you opened your eyes, spreading it wide

[promittere]

THIRD QUARTER ALLEGRO

While our newly-arrived wizards have been settling in, learning their magic, and getting to know one another, the sage and their mentor have been busy with a different kind of work behind the scenes—bureaucratic work. It hasn't been particularly exciting, but it has paid off.

Because now, the world is ready to receive them.

Put on your finest clothes, because Granvelle Castle invites you to a welcome ball in your honor.

Didn't bring any fine clothes with you? No need to worry—specially chosen tailors from Central Capital have been commissioned to take care of you, and they will be visiting the manor to get you gussied up in the fashion of your choice for the day (by this, we mean feel free to pick whatever fancy clothes you want for the ball).

As the sun sets on the designated day, all the residents of the manor make their way to the castle. Granvelle Castle stands proud in Central Capital, its lights a beacon in the darkening city, and its doors open to outsiders for the first time in weeks. Upon arrival they're greeted by brightly lit halls, welcoming staff, and a grand ballroom, windows flung open to let in the spring breeze and pale moonlight. Everyone and everything seems determined to make this a cheerful affair, despite the underlying sense of dread and tension.

Live music fills the air, played the greatest musicians in the world. There are some larger ensembles, solo acts; some pieces are of more traditional folk dances, while some are slower, and some are upbeat and avant-garde. Regardless, the floor is open for dancing—grab a buddy and dance the night away!

Lining one wall is a long banquet table, filled with plenty of food and drink, both alcoholic and non to sate the new arrivals. The hors d'oeuvres and small plates comprise an array of delicacies from around the world, with everything from savory lobster bites to the sweetest portions of tres leches you have ever tasted. It seems someone has also put in a specific request for Japanese food—a part of the banquet table has been set aside specifically for Japanese dishes, and this includes small portions of ramen. There also seems to be a plate on the far end of the table filled with lovingly stacked pieces of charcoal... Is that meant to be food?

You aren't the only ones in attendance tonight. Representatives and dignitaries from around the world are also present—they have quite a lot to say about the unusual situation, and they are most curious about these otherworldly individuals tasked with fending off the moon under their national banners. The most dignitaries are from Central, West, and East, while there do seem to be a few representatives from the less populated North and South. Those from Central, West, and South in general seem to be the most social, while the rest are more reserved. There are also a few of the castle staff that seem (begrudgingly) willing to speak with the new wizards. Most are here to chat and mingle—lend them an ear, you may learn something new...

For those tired of socializing, the ballroom opens out onto a breezy, spacious balcony. It looks out over the main thoroughfare leading to the main castle entrance, and the nighttime lights of the Central capital twinkle in the near distance. For those that would rather take a breather, there is a small patio table and a couple of chairs. Despite the waxing moon in the sky, it is a very nice evening.

If you would like to have a chat with an NPC, then please respond to this comment. NPCs will be assigned randomly if no preference is given. While everyone has something valuable to say, they're not giving potentially sensitive info out for free—let's hope your diplomatic skills are up to snuff. We're doing our best to give everyone meaningful conversations, so please bear with us!

JOB BOARD

Rejuvenation. Thanks to your Southern friends' hard work, the South has been saved from a potentially devastating crop failure, and these fledgling towns can continue to grow as they're meant to! Give them a pat on the back and a round of applause.

But the South is not without its scars. While the root cause has been taken care of, the damage has been done. A town's wheat field has been partially destroyed—help them tear out the blackened, dead wheat, till and fertilize the soil, and replant what can be replanted. The City of Clouds, the most prosperous of the Southern settlements, have also offered extra tools, hands, and seeds to help set the town back on the path to recovery. Transport these supplies to the town. Let's hope your broom skills are up to snuff too, because it's a long ride.

Shadows in the night. The residents of the Central capital have recently been reporting eerie sightings after sundown: shadowy figures lurking in corners, the constant feeling of being watched, and, in some extreme cases, these shadowy figures attacking when traveling alone at night. Many reports seem to indicate an odd concentration of these creepy figures lurking around the Granvelle Castle moat, as though trying to find a way into the castle. Residents are understandably frightened and unnerved and cannot go about their nightly business—beat back what shadows you find and make the streets safer for the Central capital residents.

While physical attacks don't seem to do much against them, they dissipate rather easily under magic. Try not to wear yourself to the bone, though—there are a lot of them.

Escorting nobility. The Eastern Blanchett noble family have called an important meeting, inviting nobles and others of import from across the Eastern Country. However, their castle lies beyond Sherwood Forest, a very large, dense, and deep wood—while a fine natural defense for the Blanchett family, it's a bit of trouble for those looking to visit. While the Blanchett's own forest guard is absent, it is your job to safely escort these nobles to the Blanchett abode, and back out. But be careful: lurking in the shadows amongst the trees are all sorts of territorial predators like bears and wolves, not to mention the magical beasts that sneak up on unsuspecting prey. You may come across a brigand or bandit or two, since the forest is a near perfect hiding place for illegal activity. And please—try not to get lost.

Typical of any Easterner, the nobles are reluctant to make much small talk and are a bit suspicious of the new wizards, but they are otherwise pleasant and will generally comply with most requests.

WANDERER TASKS

Can you go a week without ruining food or the pots and pans? Stop being so wasteful and learn how to cook or stop trying.

Learn how to use magic to repair things. Again, if you're going to keep ruining the kitchen at least learn how to put it back together.

TATARA ACTIVITIES

I need milk. I'm trying to perfect latte foam art, but I haven't really gotten the hang of it yet... I used up all the milk (oops, sorry!), so I need more. Actually, could you grab me other kinds of milk while you're at it? I want to experiment! I'm sure other markets in the farther reaches of the world will have weirder milk... Please!

We should start a veggie garden! Or an herb garden? Doesn't matter! I found a nice sunny patch of grass in the training forest—we could dig up that spot, right? Help me get it set up! I need people to dig, and till... Oh! We need seeds to plant, too! Please and thank you~

OOC NOTES

🌙 Welcome to your second event post! Get out your snazzy outfits. It's time to party.
🌙 As you grow into your magic, your character might start realizing they can differentiate between everyone's magic. Everyone has a unique signature, and you may be able to start sensing who cast what, where. Someone put a magical seal on the kitchen door? Smells like Shinjiro's magic. Akira had some of Solomon's sugar? You can sense that, too!
🌙 As you start getting past the basics, your character might realize they have a much easier time with certain kinds of magic over others. For North, this will be offensive and attack spells; for East, this will be intricate seals and curses; for West, this will be manipulative magic like illusions and transformation; for South, this will be healing, purification, and protection. Central? A little bit of everything. Read up on your country if you need a refresher!
🌙 It's been peaceful at home in the manor thus far, hasn't it? Do you think that will last?
🌙 Your OOC plotting post is here! Remember to keep all wider plotting contained to the OOC post, since not everyone checks plurk or discord frequently.
🌙 Our next group to go on their mission is Central. Be ready, heroes...

» NAVIGATION

Comments

2/3

[revengier]

[ BITCH????? ]

done

[revengier]

[ Just for that, he uses the fact that their arms are looped as momentum to sway to the side and shove Khun's shoulder hard. It's an unconventional shoulder check, but it certainly is one nevertheless. ]

[shortleash]

( Oh, that's - okay, Solomon gets him. He doesn't expect it, so he's a tiny bit embarrassed - he'd be more embarrassed if not for his rotted heart, so even this much is a pretty strong reaction, for him. )

... Nothing to thank me for.

( He tugs his hand to his side... )

... You really are suited to this sort of place.

( Fancy... rich things. Lips to his knuckles? Like... That's fairytale stuff. )

[lighthaus]

[ wow??? he definitely stumbles a little because it's hard to account for that momentum shift when you're linked with someone else but also because he really was open there.

he laughs though and recovers somewhat cleanly. ]

We can fix that. Dancing and libraries... I'll make a note. [ for their future rendezvous or whatever stupid name he gave it before. ]

[revengier]

Shocking.

[ Except, not at all. Someone like Khun is naturally good at things, in a similar way to Kurapika, though he isn't sure if Khun obsesses over tasks and abilities until he's able to master them. ]

Give me an example of a command.

[ And as he does, he'll use the control Khun is handing over to him to place the other boy's hand on his shoulder and his own hand at the small of Khun's back, effectively changing the lead to himself. ]

[fallingsand]

That's the thing, though.

[ Bruno's gaze wanders down to his tea cup as he fidgets with it. ]

Everyone here? A lot of them are running into stuff they couldn't do before. I mean, okay, sure, mind-reading isn't alright or anything, but... if he was that obvious about it, there's a real good chance he didn't even realize he was doing it? Magic's just messy like that sometimes.

[impacter]

I certainly hope not. But I'm glad to blend in.

[He doesn't bring any more attention to it, though, instead hanging onto a moment of thought.]

You know... you should ask Akira sometime about a story he mentioned to me. A wealthy king from ancient writings... mm, something about poetry and a temple?

I think it might give you some things to think about.

[No he will not be taking any further questions. He just smiles, the same infuriating smile he always does, before slipping back to the doors that lead inside.]

See you later, Mika. Enjoy the fresh air.

[troublereduction]

[ This sure is a challenge, alright. Day weighs his options here: frankly, he has no idea how to lead OR follow when his dance partner is this tall, and figured he would just go with the flow and adapt, as usual.

But now that it's a challenge, Day can't just back down now, can he? ]

I'll do my best.

[revengier]

[ Of course he recovers just fine. Of course.

But that's not what Kurapika focuses on, feeling a wave of satisfaction at doing something so immature in the first place. ]

...Fine.

[ Arguing is moot, he thinks. No matter what he says, he'll be dragged out and off the mansion's premesis, he's sure of it. ]

[lighthaus]

That doesn't matter.

[ He slams the teacup down forcefully but thankfully doesn't break it. ]

[shortleash]

( Wealthy king... weird topic, but he assumes Solomon is saying it for a reason - he seems the type. He'll think about it for later.

He takes to the ledge of the balcony, letting the cool night air rustle his hair; brush his cheeks.

A beat. But: )

... Sure. Have fun playing with the humans.

( He doesn't say it in a derogatory way - it's just how he speaks of them. And, if anything, it's a less hostile farewell, for a Mika.

He does expect Solomon will return to him with news that matters if he hears any, since he was adamant about keeping his unpromised word, but he will not provoke or press for it - if Solomon mentions nothing in the after, Mika will assume there was nothing of note besides political gossip. And though perhaps shortsighted, Mika cares little for that. )

[troublereduction]

[ Day takes Ginger's hand, and starts to lead him to the dance floor. His own hand is calloused, from labour, playing the erhu, and martial arts training, but touch is gentle and his movements confident. ]

We'll make it work somehow.

[leewards]

Heheheh! That's the confidence I was looking for. [Of course he passes-- he's brave enough to look at Ithaqua in all his glory and say sure, so Ithaqua will do his part.

He deliberately walks slower just to match his partner's pace.]

[troublereduction]

Honestly, I ain't sure? This is my first time usin' it.

[ ...And the first time he's decided he just wanted to make some porridge since he came here, really. ]

Think someone mentioned somethin' 'bout how the seaweed sounds like it's screamin' when you put it in the water, so maybe this isn't...that weird. [ It's just still weird. ]

[lustro]

[ Ginger is mostly an office worker, so all he has are long fingers, though their hands are about the same size. And there’s always been this sense of weightlessness with working in Heaven.

Callouses only happen with creatures who can scar. ]

Is there a timer for how long you remain optimistic? Which dance are we doing?

[troublereduction]

There's something to be siad 'bout the joy of dancing poorly. [ Though he'll also say that considering who else is in attendance, maybe dancing poorly is not the best idea. Sigh. ] Which one would you want?

[ Day will match, or do his best to. ]

help???

[shortleash]

( Mika pauses his shirt-grabbing, looking up.

His experience with Cid has been limited but varied, but, unfortunately, what sticks out most in his memory is the whole thing with Cid mooning him. He really wishes it hadn't. He didn't want to imagine that replaying in his mind just now.

Alas, we can't all get what we want in life (or unlife). )

... If you mean the regeneration. I could regenerate this arm. But it's faster to put it back.

( Is that his eye... why does he look like that... is this really that interesting....... )

[shortleash]

( Hah... That earns something of a wry smile, from Mika. It's painful, because - he can relate, even though he doesn't want to. )

... I guess that's what every perversion of death has in common. Something that makes it so we can't just let go.

( Him, too. A vampire is bound to wish for the end of their weary existence eventually - and even if Mika hasn't lived long enough to be fatigued, he does hate everything that he is.

But there are things - people - he can't just abandon yet. So not yet, not yet. He can't give up yet. )

Feels more like being a ghost.

( A vengeful one - one that just can't let go. )

[lustro]

[ Nice, so the timer’s already started. ]

The easiest dance, so I can limit the tripping and falling to maybe just - once.

[ No estimate about how many times he’s going to step on Day’s toes, HOWEVER. ]

[troublereduction]

[ Day just listens to Mika and, again, he's reminded of Sunrise, and with that a twist of complicated emotion in his gut because he so wishes there was something he could say that would make this better, or at least less worse. But that's not possible, because he can't refute the lived reality of undeath and things beyond mortal experience.

(It reminds him too that the task of bringing joy into the world sometimes feels—maybe is—Sisyphean because a world where the above can even happen is the kind that is fundamentally built on profoundly unhappy things, where fate's absurdity is frequently cruel and people are not always kind. That he has many years of this ahead. That he might have agreed to a fool's errand to have a sense of purpose.)

...He can't just say nothing either, so he finds himself asking this instead, trying to keep his expression subdued: ]

Even here? [ Even though it is kind of fucked how the moon is a terrible calamity, and co-existence is still distant, it seems, to him, a slightly kinder world. ]

[jorunna]

Your home... I'm not suited for living in a forest, but for sure you would. Oh, and the The Southern Country's wilderness is known to be dangerous, but it really was beautiful to see.

[ It was a good time, Comet speaks of the South with definite fondness in their voice like a youth would. They are still very human-shaped, after all. But... Maybe they should come by there again (there is that lake with large fish). There's not much that can be done about the weather, but a companion like Ithaqua would make it less of a concern for them and others.

They don't mind the sound of the stilts at this point, even if it's louder against stone. But as they wander about the streets, an idea comes to mind. ]

Would coming up with magic to suppress sound be adapting or cheating, I wonder...

[1145pm]

[ Wait... Isn't Akira the adult here?! ]

Roger that, Akira-san! [ He gives a little play salute. Tatara might know things, but he'd shrivel and die the moment he step foot in the North alone. He's glad he's got the big (?) and strong (?) Akira to protect him. ]

I'll go get ready, then. Come get me in my room when you're done.

[ He's about to leave, when he whirls around again, steps into Akira's personal space, and says quietly: ]

Oh, don't tell Laz. [ There's a mischievous twinkle in his eye. ] He'd probably kill both of us if he found out we were going North.

[fullspbar]

[ Mister...watching him lay there reminiscent of a curious kid just sends the alarm bells in his skull into overdrive. It's...really distracting, he'll admit, but it's not like this is something he could probably fix. Maybe it's just temporary. Hopefully.

Either way, he's going to try and focus on other things. Like the thing he was doing.

He's expecting the light tap of the glass on the counter, so after he's finished putting the fruit in the pot, he turns to get a faceful of Mikaela, standing there with the jar outstretched. If he's surprised, he doesn't totally show it, but the question has his lips pursing tightly. ]

It's sugar. [ Not sure he wants to launch into the schematics (he knows) of wizard sugar to someone who's acting like a kid, so, ] It just looks like that.

[ Anyway, he's going to add that to the pot. These things are a bit sour, so more sugar to balance it out will work fine, he thinks. Slowly shifting back into cooking mode, a bit of an adjustment on the vent of the stove, and the pot slowly starts to warm. Soon enough, the smell of fruit begins to waft through the air. ]

[shortleash]

( It just looks like that... Wow... Aragaki-san is so smart...

The sugar retrieved, Mika returns to his post watching Shinjiro, this time with his chin in his palms, elbows on the counter as he leans against it. He's genuinely enthralled. )

Wo~www... It smells super good... ( Bright, warm cheeks as he takes in the scent... ) Are you gonna eat it all by yourself, Aragaki-san?

( He wants some... but he won't ask, because it belongs to Shinjiro. It's not nice to ask for someone else's food! )

[leewards]

They say the Northern country's woods are equally as inhospitable-- thus I would prefer to be there than here. [Except he's here now, and he has to make do.] Ah, well. Your presence makes up for having to be in this place.

[Then he looks over at them, tilting his head.]

Unless the sound of my footsteps is grating to you.