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

"Yet." Make another one and give me that one. [ his smile is amused but he is entirely serious here. khun does not accept mediocrity! ]

[ Tatara just smiles back. Ooh, someone who'll push him in his hobbies? That's not the kind of person he's ever had before. ]

On it, Boss!

[ He whirls on his heel and grabs all the things he needs, scattered across the counter. Khun can watch, of course. The way Tatara goes about his business suggests he's just starting to memorize the process, just getting into the hang of the motions. There's an earnestness in his expression and movements, one he doesn't really wear when he's out and about normally. ]

Ta-da!

[ After a short amount of time, he whirls around to face Khun again with a little cup of a foam cat. It indeed looks better than the first one, if only by a bit. But it is at least recognizable as a cat. Tatara looks proud of himself. ]

Whaddya think?!

[ khun watches attentively, smile lingering. the process isn't something he's particularly interested in, but tatara's expression and movements during it are another story. ]

Much better. [ he takes the cup, leaning in to appreciate the aroma first before taking a sip. ] Why a cat?

[ Tatara watches Khun take his creation with a big smile on his face. Much better? He's positively beaming. Maybe Kiryu was right... ]

Why not a cat? [ ...Okay, maybe his whims aren't the best explanation, but it's all he's got. Instead, he gives a theatrical little shrug and a little chuckle. ] I guess I thought a cat would suit you.

[ the vibes.. ]

Mostly Khuns get compared to lightning if our name doesn't speak for itself.

[ taking a sip and thinking that over more. this might be the first time he's ever really been compared to an animal tbh, since being called a turtle by Raak who calls all humans turtles really doesn't count. ]

But as long as you agree that a cat can beat an alligator, I'll accept it.

Huh... How would I even make lightning out of foam...?

[ A question made mostly for himself. As Khun takes his sip, Tatara closes his eyes, trying to picture the process in his mind. Plain old latte art would be cool, but 3D...? Would he just build the foam on top somehow...? Make like, a storm cloud...?

He cracks one eye open when he hears Khun speak again. ]

Hmm! [ He smiles, and gives a little wave of his hand. ] Maybe a big cat. Like a lion, or a panther. I bet a panther could beat an alligator in a fight...

[ He trails off, because now he's thinking again. Khun couldn't be a lion, because someone else he knows is firmly in the lion category. But panther... Khun could be a panther. ]

A panther, then. Next time make sure it looks less like a house cat. [ just decrees that apparently their will be a next time. if he's accepting that he's a panther (please tell me they exist in tower of god SIU), then he expects the visuals to align.

in the meantime, he'll continue to sip at his cup with a small smile. ]

Sure! Next time, you'll get the most realistic panther you've ever seen. [ ... ] I just need to remember what they look like.

[ He thinks about lions a lot. Panthers, not so much. Maybe he's lucky and this world has similar animals and he can find an illustrated encyclopedia somewhere...

Anyway. Something else tickles his curiosity. He turns around to reach for the coffee to pour for himself, and he talks with his back to Khun. ]

Why so many alligators? Do you like them?

I'll find you a book.

[ this world probably has them? if not, he'll commission a drawing of one from someone here. ]

Don't even imply that, I can hear his boasting about it from here. No, one of my teammates is a giant alligator, so they're just familiar to me.

[ Oh yay, a book... ]

What? [ Tatara turns, full cup of coffee in his hands, and on his face is a wide, but confused smile. ] You have an alligator as a teammate? [ ... ] Like, a real one?

He's bipedal and three meters tall, but yeah. Uses a spear, just like you saw in the bath.

[ just normal things? khun's grinning, a shadow of a genuine smile underneath. raak's a pain in the ass but he's more than just any ol' person (alligator) to khun. ]

No way! That was based on a real person?!

[ Tatara comes from, ostensibly, "normal Earth," but he takes in bipedal, spear-wielding alligators with stride. He leans forward in his excitement, eyes sparkling. ]

What's he like? Are you best friends? Intense rivals?

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)

Oooh, I see... Bound together by circumstance. [ He has no idea if it's actually like that in real life, but that's the phrase that comes to mind and he thinks it's cool.

He chuckles. ] I know people like that. So I shouldn't make you a mocha, then.

[ Is mocha art a thing? With an alligator on it? That would probably make Khun angry, so he won't do it. ]

I didn't know you were a team leader... That's kinda cool. [ So his big cat diagnosis wasn't too far off. Are all leaders like big cats? Is that why he's not cut out for this? ] Who was the other person on your team?

[ they literally were considering it was "find two teammates within X minutes or die." tower of god is a fun canon rated Teen. ]

Hm? I don't really like sweet drinks unless they're energy drinks, yeah. [ ...how was that deduced from what he said (?)

he might have pressed that if not for the very obvious follow-up question that he answers smoothly, but perhaps too smoothly. ]

Oh, the other person on our team was a Shinsu user. That's the "magic" I normally use in the Tower, but that class specializes in it. So a wizard, in our terms.

[ sounds reasonable and safe,

Tatara realizes they aren't exactly on the same page wrt: drinks, but he makes the mental note anyway. He doesn't know where to find energy drinks, but now he knows Khun likes them. ]

Ohhh, I see. [ It makes sense in his head, like video game logic. ] So that must have balanced you out between the three of you, right?

[ He sips, staring up (!!) at Khun. ]

What did you do, then?

[ nod. ]

You can run an all offensive team, or one built to outlast the others, but if you want a really balanced spread a Wave Master, Spear Bearer and Lightbringer is basically ideal. Mine's the Lightbringer. On paper we're a support class, but we're also responsible for directing our team and issuing orders via our lighthouse. [ he puts the cup down to reach into his pocket to pull out a small blue cube that's the same color as his eyes. ]

You can probably guess why I chose it~.

[ Khun pulls out the cube and all of Tatara's attention zooms in on it. He leans forward to get a better look at it; he tilts his head, takes it in. He's never really seen anything like it before, and the genuine wonder sits prominent on his face.

For a moment after Khun's done talking, Tatara's eyes roll upwards to meet his. Huh. They are the same color. Tatara's never been much of a blue person, but maybe he can come to appreciate it. ]

Wow... That's so cool. [ He rights himself again, smiles over his cup of coffee. ] So that's why you're the leader. I can see it now. [ He can picture Khun commanding an army in his head, which is probably a bit much for just a team of three.

His smile widens further, punctuated by a quiet laugh. ]

You're cool, Khun.

If you think that's cool, wait until you see the inside of my lighthouse.

[ a small sigh, the blue cube in his palm rotating slowly on it's own. ]

Not that I can show you yet, but soon enough. [ the sanctity of his lighthouse is probably the thing khun misses the most about the tower (well maybe energy drinks are tied for first). it's kind of funny because it's something he's only acquired recently, but it is a place distinctly his own that no one else can trespass into without his express position. safer than any room or hidden bunker.

as for the compliment, he absorbs it like a bright, tall, stalk asorbs the rays of the sun. which isn't to say he preens because truly he does so on his own, but he does accept it here which isn't too common. ]

I'm more than that, but it's not a bad thing to hear from you.

[ The little spin is pretty mesmerising, so as he nurses his coffee, his eyes will remain fixed on the cube for a bit.

But his eyes do eventually flit back up to Khun's face, his eyes forming half-moons as his cheeks lift in his smile. ]

No way. [ There's a playful twinkle in his eye. ] What can be better than being cool? [ take his compliment it is the HIGHEST compliment his vocabulary can muster— ] ...Handsome, or something? Dashing?

[ This is not flirting, ]

[ there are certain traits that run through the khun line, male or female: otherworldly speed, light blue hair and cobalt blue eyes, a natural disposition towards lightning shinsu, and the absolute confidence that they're one hell of a catch.

khun aguero agnis is no exception and in many ways, he might be one of the worst (as he tends to be with many things, but he is who he is). he let's go of the cube, tossing it in the air where it levitates right above his shoulder. then he leans in and down, to really take advantage of the distance (or lack thereof) between them. his smile is sly and particularly curved. ]

Do you think I'm handsome and dashing, Tatara?

[ Oh, okay, but the way he tosses the cube and just lets it hover there does steal Tatara's attention for a hot second. That's pretty cool.

But the thought doesn't dwell because Khun makes a very obvious intrusion on his space; instinctively, he leans back for a moment, since this is unexpected to him, but he quickly fixes his posture.

Ah. Hm. Well. He feels his heart beat once, twice, painfully in his chest, and for a second he doesn't really know how to respond. Whatever Khun's dong, he's pretty good at it. ]

Why? [ Eventually, a cheeky smile cracks over his face, and he chuckles. This is just round two of their splashing competition at the bath. yeah. His tone is playful, teasing, like this is a fun little game of secrets. ] Do you want to know?

Edited 2024-05-03 16:49 (UTC)

[ his eyes track the movement, the smile and the chuckle, the playful tone. in a way this really is like their round at the bath, even though he's actually more unsure of what he's feeling now than he was then. you'd think that would make him waver, and for a second he does consider something even if the pause isn't noticeable outwardly, decided in a single flutter of his eyelashes.

(he perhaps should have warned tatara what it's like to really have him on his side. he had offered baam as much when he promised that he would see him at the top of Tower, even if it sounded more like a throwaway remark than anything else. "Prepare yourself, I don't make any stops." khun's ruthless, and nothing and no one can dull that. but he hasn't said that here, because if he says that, it's admitting that he's committed to protecting these eyes too. and he's both not sure and not going to let that stop him.) ]

Is it a bad thing if I do? [ there's a particular note of amusement there, as his voice drops lower. ] I want to know, so tell me.

[ His eyelashes are so delicate, aren't they? Tatara feels the smile widen over his face, and he feels the longer they hold this position, the more nervous he gets. ...Is it nerves, though? He isn't sure, he's never really felt this before, and he doesn't really have the time to analyze it. Instead his coral eyes roam Khun's face, as though reconsidering his stance on the matter, before settling back on the cool blue of his eyes.

Eventually, the nerves (?) flutter from his lips in a laugh, and he tilts his head just so. ]

I guess you are. [ The words, with these feelings, feel foreign as they leave his tongue. ] You're really good looking, Khun.

[ ... ]

I accept your compliment, and I'll give you one in return. You have really beautiful eyes, Tatara.

[ he reaches out gently, slowly, the opposite of how he was just moment's ago. if tatara resists he won't chase, but if he doesn't, he'll gently cup his cheek with one hand. ]

you opened your eyes, spreading it wide

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