hugtopia_logs | ♥ August Event Log

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♥ 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

[He's trying not to pry. Honestly, he is! Will doesn't want to make Kiwi any more uncomfortable or upset than they are already. He's even doing his best to try and cut himself off from feeling the bard's loud, unsettled emotions--but there's no way he can just ignore the thought cloud resolving itself into crystal clear images, like he's watching clips from a movie.

Two lovely young ladies--one strong and proud, the other mysterious and troubled. A battle, or maybe an ambush? From the flashes of memories, it looks more like a beatdown--there's just no way Kiwi or this blue-haired woman could have defended themselves against such overwhelming power. How cruel..... what could they have possibly done to enrage her so much?

There's no answer to that question--at least, not without bringing it up to Kiwi themselves--as the cloud poofs out of existence. That's..... distressing. It certainly explains the violent reaction though, doesn't it? Maybe he should ask some other time, when Kiwi isn't so upset..... or would it be cruel to dredge up those memories at a time when he's feeling okay? What..... what exactly is the etiquette for something like this, anyway? He's really not very experienced at comforting people. It's not something he has almost any experience offering or receiving.

.....At least, not with humans. His Pokémon have always been easy, ready sources of comfort, whether they said anything or not. They'll never leave his side, no matter what. Maybe focusing on that sort of thing will help Kiwi, too?]

.....So who's this friend of yours?

...Huh?

[Kiwi looks up and blinks, for a moment genuinely not sure whom Will is referring to. They'd forgotten for a moment about those darn thought-projecting clouds. But after a beat, they remember. And at the realization that this means Will saw what happened between them and the hero, they hunch slightly, feeling awkward.]

You mean Miriam?

Is that her name? She's pretty.

[He's gonna go out on a limb here and assume Miriam is the right person, not..... whoever the hell it was using Thunder with a magic sword.]

[The compliment does ease the tiniest little smile out of Kiwi. Mostly, they're amusedly wondering how she would react to the compliment herself. She'd probably scowl and say Will was gross.]

She's my best friend. She's a witch, and she can do magic and fly, and she can play music too. She doesn't think she's very good, but I think she plays the piccolo beautifully. She's a little grumpy, but...I think mostly she's just lonely. We were traveling the world together. Heh...she's saved me from a lot of trouble in the little time I've known her.

[They sound fond and nostalgic as they talk about her, but after a moment it turns again to sadness.]

But...she had to go home.

[For what's probably obvious reasons.]

[Awww, but Miriam, he loves flattering people~ ♥ Especially ~~Krabby~~ crabby ones. He listens with interest, though, absently starting to rub Kiwi's back again--as much because it's just instinct by now to pet whatever's cuddling up with him as to offer comfort. ~~He's used to his Pokémon, okok, don't judge him.~~]

She sounds like a pretty amazing person..... maybe by the time we all go back home, she'll be ready and waiting to get back on the road?

[Will meant that as reassurance. One of his kind seeds of optimism that would normally brighten Kiwi's day. But...he doesn't know.

Kiwi goes dead quiet as their heart sinks. But no...they can't possibly open up that can of buried fears now. Where would they even start to explain how they're afraid their world won't be there anymore by the time they're finished in Aellyn. Or how even if it is, they might be out of time to save it, or their plan might not even work. Or how they don't know if they'd even have the chance to see Miriam again before the end - how she could be killed by the monsters overtaking their world, or she could come home to find Delphi destroyed, or her injuries could have been worse than either of them realized.

They can't. They can't tell any of that to Will right now. If they did, they would be a quivering, vulnerable mess all over again. They can't do that now.]

[So instead, they force themselves to smile, and nod in agreement.]

Maybe she will.

[Something drops into the pit of his stomach like an icy block of lead. It's not the same kind of sudden, explosive shock of panic that had rocked him when he'd first found Kiwi. No, this is a choking, insidious dread that tries to make his muscles lock up, and his stomach churn, and his breath freeze--a tension drawing his heart tight that makes him want to just curl into a ball and wait for whatever is looming overhead to pass him by. It feels like he's teetering on the edge of something horrible--but what in the world should he be so afraid of? What is Kiwi so afraid of?

He doesn't curl up and wait it out. There's nothing to wait out. There's nothing to even be scared of that he knows of. But that still doesn't stop the hand on Kiwi's back from trembling as he pets them, or keep his heart from racing.]

How did you two meet?

[Kiwi may not be psychic like Will, but they read people well enough to at least pick up tonal shifts. They can definitely feel Will's sudden dread, including the shake of his hand, and they frown. Did they say something wrong?

That question is a little loaded, too. Back home, they didn't make it much secret that they were on a quest to save the world. But right now, it feels too sensitive. Bringing it up might raise more questions they don't want to answer. And even thinking about that quest when they're in another world entirely hurts, especially when it already makes them think of Miriam, and of having to scale Mount Ichor without her. Or anyone else.

So...they'll keep it vague.]

Well...she was visiting my home town, and she found out I could understand the spirit language and took me to meet her grandmother. Her grandma liked me, and said we should travel together, and...well, it all went from there.

[They laugh slightly, even if it has a tone of sad nostalgia.]

She wasn't too happy about that idea, at first. You should have heard her...

Heh. Not a people person, is she? I traveled around the world for a few years, and most of the time my only companions were my Pokémon.

[See? Nothing is wrong. Everything is Fine. He can do this. They just..... both need to calm down. Just talk about nice, normal things. Get to know each other a little, maybe. Just forget about the..... whatever this is for a while.]

[They chuckle a little in response.] No, she is not.

["You go ahead and do your...people...thing."
"Talking?"
"Yeah. That."]

Her grandmother is really nice, too. Miriam told me a lot about her, and how she taught her magic and potion-making.

[There's still a little aura of sadness as they think about Miriam. But thinking about the happier times, it's a warmer, nostalgic kind of sad. The kind when you reminisce about the good times with a loved one who isn't there.

But at Will's mention of his Pokemon, Kiwi changes the subject.] You know, in Rulle everybody had an animal companion with them. They called them Qin...I think it was a tradition of theirs to bond with an animal. They seemed to think alike!

I wonder if they're kind of like your Pokemon. [They hadn't had the chance to really meet any of them yet, so they're still not entirely sure what a Pokemon is, but they've overheard Will talking about them before.]

Her grandmother must be pretty amazing too, being able to teach stuff like that.....

[That's..... a little better. Sadness is easier to handle than fear, especially tempered with gentle warmth and fondness like this. It makes it feel like he's just catching up on how old mutual friends are doing, not just hearing about strangers Kiwi knows back home.

This place with animal companions sounds like the closest thing to home he's heard of yet, though.]

They might be! Where I'm from, it's a traditional coming of age thing to be gifted a Pokémon to travel and train with. A ton of people go on journeys then--to bond with their Pokémon and catch more, to grow as a person, and to learn about themselves and what they want to do with their lives.

Wow. Sounds like hard work.

[Kiwi is looking considerably more relaxed now. They still like the feeling of Will's hand on their back, but they're able to settle back and sit on their knees while they talk. The distraction is working.]

It can be preeeeeetty tough, but it's really rewarding if you're good at it. I turned out to be good enough at it to make it a career! Back home, I'm one of the strongest professional trainers in my region.

[Thank Arceus for small mercies, a distraction is a lifesaver here. As long as Kiwi is starting to feel better, then that's all he can really hope for.]

What do you train them to do?

Well, there are a lot of avenues trainers can take. The traditional path is battling, though! It's like fencing or martial arts, if you have those in your world?

[He's so sorry, Kiwi, he doesn't mean to break your heart with this.]

Battle? You mean like, fighting?

[That does give them a moments pause and they frown.]

Doesn't that hurt them?

A little, sure. Any rough competitive sport would bang you around, especially if you're trying to push yourself. There are laws in place to keep things from going too far, though!

[will spreads his hands apologetically, offering them a rueful smile. Sorry, Kiwi, he doesn't mean to upset you.....]

Battling as it is now is a way to keep people from fighting and hurting each other much worse. It's part of why things are so peaceful where I'm from.

[They still don't look convinced.]

But you're making them hurt each other to settle your differences, aren't you? Couldn't you just talk it out?

[Logically they know it's not that simple. They frown thinking back to the war between Rulle and Chaandesh. Hala tried to reason with her mother and the king of Rulle. Neither heard her. They were so determined to never get along, until they heard the voice of their people. But that didn't make it feel any better.]

It's not really making them hurt each other..... I mean--maybe I'm just explaining it badly, since I never had to before I came here. Have you ever..... what are those on your world.....?

[It takes him far longer to remember the word for the creature described to him than it really should--and even then, Will's not entirely sure he's using it right. He thinks he's probably close enough, at least?]

Dog! That's it. I think. Have you ever played with a dog before, or watched a couple playing together? You know--chasing each other around, wrestling, that sort of thing?

[Kiwi tilts their head, waiting for Will to find the word. That explanation does make them think a moment and start to relax. They've seen plenty of animals play somewhat aggressively, come to think of it. Couples, they could think of, too - like Francisco and Penny, even if they denied they were dating. Even Miriam's violent temperament had a somewhat endearing quality to the bard, if they thought about it.]

Ah...I guess that makes sense.

It's a little like that! Pokémon are generally really competitive by nature. It's usually called a battle drive, even though it can get expressed in plenty of ways besides fighting--it's the instinct to strive and grow and be better, not just better than other people, but better than any challenges thrown your way, and even better than who you used to be.

Plenty of people can be like that too, you know? It can be dangerous if you let that sort of thing go unchecked--people can really hurt each other trying to get ahead in life or prove that they're better than everyone else. That's why it's important to make sure there's a way to just..... take the teeth out of it. Make it a game. Right?

You might knock each other around, and be serious about winning and proving how great you are--but in the end, you're still having fun together, and learning about each other while you do it. Ideally, you might even come out of it friends! But even if you don't, you can at least respect each other's strength and determination, no matter what your differences are.

[The idle back rubs turn into reassuring petting as he fumbles to explain something so deeply embedded in his culture he struggles to put it into words at all; surely, Kiwi has known people who refuse to back down in his travels, right? Maybe if there had been some way for the residents of the two warring kingdoms to interact more naturally with each other, even if they didn't have to be strictly friendly..... Maybe it would have been easier to see that they weren't that different in the end, and there wasn't any need for hatred and fear.]

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♥ August Event Log

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