♥ February (Nalom) Event Log

[hugtopiamods]

February Event Log
It's the last month devoted to Rawna, and winter is winding down. You'd think that this would matter to them, but none of the priests of Rawna seem to care at all. If asked, they will simply explain that they are "fasting"... not for food, or entertainment, but their capacity to care. The 3rd and final month of the dragonlord emphasizes the apathy aspect of the god's alignment, and followers are encouraged to just chill and not let life bother them for a while.

This doesn't seem to have stopped the rest of the community, however. Seems they've caught wind of there being a particular fluffy holiday taking place in the second month of the year on certain worlds and have decided to adopt it for themselves as something of a test drive. Nalom is usually so boring, after all! And if it helps their unfortunate trapped visitors feel a little more at home, well, they're happy to give back if they can. Thus, there are fresh displays in local businesses, custom shops, and pop-up cafes, offering discounts and deals for people who shop or dine together. You are the only ones who can support the gods in these dark days, and you need a partner to do that! So this month they are celebrating YOU.

Happy Va... Valen... Saint's... happy Nalom!

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❥ PROMPT I: They Call Him Lakemin, King Of Soft Hugs

Once a day, all through the city, there will be a distinct robot wandering through. It's large, looks almost like a marshmallow, and seems to be there just to hug your character. Isn't that sweet? If you find him in inclement weather, he'll happily keep you company, even keep you warm or dry if necessary! Really, though, you can find him anywhere. All hugs are sweet and soft, though those less… hug-inclined… may receive a surprise embrace instead. If you don't like it, he will be very apologetic! They're testing a new technology, you see. What technology, you might ask? Well, let's see how it goes first. Just enjoy the good squishes for now.

When you return home, there's a small weather-proof box by the door. Opening it, there's a small plush of this Marshmallow-bot with a name embroidered on it. Only problem is, it isn't your name. Whoops! Someone must have been in a rush to deliver these and put them in the wrong place. Time to find who this plush belongs to, maybe they'll have yours! Or maybe they can direct you to the right person. Either way, what is there to lose? Nothing, of course! There's just the strange compulsion to see to it that this plush get home and you pass on those warm, cozy, hugs that Marshmallow-bot gave you.

❥ PROMPT II: This is How You Valentine

The information that the residents have received about Valentine's Celebrations might be a little… iffy… or at the very least sporadic, but they're trying a few experiments to see if it'll help get people in the mood. The following changes can be discovered around town, with varying effects:

• Conversation hearts
Found in display bowls at the counter of local businesses, characters who eat these candies find their vision becoming rose-tinted. Quite literally. Colors aren't erased by it but there's a definite effect as if they are seeing the world through some kind of film filter, the shade of which can vary depending on the person. Maybe you see different colors! Maybe you see some bizarre kind of Snapchat filter. Maybe you see dialogue appearing in text bubbles now. The effect can be alleviated/cured (at player's discretion) by leaning against someone for an extended amount of time, which is convenient, because the sudden shift in visuals can make you feel a little dizzy.


• Roses
A few members of the community council are handing out flowers! These aren't naturally grown, of course, as with how delicate a process is it they don't want to jeopardize the botanical gardens by removing an excess of them. However, these are made out of synthetic silks but smell like real ones and have just as soft a feeling without any thorns! Isn't that nice of them?

When your character receives one, they're filled with the gentle, warm sensation of being in love but without falling hard. And they'll want to share it. People who share similar features to your CR, even if it's something subtle like hair color or a piece of clothing, will jump out as someone to share this flower with. This comes with the urge to express some unfortunately cheesy lines about the other person… and while they don't have to be romantic, even the most platonic of lame comments can get you in hot water. Hope the rose is worth it!


• Wines and Fruit Juices
What goes with cheesy compliments better than wine? These are found only in the temples, and with a priest always nearby to ensure no one is drinking the alcoholic drinks underage or becomes too inebriated to be safe. No matter how it looks or smells, these will taste just as your character likes and will always be the perfect temperature! Handy! But boy, after even a small glass, it sure does feel like cuddle weather, doesn't it? Don't worry though, it isn't anything that would make your character get too inappropriate or do anything outside their comfort zone. But boy, wouldn't it be nice to lay your head on someone for a bit?


• Chocolate truffles
Good morning! Every residence will wake up at least one day with a small box of chocolate truffles in a box at their doorstep. Some are plain, some decorated, and the decorations range from simple white chocolate drizzle to fancy elaborate planets or galaxy speckles. No matter what the flavor, there's an urge to share them with someone. That's all! Go and spread that chocolatey delight! It's extra-satisfying to feed it to them yourself, for some reason...

❥ PROMPT III: Kreative Kompetition

No matter what the month, the world still spins, and businesses run, which means that the VR Cafes have been working on new games. This time, the theme is friendly competition! The following games are now available at the local cafes:

• Kart Racing:
Pick a kart and get out there! You'll be provided with everything you need, of course, since even virtual reality observes safety requirements. On the track, you'll be able to pick up comically large and squishy 'weapons' and obstacles. Nothing that will hurt but a cream pie to the face sure does make it hard to keep up! You can race against friends, strangers, or even find yourself in a whole grand prix.


• Kapture the Flag:
You and your opponent are tasked with capturing the other's flag. No holds barred! You can move and hide your own flag, plant traps around it, even carry it around with you! Can you find a way to disguise it? That's an option! Whatever you do, once your opponent gets it, you'll receive a message alerting you that your flag has disappeared. Don't let them get it back to their base!

Once a game has concluded, win or lose, both players will be rewarded with coupons for a free meal for two at one of the local cafes around town. Matching up the coupons gets a bonus dessert! It's not necessary to match them, but why wouldn't you?

❥ PROMPT IV: Gentle Trembling of the Toes

In the last few days of the month, something begins to happen: a very gentle rumble reverberates throughout the city, an earthquake small enough to not cause any damage, but large enough to be felt. The timing of it is sporadic, but it happens once a day. The sensation will typically last for anywhere between 10-30 seconds before dissipating as if it never occurred at all.

Around town, characters may also notice something curious- each time one of those tremors occur, many of the robotic residents in town will immediately stop, find a partner, and link arms while standing back to back with one another, clinking their heads together. They stand that way for a while, even after the tremors subside, until at last they say their farewells and move on. If asked, rather than alarmed, the town natives are tentatively optimistic, even excited in some cases: the quakes are a message, a gentle warning, but of what they don't yet know. It's been so long since a public declaration from their deities was made, due to their diminished presence in the world and the decline of the planet. The priests are especially eager, bustling about in their temples trying to prepare for whatever might happen, but no one seems to know exactly what, or when, the next step will occur. The doors exiting out of town are being reinforced, and the guards have doubled up their patrols and will be especially vigilant about explorers going too close to the walls around the city. Most people at least know this much: do as they do, when the tremors hit, and you'll understand a little better.

Characters that link up for long enough during one of the quakes can receive one of following messages in their heads:
1) "Change is coming." this message is passive, almost like a greeting.
2) "We thank you for all you have done." this message is softer, almost apologetic.
3) "We shall do all we can to keep you safe." this message is gentle, almost parental in its affection.
4) "Share your bounty and your joy." this message is kind and encouraging, tugging you toward people you may not have met yet.
5) "Remember to keep the balance." this message is plaintive, but without urgency.
6) "Do not approach the walls." this message is LOUD, insistent, and the most frequently transmitted.

The voice that conveys these messages is a collective of multiple, speaking in synchronization but at inconsistent volumes. Multiple links (eg. different threads) can receive multiple messages, and characters do not have to hear the same message as their partner.

This occurrence is also ONGOING. The quakes will continue until it is announced in the near future when they end. Stay tuned!

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This event (aside from Prompt IV) will run from February 11th to 25th. 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 on the Plotting Post.

Comments

[daikonrose]

Not me! I've always just been a listener. [ They're edging dangerously close to Things She Doesn't Super Wanna Talk About, but it's still a harmless topic, so she keeps her tone light. ] I wouldn't even be able to pick one to learn if I had the chance, I'm pretty sure. But I always thought that kind of talent is really cool!

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[Well, is there any better time to pick something up? With all of this free time everyone has now? But, something about that answer, she sounded pretty sure of herself, so maybe not the kind of reminder that's worth bringing up. It's not like she wouldn't have realized that much by now either way. That thought will remain unsaid.

But! If she does want to listen sometime! And assuming that sometime will roll around sooner or later! He'd like to know,] What kind of music do you like to listen to...? [A cello certainly lends itself to a certain kind of music rather than others, but it might help to know what she's in to, just in case it's something he can manage regardless.]

[daikonrose]

What kind? [ Kyoko looks up, frowning thoughtfully. That is an obvious question now that she's hearing it, but somehow she's just not prepared with an answer. ] I guess can't say I have a favorite genre, in particular.... There isn't even anyone I'm a big "fan" of right now, if I think about it.

[ Perhaps this is a side affect of spending most of her life deeply obsessed with just one (1) specific musician, who is now the enemy and therefore intolerable. Could her actual personal tastes stand some development now? It's possible! ]

I guess my favorites are always ~fun~ and ~lovely~ songs! [ what does that mean ] What about you?

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[That is, at least, a vibe he can keep in mind. Surely, with enough thought and practice, he could be able to polish up something in his repertoire that's jaunty enough to meet the criteria of '~fun~' and '~lovely~'.

Shinji is, similarly, not exactly expecting the question to be turned back to him, and doesn't have a very solid answer for her off the top of his head. It mostly comes from a place of, from his perspective, not being very particular about his choices in the first place.] Hm, right before I got here, I'd been appreciating classical music a little more? [Which, you know, cello, and all. But he sounds just the tiniest bit melancholy about it, so he continues from there,] But anything catchy is good.

[daikonrose]

[ Huh, he doesn't sound super enthused about that? But then, Kyoko's not sure she's ever heard Shinji express anything in a way she could call super enthused. It does make her wonder.

Regardless, she gives him a little grin. ]

Classical is lovely for sure~! Even if I only know things like the Nutcracker Suite. I guess that's pretty catchy, though? [ She tips her head, sheepish. ] Not that that would work for a cello solo. You'll have to teach me about the best songs!

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[Strong positive emotions have never really been his forte. Don't worry about it.]

Ah, yeah. Stuff like that really works best with a whole ensemble. [Even if he were to, say, learn just the cello parts those songs have, he's certain they wouldn't be very interesting to listen to on their own. You'd probably have to recruit new musicians among Havenwell's population to round out an orchestra big enough!] I don't know if you'd be able to call them 'the best', but I do remember a handful of more... upbeat pieces, that you might enjoy.

[daikonrose]

"The best" are obviously whichever ones are your favorites! [ That's what she had meant, anyway! ] I want to hear them!

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[His favorites, huh? That might be a tall order, actually, but it sort of feels like she's trying hard to lighten the mood, would it really be fair of him to drag it down more?]

Yeah... yeah, sure. I'll figure something out for you.

[Something. No sweat.

He gives their surroundings a quick look, figuring out about how close to his place they are by now.] Thank you for walking so far with me.

[daikonrose]

[ She just wanted to know more about the things Shinji liked! And she didn't want him to think he had to cater to her music-demanding whims. It had felt like a natural request.

But ah, it looks like they've somehow managed to make it all the way to the Marshes without either of them suffocating too badly under their own shaken nerves. Kyoko's not sure she could have achieved much more than that. ]

No--thank you for keeping me company all the way here.

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[It's just easier to ask what someone else would like best, but at least being in a place like Havenwell has given Shinji scads of time for things like self-reflection. Maybe he would be able to put a better finger on the kinds of things he does like, with the right kind of thought put into it. Maybe.

He'll have to think about it when he's alone, as long as he can take his mind off of how stressed out their current predicament has him.]

It's no problem. [He wouldn't necessarily count on himself to be great company, but at least she seems to have preferred it to not having any at all. That's a win.] Is your place much farther...?

[He can keep her company however much longer she likes, but he won't keep her too long if there's only a short ways left to go.]

[daikonrose]

It's not! I have to turn just up ahead, actually. [ Saying that, she quickens her pace to get a bit ahead of him, turning to walk backwards, so she can make sure Shinji doesn't miss the smile she gives him. ] I don't know if I'll see you tomorrow, but--soon, okay?

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[Soon, huh? That's awfully vague, but 'eventually' is probably the best they could hope for after all of this.

So, as she takes her turn, Shinji offers her a small wave.] Soon, right. [But, he's not going to just leave it at that, is he? He hesitates for a second, before adding,] Take care until then, okay?

[daikonrose]

[ If she's honest with herself, Kyoko knows she won't actually stay away from the temple for too long--a week or two, sure, but there are just too many things she likes about the place. So no, maybe not exactly "soon," but this surely isn't destined to be a long parting!

Turning up the brightness on her smile one last time before she swivels around to head her own way, Kyoko nods. ]

Yes! You too! And be careful walking home, all right?

[hedgehogsdilemma]

[So bright! In spite of these heavy circumstances! Truly you're the most admirable one here, Kyoko.]

You too. [And as she turns to leave, he does the same, picking up his pace to make a hasty retreat back to his own house.]