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

[promittere]

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

Comments

[troublereduction]

[ Beneath the night sky awaiting a meteor shower, Day's pupils are like a tiny mirror of it, blue starlight shimmering with fondness as he gazes back at Phil.

He wouldn't say he's perfect—not after how his own anxieties have spilled out onto others here in the world—but he'd be flattered Phil thinks so of him. ]

Of course. [ With a knowing smile. Day still has to make some things up to Phil, after all. ]

...I got one more thing to ask you. [ ...Which he's kind of anxious about, because his (admittedly small) track record hasn't felt very good, but... ] And...something I wanna give you, too.

[mirristry]

[Phil gives a slight, inquisitive tilt of his head, wondering what there is left to ask when everything that matters has already been made clear.

It's the "give you" part that truly arouses his curiosity, however, because it's so very rare that anyone outside of Marcus ever gives him anything that isn't in the context of him being the Biqe.]

Something you want to give me? [His heart flutters, the tiniest hint of warmth rising in his cheeks.] I'd be honored to accept it.

[And he can say that now without fully believing that he doesn't deserve such a thing, whatever it may be.]

[troublereduction]

Hehe, you don't even know what I'm gonna give you yet. [ Even though his heart is warmed by how easily Phil says he'll accept it. ]

I just, uh...I remember what you said 'bout Marcus bein' connected to you, so...

[ ...How's this gonna go over with the Other Man mirrite, as entangled as their hearts are now? ]

[mirristry]

[Does it really matter what Day is going to give him? Phil certainly doesn't think it does; he knows he'll love it either way.]

Ah...

[Admittedly, he hasn't thought too deeply about that while they've been here. It's all been sort of a whirlwind in a good way, and a part of him has been afraid to think too far ahead for fear of imagining things that might never be.]

... I think he'll like you. The one thing he's always wanted most is for me to be happy.

[And Day certainly has accomplished that previously near-impossible task.]

[troublereduction]

[ Day probably shouldn't be sighing in relief, but he does, despite himself. ]

I feel like I should be thankin' him.

[mirristry]

Mmm... you probably should.

[After all, if it wasn't for Marcus... well. He literally wouldn't even be alive right now.]

And I'm sure he'll want to thank you, too.

[troublereduction]

You should tell me more 'bout him sometime.

[ He means this sincerely. Even putting aside Marcus being a manifestation of Phil's heart, it's clear to him they're important to each other, and Day wants to know what else in Phil's life matters to him. ]

Oh, right. As for the thing... [ He digs around in his pocket to pull out two small boxes, and holds them out for Phil. ] This ain't what it seems like, but...Please think of 'em as my commitment to stayin' with you.

[ When Phil opens them up, he'll find one box has a delicately made ring set with a sapphire, and the other a silver bracelet set with aquamarines. ]

[mirristry]

[Oh...

Even though Day has just said "This ain't what it seems like," Phil knows that there's a certain significance inherent in the choice of a ring. Perhaps not an immediate promise, but one for the future... a future that awaits both of them, together.]

This is...

[Carefully he takes them out of the boxes to hold them up in the pale light of the night sky and just admire the way the gems catch the light and sparkle (not unlike Day's eyes, he thinks). Once more he has to blink back tears, although this time he's somewhat more successful after having already expended so many against Day's chest. It isn't as though he's ashamed of these particular tears either way, though, not when they're born from pure joy.

Ring held in the fingers of his right hand, he starts to move to place it on his left hand before pausing to glance at Day.]

I know you said it isn't meant to be that, but... may I?

[The implication in those words is clear.]

[troublereduction]

[ It's clear alright, which is why Day's cheeks are flushing a deep shade of red. When he had told Ginger the ring wasn't meant to be a proposal, he had a lot of thoughts running through his head: that it was too soon, considering they'd only known each other for two months; it could count a promise, which didn't seem fair to Phil; maybe it'd make Phil feel guilty, because he could see Phil worrying about Day choosing him, who had limited time.

And, well. Day had already given up on the idea of that sort of union, because it would mean letting someone see his less-than-perfect heart while asking them if they'd stay. He couldn't imagine someone still choosing him (it's impossible to choose something that can't be grasped) so he may as well save himself the heartache of a foregone conclusion. It's better to hope to become something like an indelible mark or scar in another person's life instead.

But Phil asking him that makes his heart tighten. They both already know they chose each other, so it shouldn't be affecting him so much, but seeing Phil want to demonstrate it shakes the part of him that's still so used to giving up and keeping expectations low, however unconsciously.

Oh. He wants a future with Day in it. Phil wants to hold onto him. His love doesn't have to endure without the expectation that it'll be returned.

Day is trying to blink back tears when he answers. ]

If you wanna.

[mirristry]

I do.

[And then, realizing how saying that specific phrase in the context of what they're obliquely discussing sounds, he feels warmth heat his cheeks as well.

He does-- more than anything, now and forever, and he wants Day and the entire world to know it. He is Day's and Day is his and really, can there be anything more natural and straightforward than that? Phil certainly doesn't think so, not in this single perfect moment where there's nothing else in the world that matters besides them.

There isn't a moment's hesitation as he slides the ring onto his ring finger. And it fits perfectly, like it's meant to be there (because it is, surely), and Phil has to stop and let it all sink in, this promise that isn't really a promise but still somehow is anyway. The words and the officiality of it all don't matter when he has this tangible evidence that he's given a part of his heart away to Day for keeps. (A part of him hopes that some of the others will ask him about it when they see it so that he can proudly declare that he's spoken for.)

He holds up his hand to show Day how perfect the fit is, though he suspects Day may have had that planned all along. Magic has its uses, after all.]

[troublereduction]

[ Day does not normally cry, whether it is out of joy or despair. When his life had been shattered to pieces he was too exhausted to cry (Phil would know, having seen it). He cried his heart out alone in the apartment out of grief and after he'd read his predecessor's letters to him until he'd drained all the sadness out. He cried at Sparrow's wedding, filled with sympathetic joy and loneliness as he said goodbye to another part of his life.

And after that, he simply stopped, because he was so tired of being overwhelmed by the feelings that would make him shed tears. How could he bring joy to others if joy did not come easily to him? That was why he hadn't cried in this strange new world, no matter what kind of emotional distress he found himself under (thought he'd come close a few times).

It's the way Phil acts like this is so natural and right, along with his words ("I do.", in all its meanings), that overwhelms Day enough that tears start rolling down his cheeks. It's an ironic reversal of what happened earlier. Perhaps now he could understand a little better the sort of bond he was so envious of, a bond like a promise. ]

It's perfect. [ He manages to say Phil's exact thought through his tears. ]

[mirristry]

[Rather than respond with words (there are no words that can express the depths of what Phil is feeling right now, so why even bother to try?), it's Phil's turn to reach out and just pull Day close, sliding one hand up to run through strands of soft hair as he tugs Day's head down to rest against his shoulder. This is, he thinks, what this promise truly means-- being there for each other, a refuge from anything that is just too much to be faced alone, even if that 'anything' is one's own emotions.

(Silently he wonders how much lighter the weight of his own burden will be now that he doesn't have to carry it all alone. It's a selfish thought, but he thinks this particular brand of selfishness is a little understandable under the circumstances.)

The sigh that escapes his lips as he leans his cheek against Day's head is one of mingled joy and relief, a release of feelings he hadn't even realized had built up until they escape. If Day needs to be the one to cry it out this time, he'll be right here.]

... it matches your eyes.

[No small part of what makes it perfect to him. Every time he looks at it, he'll be reminded of starlight and a gentle gaze meant for him and him alone.]

[troublereduction]

[ Day lets himself be tugged down, letting his tears wet Phil's shoulder and taking solace in Phil's comfort. He wraps an arm around Phil's waist in a hug, because even now he's greedy for warmth and the presence of a loved one.

How did he end up so lucky to meet someone who still adores him, even when he's less-than-perfect? Who says he wants to keep him for as long as he can, and that they'll face the future together? Day has wanted to give Phil happiness from the start. Phil wanting to be a part of his happiness hadn't even crossed his mind until the man said so, and it was so overwhelming to realise someone's heart belongs to him too. ]

...Blue's the colour of love, where I'm from.

[ That's why he chose to give Phil this sapphire ring. It's the colour of forget-me-nots, pleasure districts, and weddings. Of serenity and all that which it encompasses. Day's blue eyes may have been a sign or product of destiny, depending on how one viewed it. ]

[mirristry]

Is it?

[Phil hums softly, considering this as he allows himself to be tugged closer and snuggles into that gentle grasp around his waist. Day's warmth keeps the chill of the evening at bay, and for just a moment he allows his mind to wander down a less innocent path, imagining just what that warmth will feel like when they're even closer than this once they go back. He can't wait to find out.

There's a certain amount of wonder to the idea that he'll have the entire rest of his lifetime to experience new things like that with Day, short though it may be. He'll treasure each and every moment, every memory they forge together, and in the end he hopes that will be enough to leave a little bit of happiness behind for Day after he's gone.

A tiny light for the rest of Day's life, like the stars that glimmer so softly above them.]

... then I'm especially lucky to be able to look into your eyes whenever I want.

[troublereduction]

[ Day gradually relaxes more as Phil snuggles up to him, his tears petering out as he basks in Phil's continued presence. Phil tends to run cold, so maybe he should have brought a blanket along for this outing too, but for now he'll just have to keep Phil warm himself.

(Later activities notwithstanding.)

After a while, he lifts his head so he can press a kiss to Phil's temple, fond and gentle. Even...if they don't have much time together compared to the years Day's been alotted, he wants to cherish every moment he has with Phil. Because Phil grasped his hand back after he tried to cling into him, when Day had given up on anyone choosing him. ]

Heh. Special privileges for my bethrothed.

[ He'll see how Phil reacts to putting a name to what just happened. ]

[mirristry]

[In all fairness, Phil did start this. The initial teasing and the saying "I do" were all him; even if the second one was unintentional, he certainly hadn't said anything to protest it. Or, to be more specific, he hadn't wanted to protest it, the idea of devoting himself to Day for the rest of his life. He still doesn't have any intention of saying that isn't what he wants, but hearing it voiced aloud in such a concrete fashion is another matter entirely.

Oh. They're basically engaged (albeit not in so many words), aren't they.

Unfortunately for Day, if he was hoping for some sort of romantic affirmation, that is not what he's going to get. If he was trying to fluster Phil, however, he most definitely succeeded on that front, because the sound Phil lets out before realizing it is something 1) halfway between a squeak and a startled gasp, and 2) totally and utterly ridiculous.

He'd be far more embarrassed about it if he weren't also trying to remember how to breathe at the same time, because apparently certain critical parts of his brain have managed to disengage.]

[troublereduction]

[ It's a bit of Column A and Column B. Day won't usually pass up any opportunity to fluster Phil, but he did want to check if Phil would mind him actually treating this as an engagement, including telling people so.

...He's still cuddling Phil, though he pulls back a bit to let the poor man try to remember how to breathe. ]

Too forward for you?

[mirristry]

[The pink of Phil's cheeks is visible even in the dark, the blush staining his pale skin with color. But for all he's embarrassed, there's a certain amount of pride there too in the knowledge of having someone who is all his, who has chosen him instead of someone else. If Day were to tell other people about this, well, he can't deny that his heart would thrill at the thought.]

N-no, it's just...

[And he goes quiet, sobering up for a moment as the full weight of it all sinks in.]

... it's still almost hard to believe. That you really chose me.

[Him and all of his flaws, his sins, and his shortened lifespan.]

[troublereduction]

[ Day gently strokes Phil's flushed cheeks, a gesture full of fondness. He doesn't want to believe this is just him being buoyed by the immediate joy of knowing Phil wants to be with him, but that his heart is lighting up from the serenity of love. He loves Phil so dearly, for all of Phil's shortcomings and the ways he's been wonderful to Day. ]

And I'll keep choosin' you, for as long as you let me.

[ Because he can't imagine not reaching out to Phil, again and again. ]

[mirristry]

Always and forever.

[It doesn't really need to be said, not with the way he leans his head into that gentle touch and just snuggles a little closer to Day, but he thinks it's important to vocalize it anyway. Maybe his "forever" is shorter than other people's-- they both know that much. That doesn't make his vow any less meaningful, not when he intends to treasure Day's love for every day that he's allowed to have.

He lets out a soft laugh, half of amusement and half of relief.]

I do wonder how this will go over with the rest of the Salvation Front, though...

[troublereduction]

[ Day seems to take the snuggling as an invitation to keep showering Phil with affection, pressing light kisses to Phil's temples. ]

Bet a buncha them's gonna have lighter pockets.

[ It's sort of joking, but honestly, he wouldn't be surprised if some of them had been making bets, considering what he knows about Phil and Marcus. ]