lunaecalamitas | you opened your eyes, spreading it wide

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

🌙 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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mm. The appearances rather than the lifestyle or responsibilities, I imagine. It does have a pretty stark contrast if you have one without the other.

[He'll lead Mika to a less crowded section of the floor, settling them across from one another and quietly showing him where to settle their hands. This one here, this one there.]

I wouldn't call it home. [Or, rather, it hadn't been for millenia.] But I've had my share of royal courts, yes. I was just in the presence of a prince not that long ago before being dragged here.

[His eyes flick to a certain figure in the crowd with shocking white hair, smile thinning slightly, before turning his attention back to Mika.]

Don't worry about our audience for now. Just mirror my steps. Three forward, three back.

[He'll take this as slow as they need. A waltz wasn't hard, but not everyone had rhythm.]

( Mika's expression, though more nuanced than emotive, suggests Solomon got it in one re: the lifestyle without the responsibilities. As far as Mika was concerned, Ferid just lay around plotting how to best torment people unfortunate enough to be in his sights, just for the fun of it.

For what it's worth, Mika has a uniquely obedient posture as Solomon guides him - and he's quick on the uptake. He's been watching people dance throughout the day, and while it's failed to interest him, it's like vaguely knowing the tune of a song you've heard on repeat. Solomon steps, and Mika follows in a close enough rhythm.

It's like the night where he didn't ask Solomon to slow down for him as Solomon flew ahead - he seems intent to find a way to follow him at his own pace, without lagging too far behind.

Once he judges himself better able to both follow Solomon's lead and talk, he speaks again: )

... You do talk like someone who'd enjoy their time here.

( This isn't a compliment, but he doesn't say it with the intent to be cruel - it's simply a factual remark. Solomon can pull off a snakeoil demeanor easy. )

What were you seeing a prince for?

Do I? Well. Enjoyment depends on your company, I guess.

[He'd rather be at home with a book than discussing weather and taxes with the rich, but it doesn't change that he can put on the faces he needs in this climate.

Mika really is a quick learner, isn't he...? Though Solomon still keeps it slow and steady, his leading grows more relaxed as Mika molds into the dance, a flowing sway to the back and forth.

The question does put a tinge of discomfort and sorrow over his eyes, though he pushes it back about as quickly as it comes.]

Mm. Giving some bad news, unfortunately. Normally that wouldn't fall on me, but the one closer to him was in a pretty bad state at the time.

I've known him and his father long enough to be able to get into their court for things like that, at least. Being messenger in a time of crisis was the least I could do.

( Imagine having fun... couldn't be Mika. Regardless, his quick learning speed is one of the few strengths he can claim is innate - and one that's been unfortunate enough to cause him to catch a vampire's eye. It's not a skill he's proud of.

Mika thinks that all sounds like a lot of trouble - he can't relate to going out of his way to deliver the bad news to some fairytale royalty. However, one detail does stick out to him - how long had he known them, if he'd known both generations well enough to go through the trouble? )

... What was the crisis? Famine or something?

[He chuckles under his breath as he tiredly shakes his head.]

Nothing that intense. It was something more personal in nature. An important person who'd been involved in an incident with one of his more favored subjects was...

[For a moment, he struggles to place a word. His hand tenses against Mika's, a momentary note of stress.]

...Hm. Compromised, I suppose, is the best way I can put it.

( Though Mika is indifferent to how people feel, he's certainly not ignorant to the signs - not when they become a pattern.

He keeps to his steps, considering, for a moment. )

... Is that someone you care about, too?

...Yes.

It was my apprentice, after all.

[And it wasn't an easy conversation. But he had to take a secondary role, just like he always did. Let the brothers rage and worry, let their protectiveness ride its waves with mourning. Let himself fall into the only thing he could, to fight the ache of his heart.]

( that's rough buddy.gif

Mika understands the general feeling, though. His heart is not yet so alien that he doesn't think twice. He knows how it felt, when these things happened to Yuu.

And if it's anything similar, he can say: )

... I imagine you'd rather be home instead of here, then. I'm surprised you're not heckling Tatara more.

Hahah... is that concern I hear? [It's teasing, an easy deflection. He doesn't want to stay on this topic, even though his mind circles back to it constantly.]

Pushing unrelated problems onto our dear Sage will not fix anything. We're better keeping our energy focused on what's at hand in the current moment.

( Mm. )

... If I'd left Yuu-chan in the middle of danger and arrived here, I wouldn't be doing any of this "sage's wizard" stuff at all.

( He doesn't say this as if to suggest this is the right thing to do - but that it'd be impossible for him to focus otherwise. )

Unfortunately for you, though, I'm only capable of concern for him.

( Not actually true, but he thinks it is. )

Your actions the other day said otherwise, you know.

[A gentle reminder, even though he has a gut feeling Mika will protest. Something something monster something something guilt.]

Is that your starry sky, do you think? Yuu?

( Hid reaction isn't quite a flinch, but it's definitely a negative piku. Don't remind him or call him out - Solomon can probably see Mika trying to figure out an excuse for that in real time, his brows furrowing.

The question, though, purses his lips and tightens his grip on Solomon's hand and shoulder as his gaze falls away - briefly to their unpleasant audience, the other dancers - but he can't afford to be distracted for long when he's not an expert in this dance. His gaze trails back to Solomon eventually. )

... Always. Even though... he doesn't need me.

( But if he were to somehow meet Yuu again, miracle upon miracles, even knowing he's extraneous in Yuu's life, he'd still dedicate himself to Yuu again, would gladly die for him again.

He wants someone to need him, but it's okay if no one does. He can't ask for that much. He just wants Yuu-chan to be okay. )

[It's amusing, in a way - watching the thought process try to click in real time, emotions fighting with reason in a battle that ends at a silent stalemate. He wonders if it's a flicker of humanity, like a candle's flame trying to last in a rain that only grows stronger.]

Mmm.

Have you told him how important he is to you?

All the time.

( ... And then, in a strangely, helplessly fond way, he says... )

... But Yuu-chan is kind. He can't help that he loves a lot of people, and that so many people love him in return.

I clung to him like a spectre, but... life moves on after you die. ( And he died, to become a vampire. And he's died again since, insofar as vampires "die." ) Yuu-chan just moved on. That's all.

( 🚨🚨🚨unreliable narrator alert🚨🚨🚨 )

[This is the most emotion he's heard from Mika in the entire three weeks they've been here... It speaks just as loudly as Mika's choice of words, fondness and mourning and resignation all braided together.]

Is that what's separated you in your eyes? That you're no longer the same as what you were before?

[He does not repeat the word "dead". The human might be dying, wasting away into something else entirely, but there is still identity and clarity and want. This is not what he would ever call "death". Not yet.]

How could it not?

( He says it as if it were as natural as the way the sky is blue, the way fish swim. )

... Something like me could never make someone happy.

Never is a dangerous word, Mika.

[And he's seeing a lot of assumption here, so he has to wonder what exactly happened to Yuu, or if ANYTHING happened to him. But he's not about to push that in such a public space.]

You've made me happy this evening, lending your time and speaking your mind. I doubt I'm the only one.

Just because someone doesn't profess their need for your presence doesn't mean you aren't a source of happiness for them.

( His step almost falters, surprised. )

... Is that just lip service?

( who could be happy having to deal with him... especially since (in Mika's mind) (completely independent of actual factual evidence, like Solomon taking him out on a drive ("drive") to see the starry sky) Solomon has no reason to like him.

Yuu may deserve some slander for being unconscionably dumb, but Mika definitely vastly underestimates his worth to every single person; worse if he likes them. )

Not at all.

[If Mika were well more of a monster, or completely detached from what happened to humans, or especially if he'd gone further than he was now, that would be a different story. But Solomon has nothing to gain from pointless fluff otherwise.]

Do I not seem happy?

Why would you be happy? I haven't done anything but be difficult.

( Solomon asks if he doesn't seem happy, and Mika more or less indicates he's not interpreting what he sees, but what he expects. )

That's not much of an answer to my question, dear Mika.

[But he won't argue against the feelings. That's not his place.]

Having hardships and being happy are not exclusive to one another, you know.

( In this house, feelings are absolutely facts.

What Solomon says seems to perplex him some, but it's phrased generally enough that he can at least relate it to his own experience in a much more abstract way - thinking back on his life with the orphans, even if the recollection ... barely stirs feeling in him.

Still, what little feeling it does stir is positive. )

... Maybe not.

( There's a "but" implied at the end of it, unstated because he's still thinking of how to articulate it. Especially since this is tied up in the greater subject of - Yuu needing him. )

I just... I don't know. I didn't talk to anyone after I turned into a vampire. And then I finally found Yuu-chan again... and then - then I was here. And everything is so different here than where I'm from. But I... don't think I could've made him happy back home. And I barely know what I'm doing here.

( How can he be making anyone, never mind Solomon, happy ... ??? Ahhh )

[He patiently lets Mika stumble through his anxieties, subtly slowing their dance as he does so. This could easily become a frantic topic, and he would rather guide them away from that.]

It sounds like there's a lot that's uncertain.

Is it hard to find what to grasp as truth, with how your feelings are changing? Is assuming for the worst an easier way to feel at peace?

( Following comes natural to him - he doesn't notice the slowing pace, his head muddled up with uncertainty.

This, at least, is easier to answer. )

... Whenever I'm stupid enough to hope for better, people close to me get hurt. I'm not doing that anymore.

Edited 2024-04-28 21:24 (UTC)

Holding onto hope doesn't make someone stupid, Mika. And a hurt given doesn't mean it's going to be irreversible.

[It's gentle, very gentle. This self esteem is a fragile thing, falling apart under the touch.]

you opened your eyes, spreading it wide

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