♥ June (Dianir) Event Log

[hugtopiamods]

June (Dianir) Event Log
Ainea's time has ended and now Diacht's months have arrived. Dianir marks the beginning of the hot summer months with a rise in temperature as well as humidity. With each passing day, spring gives way to summer, and the natives of Havenwell are enjoying the blue skies along with the newly expanded barrier. With the most dangerous of the beasts gone thanks to offworlder help last month, researchers and conservationists head out on occasion into the newly opened areas to continue the work of cataloguing and preserving what they can find. Some take time to study the barrier and some just seem to enjoy being outside the walls for the first time in centuries. Meanwhile, the city within seems to have calmed from Ealom's excitement, settling into its usual routine with only a few…"hiccups."

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❥ PROMPT I: Hana-hack-i

With the turning of the seasons, the weather warms up and Diacht's influence grows in strength. 'Tis the season to be honest with one another, because if you aren't, you may begin to feel a tickle in the back of your throat…

For those who have feelings repressed, secrets unaddressed, or maybe just won't confide in a friend when they're feeling depressed, the gods work in mysterious ways. Specifically, in the fact that the offworlders may find themselves coughing up flower petals. Whether petals of plantlife from Havenwell itself or another world entirely, the longer one goes without confessing their troubles or sentiments the more insistent their condition until they might even have trouble getting through a whole sentence without finding a corsage's worth stuck in their mouth. Speaking minor truths will lessen the effect a little at a time, while larger or more impactful ones will work to cure it completely.

While not painful or otherwise physically harmful, the affliction does feel awkward and very likely doesn't taste all that great. Not to mention it's going to be difficult to keep secrets when everyone can see you have a mouthful of flower.

❥ PROMPT II: Uproot of the Spirit

Those offworlders that have been present in Havenwell since the previous June may remember an outbreak of traits and desires not necessarily their own, reflecting the dominion of their associated god instead. With the return of the early summer season, so too do such urges begin to resurface--but not quite in the same fashion.

This time around, things are a bit different--adherents to one god may find themselves with any other god or gods' traits, with one or more applying at once, one and then another on different days, any multitude of combinations apart from those of the deity to which they belong. For example, one under Diacht may have the effects of Rawna one day and Ainea the next, or perhaps Ainea and Ohma both at once, but never contend with Diacht's influence. And while the previous year seemed to deal with the gods' animal natures, it seems this time things are a little different as people begin manifesting extreme versions of their gods' emotional domains.

Ohma: As the god of wisdom, Ohma's influence becomes a desperate and insistent need to exchange knowledge. The affected may ask friends and strangers all manner of questions, ranging from 'where did you get that shirt' to 'how do you like your eggs' and everything in between. In exchange, the affected also wish to share their own information on just about everything they know, whether the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow or the entire plot of a book they read that one time. They simply have to give and seek knowledge to and from whoever they can find.

Ainea: The influence of the god of compassion leads the affected to be almost aggressively kind. Complimenting every little thing those around them might say, do, wear--if it can be spoken kindly about, those under Ainea's influence will do so excessively and well past the point of obnoxious. So too might they feel a compulsion to give gifts to others--specifically, giving away the affected's own possessions. Once the effect wears off, one might even have to track down their new and old friends to get their more important things back...

Diacht: Honor and honesty being Diacht's domain, those affected by them will be incapable of lying. They will be compelled to not only speak the truth, but do so out of obligation no matter how awkward for them or the other party. Even if it means speaking a brutally honest opinion or divulging a carefully hidden secret, so long as the words are true to the affected speaker they will have the urge to share it. To tell a lie or general untruth will make them feel suddenly ill, dispelled only by speaking something truthful instead.

Rawna: Rawna's reasoning takes the forefront of their influence; anyone under their affect will be insistent upon hearing and soothing the emotional hurts of others. They are certain they need to be a listening ear or comforting shoulder to the absolute best of their abilities and beyond--that is to say, they will not only go out of their way to find others' problems, but potentially assume ones exist where they do not. Some dear friends haven't spoken in an entire day? Clearly they had a terrible fight, and it's up to Rawna's affected to fix it.

❥ PROMPT III: 'Cause I'd Get A Thousand Hugs

Yet another indication that the world is recovering is the reappearance of the Fairy Lights. As the weather turns warmer, these beautiful little insects take to the air for their mating dances at night, dimly and softly glowing like Earth's fireflies or lightning bugs. These tiny little bugs float through the air, flitting about as their bodies pulse with light. The Fairy Lights come in a multitude of colors from red to purple, turning the night into soft rainbows of light. They make their triumphant reappearance in two locations: the botanical gardens and the green belt that grew up where the old wall used to be. Their beautiful displays start once the sun goes down and stop at sunrise, and natives are delighting in their return by taking walks among them.

If offworlders follow suit, they'll notice that the Fairy Lights are attracted to those who come in pairs or more, especially those who engage in sustained positive contact with each other while among them. The Fairy Lights seem to enjoy it when people are touching and will land upon them, one of each color until a rainbow has formed - usually in a crown around the head. Once the rainbow crown of Fairy Lights is complete, that character will feel a pleasant calmness and a feeling of peace and happiness wash over them. For as long as you and your partner(s) are in contact, the Fairy Lights will stay and so will the peace they confer. Once contact is broken, one by one the little insects will fly away, off to find a new perch.

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This event will run from June 15 to June 30th. 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. You can also use the Havenwell Status page or the General Plotting Comment to give you other ideas for original prompts!

Comments

[daikonrose]

What was that, did he say something about clamming up? Oh well, no need to ever talk about that again, right!

But goodness, that was quite a coughing fit. Kyoko drew back for a moment, a hand going to her mouth in alarm, before moving to fetch a glass. Your turn to be given a drink, sir. He sure did say a broad variety of things before she could lean over the sink and fill it up for him, though. She was still sorting through them all when she handed him the cup.

"Sorry... I didn't realize it would be so finicky. Mine have all worked pretty well so far, at least for a little while."

[runs_on_batteries]

They were so coming back to that. This wasn't his first argument ruined by choking on rosemary spewing from his throat... okay, maybe it was, but he still was going to reflect on this later and want more answers.

It was either finicky or Tony wasn't actually giving the magic a chance to work. Either way, enjoy all the new random bits of information, Kyoko.

"It's okay," he muttered and took the cup gratefully. He sloshes some of the water in his mouth and spit it out, taking the worst of the strong taste with it. He took another drink before relaxing. "Seems pretty stupid not to just go ahead and say what the hell's wrong if you have to contend with that to keep it quiet, doesn't it?"

[daikonrose]

"I guess you could try that, if you wanted to," Kyoko said mildly. Just an abstract idea. A thought experiment, if you will. If he wanted to go for it, she wouldn't stop him. "But there's no guarantee it won't just start again later, right?" She sipped her own water. "Not that I've heard of yet, anyway."

Gosh, he'd sure said some interesting things, though. Kyoko made a mental note to take the thing about Gladio's bubble baths to her grave. And a super hero? Jeez, as if he hadn't already been enough of a main character-type--there were so many of those here, the shock was wearing off. She didn't quite get what he meant by that last one though, that was going to take some more pondering.

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony shook his head and looked at her amused. "You like playing that clueless card don't you? Come on, after what I just told you, you can't possible think what you've got going on is so much worse than that. And those were just three I had off the top of my tongue."

He paused for a minute to think over what he'd actually shared. "And.. please don't share that thing about Gladio. He might kill me."

[daikonrose]

"This isn't a card game," she countered flatly, which of course was technically true but maybe not figuratively, maybe not entirely. "And I didn't think we were competing about anything, worse or otherwise. Besides, you told me about nice things just now, even if you risked your life with the one about Mr. Gladio."

A beat. "I kinda don't get how being openly married is a secret, though." Wasn't that an oxymoron? "--Oh, but I'm not saying you have to talk about it. Since it's a secret."

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony was taken back a little at that and he frowned. "I was joking, sweetie. I just meant you don't always have to be so guarded. I've done plenty of things that aren't nice that I could tell you if you'd like but.. I wouldn't want to do anything to hurt you or make you feel judged."

The question about his marriage was a bit of a surprise but it got the edge of his lip curling upward. "Well.. depends on who you ask. It wasn't something we shared with anyone who wasn't involved. It wasn't their business."

He ran a hand along the back of his neck, considering her for a moment on whether she was really wanting to know or if he was just making her uncomfortable. "I never had a name for it until I was taken from my world. I didn't really think about it or try to label myself as anything other than who I was but.. I've learned there are some people, like myself, who.. we love more than one person."

[daikonrose]

Ah, she hadn't meant to get that kind of reaction out of him--she'd gone too hard, hadn't she? "Ah," she held up a hand, lightly protesting, "I was just saying I was being serious! I didn't want you to think I was playing around, getting you to tell me this and that just for fun. That's all."

But that elaboration on the open marriage question was just deepening her confusion. So it was a secret? But he'd also called it "open"--wasn't that the opposite?? And now he was talking about loving more than one person? But he'd just said he was married?

Kyoko just stared for a few moments--it was probably kinda unnerving, sorry Tony--but she was honestly in the throes of pure confusion. "Sorry," she said abruptly, at last. "I think... the word 'open' must have an extra definition I've never heard of." She has no idea what you're talking about, sir.

[runs_on_batteries]

His expression turned a bit sheepish at that. They hadn't figured out each other's humor just yet, had they? He was confident they would, but he was still learning her boundaries. "Oh, gotcha. I trust you too much for that, Ky.. does anyone ever call you Kiki?" He must really like her if he's asking before just giving her a nickname.

He inhaled slowly and nodded. "Okay, that's a fair question." He takes a moment go over to the refrigerator and grab one of the bottles of beer though before coming back to answer. He needed something much harder than water for this conversation. "An 'open' relationship means that you have more than one person you are involved with. A 'closed' relationship is a monogamous one- the traditional kind. You have just you and the person you're dating and everything outside of it is seen as cheating and hurtful and a break in trust."

Was this really something he should be explaining to a young girl? He didn't know. What he did know was this was the longest he'd been able to talk all week without choking, so what the hell? Plus, she seemed interested? Maybe? "Open doesn't mean you're wanting to just tell the world all your business. People judge everything. They don't know what a couple feels or what kind of trust you have built. Plus, at least for me, it wasn't the most acceptable thing to have certain kind of partners in my crowd. So, anyway, open is open trust, open relationship. To hell with everyone else and their judgmental crap."

And in case she thought he was done, he lifted a hand sharply to accent his next point. "Now, just so we're clear too, open doesn't mean cheating either. You've got to be really honest with everyone you're involved with if you're with more than one person or you're a scumbag." He paused to take a drink from the bottle. "I grew up acting like an asshole and treating people poorly, but that was a long time ago. I'm not like that anymore. I wouldn't do anything without my partner being completely on board. Pepper.. she just always seemed to understand. We had some really close friends and.." He shrugged. "Sometimes she was with us and sometimes she didn't want to be. She trusted me."

[daikonrose]

Kiki?? Kyoko shook her head, puzzled; nobody had ever called her anything resembling that. She honestly wasn't sure why he asked, either. Maybe it would have occurred to her that a nickname was happening if there hadn't been so many other complex things to think about right now, but, well.

That puzzled look on her face only grew as she watched her boss go fetch a beer and... get serious? He looked really serious. She hadn't been trying to, but had she actually asked about something deep and personal?

Maybe yes, as it turned out.

Never even once in her life had it occurred to Kyoko that romance could involve more than two people without pain and betrayal coming into play. And loving even one person at a time was dangerous enough. How many of her choices, how much of who she was today had been made because of all the hurting that came of love?

But if there could truly be that much trust between two--no, between even more than two?--people.... If everyone really was honest, and by some lucky twist of fate nobody minded what was happening.... If all of that could actually happen....

"That... would be like a miracle," Kyoko murmured after a long, long moment.

[runs_on_batteries]

Yeah that had been pretty random, but he hadn't expected them to get quite into all of this other stuff. They'd have to circle back to that some other time.

Anyway..

Fortunately for him, but unfortunately for Kyoko perhaps, Tony was well adapted at multitasking even in moments like this. He was thinking about how he and Gladio needed to have a serious talk before any of this conversation got out plus a strong degree of reassurances as he believed, at the moment anyway, his partner would not be into this kind of relationship. However, he was also watching Kyoko's face and no one looked quite that contemplative over something like this unless it was speaking to them personally.

"Isn't love always?" Tony asked her with gentle smile. "Talk to them."

[daikonrose]

Was it speaking to her personally? Kyoko would have said no, pretty confidently. These new concepts might tuck themselves into the back of her mind, just a little something to remember as she went through life and whatever it might bring--but she couldn't imagine any of it applying to her right now, oh no. Certainly not.

It was all very mature stuff, way out of her realm for sure. And besides, miracles didn't happen for people like her.

"--Huh?" Pulled out of her musings, Kyoko blinked at her boss. What? What was with that soft expression? What was he saying?! H-hey now! Hold up!

Cheeks burning, she threw both her hands up in protest. "You've got the wrong idea!! I was just blown away by the concept! Your wife must be pretty extraordinary!"

[runs_on_batteries]

"She was, yes, but.." Tony's gaze deliberately shifted from her face to the rose petals on the floor and back to her face. He raised an eyebrow. "I might not know what marigolds and rosemary mean, but I do know what roses mean. Are you sure you don't want to talk about anything?"

[daikonrose]

This! This right here! This was why she had to work so hard to keep her flower coughing to a minimum! It had been one thing when she'd only been hacking up gardenias and plum blossoms--she didn't even know what those meant! She might have had a guess for one of them, but it wasn't anything that anybody else would be able to decipher. But then the roses ugh!!

She'd had such a good thing going until now--nobody had reason to suspect a thing. Was getting the most obvious flower in the book a divine punishment for her deceit? What the heck!!

"Why does it have to mean something?" she protested. "Besides, roses are just a standard flower, appropriate for every occasion from graduations to funerals to catered business lunches!"

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony held out his hands and shrugged. "I'm not going to force you to do or say anything you don't want to, sweetie, but if you are being bothered by something I'd rather help than hear about chicken costumes."

Although he did make a face a bit at the end. "And you can not send red and yellow roses to a funeral or those daisies that look like they were spray painted rainbow colors unless you want to send a very distinct message. Which I have before, but I wouldn't recommend it." He tried hard not to smirk there but it didn't work too well.

"The point is, I know you aren't one of my kids, but I'm still a dad and I'm your friend. Just.. keep it in mind if you ever need it okay?"

[daikonrose]

It was kind of him, that he wanted to help--Kyoko knew that. She also knew she should probably show more outward appreciation of that kindness. But the secret she suspected was the root of all these flowers absolutely had to stay a secret, and she didn't mind looking a little silly to keep it that way.

"When did daisies come into it?" she muttered, but never mind. She wasn't sure exactly what to say to that little speech about dads and kids and friends, a tiny blush creeping into her cheeks, but she managed to give a little sigh and ask, "Is it normal for parents to try to read the things their kids cough up like tea leaves?"

Thou that was obviously meant to be sarcastic, there wasn't much bite at all in her voice. If anything, she was sheepish.

[runs_on_batteries]

On second thought, maybe it was a good thing to leave some of those terrible antics of his youth- like sending a cheerful celebration bouquet to a rival business associate after someone died- to himself. That or randomly deciding to drive his own Indy 500 race car for shits and giggles. No one needed to know about those things.

It wasn't her fault. He was the one who had stepped too far into this territory and even mentioned being a dad. So, it surprised him how sharply it hurt. His stomach twisted in his gut painfully wondering just who Morgan would talk to if she ever had a secret like Kyoko does.

Still, he tried to keep his tone as mild and as friendly as it had been. "So far.. yes. But.. we lived in a house in the woods and she wasn't quite five.." He shrugged. "You haven't been eating weird plants in the woods too have you?"

[daikonrose]

Was something a little off? If there was anything, Kyoko couldn't quite place it--maybe it was just how he kept going in that easy, sincere sort of tone that made her feel like joking had been a little insensitive.

And when she actually stopped to think about it, it kinda was inconsiderate of her, wasn't it? A good parent would be sad to be separated from his children, enough that careless remarks might hit a nerve. And Mr. Stark was surely a good parent, she thought.

But she also thought he probably was the type to dislike having people on eggshells around him, so Kyoko kept her tone mild to match his--just a little gentler, now. "No... I'm pretty sure I didn't do that when I was five, either. But I didn't have a Mr. Stark looking after me back then, or maybe I would've been more daring."

[runs_on_batteries]

Their dynamic was so strange. He actually really liked that she joked around. He preferred it to being serious. He was just.. he was having problems today and maybe the last couple times they'd run into moments like this. She seemed to catch him when things were quiet and he wasn't putting on a show for people. Unfortunately, that meant she kept seeing the cracks in his armor that he normally wore with such grace no one even knew it was there.

At least, she was starting to figure him out even if he was following the most predictable patterns. He chuckled glad at least some kid out there knew eating weird leaves was stupid. Good luck Pepper. It was, of course, the rest of what she said that held Tony attention more. "No? Where was your dad? Mine was.." He took a moment to try and remember before giving up. "Some business trip abroad I'm sure."

[daikonrose]

Someday everything will be chill and they'll be free to tease each other mercilessly all day, but now wasn't the moment. And that was fine. This was a subject she didn't especially mind talking about anymore, even if it was a little awkward.

"Um, my father is a total mystery." She waved a hand lightly, as if to say don't worry though! "To tell the truth, I didn't even wonder what it would be like to have one until after I'd grown up." You know, for as grown up as Kyoko was. "There was nothing to miss, so I can't say it was the same kind of hardship as having a parent be far away."

[runs_on_batteries]

He made a face like he smelled something foul hearing she didn't know her father. Yeah, that was just lovely parenting there. If they were in the same world, he'd been looking that s.o.b. up right now to go kick his ass. "He might've been doing you a favor if he was that big of a jackass."

He shrugged. "Maybe not but, what about a father figure? Someone-" He paused to cough again. It took him a minute to get it out- this was really getting old fast- but soon he was staring at a petal much like the one Kyoko had been spitting out, except black. "Now it's just trying to be overdramatic."

[daikonrose]

In all absolute fairness, Kyoko was pretty sure her father didn't know she existed, but uh that didn't make it much better, huh. Which was fine--from what little she knew about the man, he was almost certainly a bad guy by every normal definition. She wasn't gonna argue! "Like I was saying... I'm not sad about him, or anything like that."

But gosh, people always got concerned when she mentioned any of this. Of course Mr. Stark wouldn't be any different, kind and sensible man that he was. She hadn't wanted to stir up any thoughts that would get him coughing again, though! And a black petal, at that? Kyoko couldn't be totally certain what kind it was, but she doubted the symbolism was anything nice. "Ah--sorry... we can go ahead and forget about all this, if you want." Would that actually make it stop? She wasn't sure. "It really is over the top, right? It's not like I wanna make anyone talk about things they don't want."

[runs_on_batteries]

"Course not. You've got way too much spunk for that, don't you?" He teased with a chuckle. It was his favorite thing about her and likely the only reason she put up with him.

Wasn't black roses associated with death? He inwardly cringed, but tried to keep up his more put out than disturbed attitude. "No, no. I'm not going to let it win," he joked with one more cough to clear his throat. "Besides, some people like rose flavored things. Rose tea and rose water.." He was not one of those people, which was obvious when he went for his beer again.

"Besides, do I seem like someone who does anything they don't want to?"

[daikonrose]

"You don't," she answered quickly, because it was a very easy question. Forgive her for being blunt; she didn't mean it in a bad way. "You're absolutely the type who only does what he feels like doing. I can't help being a little awestruck," not that she sounded particularly awestruck right now, just a bit deadpan.

"But, you know," she continued, just a touch softer, "if there was anything you did want to say, I surely wouldn't mind listening to it."

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony breathed a laugh, which made him cough again of course. He kind of loved that answer, but there was a faint deprecating note too. That kind of response could mean all sorts of things. He normally was so confident but there was a small part of him that was just vulnerable enough to wonder..

And right in the nick of time, Kyoko continues before he could spiral and concoct what those reasons might be. Oh, right. She really did care, didn't she? He could laugh this off like he did so many other things. He knew she'd let him.

With a sigh, he decided to sit down and put his back against one of the kitchen counters. Turning his gaze to his beer and then the black rose petal, he confessed. "The fifteenth was my little girl's birthday. She'd just turned five. And.. I haven't been wanting to think about it since things have been going so well here lately and with Gladio."

He looked back at Kyoko. "And because.. I'm not going to see her get any older than when I was taken from my world. I'm about a half second away from dying but.. when I do, everyone else is saved so it's worth it. I hope. But to her.. I don't know."

[daikonrose]

There was a frown at that cough--a small one, but she couldn't help it. Kyoko had hoped that little poke at him would set him at ease, let him know this conversation didn't have to be serious if he didn't want it to. She'd been giving him an out, an opportunity to derail into jokes and banter, so he could avoid the serious stuff without ending their conversation on a tense or awkward note. That path had been open to him, if he wanted to take it.

But if he did feel like airing whatever was troubling him... well, she'd meant what she said about that, too.

"Oh," she breathed. That... was a lot. "I'm sorry," she said softly after a moment, when she'd found her words. "Something like that... I'm sure there's no I could understand it. But... no matter what kind of life you have here, I don't think you should have to deny your ties to home."