promittere: (Default)
lunae calamitas mods ([personal profile] promittere) wrote in [community profile] lunaecalamitas2024-04-18 11:41 pm

you opened your eyes, spreading it wide

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
๐ŸŒ™ Welcome to your second event post! Get out your snazzy outfits. It's time to party.
๐ŸŒ™ 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!
๐ŸŒ™ 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!
๐ŸŒ™ It's been peaceful at home in the manor thus far, hasn't it? Do you think that will last?
๐ŸŒ™ 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.
๐ŸŒ™ Our next group to go on their mission is Central. Be ready, heroes...
troublereduction: (pic#17020437)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-01 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, but I think summoning all of this stuff here aaaaall the way over to the town is gonna be a stretch.

[ The town's pretty far! ]
impacter: (104)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-05-01 08:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Maybe, maybe not. But I think it's best to trust your experience here, Henry.

[His eyes flick back to the windows, a momentary check without moving his face in the slightest.]

Is there anything else I should know before I escort you back in?
fullspbar: (92)

[personal profile] fullspbar 2024-05-01 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Can we get some normal grandpas around here...any normal ones...

That's a very true point, especially in a house with...27 people. Although, some of them definitely don't eat, or at least don't tend to eat in front of others, so he is factoring that.

Jing Yuan can help himself! Shinji will not be complaining. ]


Just felt like it. [ Which a lie, partially. Cooking is a good distraction, and he definitely needed one. ] Nobody else looked like they were doing it, and I didn't have anythin' better to do.

[ A tilt of the head, towards the cupboard. ]

There's jam in the cupboard, if that's your thing.
themanwhoerasedhisname: 5 (5)

[personal profile] themanwhoerasedhisname 2024-05-01 08:46 pm (UTC)(link)
I might have been going to continue the patrolling.

[He stops, letting Jing Yuan catch up. Alright, let's continue]

Seems like nobody will have trouble with those entities as long as they have some strategy.

[All wizards should be able to handle this all properly, then!]
meanspirited: (pic#17136837)

[personal profile] meanspirited 2024-05-01 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[While he hates the idea of being led around, with their difference in heights he knows it would be easier if Solomon leads... Sighs.]

You can lead, and you better appreciate the opportunity.

[He takes his hand, frowning up at him.]
meanspirited: (pic#17144462)

[personal profile] meanspirited 2024-05-01 08:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[He really wants to say "no" as a kneejerk reaction to that happiness, but...]

You still have room for improvement, but...

[He takes another sip, looking anywhere but at Yamato.]

It's not bad for how little time you've had to practice.
foresightis2020: (06)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-05-01 08:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Impossibiru!!

Anyway, good. He will help himself then. When the other says he just felt like it, he immediately doubts it, but also believes it at the same time.

It sounds paradoxical, yet there is logic in it. There must be a reason behind it, though it can very well be that it was something out of the good of one's heart as well. Thus, that. ]


Well, I shall still give you thanks. It's not everyday someone feels like cooking for strangers, and it should not go without comment.

[ He goes towards the cupboard...there should be some peach jam somewheres. ]
Edited 2024-05-01 20:56 (UTC)
dyingtohealyou: ([Sigh] If there's a heart)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-05-01 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Are you just allergic to responsibility?

[Starting to think that with how much Tatara doesn't seem to want to do anything!!! *Ahito's unbiased POV]

I have been training. Not that either of you have been any help other than telling us "get better." But if it's just a matter of surviving until someone else handles it, then it sounds to me we don't actually need to work that hard after all.
lighthaus: (25)

[personal profile] lighthaus 2024-05-01 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
No. [ tatara, the fact that this boy managed to even accept a friend is a miracle alone. ]

Not rivals either. Like I said, we're teammates. I'm the leader, obviously, but we're really only together because of the other person on our team. As for what he's like...he's loud and can eat his weight in chocolate daily. He's one of the types who doesn't really care what's going on as long as he can get a good fight.
Edited 2024-05-01 21:04 (UTC)
dyingtohealyou: ([Um] would even forget)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-05-01 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)
It's not like it was always good, either.

[Lab food...]

-?

Wait, like right now?
1145pm: (pic#16970071)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-05-01 09:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He is never, ever one to cling to the past. He just thought that, as he lay dying on the roof of the Arasaka Building, that he had said his goodbyes. That he was putting a bow on the short little life he'd lived, thinking about the people he loved. He was happy. He genuinely was. People may make faces at his circumstances, but he would never trade a single moment of it.

But now he has the chance to look back, empty handed, and he wishes he had his old camcorder. He wishes his phone still worked. He wishes he had one of Anna's marbles or a pack of Kusanagi's cigarettes or one of Mikoto's rings just to remember them by. Except all he has are proxies, fading memories, the faint tug of his heartstrings when he sees an exceptionally red sunset.

Jing Yuan is a little taller than Mikoto, but just as warm, and just as sturdy. In the rare moments he did cry, Mikoto did the same for him. He stayed with him, quietly, and waited, without judgment, for it to pass.

That's all he needed. And now, that's still all he really needs.

When he pulls his face back, eventually, he notices that Jing Yuan had turned them slightly, so the most powerful people in this foreign world don't notice how he loses composure in such an important meeting. He immediately brings up his hand to start wiping at his face; his shoulders shudder briefly, but that's from a quiet laugh, and not another sob.

He's too embarrassed to look at him. ]


...Thank you.

[ His voice cracks, is thick from his tears, and it's only loud enough for the both of them. ]
1145pm: (pic#17142953)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-05-01 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Eventually, Tatara gets enough into it that he can look up at Solomon as he speaks. Though, excuse the way his eyes dart down every once in a while to make sure he isn't tripping over himself. ]

Wow... [ He's never really heard anyone speak the way Solomon does now, and it fascinates him. It kind of reminds him of Lazuli, but he sees himself as Lazuli's equal, not below or above him. But Solomon has been weaseling his way into a niche Tatara didn't realize was empty, so he isn't sure what to make of that.

Anyway, ]


I bet the people who you choose to be your students are super lucky. I've thought it before, but you really sound like a good teacher.
foresightis2020: (47)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-05-01 09:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Jing Yuan has no tinge of regret at all for what he did or for what he has done at all. If anything, it is rare that he has the opportunity to do this sort of thing for anyone...if at all. He truly can't remember the last time he held anyone in any sort of embrace for any reason.

All the same, there is still something about knowing the display of vulnerability in a place filled with important people would potentially be viewed as something less than ideal or with scorn. So, there is definitely intent in his actions, to not only assuage that hurt gently in Tatara's heart with gentle care, but also to protect him. He deserves that much.

Seeing that it affords the other man even more time to recover, to wipe away those tears, and even have the chance to laugh, just a little...it somehow in turn warms Jing Yuan's being, as foolish as that thought is, and that hinges on some sort of embarrassment in turn. Though, he embraces that too. No time for regrets, as...

He can't help but think that there is untold relief in Tatara, even if that depth of sorrow may remain in echoes. So, it is with this that Jing Yuan is able to offer Tatara a smile, even if the other feels too shy to look at him. ]


Ah...well. If it could help you, I'm glad to accept your appreciatiom.

...Truly. I would do it all over again as well. But, I would think you would prefer that not to be the case, even if I do give great hugs? Or I should hope, haha.

[ The words are awkward, but spoken with truth, sheepish but little smile clear on his lips as he decides to try to slip in something light-hearted as well. ]
foresightis2020: (94)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-05-01 09:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, good...thank you for having mercy on me.

[ Jing Yuan states this cheerfully as he finishes catching up and then they can continue just fine, yes. ]

Yes, it seems so. Them being so mindless would naturally help in this.

As long as they remain as much, anyway.

[ Gotta keep in mind for anything that might change but for now he does agree! ]
impacter: (014)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-05-01 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[Lucky? It's not the first time he's heard that, but it does make him feel a little warm, a little happy.]

Hahah... only for magic, I'm afraid. But it's a topic that's pretty important to me.

Some might consider me the best in the world.

[It's hard to tell if he's joking or not.]

Like I've said, though, I only take one pupil at a time.
lustro: (128)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-05-01 10:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He nods! He did practice that one a little to avoid looking completely stupid. ]

I guess when you're that tall, you're used to seeing the world over heads?
lustro: (080)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-05-01 10:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ginger... definitely understands. For over a century he's dedicated himself to one person. He doesn't know if he'll ever see Rum again - or that Rum would even want to see him after what he'd done. But he's still allowed the possibility of a reunion. ]

It matters, still.

[ It would be too cruel to think otherwise. ]

I guess now that you say it like that, I understand him a little more.

[ After all, Ginger's an idiot, who is terrified of pain, of loss, and of the heartbreak that'll follow. ]
lustro: (124)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-05-01 10:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Alright.

[ He's down to work hard. And Ithaqua seems to know what he's doing, so Ginger will just Trust The Process.

First tilling. Sure. Ginger rolls up his sleeves and reaches for - ? He doesn't reach for anything because what's tilling and which tool is he using for this. The triangular shovel? The rectangular... shovel? Or the many-fingered... shovel? Are these even shovels?? Huh. ]


What is tilling...? Is that like making holes in the dirt?
lustro: (033)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-05-01 10:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Are you going to scold them if they did? I'm fine.

[ He sits at an angle where his right eyes disappears into the shadows of his face, leaving only a hint of light. ]

It just made my stomach turn when they said this ball was for us. Out with the old, in with the new - like something to be thrown and replaced.
lustro: (084)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-05-01 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Umm... I think it's doable. [ Uh, but he points to the ingredients list. ] I'm confused about the "6 pounds bone-in, skinless chicken." I'm assuming they mean hairless? Where do we catch hairless chickens?
lustro: (014)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-05-01 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ๐Ÿ™ Please, Father. ๐Ÿ™ Keep an eye on this foolish child. ๐Ÿ™ ]

Well... then... I hope dancing doesn't bother you.

[ He offers out his hand. ]