ He can wait, of course, if the fish come first. ]

You wrote me a song? Two songs? [ he gets to live just a second or two longer because of his brain lag. (well some part of him knows what's probably coming, but also he doesn't really compute it? he's doomed.)

the fish can wait, the rod getting placed neatly by his side. ]

Go ahead.

[ Yep. Two songs. Tatara nods, an almost childlike excitement in his smile. He's been waiting and planning for a while now...

Without another word, he strums, hums quietly, then begins to sing a song, though it's slower and more mellow, like this.

I realized now was the time, and I knew how to shine without being told
And the world starting fading to memory before my very eyes

I slammed whatever buttons I could find, because we make miracles happen, we don't wait for them
I lived so hard, with everything I had, that I wore away at the present.

Every day, I ran through every emotion I never thought I had

What I felt the moment I first saw you still stirs something deep in my bones
You are so brilliant, that whenever I close my eyes I see your afterglow waving to tomorrow

...

Our days together took the climax of our story for itself
To give us time together with no conclusion

What I felt the moment I first saw you stirred the deepest parts of my heart of hearts
You were so brilliant, that when I closed my eyes I saw your afterglow pointing the way we're meant to go

Reality and dreams and eternity and the present and fantasy come together and lift me into the air
And the azure that covered us both that day now sits deep beneath my skin.

When he finishes, he lets the last chord fade beneath the sound of the water before looking up at Aguero, warm smile on his face. There's an expectant little look in his eyes, too, trying to gauge how much his boyfriend likes it. ]

What do you think?

Edited (little fix) 2024-06-13 01:01 (UTC)

[ azure? right now aguero is a lovely shade of strawberry pink. ]

Tatara... [ he dips down to bury his face into his boyfriend's shoulder, definitely to wipe some of the sea spray from his face and not in a very obvious attempt to cool his cheeks. ]

I always wondered if you felt like I did the first time we spoke. [ he was doomed from the start and he knew it.

with a fond sigh he removes himself from his temporary hiding space, even now not really knowing how to quit. he's definitely embarrassed, but positively happy too, with a silly little grin. ]

You worked really hard on this, it's not something I could ever do. If your songwriting is like your foam art, I'm in trouble. [ because that's only kept improving, and there's a second song... ]

Maybe I'll be the one to explode first after all.

[ Tatara beams, a little bit of that strawberry pink coloring his own cheeks. ]

So you like it?

[ Hehe. It's a cheeky question—of course he does, he can tell. One hand lets go of the guitar to gently brush whatever pink he can reach, partially to see if Aguero feels as hot as Tatara's own face (which isn't sunburn, he knows this now!).

He laughs again, his heart beating in his throat when he looks at Aguero again. ]

Don't explode. How am I going to kiss you if you do?

[ That would be truly the worst timeline...

He brings his hand back to idly strum a few chords, not indicative of anything but a show of how he thinks. ]

Sometimes...when you see someone, you just know, you know? That's how I felt. I think, even if things didn't exactly turn out this way, I would've always known you were special, somehow.

[ But things didn't turn out any other way, so maybe it was always meant to be. Even if he didn't feel it quite as intensely as Aguero might have right from the start, his fall had been so fast, so sudden, now he can't look back and imagine life here without him. ]

Songwriting was an old hobby of mine, but I think, so long as I live, I want to keep writing you music. [ Implications hang, again, but he breezes past them as he usually does. ]

Mmhmm. I like it a lot. [ persistence deserves a reward. and warmth because he sure is hot from the beating of his heart and not the sun.

the only response he has to the explosion pushback is to lean in to take a kiss with a bubble of laughter. at least initially. ]

...you're right, I can't explode cause I won't let anyone try to steal you. [ that's where his mind goes when he thinks of other things that could have been, and although he wouldn't have minded before it's different now.

he doesn't even want to think about it, and it's not time yet to think about the last part either. he sighs at both, breezily, letting those thoughts pass by him.]

You spoil me Tatara and I grew up very rich.

[ Tatara takes the kiss and the laughter, and in his mind Aguero pulls back too quickly for him to claim the laugh for himself. He'll get him next time, though. He'll get him next time.

And obviously, he's touched. Tatara is as independent as Aguero is, really (and though he hasn't noticed it, because Aguero isn't particularly clingy or demanding, but he likes that his boyfriend lets him wander where his whims take him), but he still likes the possessive side of him. Though they've been over this. ]

Really? [ With a smile, he tilts his head. He's not surprised or confused by this revelation at all, though. ] I guess that makes sense.

[ He strums a few more chords, his eyes drifting out over the ocean. ]

I didn't really have any money at all growing up. [ Hence his magpie gifting habits, hence his focus on service as gifts. He smiles, his eyes slipping shut. ] It makes me happy that you like what I give you, then.

Yeah, as a son of Khun I grew up in an estate that fits right into the high society of Western country. Actually, it was a bit more extravagant than that. But even after I left, I figured out my own way to keep making money.

Like here, but I'm more successful back in the Tower. [ read: he's loaded. he stores that little note about tatara's upbringing for later: as much as he wants to ask, he thinks it's finally time he did the telling.

he looks over at Tatara with that small smile on his face and decides that like this, when he feels at peace, he can talk about the other part of his heart. he picks up his rod and then casts it out into the sea, leaning on his boyfriend a little once that's done. ]

You wanted to know about Maria right? You can sing me the second song after if you think I still deserve it.

[ he's not really scared, but he does have some type of nerves. maybe it's natural when you mix two parts of your heart together. ]

[ The chocolate and the jewelry and the extravagance all make sense. Aguero's personal style and meticulousness make sense. It settles comfortably in his chest, like a puzzle piece finding its spot, and Tatara decides he really likes learning new things about him.

There's a lovestruck little smile on his face because of that. Not particularly because he's rich, though. Just because he likes him a lot.

When he comes to lean on him, he leans back, offering him support as he can.

The topic change does catch him a bit by surprise, but he falls in pace beside him, metaphorically, quickly. He'll nod, but he doesn't know if Aguero sees or feels that, so he'll respond verbally. ]

The other one, right? [ His other star in the sky, he means. He'll lean forward a bit to peer at Aguero's face, because he's pretty sure what he learns won't change his mind, but he won't argue Aguero's reservations. ]

Tell me about her.

Yeah, my first light. [ Maria and Baam are lights, stars, and Tatara is fireworks.

his expression is wistful, nostalgic, full of many things--not at all unlike how tatara looked when he brought up his king. usually he schools his expression blank when he talks about her, but he's committed to sharing with tatara all of how he actually feels. ]

I met her one day when I was cutting school, fishing. Back then I didn't really care about anything, I was born to make my sister a Princess and that was it. I didn't put thought into anything else, into becoming a Ranker, climbing the Tower, or any of that.

The teacher had sent her to find me and bring me back to school, but I couldn't be bothered with classes that had no meaning to me and that involved any actual effort on my part at all. I don't remember how many times she met me by the water until I actually had a real conversation with her, but at some point she became more to me than someone who kept making me lose all my fish.

[ he looks out at his line in the sea, but it rolls with the waves and nothing else. ]

Maria was...a miracle. She was warm, fiery even, unlike everyone else in our family. And she had a light to her that should have been extinguished but never was. I guess you could say she made me curious about actually living.

...that's how it all started. [ a lot of things, everything, as far as he's concerned when it comes to himself. he pauses here to look at his boyfriend, he knows he's following but it's taking conscious effort on his part not to get sucked up into the sea of his past. ]

[ That's a new look on his face, and Tatara peers at it curiously. He doesn't make the connection to himself, that it's a similar look he wears when he's thinking about Mikoto, but it does tell him what he already suspected. A little smile crosses Tatara's face, because that makes him happy. ]

...You were a lot like me, once. [ Drifting. Carried through air until someone came along and quite literally changed the way he lived. Both of them fire, funnily enough.

Tatara might not have changed so thoroughly, though. ]

Someone who gives you a reason to live... I can see why she was so important to you. She sounds wonderful. I'm glad you had her.

[ In the same way Mikoto gave him a reason to live.

Still, though. He has ears. ]

What happened to her?

[ The past tense... ]

[ aguero can see that and he hums a note of agreement. it's a bit odd to think about, but that might be one of the reasons why tatara is different from maria and baam. because he is, and aguero knows that in his heart by now.

that's why he has to bare the end of his story with maria even if his instincts are telling him otherwise. ]

Hah, it's because I used past tense right? I'm not sure why I do that, she's not dead or anything. And I'll likely meet her again sometime while I climb the Tower. But I think I do because...

I didn't make my sister a Princess. Maria asked me to help her instead and so that's what I did. She didn't offer me anything, she didn't lie to me, she didn't sleep with me, she didn't try to convince me it was for my own good.

Maria asked and I simply wanted to. I thought she deserved it more than my own sister, more than anyone else. To become a Princess of Zahard means to become royalty, to have power beyond even the top 1% of the Tower. Zahard is a God of the Gods and his Princesses are an extension of him.

It was easy to betray my own direct family, my mother, my cousin, my sister, the Agnis line. They never suspected a thing even with the building rumors that Maria and I were together. Losing the position of Princess meant our line was banished from the family estate, that's how the Khun family works. There's so many of us and we're always fighting someone, even if it's ourselves.

My sister couldn't take the failure, even if it was all my fault and she killed herself. And my cousin, Kiseia, refused to believe that I was the reason that we lost everything until I told her straight to her face over and over. I don't regret a single part of it, not then and not now.

...I haven't seen Maria since she became a Princess. I did what she wanted and that made me happy at the time, but I guess—I wanted to stay by her side even after. But I was too afraid to ask and too stupid to realize that even I can get lonely.

I feel like I've finally figured that part of me out, though. With you. [ whispered, just for them. he hasn't cried in years upon years, but his voice is heavy and his chest tight. ]

[ Tatara is quiet, and listening, not even idly strumming at the guitar like he would normally be as he thinks. He just watches Aguero's face as he talks, watches the way his lips move, the shine in his eyes. He's beautiful, and he's lucky (who's lucky? How? Maybe both of them, in different ways).

He sees the devotion in his past actions, and he sees the devotion in his actions now, and he understands that it was Maria who taught him that. Maybe, Tatara thinks, if he ever gets the chance to meet her, he'd thank her for making Aguero who he is today.

But when the whispers come, Tatara kind of wishes he didn't have his guitar in his hands, blocking the way between them. He wishes he could pull him into a hug and kiss away the tears he hears gathering in his voice. Instead, he leans towards him and rests his head on his shoulder.

He won't say it out loud, not now, but he'll never leave Aguero's side, not if he can help it. ]

You cared about her and you wanted to do anything you could to help her. I get that, too. [ Tatara wanted to make Mikoto a king and when he saw how much he hated actually being a king, he carried a little bit of that regret with him. Opposites, again, just like their colors. ]

Thank you for telling me, Aguero. I feel like...I understand you, the place you come from a little better now. And I still love you for it.

[ He smiles, just a touch, but he knows Aguero can't see it. Because single-minded devotion is something he knows well, and something he sympathizes with. Even if there are sacrifices along the way. ]

[ mmn. the emotions sit on his chest, but the warmth of their touch starts to melt it into something that's actually comforting. whether he's blinking away a few drops of sea spray or something else even he won't know, nor will the universe, they're both salty all the same. ]

...my luck's never really been great. But now I think that's all just been balancing out for you, who accepts all of me, somehow. [ maybe a silly thing to say, but he means it. and he doesn't know how else to express how grateful he feels.

he breathes in the moment, feeling like he's been given the grandest treasure, when luck decides to give him something else. or more specifically a fish. tug, tug goes the rod against the rock. ]

Oh, you don't need to move, I think I can— [ sorry he's not explaining himself, focusing his magic onto the rod so he doesn't need to use his hands to start reeling in the fish. ]

[ They'll always carry other people with them too, even when they walk together. Aguero will never meet Mikoto, and Tatara will never meet Baam, or so he thinks, but he does hope he gets to meet Maria someday. Whatever past they might've had only made Aguero into the person Tatara feels like he wants to spend the rest...of his...

...

Tatara draws a sharp breath, just as Aguero's finishing talking. ]

Of course I do. I said I wanted to know all of you, didn't I? [ He feels his face burn hot, and he turns to face the cool sea breeze. His eyes stay closed. ] I wouldn't have said that if I weren't ready to accept every part of you.

[ For just a brief moment, his heart hurts. What a weird sensation... ]

[ But he'll lift his head again when he notices the rod tugging. Too late, he's already moved, but he'll stay put, clutching his guitar. His expression, though, is bright and full of awe. ]

Whoa! You're catching it with your magic!! [ Not that he needs to state the obvious, but hello this is extremely cool to him. ] Get it, Aguero! We'll fry it and eat it!

[ not that he wasn't intent on catching this fishy already but with that added motivation he feels like he could catch all the fish in the sea. it's a bit odd doing this with magic but he manages, an expert at pulling the fish to shore without letting the line get too taut.

and eventually out pops a flopping yellowtail onto the rocks. it's a good size fish, about 8kg, so it's definitely enough for them to eat later. khun is quick to move it into the cooler also with magic, and snap the lid shut. ]

I haven't lost a fish in years. [ *note: he also hasn't fished in years but he's going to preen like an idiot anyway. ]

[ Tatara is of the professional opinion that Aguero absolutely deserves to preen like the prettiest bird in the forest. His eyes sparkle with awe, and it's hard to keep himself from grinning like a total idiot. ]

Yes! You did it! You're amazing!

[ Once the lid snaps shut, Tatara leans in for a quick kiss, but doesn't pull back too far. He stares into the blue of his eyes and his eyes still glimmer like polished coral. ]

Should we celebrate with a song?

[ Yes, one fish deserves a whole ass song, ]

[ aguero's grins, riding the wave of adoration by taking another kiss. he's all but forgotten that not too long ago he's never seriously accepted a compliment from anyone with how right their back and forth is with each other. ]

Let's hear it, I'm ready for this one. [ he probably won't explode? and will be able to give more thoughts on it without feeling like he's going to melt into the sea. ]

[ At least it's genuine. Tatara could tell Aguero he's amazing a million times and he would mean it every single time.

He sits up straight again and clears his throat. His fingers run over the strings, a new chord faintly drifting over the waves. ]

I hope you are. [ He flashes another smile. This time, sincerity is written all over his face. His heart pounds in his ears; he's nervous for this one, for some reason. ] I wrote this one because I love you.

[ Not that he wrote the other one for any other reason, but...

Anyway, with a deep breath, he sings... ]

and i'll stay yours, no matter sunrise, nightfall

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cw; suicide

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