♥ November (Malom) Event Log

[hugtopiamods]

November (Malom) Event Log

With most of Havenwell left in varying degrees of shambles from the prior month's catastrophe, the city seems just a little bit more quiet and stony in ways not just owed to the chill of oncoming winter. However, the gray mood doesn't need to last; the offworlders and locals alike might just be able to band together to pick up the scattered pieces before long.

Unlike previous years, winter is approaching at a slower pace than usual. Whether this is believed as coincidence or the gods opting to give the city more pleasant weather while the reconstruction is ongoing is entirely up to each individual. Nevertheless, the sun is out and there is work to be done.

---

❥ PROMPT I: Fetch Quest Frenzy

With the widespread damage of the previous month still a large issue, offworlders may find the marking-based powers of that incident manifesting again in different, passive forms. Regardless of the color one's ability takes, a little bit of trial and error will lead the markings' bearers to understand the powers are now geared towards helping rebuild or rehabilitate the city in various ways; examples being manifesting as telekinesis to move heavy objects around, or a magical compass to help locate something lost in the chaos. Some may find themselves inexplicably filled with knowledge previously unknown, Matrix-style: characters who have never picked up a hammer before will suddenly possess the skills needed to rebuild furniture or repair structural damage, weld parts together, or get really good at organizing search parties. Feel free to get creative with it, but these abilities are meant to build, not destroy like last month, so destructive powers are not likely to manifest unless for good reason.

There's no shortage of work to be done either; from dismantling petrified worms to running errands for the surviving locals, offworlders may find themselves lucky to have the supernatural assistance of the markings and their powers. With time and effort, taking up such tasks to aid the locals and fellow offworlders alike might just go a long way towards healing Havenwell on both physical and emotional fronts.

❥ PROMPT II: Fruits Basket

In places where the worms were slain before their fellows were petrified, their massive corpses have been reclaimed by the ground--specifically, they've turned to surprisingly fertile soil. So fertile that it would appear trees are already sprouting where they fell, bearing an arrangement of oddly-shaped fruits. With how delicious they look, one would surely be forgiven for daring to try them, but the result might be just a bit surprising...

-Eating a round fruit will make one have a sudden desire to cuddle up to someone else; the more of the fruit they've consumed, the more insistent the desire. Just take a bite? Maybe you could do with a light shoulder touch, but eat the whole thing and you'll realize you might be suddenly looking for some big hugs with anyone receptive to the idea.
-The square shaped fruits have a somewhat more subtle effect. The more one eats of a square fruit, they gain a steadily more obvious gentle glow and warmth to their bodies. With enough of one, someone could easily turn into a combination nightlight and comfortably warm space heater.
-Being curious enough to eat a spiky fruit will end up with one having some trouble keeping their footing; this fruit leads one to find no traction underfoot, sending them slip n' sliding around. Be careful, you might just skate right into someone's arms!
-Eating a star-shaped fruit may cause a gradual drowsiness, where residents will feel the urge to lay down and have a nap. Seems the aftermath of the worm attack left some lingering magic. (A small percentage may alternatively find themselves transformed into sheep. Weird.) Being held or gently cuddled, whether on the spot or while being carried home, will reverse the effects.

❥ PROMPT III: Corporate Concessions

You might recall that the research towers were awfully unhelpful during the attacks, preferring instead to seal themselves up in protective shielding and leave the rest of the city to fend for themselves. Now that the danger has passed, there have been some understandably divisive responses to this decision from their fellows. Many of the tower workers have pleaded ignorance for this choice, openly (or quietly, to avoid disciplinary action) blaming the higher-ups for creating company-wide lockdowns and not allowing anyone in- or out. Many were helpless to assist in relocating friends or family, and some have quit their positions over this stance. Those in charge of the decision-making are unapologetic for the most part, stating that due to previous security breaches, their priority was to protect their research and their employees, for the greater good of the world.

They are aware that doing this was not by any means a good look, so as an olive branch, they have released the research materials confirmed as stolen in the previous security breach to the public network, as they have been unable to track down those materials and would rather control its distribution themselves. Damage done, after all; those who know could pass it on as they please. Additionally, they are reallocating some tower resources to helping with restoration and rebuilding the surrounding areas and public buildings, and have donated a substantial amount of dora to the city budget for whatever purpose the council deems appropriate. Whether you think the released data is true or if their efforts are sufficient is up to you, really.

---

This event will run from November 15-30. 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

[hot_handed]

[Yeah but people walk on it.]

You check out the VR simulations? Or we could play cards if you have 'em on ya.

[But...how did that work when he was a sheep??]

[wakemelater]

[What does that have to do with...Never mind...

He scrunches up his nose.] VR is weird. What do you even do with it?

[✨Magic✨]

[hot_handed]

How's it any weirder than the rest of this place? [He shrugs and leans back in the grass.] Dunno, I haven't tried all of the simulations yet.

[Gasps magic!]

[wakemelater]

The rest of this place isn't a simulation for starters. I don't even know what that means, except you put on a helmet, and suddenly it's like you're somewhere else? It's a mindfuck, is what it is.

[hot_handed]

[Bakugou is about to explain it to him, but that description has him throw his head back and roar with laughter before he can stop himself.]

PFFFFF-AHAAHAA- [He tries to calm down enough to at least speak, but there are unshed tears in his eyes.] Yeah, I guess fucking so! This whole place is a mindfuck!

[wakemelater]

[He waits for the laughter to die down, at first confused, and then just quietly amused.]

Well. I'm glad you found it humorous, at least.

[hot_handed]

Because it's true-!

[Bakugou snickers, clutching his sides as his laughter finally starts to die down and he looks at Nico. How to explain it when he himself isn't a coder and doesn't understand the intricacies of it...]

You ever wake up and the shadows and shit look like weird demons for a second?

[wakemelater]

[He won't argue with that. It is true.]

Like when you're not quite awake yet and your imagination makes shit up? Yeah. All the time.

[hot_handed]

Exactly like that. Our brains are always receiving information of our surroundings im the form of signals so we don't fucking die. But sometimes shit gets jumbled ane our brains play tricks on us. Those helmets do the same thing- send signals of information to our brain and take advantage of our need to process and make sense of our reality. Except it ain't reality-

[He grins at him.] It's a mindfuck.

[wakemelater]

And--!

[He abruptly sits forward, realizes he's still holding the potion and sets it aside so he can shove his hair back, and continues with his incredulity.]

And people do this on purpose? For fun? ...Is it fun? There's got to be a reason people like doing it.

[hot_handed]

Take your fucking medicine.

[He says without missing a beat, but then he stretches his arms out and goes back to the question while looking up at the sky.]

Pretty sure they can program anything you'd want in there, but it takes time and money. But yeah. You ever daydream or watch a movie just to escape? It's like that, but more vivid and shit.

[wakemelater]

Don't tell me what to do. [HOW DOES THAT FEEL??]

Never really watched movies, no, but I get what you're saying. [He considers a moment.] I guess we could try one out. Just...nothing that's too weird.

[hot_handed]

[He just stares at him, mouth forming a small confused "oh".

It feels annoying. ):]

What have you done, besides play cards? [Nico...Katsuki worries. But he seems satisfied with his answer and jumps up.] Nah, I was gonna go for the weirdest one I could find.

[wakemelater]

Fight.

[Whatever they're going to do, he doesn't want do it with a headache, so he downs the potion and climbs to his feet.

He snorts and rolls his eyes.]

Whatever. Lead the way then.

[hot_handed]

Tch. Fighting all that time, but I can still kick your ass.

[Bakugou grumbles, standing up and stretching to try and deal with his sore muscles before walking ahead of Nico.]

Yeah, yeah. Walk behind me.

[wakemelater]

Yeah. Turns out I'm at a disadvantage when you can fly, and I can't use lethal force.

[Which just means, more training.

He sticks his tongue out at Bakugou's back, and then does NOT walk behind him, but beside him, and sometimes even a little ahead.]

[hot_handed]

You'll have to get stronger. Of course, I'll still be ahead of you when you do!

[He flashes Nico a grin, grumbling whenever Nico walks ahead of him. Eventually they reach the VR Cafe though and Bakugou walks in.]

[wakemelater]

We'll see.

[He's been inside a VR café all of once. That was enough to kill his curiosity back then. But it was long enough ago that he doesn't quite remember all the details, and he's willing to give it another try.

He follows Bakugou in.]

Alright. You said you going to pick something weird, so pick something weird.

[hot_handed]

What, you want something weird?

[Bakugou is looking through the options, but he shoots Nico a shit eating grin.]

How about the petting zoo?

[wakemelater]

Call me curious.

[But the answer has him arching brow.]

....A petting zoo? Isn't that a zoo where you can pet animals? Like...

[ :| ] ...sheep.

[hot_handed]

Suit yourself.

[Bakugou starts snickering in his palm at Nico's expense.]

Thought you could bond with 'em, but I guess I can find somethin' else.

[wakemelater]

[He's still making this :| face.]

You're funny.

[He shrugs after a second.]

I don't mind. Animals don't normally like being around me, so I avoid zoos. Fakes ones wouldn't have that problem. ...Right?

[hot_handed]

I know.

[He smirks at him, but his smirk fades when Nico agrees to it.]

Why? Because you kill flowers? They probably won't give a shit.

[wakemelater]

It's more the subtly radiating fear and death. Animals can pick up on that. But plants dying around them is probably not a good sign either.

[hot_handed]

You don't seem that scared to me. [Sure, Nico is small, slender, but he's never struck Katsuki as someone who is fearful.]