hugtopia_logs | ♥ August Event Log

orange flowers in a field under a blue summer sky

August Event Log
The first month of the offworlders being in Havenwell has passed, the welcome party over, and the native residents are starting to get back to their usual routines while the new arrivals are perhaps starting to find theirs. The month of Achtom has started and with it, a crisp summery heat. The skies are gorgeously blue and dotted with high fluffy clouds that never seem to threaten rain - so long as the weather stays controlled. Businesses are picking back up, the natives starting to cater once again to flesh-bodied people with varied amounts of success. The VR cafes are featuring more helmets so even more people can play along with the ever expanding selection of games. Overall, it seems like Havenwell is quite the peaceful city.

And then...

the silhouette of a man staring down at a crowd of rats

❥ PROMPT I: Where's the Pied Piper?

It starts small at first as most things do. Astute observers might notice that the statue of Ainea in the town square and in her temple is brighter than the other gods' statues. Her colors are a little more vibrant, like they've been given a fresh coat of paint. Then, little things in characters' houses seemingly start moving of their own volition to other parts of the house and go temporarily missing. Search as you may, you just can't find them - until they suddenly they show up again where you least expect with tiny little teeth marks in them. The corners of books and furniture get chewed on. The pillowcases and bed frames get nibbled. The edges and hems of clothing get a little frayed without you noticing when it happened.

Then, the squeaking starts up at night. It's innocuous at first, one or two here or there in the house, just barely noticeable by most. Over time, it gets more insistent, longer, louder, until, by the end of the month, it's difficult to sleep at night for all the noise of chattering and squeaking throughout the long night hours. Trying to find the source is a surefire way to drive yourself mad, but it seems that sleeping in the same bed with another person makes it a little easier to bear, especially if you hold hands throughout the night.

And finally, mice start showing up - pink and purple and of various sizes from panda mouse tiny to chihuahua-sized rats. They pop up in kitchens, in bedrooms, in the temples that don't belong to them, at businesses, in the labs, along the streets and in the city squares. They're in your new favorite chair, popping out from cabinets and drawers, and scurrying from under sofas and beds. It seems the only place they aren't is where they're supposed to be - Ainea's temple - and that's a big problem. Her temple priests are out in the city, begging residents both robotic and flesh to peacefully and carefully capture the creatures and return them home to the temple. They pass out soft woven reed baskets to any who agree and thank all participants heartily for their help.

❥ PROMPT II: We Didn't Start This Fire

Throughout the month, pockets of the city experience magnificent dry lightning storms. Before each onset of the storm, an immense clap of thunder booms across the entire city like a siren and the natives hold their figurative breaths until the first strike rains down. A peal of lightning, searing hot, strikes the ground or hits the spires of nearby buildings, cracking stone and leaving nasty burn marks behind. Each storm is only 4 to 5 minutes in length before they suddenly disappear again, but in those few minutes chaos reigns. For anyone unlucky enough to get caught amid one of these storms, take cover! Residents throw open doors and push people inside, even shielding the offworlders with their own bodies if necessary to keep them from getting harmed.

When the lightning and its sonorous booms pass, residents scurry out to repair the damage. They'll be asking nearby offworlders to help as well with patching the stonework or removing broken debris. Most importantly, they put out a call for help in putting out fires that spring up after each storm. Their metal bodies can't withstand the heat for long without melting and the water is dangerous to their circuitry. After the fires are put out and the damage repaired, on occasion, residents will ask for the somber help of pulling a native robot unlucky enough to take a direct hit from the lightning to a local repair shop. Strangely, the natives don't seem sad when their friends and family can't be repaired, and instead start gathering up objects from home to take with them to the temples along with the bodies. When asked, they say it's to pray for a rebirth and go on their way.

a row of contestants before a game show host

❥ PROMPT III: Let's Play the Friend Connection

With all the craziness going on, some people might just want a distraction. A lot of Havenwell's natives certainly seem to think so. Despite everything, the Entertainment District is as bustling as ever and this month the offering is to participate with a friend or group of friends to play a game called: Friend Connection. Rather than the usual plug in and sit configuration, this time the VR cafes have been reorganized into 3 meter by 3 meter square pads with no chairs or furniture available. Players plug in or put their helmets on and they're instantly transported to a garish neon-lighted stage with multicolored spotlights that show a floating, legless robot with a rainbow bowtie and a magnificent mustache. The robot's LED face lights up into the approximation of the :D emote and then a disembodied voice comes from speakers overhead:

"Hail, well met, and welcome to the hottest game show around: Friend Connection! As the studio audience already knows, this game is simple! You and your new friends compete to complete more challenges than the other hidden team. The more fabulously you and your team completes each task, the more points you'll be awarded. At the end of the game, the team with the most tasks cleared and the highest point value will be declared the winners and take home some fabulous prizes. On today's team is..."

And the robotic host waves an arm to a scoreboard behind it, showing your names. The heading "Other Team" has ???? underneath it and a list of challenges is revealed along with a burst of applause. The list reads:

Play Twister until someone falls! The longer you go, the more points you win!
Help each other do a handstand! The Wheelbarrow is acceptable too.
Recreate your favorite scene from a romantic movie. Take, for example, That Scene from the hit movie, Skytanic! Or hum along to this song as you and your friend make some pottery together.
Create a complicated Best Friend Handshake consisting of more than 5 moves and do it together 3 times without messing up!
Answer trivia questions about each other and your worlds while holding hands and staring into each other's eyes. The more questions you can answer, the higher your points!
Do a trust fall into your friend's arms. The higher or further you fall, the more points you'll earn.
Play two truths and a lie with your friend. If you can guess correctly, you'll earn points for your team!

Are you ready, contestants? You have 20 minutes. Good luck!

At the end of the game, the characters are declared the winners by a slim and, naturally, exciting margin of just one point! And their fabulous prize......? The friendship they earned along the way! Congratulations, players! And don't worry, when the game ends, you'll be in the exact weird position you were last in as the helmets turn off. Hopefully you aren't still in those weird Twister positions because everyone can and has been able to see you. Yup, the entire time.

❥ PROMPT IV: Comic Logic

As Lasdia comes to a close and Achtom begins, characters will start noticing something odd happening. Throughout their day as they go about their daily routines, helping people out or trying to find their missing items, the natives stop looking at them and start looking above their heads. In fact, as characters meet one another, their attention may also be drawn vertically above their companion because floating above every offworlder's head is a faint white cloud. Whenever they move, the cloud moves too. Attempts to dispel it by magic or physical means does nothing and it seems like you can't touch it at all.

It's annoying isn't it? Or maybe you're feeling quite curious about this phenomenon? Or maybe it scares you? Whatever you're feeling or thinking, it shows up in that cloud clear as day. It's not every thought or feeling that shows, but it's enough to be disconcerting, and any attempts to control what appears will fail. Like it or not, you're now broadcasting your innermost self to the world.

...For a time, at least. Over a period of time, smart characters might notice that after prolonged physical contact with another person, the cloud fades away and stays away for an undetermined amount of time. Sometimes it's an hour, sometimes it's a day, sometimes it's only 5 minutes, and then it begins to reform again. Whatever it is, it's here to stay, so good luck keeping your secret inner workings, well, secret.

This event will run from August 9th to the end of the September application period, September 9th. If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to the FAQ or to the Mod Question thread below.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Gods, Regis looks terrible. Okay, new plan.]

How's about we get you inside.

[He'd offer his jacket, but he's been informed a vest is not a jacket. And he's not sure it'd even fit, much less help with those shivers.

He offers to take the king's elbow while scanning and finding an open door in a stable building.]

[He wants to object, to insist just finding a spot nearby to sit down and rest is good enough, but another shiver tears through him and makes it a moot point. Prompto is obviously not going to accept argument and it's good thing, he knows deep down. Running himself ragged like this isn't going to end well.]

They said this building over here is stable. Shall we head over there? I think they were going to try and keep some drinks and snacks handy.

[Regis isn't sure he can eat anything right now, but a warm drink sounds divine.]

[His concern for the well-being of others is bottomless, but he doesn't like confrontation or being pushy. So he's glad when Regis makes the suggestion of where to go.]

Sounds good. Lemme know if we need to stop or slow down.

[He's aware that he tends to move fast, but he makes an effort to keep pace with the king.]

[A joke about not being that old quite yet springs to his lips, but his knee nearly buckles before he can give voice to the words, so he swallows it instead, grateful when they finally get inside where he can sit down.]

Thank you. I apologize for being such a burden. You should be out there helping them, not me.

You're doing fine. Don't worry about it.

[The first available seat is as good as any other. Once he's sure Regis is settled, he takes a better look at the place. There were, indeed, snack and drinks.]

I'll be right back. Sit tight.

[Regis nods as Prompto heads off, wishing he could let go of his guilt as easily as that. At least the cold and the drowsiness he's feeling distract him from getting too caught up in that. Unfortunately, that means by the time Prompto's returned, he's almost fallen asleep, tilting dangerously on the edge of his chair.]

[Urge...to take...picture...too...strong...

He snaps off a quick one, sad that Noctis isn't here to share it. Like father, like son! He sits down and reaches over to gently nudge Regis. There's something steaming in the mug in his other hand.]

Got enough energy to drink something? It's warm.

[It takes Regis a few moments to pull himself into wakefulness. Once again, like father like son. Indeed, he mutters something that sounds like it might be 'Warm, good,' but there is no way to know for sure since he won't remember saying it if asked, and then finally wakes up enough to register Prompto and the cup.

Regis take the cup with a grateful look, wraps his hands around it and holds it close before finally taking a careful drink.]

Thank you. Did you get some for yourself?

[Satisfied that Regis can handle his drink without incident, Prompto settles into his own seat. He shakes his head.]

I'm good, thanks.

[He figures he can grab something later. Or when he gets home. No biggie.]

I don't have magic to wear myself out with.

I would warn you against pushing yourself too hard nonetheless, but I think I have little room for that kind of thing right now.

[Regis sighs, gaze focusing sleepily on his cup.]

I can't do anything for Lucis right now. Doing things for the people here helps a little, but the guilt still won't leave me be.

Eh. I've got energy for days.

[Regis should probably be in bed, but he's not sure he'd make it that far.]

Lucians are tough. It...

[He catches himself. He would like to say it will survive, they'll be okay. But from where (when) he's at, he's not so sure.]

It'll still be there when you get back.

[Regis turns his gaze toward Prompto, sad appreciation tinging his expression.]

I know things are not well during the time you and the others are from. Cor has let that much slip in little bits despite his best efforts.

[He sighs, gaze returning to his cup, from which he takes a slow drink before continuing to speak.]

I have asked no questions for I don't think either of us are ready to talk of it, but if I cannot be there, then I can think of no better hands for the future to be in.

[He turns his face away, lips forming a thin line. Well, shit.

His smile is just as thin, and the short laugh he offers is obviously forced. It's ingrained in him to try and make this better somehow, but he has no idea how to do that.]

No pressure or anything, huh?

No, none at all.

[Regis appreciates the attempt, even if it does fall flat. Sometimes, even bad jokes cannot lighten the mood.]

How did you come to terms with being someplace else instead of being home with those who need you?

[Because, honestly, he's not doing so well with that if it isn't obvious.]

Well, it helps that sometimes the people who need you get stuck with you.

[But that's not quite an answer. And all he has to draw from are his experiences on the fleet.]

I don't know a lot about this place yet. But if they can take us from different worlds and times, then they can probably return us the same way. As far as I know, nothing back home is happening without you, because when you go back, it'll be right where you left off.

The best thing you can do, besides trying to find a way home, is find the people who need you here. There's no telling what could happen here, and we need to be able to support each other.

♥ August Event Log

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