♥ 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

[daikonrose]

He looked at her, and she looked at him and his pink cheeks and parted lips and that fevered light in his eyes, and suddenly the thought of pushing him down and diving in for another kiss sprung fully-formed into her mind. She could do it, she thought. She knew how now, she thought. He would let her, she thought.

But she didn't know if she could do whatever would come after that, and the realization that she might want to anyway was enough of a shock to bring her all the way back down to earth.

Face flushing several shades darker all at once, Kyoko sucked in a lip. "It's... hot," she agreed faintly.

[whenyouneedme]

He was trying to keep his gaze steady and present but he couldn't help watching the motion of her lip, biting his own as he did. Ah... It really was hard not to just dive right back in and stir up more of those tiny sounds.

He might have, except he kinda knew what might happen if he kept getting that caught up in her and Kai wasn't sure what the reaction to that would be. It would be real hard to hide with their legs as tangled up as they were. How perilous. And yet he didn't make a move to change the situation, only idly trailing a slow circle with his fingertips across her back.

"That... was a good something. Real solid."

[daikonrose]

That light, ticklish sensation at her back made Kyoko pull in a soft breath, before clamping her mouth shut again. What was she doing? What should she be doing? Was the kissing over now?

"Ah," she managed faintly. "Thank goodness... I... didn't know if that was a real thing, actually."

[whenyouneedme]

Here was that light chuckle she'd expected earlier. "Heh... yeah, s'kinda weird, huh?" Though if he really wanted to sit and think about it, it probably wasn't that much weirder than kissing was in the first place. He was pretty sure he did not understand the appeal a few years ago, and now here he was. In bed with the prettiest girl he knew, admiring the color of her kissed lips.

He couldn't help leaning in to press another soft kiss against them. Kissing didn't have to be over if she didn't want it to be. Touching either, which... She hadn't pulled away yet? She hadn't pulled away, which meant...???

"Felt good though, right?"

[daikonrose]

She hadn't pulled away yet, but Kyoko wasn't sure what that meant either. Her heart was still pounding, but it wasn't such a frightening thing now. There were more and more question marks swirling around her head as moments ticked by and she didn't spontaneously combust.

She had to give a quiet nod of agreement though, to that question. No denying it. "I kinda... don't know what to do after that, though," she admitted.

[whenyouneedme]

That was a good confirmation to have.

He bit his lip a bit at this new fork in the road, worrying it lightly between his teeth. 'Just do what you want' wasn't as straightforward at this point. Very applicable, but if she didn't know what she wanted to want then. Hmm.

"That kinda depends on how much you wanna touch me," Kai murmured after a moment. "Or how much you want me to touch you?" He slid his hand just a liiittle bit higher. "Nothing wrong with just staying like this though. I could kiss you all day."

[daikonrose]

How much did she want to touch Kaito? What a grand philosophical question to ponder, and yet it was quickly eject from her brain with the follow-up, and that hand slipping higher up over her skin. She had been starting to think maybe she'd get through this with out combusting this time, but no, actually--combustion was here, combustion was now.

That bit about kissing her all day was enough to finish her off. Cheeks burning, Kyoko let her burning head fall limply on the mattress. "S-sorry... actually, it turns out this is the limit."

[whenyouneedme]

Oh.

Oops.

He wasn't aiming for knocking her out, but maybe it was for the best anyway. He didn't want to go to fast, or make her feel like she had to be doing something or another.

Kai eased out a soft puff of a laugh, finally freeing her from that scandalous hand's grasp. He slipped it out and smoothed her shirt down as he assured her, "Nothin' to be sorry about." Let him bring it up to cradle her head instead, dipping his head down to murmur in her hair. "Could just hold you like this all day too and be just as happy."

[daikonrose]

Kyoko deflated a little as that burning touch left her, melting into Kaito's arms instead. Let's go back to hiding her head against his shoulder, that was a good idea earlier.

"'M glad you're not bored," she mumbled pathetically into his shirt.

[whenyouneedme]

Yes, this was just fine. Extremely good, even. The original plan of just curling up all cozy with her was a solid one from the start, and he was not disappointed to settle back into it.

"Don't see why I would be," he said back in full confidence. "Boring is the last thing I'd ever say about you."

[daikonrose]

Maybe he was teasing, but Kaito didn't know what it meant to her, hearing those words. Closing her eyes, Kyoko just breathed him in for a moment. The hand that had lingered at his face slipped around to cup the nape of his neck again. Stay right here with her.

"I'm so glad," she murmured at last. "I'm really... so glad I'm with you."

[whenyouneedme]

It probably sounded a little like he was teasing, but he'd meant it whole heartedly. From the instant he met her, there had never been a dull moment whenever Kyoko was around. Even their quiet moments felt brimming with energy-- they weren't at all like the quiet stillness that Kai was used to before Havenwell.

A smile slipped across his face at the touch and he nuzzled into her hair a little. He wasn't going anywhere. He wouldn't know what to do with that quiet anymore.

"'M still amazed you'd have me," he murmured back. Out of anyone she could have had. "'M glad you're here."

[daikonrose]

For as much as she'd pined after him, Kyoko hadn't actually imagined how nice it would be in his arms. She hadn't expected this happiness. Even after he'd first said he loved her, she'd never imagined she would feel secure the way she did right now, in this moment.

She buried her face a little more snugly in his shoulder for a moment, before coming up for air, letting out a puff of a sigh against him. "... If you keep saying things like that, I'm gonna end up saying really stupid things back to you."

[whenyouneedme]

Pfft. What was that now. "Am I supposed to take that as a threat?" He wondered, the smile evident in his voice. "Cuz I'm gonna keep sayin' it."

[daikonrose]

"I'm the one who's threatened," she grumbled, looking up enough to pout at him a little. "This is pretty dangerous."

[whenyouneedme]

He peeked down at her. "Guess that's one of the consequences of picking up a punk. Too bad for you."

[daikonrose]

She sighed again, but it was more of a huff this time, the puff of it going right up into his face. Take that. "Punks don't wear socks with sandals."

[whenyouneedme]

Wow geez. He hmmphed about it. "Only if they're cowards."

[daikonrose]

"Whoa," Kyoko deadpanned, but in a gentle way, as she settled in more comfortably against him, "I didn't know I was dealing with a fashion trailblazer. You're full of mysteries, huh."

[whenyouneedme]

"Heh. I'll say 'yes,' just to keep you on your toes."

Even if No, he really wasn't. He didn't feel mysterious, at any rate.

[daikonrose]

There were many mysteries! Like what the heck he was doing with her in the first place! Nobody would ever know!

"I'm already on them all the time," she grumbled mildly, slipping into a murmur as she looked softly at him. "My very highest tip-toes."

[whenyouneedme]

"Glad you'd join me up here then," he said as he grinned, leaning in to boop her nose with his. "You keep me on mine all the time too."

[daikonrose]

Oh, a scandalous boop. A tinge of pink came back into her cheeks, but she didn't move away. Nose touch continues.

"I don't mean to," she mumbled. "... But if it means you'll keep looking at me, then I'm glad."

[whenyouneedme]

It wasn't like staying on his toes was a bad thing. It was all part of the adventure of getting to exist in Kyoko's space. Thrill a minute with this one.

"That's good, 'cuz I do like looking at you."

[daikonrose]

That hadn't been the way she meant it, not really, but she'd already said enough embarrassing things today, and Kaito wasn't letting her off the fluster bus as it was.

Blush burning dark, Kyoko croaked, "I can only sustain so many direct hits from this range..."