♥ 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.

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❥ 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.

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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

[awooligan]

[Pfh. He shakes his head, grinning to himself. There she goes...! He raises an eyebrow at the rest of it.]

Why did you have to keep a job secret? I mean, my mom was weird about letting me get one, but isn't that kind of intense?

[daikonrose]

Well, for one of them, discretion was part of the assignment... The other one doesn't have to be a secret, but it would make some things complicated if it got out.

[ That clears everything up, right. ]

[awooligan]

[It clears it up enough, honestly. Even though he's curious and thinking of some unflattering possibilities, now. He'll throw her one of the actually flattering ones.]

Assignment, huh... Secret agent Kyoko? Working around the law and making coleslaw.

[daikonrose]

No laws were skirted, but the coleslaw recipe is classified information.

[ See, she can make shit up and joke around, she's not such a square!! ]

It was all just random tasks my talent agency needed done, though.

[awooligan]

[Talent agency -- ]

You already know you're hot, if you're working for a talent agency! Everyone knows that's models!

[daikonrose]

Huh? [ Why did he jump right to that?? Absurd! ] It's not! There's also acting, music, and talent! I've never done any kind of modeling! The entertainment industry covers a lot of things, you know!

[awooligan]

[EVERYONE KNOWS, KYOKO.]

Okay, but you need to be hot to do those things 90% of the time, too. What's different about "talent" in that list, anyway? Juggling? Yeah, right.

[daikonrose]

Beauty has had nothing to do with 90% of my work! And pro makeup artists can make miracles happen! [ You don't need to be pretty when you're wearing a chicken suit! ] Talents are for variety shows, and that kind of thing--juggling is optional most of the time.

[awooligan]

[Cliff is dubious... The entertainment industry is a harsh mistress, and the fact that Kyoko is definitely pretty isn't helping her protest this. Now, if he were working for the talent agency, there would be some wiggle room -- he doesn't think he's unattractive or anything, but the only things that stand out are his hair (which he hates and does him no favors when it comes to popularity) and his eyes (which have scared at least one person into thinking he's a demon coming for them in the night). He's otherwise an extremely plain boy from nowhere Oklahoma.

...Except for the werewolf thing, but like hell that's going in front of an audience. Again.]

Uh-huh. So what do you do? [Cooking show, maybe... If it's recorded, they can cut around the times where she gets too flustered to function.]

[daikonrose]

[ The entertainment industry is harsh; working in it has truly hammered in what had already been made very clear to her in the first sixteen years of her life--Kyoko is just plain. It's not that she thinks she's ugly! With the right efforts, she actually can feel quite pretty sometimes! But as just the regular Kyoko, she knows she's average and boring and that's it. It's fine.

She settles back into a calmer chirp though, with that question. ]

I've done various behind-the-scenes things, but my goals and my focus are all on acting! My biggest jobs so far have been in TV dramas, but I'd just started working on my first movie role before they kidnapped me away to this pace.

[awooligan]

[Acting... He wouldn't have guessed that, with how open book she's seemed every time he's seen her.]

I wish you'd acted a little less shocked when you learned I was sixteen.

[He might think she's nice and all, but he'll probably be bitter about that forever, sorry.]

Man... You really had your stuff figured out, huh... Were you, like...pissed? When you were here and couldn't go back.

[daikonrose]

[ Unlike some people in her canon, Kyoko is not constantly acting. It's her passion, not her personality! She catered to other people's feelings all the time for the first sixteen years of her life! She's done her time! Everyone gets to just deal with her now!

... She does feel bad about that though. There's a guilty grimace. ]

... Sorry. I rushed into that judgement without thinking.

[ On several different aspects, really.

She's quiet for a moment at that question, her hands taking just a small pause in there work before she picks up again, tone bitter in a subdued way. ]

... Mm. It's not that I had everything figured out, exactly, but... I'm still mad, even right at this moment.

[awooligan]

[Hey, come on. There's a dog here. Can't be sad when there's a dog around. Shame she doesn't know about dog.

He watches her for a bit, silently processing, then returns his gaze to the table. It's...reassuring, sort of. As fortunate as she's been, as long as it's been, she's still angry. For someone who let his emotions get the better of him more than once, any other answer would have been completely alien -- something he could never reach and that he never wanted to reach. He wanted to go home. That, however, does nothing to help Kyoko, so he keeps his mouth shut.]

[daikonrose]

[ Kyoko just keeps working quietly for a few moments, sneaking a glance at Cliff when he doesn't respond. It's kind of a relief that he doesn't feel compelled to comfort her or something, she wouldn't know how to receive that, but ah... she brought the mood down. Hm. ]

Anyway, [ She starts casually after another moment or two, as if she isn't changing the subject. ] do you really hate red hair? That's a waste.

[awooligan]

[Here we go, now that's a topic he knows how to respond to, immediately relaxing into more animated gestures.]

Are you kidding? Do you know what it's like, being the only ginger in town? It's pretty much what I'm known for, if someone's actually acknowledging my existence! My classmates' parents and stuff remember things I did because I was the redheaded boy and stood out! There's literally someone that calls me that instead of my name. It's awful!

[daikonrose]

[ Kyoko's eyes go round as she listens, fully attentive. Wow, it's good that he's Activated again, but she didn't know he had a whole complex about it. ]

Whoa... I didn't think it would be that rare even in America. [ Has Cliff ever actually mentioned being American? Kyoko does not remember, but she is Assuming, since nothing bad has ever come of that. ] You never tried dyeing it? --Oh, but I guess that would probably stand out too, huh.

[awooligan]

[It's not as big a deal as he's making it sound -- he just likes complaining about inconsequential things. As long as it doesn't cause trouble for his family, it's an open target. He sighs.]

Yeah, I'd like to, maybe... I would have gotten in major trouble with the guy my mom was married to before. Candy and cigarettes were a better use of pocket money. And it'd grow out and look weird... I don't know.

[...He wonders what that would do to his fur, though. His tongue piercing stayed, but blood splatter went away between forms? Hmm...]

[daikonrose]

Ah... [ There's a light little grimace ] dyeing hair was definitely on the list of forbidden things with the people who raised me, too. And keeping it up is a cost that can't be ignored... [ There's a weary sigh as she recalls her salon bills. Not that they were crazy or anything, but every little bit adds up for a broke girl. ] But I think your roots would still look a lot better showing through than mine? Unless you wanted to dye it black, or something really dramatic.

[awooligan]

[Ugh, adults who feel entitled to authority over you suck so much. Guess that's one really good thing about this place. Just...wishes he got to see the two adults he actually did like. Two and a half? ...It's complicated.]

It'd be cool to do a color that's fun, like green or something, but that would stand out way too much. And you know old people wouldn't mind their own business.

[daikonrose]

Uwoh, so you'd go right for the total opposite color like that. [ So daring! A true punk! She nods along. ] My boss wouldn't talk to me for days after I first dyed mine, and I picked a pretty standard color... I don't know how long it would have taken him to come around to something like green.

[awooligan]

Well, I don't know. It could be purple or blue. Red red would have its own problems. [People would probably mock him... Double redhead, etc. Which is a shame, because red's a good color! He likes red. Pink is Coco's favorite, but that'd definitely get more attention than he'd be able to take.] If I went normal, probably brown... My mom's hair is brown.

He sounds like a prick. It's so stupid, it's not like it's even a big deal. Same thing with piercings!

[daikonrose]

Those are still really daring though! I don't know if I'd have the guts. [ The closest she'd gotten was blond with pink highlights, and that had just been a wig, and it had all been a secret. What a daring boy, even if only in his dreams. ]

Ah--he is a really good person, and I'm grateful to him for lots of things... He's just stubborn.

[awooligan]

[Mmm... He glances away, a little uncomfortable. He just thinks it would be cool... He doesn't want people to actually look at him and think things like "wow, daring!" And if it messed with his fur, that'd make it extra hard to shrug off as something not related to him, should anyone see it. What a complete nightmare.

Luckily he has jerk bosses to mentally grumble about.]

Whatever. It still doesn't make sense. Why do they even care?

[daikonrose]

[ She doesn't mean it in a bad way! Honestly, she has to admire anyone who can pull off that kind of fashion choice. That's something for people who are way cooler than Kyoko.

But she does feel a need to try to explain the Boss's behavior, even if she disagrees on this particular front. ]

Probably... they're lonely? [ She tips her head to the side a bit, her smile fond but wry. ] The Boss and Okami-san work all the time and don't leave the restaurant or even watch TV all that much, so their tastes don't get much opportunity to evolve, I think... He had the impression that I was a really traditional girl, so I guess he felt left behind by the youth again... or something.

[awooligan]

[That's still too much perceiving him, Kyoko!]

Then why be a jerk about it? That's not going to make "the youth" -- [finger quotes] -- want to be around them more. Even if he did ever listen to me, When Carl got on my case, I didn't exactly want to bother explaining shit to him.