♥ 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

[whenyouneedme]

He'd been watching her intently, looking for any kind of hint or scrap he could get to figure anything out. That soft expression just made his heart ache. There was really nothing she was going to let him do, was there? Not until she spoke again.

"... Oh."

That was the problem.

His lips parted slightly as he pulled in a breath, something pulling uncomfortably tight behind his ribs. That knot of anxiety from earlier, maybe, but deeper. Any processing of what that was was put on hold as Kyoko shoved him out of the way, and Kai moved easily. He didn't know how to protest, and he... didn't want to. Didn't deserve to. How'd he miss this? With all the time they spent together, how'd he overlook it?

Despite himself, he couldn't ignore the questions that came with it. Who...? Here? There? Was it someone she missed? Why did his heart hurt? Was it someone far away, in a place she'd rather be than here? Was that why she was so adamant about not saying anything? Did she think they wouldn't want her to be happy? Why did his heart hurt?

He glanced off at the rainbow lights drifting slowly over the green, curling his hands into slight fists at his sides so he could feel something else. It was a little too late though. He was already having an epiphany as he turn his gaze back forward, falling in to step behind Kyoko.

[daikonrose]

Kyoko walked about as fast as she could while pushing the weight of that bike, which... ended up not being much faster than usual. It was fine. It was something to focus on.

Did Kaito still not understand at all? Or did he understand everything now? Neither option made her want to look at him, but it seemed like that wasn't going to be a problem for a while, if they kept the current arrangement for the whole walk home.

Which was what Kyoko intended to do. There were faint worries tugging at her mind--was this it, then? would she have to move out now? should she do that anyway? what kind of face would Shinji make when Kaito told him?--but mostly, she was numb.

[whenyouneedme]

Slow going as it was, she was still getting a bit of a distance on him. He hated that he was a bit grateful for it, but he needed a moment to contend with himself. Ruining things was inevitably what Kaito usually did, but he didn't it want it to be because he did this wrong. ... Obviously wrong, anyway. He was still probably going to get things wrong.

Remembering what a broken heart felt like wasn't really the ideal way to piece together your feelings, but Kai wagered he could work with it. There was a tickle at the back of his throat, but it was fine. This... Nothing had actually changed? (This was Incorrect.) He was going to convince himself of this though. Nothing had changed. The only thing that had happened was that he'd pushed her into a corner and that wasn't good at all.

Every few steps he took a longer stride, slowly making his way towards her side. In a brief, painfully fond motion, Kai reached over to give her head a single pat.

"Sorry I'm an idiot," he apologized softly as he drew his hand back. Sorry he was an even bigger idiot than he even knew. "But y'know its... I don't think loving someone is something you gotta punish yourself for."

[daikonrose]

Focused so stubbornly on the road ahead and the weight of the bike under her hands, she didn't notice Kaito drawing closer until he was right next to her. With that familiar pat to her head, Kyoko's heart dropped.

Oh. So he'd understood after all, then. Oh. Oh.

He was sorry he was an idiot. She didn't have to punish herself. Freezing in her tracks, Kyoko stared dully into the night air, towards the cheery twinkle of lights in town. Of course it would be this way.

So much effort had gone into avoiding this secret getting out, so much worry about the damage she would do--but now it was here, it was all done, and she hadn't even thought to worry about how a rejection would feel until this moment.

But here it was, the most obvious conclusion.

She was supposed to be apologizing now, telling him how it was fine and she'd never bring it up again, and could he please please not ever tell Shinji, just forget this whole episode--but she wasn't ready, she couldn't do it yet.

"No." Her voice was broken, and she couldn't find it in herself to fix it. At some point, the bike had turned into a support to cling to as she buckled over, pulling up one arm to block her face. "Don't." Don't look at her.

[whenyouneedme]

What fresh hell was this.

Actual panic was not something Kai felt in a lot of situations. It had just slammed up his throat now though, pushing him to step closer to her side. "Shh, shh... hey." Kai reached out, laying his palm warm at her back. It was a feeble compromise he'd made with every part of him that was begging to just actually hold her. The small circles he rubbed would have to do.

"I mean it. I won't ask you about 'em, but it's not... none of its terrible, Kyoko."

[daikonrose]

Kyoko was saved from actually breaking down and sobbing by that kind touch to her back and that gentle shushing, as the ache in her chest pulled together into something hard and sharp. Her whole body tensed, and she went quiet, she still couldn't look at him; she was seething.

How dare he drag a confession out of her, turn her down, and then think he still had the right to be this soft with her. Did he think he was helping? Couldn't he have at least given her the dignity of privacy for her tears?

But before she could muster up the rage for another shove, Kaito's actual words made it through the storm clouds surrounding her head. Rage faded into confusion, and Kyoko's shaking calmed just a bit as she turned it all over in her head.

He wouldn't ask about... the person she loved? That was what he was saying? Which meant... it was still a mystery to him? The rejection? was? false?

Kyoko stayed hunched over, but after a very long silence, she turned her head up to look at him, brows furrowed, red eyes sharp with suspicion.

"In... what way... is this not terrible?"

[whenyouneedme]

Death slid unseen past Kai with a narrow miss, but they did not go far.

While it wasn't a surprise to see them, the sight of those red eyes still hurt. Whatever efforts he'd put into keeping that ache off of his face before crumbled a bit. Gosh he hated this.

"I mean..." Kai heaved a sigh. "No, you're right. This part is pretty terrible. I'm sorry."

The hand at her back had paused when he'd felt her shaking ease, but he idly started its motions again. It was something small to keep his words going as he parsed the thoughts out. "I dunno what the circumstances are, so maybe they're awful too. Loving them isn't though. I get wanting to keep it a secret but..."

"Your heart's a good one, Kyoko. They'll see it too."

[daikonrose]

Was it a good one? After everything today, her heart was worn so ragged Kyoko wasn't sure if it had any redeeming qualities left. As far as she could tell, it was just a fithy patchwork of desperation and fear and regret, there inside her chest.

But she could be sure of one thing about it. "... It doesn't matter. Whether there's anything good about me, and whether I keep it a secret or not... no matter what, these feelings were never going to bring anything but trouble." Letting out a raspy sigh, she straightened up at last. "For me, and... for everyone involved. That's why--that's why, there's no sense in letting them see the light of day."

[whenyouneedme]

"Feels like sometimes the trouble's worth it."

He said it quietly, carefully. He'd already pushed her too much without meaning to, his intent wasn't to try and convince her . A moment's reflection, with no real certainty of which of them needed to hear it more. Carefully drawing his hand back, Kai rubbed at the ache in his chest for a moment before he paused, frowning down at it.

"But if you need to keep it safe," he said, looking back up at her as he tapped right there over his breast. "Then I'll keep 'em right here." Safe and sound with all that love that was already hers.

[daikonrose]

She had no idea what Kaito could possibly mean about any of this being worth it. In fact, she was more sure than ever now that it absolutely wasn't. Today's hearty taste of the trouble she could cause was all the evidence she needed that she'd been right to keep her feelings a secret until the flowers called her bluff.

At least, with this, there was still a chance of putting things right again, even if Kaito couldn't stop breaking her heart.

Even after he drew his hand away, Kyoko thought she could still feel it, a warm ghost of all the things she could never have. He was always like this, always looking after her heart even when he didn't understand it. Why was he so free with his tender words? She ought to get mad at him again, but no, she couldn't even blame him.

And she was so very tired.

For a long moment, Kyoko just looked at him through the dim light, hopeless and longing. Then she reached a hand across the short space between them to cup his cheek, and give it a soft pinch. A tiny, wry smile curved up her mouth, though pain glinted sharply in her eyes.

"... Jeez. When I've been trying so hard to keep you safe."

[whenyouneedme]

Here he'd thought he'd been doing a solid job of murdering himself, but it seemed she wanted that killing blow after all. His eyes widened a little, heat already chasing her fingertips.

"It's too late for me," he said with a single, soft laugh. It was easier to laugh at himself, even if the small smile in its wake was more bittersweet than he could really help. "Reckless by nature 'n all." Especially when it meant keeping important things safe.

It was the only option he had, knowing he couldn't actually do anything for the pain in her eyes.

[daikonrose]

She'd let her hand fall away after delivering that pinch, waiting until it was down by her side to brush her thumb over the pads of her fingers, as if she could find some lingering trace of him there. But her eyes stayed trained right on him, softening with confusion, and then worry. What did he mean? Did he really need to look so sad, just because she had an unrequited love?

"... Well, you really shouldn't have tried to stop my head earlier," she said at last, because she just couldn't imagine what else he might be referring to. Was he trying to lighten the mood with jokes about his injuries? Was that what was happening now?

[whenyouneedme]

It hadn't been, but it possibly was now. Physical grievances were a whole lot easier to mend and laugh at later.

"No, that had to happen. I'm the one with the extra hard head here, your poor forehead would have been doomed to the worst bruise."

[daikonrose]

"I would have deserved it," she frowned, but it was closer to her usual one, not too much weight behind it. If Kaito was ready to talk about simpler things, matching him was for the best.

"No, actually, I still deserve it now." Turning to face forward again, she settled both hands on the bike once more. "It's like I haven't face the consequences for my actions... how unsatisfying."

[whenyouneedme]

"Jeez, you're stubborn." They all knew that.

"You're already dealing with one of 'em if you're set on lugging that home."

[daikonrose]

"No." Look, here she went, pushing it again already. This was happening. "This is the consequence of hurting you, and it's a pretty paltry one. A bruise on my forehead would have just been reaping what I sowed."

[whenyouneedme]

He hadn't had a chance to protest her efforts earlier, so he didn't have any room to ask her not to now. So he just fell in line next to her.

"I think you've done more than enough reaping already."

[daikonrose]

She hadn't, she was pretty sure, but Kyoko couldn't imagine arguing that point would do anything but create more strife after a very long day of just that. So she sighed softly, and decided to let it go with just a mumbled, "... Maybe after I've made up with Shinji, it'll be enough."

[whenyouneedme]

"...Mmm." That was the last part of this debacle wasn't it. He still didn't know what had happened, exactly. If it had been anything like this, well.

"He said he'd stay out of your way tonight," Kai said with his own little sigh. As much as Shinji had probably meant it for Kyoko's benefit, it probably went without saying that he needed a bit of that space too. "But he's really worried about you."

It was some kind of divine punishment to both of them that Kai couldn't speed them back home. There he was, caught once again between two parts of his heart and unable to do a damn thing for either of them. At least he could slip his tablet out to let the other boy know what was up.

"He'll be okay as long as I get you home safe."

[daikonrose]

There was a fresh lurch of guilt in her stomach at that message, but... it really is for the best, isn't it. Kyoko couldn't imagine Shinji actually wanting to see her after today, and even if she knew she wouldn't be able to rest until she'd made things right with him, she wasn't ready. Not yet. She couldn't face him.

"... I really messed up," she sighed. "And when hurting him was what I wanted to avoid above all else. I'm a real fool."

[whenyouneedme]

Kai was quiet for a moment as he finished tippity tapping all his futile efforts to tell Shinji not to worry but they'd be back later than he thought, but he glanced over at her as soon as he was done.

"You're both worried about the same thing, y'know. That you messed up. It can get sorted out."

[daikonrose]

Kyoko returned that glance, and nodded, though her frown stayed in place. "He didn't mess up. I... there was nothing he should have worried about in the first place, just like with you, but I made you both worry anyway. So... I'll make sure everything is fixed."

[whenyouneedme]

"Sorry we're just a bunch of worrywarts," Kai sighed. "But you would've worried too, I bet." That really wasn't the best reasoning though.

"Guess I'm not actually sorry for worrying, but... I am sorry for pushing you so much."

[daikonrose]

No--he was right. Kyoko couldn't blame them for worrying, when something had been so obviously wrong. It was her own fault for thinking she could get away with dealing with the problem indirectly.

She shook her head. "I should have shut the both of you down from the start of all this, nice and neat. Even if I couldn't stop you from worrying... I should have kept things clear and simple."

[whenyouneedme]

"Ah, well... hopefully there's not a next time for you to put that to use."

But knowing how Havenwell liked to get its kicks sometimes, there was probably going to be some kind of next time. Somehow, someway. Kai normally didn't mind too much, but this was enough for him to dread it more than he would have.

"But, y'know. If I've already got one secret on lockdown, you can always leave others with it." He looked at her again, hoping the sincerity of the offer was coming through. "There's nothing that could change how I feel about you, promise. Just keep it in mind."