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

I can. Want to see?

[ Then - at the question, he looks directly at Mika with warm, warm eyes and an amused laugh. ]

I like you?

[ So, yes. He likes sweet things and awkwardly sweet people. A lot. ]

( 1HKO.......

Mika totally doesn't expect that, and it shows on his face. He absolutely wants to see Ginger's wings, but give him a second. )

... If we're talking sweet, shouldn't we talking about you...?

( Recovery, recovery... )

You're sweeter than any honey.

( ... Sweeter than even his blood, he thinks. )

I don’t know about that.

[ He can be really sour with other people - and he has. ]

I think I just save it for you because I like you best, not because I’m anything sweet.

( ?????? Don't say that he's going to Feel Things about that, )

... You seem like the type of person who'd have a million friends, though. You're like a sunflower.

[ This is News to him. ]

Huh? But I don’t. I have Rum. Day, and um, maybe two or three more people. Back home it was only Rum.

[ A very small list that honestly is pretty big for him. 5x his original list of friends. That’s progress or something, but he still thinks he needs only two people: Rum and Mika. ]

And then there’s you, Mika, and you’re more than my friend, obviously.

( ???????! when canon (reality) contradicts your headcanon...

Mika seems genuinely surprised... Being on a special tier ( family ) obviously makes him happy, but something about this whole thing in general bothers him a lot. )

( ... He seems >:< )

... I don't see why more people don't appreciate you. You're amazing.

( He's not legit mad, but he is a bit sulky. How can he stand for this lack of Ginger appreciation... Even Rum, his apparent one friend from back home, doesn't appreciate Ginger, so what's up with that? If everyone in the manor here is so nice to Mika, too, they could stand to populate the rest of Ginger's friends list. tf... )

Edited (remembered they're holding hands,) 2024-05-01 17:09 (UTC)

Ah… It’s not them. It’s me.

[ Mika is too cute… ]

I get along okay with everyone, but - I just want to like who I like? [ He’s only interested in lovebombing his Important People and everyone else can get the rest of his attention when he’s on the clock - because at least he’s getting paid then. ] And if I like too many…

[ Nightmare scenario (for him) because he knows how annoying he’d be about it. Being possessive of only two people is a compromise. ]

Well, I’m fine with just you. [ Squeezing Mika’s hand a little. ] But that was cute. And um, a relief that you aren’t disappointed that I don’t have friends.

( Cute??? Mika seems embarrassed... He was being serious???

"I'm fine with just you"... Well, he's fine with just Ginger, too. )

... It's not like I have any friends, either. Just you and Yuu-chan, but you're both more than just friends to me.

( And Yuu's friends who called themselves Mika's friends-slash-family (and he knows Yuu really wanted Mika to accept them as such), but... he still isn't so sure what to consider them. He came to trust them enough to entrust them with Yuu, so he guesses he holds them in okay esteem. But friends? Family?

He isn't sure he's ever had friends, now that he thinks about it. The orphanage was his family, and otherwise... that was his whole world. Either you were his family or you weren't close enough.

(Don't ask him about anyone in the manor. Obviously, he has no friends here, either.) )

... Do you get really attached to all your friends?

( The non-Rum, non-Mika ones he listed. )

Edited 2024-05-02 00:06 (UTC)

[ Ah. Yuu.

This Yuu-chan could stand to be a better friend to Mika, though. Ginger doesn’t get how he can be dumb enough to take Mika for granted. Seriously? Does Yuu prefer wearing nettles over Mika’s affection, soft and warm as a hug?

(It kind of pisses him off the more he thinks about it.) ]

No? [ He shakes his head and repeats himself, firmer this time. ] No, not in the same way.

At least, I don’t think so. [ But… Day, he thinks suddenly, for some reason. ] Having friends I didn’t grow up with is new for me, so… I don’t really know how to handle them? ‘m just winging it.

[ And they’ll probably make better, more important friends than Ginger anyway. So it’s not a pressing issue for him atm. ]

( Mika considers this... Admittedly? It's weird - but makes him happy - to be special to Ginger. It's weird to be up there with Rum, and weird to matter to someone so much.

He... squeezes Ginger's hand, too. Maybe the net feeling of all that is positive. He's okay with sharing Ginger's heart with Rum, since Ginger's always loved Rum. )

... As long as you're happy. I pretty much grew up with Yuu-chan, too, so I kinda get it.

( Fortunately, Ginger is coming in after Mika did entrust Yuu to his other friends, so he's not going to be too hostile toward them for existing. Still: )

And Yuu-chan got super attached to everyone he met, and it was a real problem. Even the people who were clearly bad news. So... as long as they're decent people, you should be fine, I think. ... Though I'd still be careful of any humans.

( Yuu's friends were humans and good, but the Hyakuya researchers and Guren (Guren) were humans and bad, so, it;s impossible to say if humans are trustworthy or not,

Anyway, Mika will allow Ginger's human friends to live until he later hears Solomon mention he considered contracting Ginger, and then Mika will unfairly regard any human who hangs around Ginger with suspicion. It's not even their fault. Sorry, Ginger and Ginger's human friends... )

[ Confirmation that Yuu is an insensitive idiot ✅ ]

Mhm. I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time.

[ He still needs to work on himself, but he feels okay about that, which is leagues better than before. ]

I know it’s not normal for a lot of people - angels and demons included - to be like me, but spreading myself thin to make everyone important feels like I’m tricking them, in a way? At the end of the day, I only want to choose the ones who are important to me.

[ It’s not that he won’t try to protect everyone else. If he ever had to choose, however - if it ever came down to a choice, Ginger doesn’t want there to be any doubt. Not with this, when doubts plague him everywhere else. He knows not everyone can be his - and if he can’t have that, why have them close at all? ]

( Happy Ginger... A small smile for hearing he was special to him - and a smile a little warmer hearing he's happy. It's dim, like a low-lit bulb, but it's a lot, for Mika. )

You don't have to have a lot of friends if you don't want to. Five is already a lot.

( That's a whole group chat! But he does mean it. He might worry a little if Ginger had no friends at all - not that he thinks Ginger should push himself to be something he isn't, but... he'd worry, is all. He's a worrier.

He's just hoping they're worthy of Ginger's time and affection. )

Anyway, forget what other angels and demons are like. ( He knows that's easier said than done, but still!! He shrugs. ) If it's normal for Ginger, then that's all that matters.

( Hypocrite that Mika is, given he defines himself as a vampire first and a person second. But it's simple: Ginger gets rights and he doesn't because Ginger is more important, the end.

However.

Mika glances up at him. )

... Did you say "winging it"?

( ... hehe )

If you think so, that’s what matters to me.

[ Five is a lot. If he thinks about it too much, he might even regret that much.

Thankfully, Mika sweetly validates everything about Ginger and he should maybe question it more (both himself and Mika, their self-check seems to glitch out every time they’re near each other,,,), but… please understand that sweet Mika is very distracting.

When he smiles like that? Ginger wants to hug him and carry him off so no one else can see that smile. He could - do that. Actually. ]

… How about we “wing it” right now?

[ It doesn’t make any sense, but Ginger is not smart. ]

( MFor the time being, Ginger's greatest advantage is that he's not in any misery^{[citation needed]} or danger as a result of his own choices. And, fortunately, he'll never be thanks to Lunae Calamitas being a slice of life wizard game. They don't have to worry about Khun or the East mission after. All is well.

For the time being, Ginger's attempt at an intentional pun gets a grin out of him. It's honestly cuter that it doesn't make sense. It's the closest he's come to laughing in years. )

... Yeah. Let's go. You're the wing expert, here.

( Honestly, the idea of getting flown around doesn't feel real? So he's just kinda... rolling with whatever. )

Okay!

[ When he lifts Mika, it’s with an overdose of enthusiasm, oops. He’s so eager to show Mika that his wings (bat-like and strangely not actually attached to his body) come out and also - accidentally - something else. Something that might wag or flick with puppy delight, but wraps itself around the closest part of Mika instead - his thigh.

Ginger doesn’t notice at first, flying them up to the roof for a nice view of the gardens. He doesn’t set then down, choosing to hover. ]

( Oh, demon wings - if a "!" could appear over Mika's head, it would! He's suitably impressed just seeing them pop out, but when Ginger actually takes him up for flight? Even moreso. Surprised by the sudden lift and the winding around his thigh, he secures his grip to Ginger as they depart (though he feels confident enough that Ginger has him firm regardless).

It's not as if he hadn't seen this scenery from this height before, between his jumps and his broom, but there's something different about it in a way he can't explain, seeing it with Ginger - seeing it in this way because of Ginger.

Vaguely, he realizes the wings strike him as familiar - he'll put his finger on it when he thinks on it more (the night he'd gone on his first hunger frenzy being the culprit), but he'll ruminate on that, remember, and regret later. For now... he's amazed he can still find reason to mind the view, when normally he's completely indifferent. )

... This is incredible. ( This appeals to the child buried deep in his heart... or maybe it's partly just amazing because it's Ginger. ) Why bother with a broom when you can just...

( As he speaks, he glances down - right, wasn't there something at his thigh...? )

Usually, I’m a lot higher up - where the city lights become stars on the ground. I wish I could show you.

[ He’d like it a lot if he could show Mika all the beautiful things in life - and maybe, tell him he’s also very beautiful and alive. (So don’t think that you’re just some monster that leeches off the living.) But there’s the moon, hanging so close to this world. He won’t risk Mika.

As though reflecting Ginger’s inner thoughts, the spear-headed spade tip of his tail lifts and then quivers once, before settling again with a silent thump. This person is his to keep safe. ]

( Tail... That's... kind of endearing...? It reminds him a little of an animal, but he couldn't tell you which one. It's almost as endearing as Ginger wanting to show him somewhere nice - but Ginger likes doing that, doesn't he? Keeps trying to give him pieces of the world to learn how to enjoy. He's so... )

... What kind of place do you come from?

( He attention drifts from the tail and the gardens back to Ginger as they hover - he realizes he's... never asked? But he wants to know, he thinks. Because it's Ginger's home. )

Really modern? Society in Heaven is not all that different from the human world. We live above the clouds, so… lots of blue skies and bright sunshine. Cloudy days are all white and gray. Ah, but plants can’t grow on clouds, so things like trees take a little bit of effort.

[ Which is part of the reason why Ginger gets so excited about flowers. A single tree is a rare sight, but flowers are practically impossible without a stronger type of magic. ]

We’ve adapted a lot of human ways… Like eating - for fun, so mostly sweets and snacks. Lots of coffee at work, hah. But… hmm… human technological levels have advanced rapidly enough that whatever we have, they probably have something similar by now, too. So adaption goes both ways, though theirs is more instinctive - as they, too, are God’s children.

[ Overall, pretty normal and peaceful. The wars have been long passed, though discontentment will always exist. ]

I didn’t really interact with humans all that much until now. My job has to do with what humanity has created - the stories they’ve woven into life. The 3rd mankind. [ There’s a contemplative pause as he remembers the first week or so here, before he says a little sadly: ] At first, I thought this was one of them. But, no, I don’t think it is. You’re too real.

( "They, too, are God's children"... )

... I think I remember that. When we first met, you were complaining about the lack of "lore." ( Hah. ) I sure hope I'm real. And if I'm not, I hope my lore's decent enough to compete.

( A joke. Probably.

He had kinda wondered where Ginger lived, but his answer still surprises him - imagining a city but sat atop the cloud with near human technology (and coffee...) felt like a fairy tale itself.

:thinking:... )

... Do you think you could fly us deep into the forest? I'll steer you the right way. ( The forests surrounding the manor et al. ... that aren't totally safe, but Mika thinks he can handle them both. ) I want to hear more about your job and this "third mankind" thing. Do you mean the stories actually come to life?

[ If Mika were someone’s concept, someone’s idea… ]

I would - probably get in trouble for interfering with your story. I’d want to give you a happy ending with your Yuu-chan. No matter what.

[ He would emphasize the parts of Yuu that loved Mika because they must exist. How could Yuu not love Mika with everything that he is? Tch. Ginger would fix that. ]

I’ll take you anywhere, so lead me. [ His wings start flapping towards the woods. ]

Yeah, all the stories are contained in their own little loop worlds. Sometimes things change and they break free.

( A happy ending with Yuu-chan... Impossible as it is, he appreciates the sentiment. Ginger's sweet like that, even in these hypotheticals.

Mika will guide him as they speak - it's pretty far out and takes them over some pretty dense treetops; it seems it'd be difficult to get here on foot, normally. The path runs largely along a river, which makes it easier for Mika to track - especially from this bird's eye (demon's eye?) view.

Periodically, short waterfalls (short enough to step up over) break up the river, suggesting a gradual upward elevation. )

Break free...? And get into the real world? ( ?? ) Or they just start misbehaving in the story?

( He closes his eyes briefly, between directions. He's lost a lot of his eye for the beauty of nature, but the cool breeze doesn't feel bad... )

[ Ginger carries him in the air like he weighs nothing - sharing one center of gravity, buoyed by the wind. His explanation for the 3rd mankind continues absentmindedly as he takes note of their path; he’s trying to memorize the route for next time - if there is a next time. ]

Think of a room with infinite space, and in that space is an unlimited amount of cubes that orbit a theme. Horror, mystery, action… Those cubes hold worlds of the 3rd mankind. I have a similar one I can show you later.

When they escape, it’s usually outside of the cube and just into that space. Sometimes it is them causing chaos in their own story, like you guessed. …There was… a guy, whose crush fell for another guy, and so he broke his own heart and started to become obsessed with… blond boys…

[ The chagrined way he ends that sentence… ]

( That's... huh. Very abstract, but he's curious enough. He nods when Ginger says he could show him later.

Ginger's example, however, earns a raised eyebrow, turning his attention from their path for a moment... hello ? )

... Did he do anything to hurt you? ( Most important first question !! ) How did you deal with that, anyway?

( Do you just shove them back into the cube...

He glances back down, noticing that, up ahead, a portion of the forest seems to abruptly end - it's a broad and steep cliff. He gestures for Ginger to alight - past the cliff. )

There's another ledge over the edge of it.

( While the rest of the river continues to run up a higher elevation, a branch of it breaks over the edge, forming something a little less like a waterfall and more like a beaded curtain over the side. And behind that curtain, some ways down... is a cave! One that would provide a terrible fall if you were to slip from its landing.

There's a bit of a ledge that catches the water and routes it the rest of the way down, into the forests below. It's not much of a cave - more like a hole, not big or deep enough for more than a couple people - but it has a few of the rolling forests below, and how they open into a lake and mountains in the distance. The stars, though the color they usually are, reflect, unusually, in pretty greens and ambers and purples along the lake's faraway surface. Mika can't appreciate it too much, but it's a nice view.

Here's the place, seems like. )

you opened your eyes, spreading it wide

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