hugtopia_logs | ♥ January (Lasra) Event Log

♥ January (Lasra) Event Log

a winter scene showing a line of houses, each a different colour, and a church in the background

January (Lasra) Event Log
Are you feeling free of last year's burdens, offworlders? The natives certainly are after spending the final month of the year at Rawna's temples. Now it's time for a new beginning even as the cold deepens, leaving snow drifts piled along Havenwell's streets. Industrious robots are hard at work keeping the city clean and removing any ice from the stone roads, leaving only beautiful winter scenery behind. The city sparkles under the snow and the silvery white decor brings out of their temples the priests not only for Rawna, but all of the gods.

❥ PROMPT I: The Temple Celebrations

lights decoring trees in front of a church

As noted in the Intro Log, the residents of Havenwell have been invited to help with the decorations in order to incorporate your worlds' cultures with their own, and to assist in celebrating the new year's coming. Residents are encouraged to visit any temple at their convenience or pleasure and join in the design process. There are craft tables, ranging from basic (for the younger or less skilled, such as kites or papercraft) to intricate and advanced designs (like glass lanterns or embroidery). Those less creatively-inclined are welcome to use their various skills, magics, or just ladder-balancing talents to help with the decoration installations around town. Many hands make light the work, after all.

Each temple has music playing and all of them have their associated animals not inside the temple like normal, but spread all over the temple grounds and surrounding areas. They aren't lost for once, but seem to be beckoning people toward their respective homes which are bedecked with holograms of dark green leafy boughs, ribbons, and ornaments all in the temple's colors. Diacht has red and white striped ornaments, Ohma has blue and gold, and Ainea is bringing up the cute factor with pink and purple. But Rawna is looking especially resplendent with rainbow sheened silver ornaments hung in the air, mixed in with real ones that are suspended from wires so thin they look as if they're hanging in midair. The dragonlings fly through the air, trailing silver ribbons behind them that make the temple really seem to shine this month. At each temple, simply by showing up, you can receive a small gift from the priests regardless of whether or not you're an adherent. And they invite you to play the temple games or dance along to the festive music playing from speakers. Each temple has something different to offer, so grab a friend and make your first visit of the year a special one!

Ainea:

Rawna:

Ohma:

Diacht:

❥ PROMPT II: Your Yearly (Mis)Fortunes

a hand pulling a fortune in front of a set of temple drawers

At each temple along all the other celebrations and games, you can also find a separate booth that has a strange and unreadable Aellyn script on it. The robot sitting behind the booth has their face covered with a strip of fabric that obscures it completely, but it calls out to you when you walk by. It offers you an ancient-looking wooden container with a single small hole at the top. If you take it, it mimes shaking the container and tipping it over. Do as they say and a wooden stick pops out of the top with that same strange script on it. The robot takes a look at what you got and takes the container back, passing you a single strip of paper with reverence. "Keep your fortune close or learn to let it go," it says, and then looks to find another patron. Turn your paper over and discover what your fortune holds for you.

Big Luck:

Medium Luck:

Small Luck:

Bad Luck:

Terrible Luck:

OOC: If you wish to roll for a random fortune, leave an comment with your character's name in the Request Thread. The mods will randomize for you and give you your fortune. Your character can only claim 1 fortune, no matter how many times they attempt the fortune-teller's game. Feel free to choose your own fortune instead, if you would prefer a set result.

❥ PROMPT III: Memories of the Sun (VR)

This seasonal VR simulation is especially popular with the natives for the fact that it lets them see their world as it used to be. Load into the simulation "Memories of the Sun" and you'll be transported along with all others who are currently logged in to make a pilgrimage up Aellyn's most sacred mountain. Although its peak is rocky and somewhat barren, it has a serene beauty as it reaches up through the cloud layer and you climb upwards through the dark. The path is clearly lit by small lamps embedded into the ground, but you might find it easier to take the climb if you hang onto someone else. Once you reach the peak, whether you're alone or with someone else, you'll be treated to the sight of a gorgeous sunrise peeking over the thinning clouds. It's a sight to remember, and a sight that brings memories. As you watch you're overcome with a very real vision of your home, a place you remember, or people you know. This vision is typically of a better time in your life, something to bring you hope and peace as the new year dawns - but not always. Is this a vision of your past? Your future? Of your present? If you came here with someone else, they can also choose to share in your vision and you in theirs. Are you brave enough to face what the mountain has to show you?

❥ PROMPT IV: All the Ups and Downs

And while the celebrations continue, there seems to be something a little awry with Havenwell. Here and there throughout the month, gravity has gone utterly haywire. You can be walking from temple to temple or going about your everyday life when suddenly you feel yourself lifted off the ground or heavier than you have any right to be. Havenwell's natives aren't immune to this effect either, and you might see a robot go shooting up into the sky suddenly to hover a good five to ten feet in the air. Or they might take a step and suddenly fall flat on their faces, their gears whirring with the strain as they try to pick themselves up. Thankfully the other natives are quick to jump up and grab their companions if they're flying overhead or pull their friends out of the well if they're stuck to the ground. If you find yourself caught up in these gravity wells, you'll need someone's help to do the same. Be sure to pay it forward because you'll never know when it could be you in this awkward position.

This event will run from January 15 to January 31. Click on each prompt's title to see the text. If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to the FAQ or to the Mod Question thread below.

This post is meant to act as a catch-all for convenience, but feel free to make your own posts if you prefer!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He'll put that broom to even more good use than the replicator! But first, get this boy some glitterless food!!

"Maybe the trip back here was enough, then." That would be nice, wouldn't it? Fit right into the prerogatives of this place. He will go ahead and get one (1) plate of omurice going, but, just in case, have one (1) more queued up while they test the first one out. Just in case. If they'd already done enough, then than just means they eat a meal together. Easy.

Just gotta clean off a spot on the table, and here you go, Kai. "Let's see how this goes."

Kai watched warily as Shinji set the plate on the table. While the omurice that came out of the replicator was usually just acceptably good, it smelled absolutely amazing right now. His stomach gurgled thunderously in a way that was actually Really Uncomfortable.

Maybe the trip back had been enough! Maybe! He could eat this heckin' egg! Daring to believe in the powers of their bro contact, Kai picked up his eating utensil and jabbed it into the alluring curve of fluffy egg and rice.

A happy jingle came from somewhere in the vicinity of Kai's pocket as the omelette exploded into another pile of sparkling dust.

"Ah."

It really did just pop right into a festive little explosion.

Wow.

But also, damn it.

"I... really thought that would work."

That's terribly disappointing... but not totally discouraging yet. Okay. Well, that's what the backup plate was for, but he'll also need to think of a different angle to attack this problem from. Surely the desired outcome here is contact, right? He sets up the replicator to concoct yet another meal as he pulls the finished one on out and over to the table again.

"Let's try that again."

The plate is presented to Kai, and Shinji's free hand is once again brought to a rest at his back. How about? This??

The saddest of doggo eyes looked up at Shinji before slowly turning towards the next plate. It also smelled delicious, and Shinji's hand at his back was encouraging. Right. Okay. Let's try that again.

Nodding, Kai repeated the action.

The glitter politely repeated its action as well, breaking through its omelette shackles.

"... ... Ah."

No.

His hand tightens on Kai's back just a fraction, but, all right. That's just two unsuccessful attempts versus however many it had been for Kai, so there's no use in getting too frustrated about it just yet. Other than the fact that getting hit with those sad, sad eyes again would be terribly upsetting, anyway.

"Sorry," it feels like Kai deserves at least some kind of apology. A cosmic one would be better, but, let's start with something smaller.

He retrieves that third plate, but... before he passes it off to Kai, he gives it a scrutinizing look. Another plan is obviously in order, and the food didn't disintegrate until he had tried to get a bite of it, right...? Hm. HMM.

On the table it goes. "I'm... gonna try something."

Kai sighed the sigh of a boy that was accepting his hungry, hungry fate.

"Try whatever you want," he told him. What was the worse that could happen at this point? Though as Kai eyed the third one, a little bit of curiosity did pop up.

"... Does it pop when you take a bite?"

His plan mostly starts off with attempting to get a piece of that delicious looking omelette onto the utensil himself - an endeavor that works just as expected of any typical food item and not like some kind of glittery bath bomb gone wrong - but after that... "It doesn't look like it will?" Despite the suggestion, he doesn't want to just eat that bite in front of Kai, who is clearly

so hungry

that feels like it would be cruel of him. Instead, he eyes that bite of food, mercifully just a normal piece of food at this point, before turning it to Kai.

Will it still? Become glitter? Like this?

Oh. Look at that. A betrayal.

Kai squinted at the bite of egg taunting him. How come. Whyfore. What secrets did Shinji possess that allowed him to effortlessly scoop up a bite as if it were simply food. Had Kai just been forsaken by sustenance?

If he were to lean in and try to take that bite, would it just crumble to golden sand in his mouth? Or.....................???

His throat bobbed nervously as he stared it down, a quick swipe of pink over his lips. Hesitantly, Kai leaned in to ever. So. Carefully. Nip at that egg.

The egg that stayed an egg.

Such a tense atmosphere, and who could blame it? After seeing the last few attempts go up in, uh, glitter, the promise of this one being any different feels so tenuous. So fragile. So delicate. One wrong move could land this poor, hungry boy with an unfortunate mouthful. Shinji remains quiet as Kai goes in for the sample.

Egg... success?

"That worked...?"

Egg! Success!! Quick, finish off that bite before the omurice figures out you've tricked it! That you want it to be food instead of mad dollars!!

Omurice please he desperately wants you to be food. He didn't even know about the dollars yet! What would he even do with them!!!

It didn't matter because the food was food in his mouth and that was the only thing he could focus on as he boggled at Shinji with huge eyes. That one! That worked!! There had been a pause as he registered the taste of egg and not the taste of soul-crushing despair, which meant that this was almost-nearly as delicious as all of Shinji's home made curry. ((Almost.))

Then everything went real fast as Kai gobbled it up, as if he sensed the need to trick everything into letting him continue to eat.

"That worked!!"

How in the world were they supposed to figure this riddle out? This one's particularly strange, Havenwell!!

But, no reason to dwell on it too long right now. It worked, they did figure it out, and that's what's important right now. Maybe he can try and puzzle out the 'why's of it later, but right now, there is a hungry pupper to tend to.

"Okay... Okay, this is good!" This is! Totally doable! Shinji will just take the seat next to Kai, where he can easily go ahead and get another bite ready to go. "Here."

How long does he need to do this? He's a little worried about letting Kai try again himself right away, as if that one bite will be for naught if he manages to sabotage the rest of the meal. He can keep this up for at least the rest of the plate, though.

Kai was similarly concerned about everything falling apart the second he touched anything else again. The uncertainty made it much easier to just accept what was happening. They could experiment after he'd eaten something. Kai gratefully took the next bite then, a little less desperately than the first one now that it seemed like he'd actually get a meal.

"Sorry for the trouble," he mumbled afterwards, acknowledging that this was kind of way out of Shinji's way.

"It's no trouble," he says reassuringly. After all the times they've bonded over food already, wouldn't it be extra tragic to simply let Kai go hungry? Whatever other plans he may have had are far less important, and he really had been hoping for the opportunity to run into Kai. It all works out just fine.

"I'm glad I'm able to help."

Have another bite, then.

Nom.

Kai hummed around the bite, reveling in just... being able to eat. Who knew what a treat it could be! After being denied so may times! Truly a simple pleasure. Kai glanced up at him, a little sheepish in his expression even if Shinji really didn't seem to mind. It still felt really imposing, and like he should? Try to give something back for it?

So here was a small, grateful touch to Shinji's arm. "I really appreciate it."

Oh, touchpoints, an endlessly useful way to return any favor.

What a gentle touch it is, too. It kinda pulls him into the realization that this is... kind of an intimate situation, isn't it? If he ignores the fact that he's doing it as a purely helpful gesture, anyway, which he absolutely isn't about to.

"Hopefully this fixes whatever's going on," his tone does take a softer shift, however. Let's get another bite ready. "But I really don't mind doing this for however long you need it."

Very useful. Very soft. Very (unspeakably) intimate. Unspeakable only because Kai didn't even fully realize, considering how many other close encounters they'd cozied up in.

"Hope so," Kai sighed, resting his chin on his other hand for a bit. "S'cool of you not to mind, but I'd rather not have to bother you every time. 'M sure that'd get old quick."

A totally different kind of intimate from their typical very (platonic-)intimate cozy moments.

"I'm not about to just let you starve." If it were to keep up, it might just be easier to stay here, in Kai's place. But. You know. That's a thought he's not about to voice. He's hoping it won't be the case for Kai's sake, that'd be real rough. "But we can deal with that later if we need to."

After this meal, and after clean up. First, we finish this omurice.

"Guess so," he murmured. They could deal with it later. "I should be alright for a bit after this at least."

With enough energy to sweep messes into a pile. Probably enough to inquiry into the problems Shinji had been having to see if he could repay the favor if there was anything besides wonky gravity.

Would it really be the best course of action to have Kai use this newfound energy to help clean up such a big mess right away? Wouldn't that just drain it all that much faster? We will see if Shinji will let that slide... when the time comes.

"There's no rush." They can take their time, wouldn't want him to get sick or exhausted from going too hard right after not eating for so long. "We can take it easy for a little while once you're done."

It'd be a good opportunity to find out how well trained your pupper was this far.

Kai pouted vaguely as he chewed on his beautiful bite of egg. "I'm always taking it easy."

Weren't taking it very easy when the whole spider invasion thing was happening, and maybe not so much during the wall repairs, either. Not like those would be an immediate concern, but. You know. He gets the impression that this is a hardworking doggo if he puts his mind to it.

"Maybe," still, he can't exactly argue, but there is a faint note of amusement in his tone. "I just wouldn't blame you if you wanted to take some time to rest up after, that's all."

Hey he definitely laid down a few times during those things. Very restful! The picture of taking it easy! Gosh.

"I'll be fine," Kai protested, wrinkling his nose for added pouty effect. The opposition was pretty much on automatic. He rested a little bit more heavily on his hand as he actually mulled it over, going on to mutter, "Though I guess it'd be alright if you wanted to stay too."

He'd probably argue! That those liedowns were possibly not the take-it-easy kinds!!

His expression turns slightly more thoughtful at that last comment. As much as he'd been planning on sticking around for however long cleanup takes, it definitely opens up a nice opportunity for him to get a particular question that's been on his mind in.

"I actually did want to ask you..." for what is a pretty standard question he's about to drop, there's some extra weight to it as he diverts his attention a little more deliberately to scooping up another bite of that fluffy omelette. "If it would be okay for me to stay here tonight?"

He wasn't running around, thus he was taking it easy. The logic was sound.

Kai had looked over at him, expecting that this was going to be a very different kind of question. What sort, he didn't know, but something... not that. Kai blinked.

"Yeah? Of course, it's always okay."

"Yeah?"

Of course it would be okay. It's always okay, but having that extra confirmation feels reassuring.

"All right, then." He can at least put his own problems aside for the night in that case. "You know that I'll stick around, so it shouldn't be a problem for you to rest up after this, if you want to."

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