♥ May (Ealom) Event Log

[hugtopiamods]

May (Ealom) Event Log

Despite the fact that spacetime has been a bit questionable in recent days, the seasons carry on as they should. Spring has begun to grow warmer, the scent of flourishing local flowers often in the air as they are set out to decorate native shops and homes with a burst of lively color. On a larger scale, the march of time flows as inexorable and steady as ever; the question is if that will remain the case for long.

---

❥ PROMPT I: Days of Future Past

Randomly throughout the city and following days, the scenery immediately before you may begin to waver as if rising steam distorts the air. The aura shimmers, then suddenly solidifies into a thin, golden line that abruptly opens sideways and upwards forming a window, which cannot be physically interacted with. Stand before this "window" long enough, and you may begin to see imagines of a past Havenwell...

1. For those who have explored the city limits of Havenwell, they might be familiar with the ruins. If a character is atop a roof and looking out at the city scape, this vision depicts these ruins as destitute no longer. Instead, the buildings remain upright, tall, and in pristine condition. The tops of these buildings are crowned with small gardens, and their terraced architecture allows for flower-covered vines to spill all the way from the roofs to the paved streets below. The metropolis glimmers like a treasure trove in the waning sunlight, peaceful and grand. Continue watching this vision, and little lights within the buildings begin to blink on as evening dips into night. Within some buildings are those still toiling late at work, while other residents greet their families as they return.

Curiously, some of those preparing to have their dinners with their family seem to engage in some sort of familial prayer, joining hands and reciting words. Others link hands and stand with their backs touching, tipping their heads so that the back of their heads touch, a ritual that some off-worlders may recognize.

As for appearances within this window to the past, the locals are now flesh-and-blood. They are humanoid in appearance, bipedal, with two sets of eyes, one nose, and a mouth, but some have a few others features. Some sport feline-like ears puffing atop their heads, others have some that are distinctly more mouse-like, rounded as they converse. A family of those with scales, horns, and a tail, similar to the statues in Rawna's temple, begin to dine. A loving couple toasts to each other, and as they raises their arms, their luxurious wings almost sweep the ground.

2.For those who are walking by the research towers, another window appears, depicting how the facility appeared before. Two researchers leave the campus in good spirits, sitting on a bench just outside. One of them holds a clipboard while the other sports a briefcase and thermos. While you cannot peer further into the vision, a snippet of their conversation can be heard clearly.

"OM1 was a success, wasn't it?" The research chimes, bringing a hand rub at the feathers upon his chin. "That's great news. Thing's get better for the planet soon."

"Yeah, I can't wait to get out of this body in general," the second researcher laughs as her pointed, fluffy ears atop her head swivel in the direction of her companion. "I'm tired of these ol' bones already."

"Old? You're a decade younger than me!"

3. Outside of the temple of Ainea, two locals, their bodies fully metallic, are having a discussion. One is draped in the stole of a priest, while the other wears a white lab coat.

"The satellite didn't work," the researcher says. Frustration and defeat can be heard within his voice. "We haven't given up on making a beacon, but we can't afford to send another. It's up to the congregation now."

"Peace, friend," the priest replies. Although his tone is calm, it is no less morose. "It's in the gods' hands now."

These scenes, among others (which you are free to write, taking inspiration from the lore collection along with some newly released entries!), can play out for passers-by, scattered throughout the city for the rest of the month. Some are unique, some will repeat; some are inconsequential, some feel startlingly important, as though you can feel what those in the memory must have felt in the moment. It's a strange experience, overall. As if the world is remembering itself.

❥ PROMPT II: The Antiques Homeshow

With all the windows to time opening up here and there in town, the city is buzzing with excitement and nostalgia as the natives' memory banks are jump-started by familiar sights thought long gone. Seeing their old selves and visions of their old haunts has them invigorated in a way most haven't felt in centuries. But as time wears on, people will start to notice that the windows aren't just for looking through.

It starts with a giant tree, nearly 4 stories tall and meters thick, popping up in the middle of the Entertainment District's streets. Then scattered reports of outer city buildings and areas suddenly disappearing, replaced with tents or campfires. Finally, it happens - your own home is now host to these weird time windows and your things are experiencing the same problems as areas around the city.

Maybe your replicator has just turned into an actual pantry, with perishable food items that may or may not be familiar to you. Weird fruits and vegetables, something that seems like flour? Or is it salt? A salty flour that’s apparently some sort of yeast? Who knows! Good luck finding out. What about your bed? What used to be a comfortable double with plush pillows is abruptly a straw mat with mice! Or a giant four-post canopy king-sized bed made for a room that is definitely 6 times bigger than what you have, and it has completely subsumed your room to the point where you can’t open the door anymore. Hopefully you’re cool with climbing in and out of the windows instead!

Maybe the changes are less obtrusive for some. Their favorite coffee cup is now a jeweled goblet. Their clothes have gone from the height of modern fashion to the height of “what era is this?” fashion. Their carefully cultivated garden is now a wild, overgrown jungle! The time windows seem to be sending in objects from every era, past and future, creating havoc both big and small across the city.

Thankfully, however, these changes don’t seem to be permanent. If the object is removed from its window area, it reverts back to its original form over time. However, damaging anything from the past has unforeseen consequences in the future, so do be careful. Cutting down that tree could mean a building in the future doesn’t get built, or removing a flower from the jungle may lead to the extinction of a known Havenwell plant! Or maybe it does nothing. Time is weird that way. Good luck with stepping on that butterfly effect!

❥ PROMPT III: Powering the Conduits

Another joint announcement comes from the researchers and priests, and they are happy to report they've been investigating and fine-tuning the prototype crystal conduits as developed by a few off-worlders. These past two weeks, they've been vigorously testing and retesting the prototype's effects on the caustic atmosphere of the outside world. Whereas the first version caused a thinning of what heavy, mysterious miasma hangs in the air, it was unable to project a proper barrier or last long. They hope to refine what the dedicated off-worlders started, and for that, they need volunteers.

Specifically, they need volunteers to help charge these individual crystal-conduits' with the power generated through touch! Researchers will be handing out these small, amber-colored crystals to those who are interested in helping, encouraging the off-worlder to wear the and hold someone's hand, hug them, or be especially lovely-dovey-kissy-wissy with whomever their SO may be. This is in the name of science, it's very important. But be warned, since these are still being tested, a few unlocking people may have experience a couple side effects:

Creating One's Own Personal Barrier: It seems rather counter-intuitive, but when the crystals are overcharged, they may automatically project a barrier that expands, pulses in an unstable fashion, and then shrinks around the wearer and whomever they're engaging in touch, trapping you both. Thankfully, this will last a few minutes at most before the barrier vanishes.

Siphoning Power: Some of the crystals may have been accidentally programed to take too much power from those wearing the crystal-conduit, causing whomever is wearing the gem to rapidly begin to deteriorate in energy and health. Effects can be a little as feeling tired, to outright collapsing.

When your crystal-conduit is fully charged, the researchers ask that they be delivered back to the towers for further analysis.

---

This event will run from 15 May to 31 May. 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

[iustaegis]

[ She returns his second kiss, her other hand lifting up to rest her palm upon his chest. Afterward, she closes her eyes and smiles, breathing in as if she could soak in his presence.

Pretty much, indeed... Until they absolutely must part, or wake up without one beside the other. They're not there, yet. But.

She's been thinking about it, lately, what with all the signs pointing to this worldly slowly being restored: the outside environment being (seemingly) less harsh, all of the flowers and green in the spring, and even the locals themselves beginning to say they remember things of their past... ]

If... this world... allowed us to stay, without affecting what's going on in our own worlds. Would you?

[carbungle]

[Her question makes him hesitate. He wishes he could give her a swift answer, an automatic yes, but it's... harder than he'd like for it to be. Harder still to imagine such a scenario, that their worlds would be okay. They'd have no way of verifying it. And for how long? In perpetuity? A few years, a lifetime? Would his crystal allow it? Would his conscience?

He shouldn't overthink a theoretical. But in light of his recent conversation with Somnus, it feels wrong to not think about it.]

If... if our worlds would be safe? Yeah, absolutely. For a while, at least, I'd love that. I'd love it. As long as I could get away with it. [It's still a guilty answer, but the idea of saying no outright wounds his heart too much.] How long that would be... I don't know. Eventually I'd lose my ability to sleep well at night, knowing I was leaving everybody hanging like that.

[iustaegis]

[ His answer is all she could hope for, for when speaking of hypotheticals, she speaks of dreams-- intangible things that can never be. To stay here as long as they can be ideal, but she knows she'd feel the same, too, of returning to her world. Much like how guilt, a sense of duty, or the weight of allowing the life or death of his world to be so precariously balanced upon the need for his return would eat away at him... she, too, may eventually be worn down by fear for her own world. In some far-off distant future, that is.

But rather than be anxious of this maybe-eventual poor end, it only makes her want to accept what they may be realistically able to have, to cherish it. Realistically speaking, they will part-- maybe by not even their own choice, because people can vanish without a second's notice. Realistically speaking, they may still have ample time together, and it counts.

Yet it's just a hypothetical, and she doesn't wish him to worry overmuch of its implications. ] Hey--... I know. Then, let's settle for that: [ She brings her hand to his shoulder, giving it a softer squeeze. ] For as long as we can get away with it... for as long as we choose, too.

[ And she'd rather it be their choice to stay or to return to their worlds, rather than being unceremoniously broken apart. ] That's... the important part. [ She looks at him, trying to give him a smile that will reassure him. ] That's the part I'd fight for.

[carbungle]

Yeah... yeah.

[The beginnings of tension entering his shoulders reverse, winding down just as quickly as they'd begun, and he settles again with a smile. There's that word again, choose. They've had that conversation again so no sense in repeating himself, but she knows how important it is to him, that it's part of why he loves this world. There is a degree of bittersweetness to be taken from the world, knowing that while saving it is a wonderful thing, their usefulness (and therefore their presence here) has an end date. He's not sure if they'll be able to have it both ways.

It'd be... nice, though. And no one can stop them from dreaming about it.]

Me too. And I don't think anyone could really judge us for it, either.

[It's strange; most of those from his world had wanted him to resist fate, to come up with something better. He'd resigned to this as the best option, not wanting to harm the world through his selfishness, but there were times when only Pyra and Ardyn had been in agreement with him on that. This isn't rebelling, exactly, but to resist even a little is an unusual left turn he hadn't expected.]

[iustaegis]

[ Every day, she feels supported by him, and she hopes this is something she's been able to give back, even if it's only a fraction of it. Supporting means also allowing others to make their choices, no matter how unpleasant an outcome may be. This is especially true for them when it comes to their worlds and fates-- or returning to those fates, no longer being able to postpone it.

But she refuses to allow that anxiety to ruin what they have. And, in fact, it has not (yet), for the joy she feels by being with him overcomes thoughts of their future every single time. ]

Seeing as we're staying in this world for as long as it allows us... [ She turns from facing him, giving his hand a squeeze. ]

Let's help it as much as we can, too. There are those conduits, aren't there?

[carbungle]

[He blinks in surprise, briefly, then smirks a bit.]

You want to work on your birthday?

[He really shouldn't be surprised, though. She thinks first of others, and part of that is helping the world. Sitting with him, holding hands, and energizing the world is right up her alley in things she'd want to do.

Plus, she has a vested interest in this project. She'd helped develop it, after all, and that accomplishment is amazing on its own. He doesn't mind supporting this.]

[iustaegis]

[ Pyra mirrors his smile, teasingly. He knows her, tirelessly always trying to save whatever world she is in! It just so happens that in this world, it's a simple enough gimmick. ]

You say that like holding your hand [ --or making out, or cuddling, etc.-- ] is work.

[carbungle]

It does take effort, doesn't it? All that... squeezing and finger-curling. I don't know how you find the energy for it all the time.

[He lifts her hand up to his lips, kissing the back of it to conceal his lingering grin.]

[iustaegis]

Oof, now that you mention it... I think I'm getting a cramp in my hand. [ She eyes him playfully. ] Maybe another kiss would make it better?

[carbungle]

[He gives a mock sigh- and another couple of kisses.]

No rest for the weary...

[iustaegis]

[ She's going to make him work on her birthday--

Okay, no, she appears completely satisfied with the extra kiss, her expression nothing but adoring. Time to flirt back with her boyfriend as they walk to wherever they need to pick up a conduit to charge. ]

Your eyes are especially pretty today, Noct.

[carbungle]

[That does admittedly give him pause, because while he knows it's a compliment, his eyes are kind of...]

They're not doing anything weird, are they?

[iustaegis]

No, no... I only thought you should know that they are pretty. Today. Again.

[ Look at him being all self-conscious though. He's endearing, whatever he does. She reminds herself that she should try to reinforce that, whether or not his eyes have that (admittedly, wonderful) glow to them.

Pyra continues to tease in a friendly manner: ]

It must be nice, being so effortlessly handsome.

[carbungle]

[His cheeks get another dusting of pink, and he looks a bit sheepish for asking. Admittedly it's a normal question for him, all things considered... though she does seem to like it when his eyes get weird anyway. He shifts a little, angling to bump his shoulder against hers.]

Please, you've seen my morning routine. It takes loads of effort to look this good. And you're one to talk!

[iustaegis]

[ The playful pump of his shoulder against hers earns him a small lean into his touch. ]

If you permit me to brag a little... [ She raises her free hand, brushing back some of her hair that, naturally, floofs back into place. ] I was made like this.

[ ~No effort necessary~ ]

[carbungle]

You're definitely allowed to brag. You put up with enough of it.

[Their little family wobbles between huge egos and inferiority complex with the sort of whiplash one should only get from a car accident. She absolutely has bragging rights with them.]

That is what I meant, though. Effortlessly perfect, effortlessly beautiful.

[iustaegis]

[ His praise of her causes a blush to spread across her cheeks. He may have said it or something similar before, but in this case, repetition doesn't detract, it only compounds. That he knows the circumstance of her being constructed had been out of grief and trauma but still calls her beautiful, is overwhelmingly heartwarming.

She can't think of another tease or more with which to banter, so instead, she finishes with this as they walk, squeezing his hand with each word: ] I love you, you know.

[carbungle]

[His fingers squeeze back, his cheek resting gently against her hair.]

I know.

[And he does, of course he does. She shows him and tells him both directly and indirectly every day. He's so lucky, and he loves every inch of her in return, every moment he shares in her presence.

...

And then he brushes his face against her hair more emphatically, mussing it up, trying to tousle it beyond what her hand had done.]

I just wanna make sure-

[iustaegis]

[ She laughs softly against his collar, indulging in the feeling of his fingers running through his hair and the warmth of him so close to her.

She lifts her hand up from his fingers to curl them over his shoulder, and rising on her toes, she presses a tender kiss to his lips.

Maybe they should have gotten the conduit to power up with all of this physical contact they're doing, but... not all touch has to be work. She's happy to simply let this be. ]

...And one more for the rest of the walk.

[ She gives a small peck to the corner of his mouth before pulling away. ]

[carbungle]

[Somehow they manage to behave themselves in the PDA department for the rest of the walk, arriving at one of the designated charging stations. The locals are delighted to see them already making contact, swiftly guiding them to an open space with crystals available. They're settled in and left to their own devices, which suits Noctis just fine, peering down at the crystal curiously. It's not like he didn't know about the crystal project that Pyra and her friends were working on - they were testing it in the underground tunnel after all - but his involvement was pretty minimal, so this is somewhat new to him as well.]

So how's it feel, finally getting to see all your hard work pay off?

[iustaegis]

Um... [ She seems to try to contain a bit of her excitement at seeing the crystal conduit on the table beforehand, her hand in his, but by the time she reaches for it herself, she breaks out in a shy smile. ] Very proud.

It took a long time [ Years, in fact. ] but we were able to make this together. It's not just me, it's Honerva and Lup and all the researchers who are taking what we made, and refining and applying it--

[ And she continues to bubble with praises for both her friends and a few locals she's come to know while working in the towers. ]

I'd also like to thank Magolor, too...

[carbungle]

It's worth being proud of, that's for sure. Not a lot of people could have done this- or been dedicated to keep trying for as long as you did.

[He's witnessed the struggle at an uninvolved (but hopefully supportive enough) distance, the ups and downs, the successes and failures. Her tenacity in continuing to try is something to be admired for sure.

As for Magolor... there's a name he hasn't heard for a while. His head tilts, curious.]

It went back that far, huh? What'd he do?

[iustaegis]

He didn't so much as help with the conduit project, but he worked with me on another one... a power source for Besithia's vehicles. [ Her shoulders shrug casually. That project never amounted to anything, but-- ] That power source would later be installed in the Regalia to allow it to fly.

[ She looks at Noctis, smiling. ] But I like the idea of people from different worlds coming together and working on something. Human, not human, magical or not... None are working alone. It shows how much we can do as a team.

[ And it gives her a quiet confidence that they'll be able to help this world even more. ]

[carbungle]

Ahh, gotcha.

[He's not too thrilled about Besithia's whole... everything... but he's gone and mostly irrelevant now so he won't dwell on it. He got a flying car out of it, so he can't complain. (Or his dad did, technically, but he's calling it joint custody at this point.)

Her point about collaboration is true enough, anyway, so the rest can fall to the wayside.]

We've come a long way from how it started out, that's for sure. I know we gripe a lot, with all the weird stuff that happens every month, but the progress shows.

[iustaegis]

And you know you have to take some of that credit, too.

[ She replies with a gentle squeeze of his hand as if she could encourage him to brag about his own contributions. ]