♥ November Event Log

[hugtopiamods]

November (Malom) Event Log
The chaos of Lasohm's invasion is still fresh in the mind, but it's over. The ugly scar of the hole in Havenwell's wall is a jarring reminder that this world is dying and nothing goes quietly into that dark night. The phantom is gone as Malom overtakes Lasohm, the weather turning colder and chillier with each passing day. Still, the city of Havenwell has all of you offworlders to thank for its survival, and the fearful citizens make sure you know just how much they appreciate you by stopping you on the street to say their thanks. Your new home still needs your help to recover from their ordeal though, so will you lend them your strength once more?

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❥ PROMPT I: Rebuilding Effort

The magic barrier over the hole that unknown monster punched through Havenwell's wall is repaired, stopping the onslaught and encouraging any other nightmares that lurk outside to move on and away, but the hole itself remains. Throughout the month of Malom, robot natives are working tirelessly to gather bricks and stone and patch the breach, but they could use some help. Work together with other offworlders and natives alike to repair the wall and be rewarded with a handsome bump to the Dora in your bank account. They need all sorts of help, from clearing away the dead bodies of the spider-like creatures for cremation, to retrieving and hauling stone for the wall, to actually slotting the heavy blocks into place to cement them back together.

Outside the barrier, now clearly visible through the hole, a storm rages on, obscuring the view of the world beyond it. Gray and black clouds whip against the invisible barrier, and occasional debris slams into it, causing the impact site to light up with silver, pink, blue, or white hues before it fades away again. It seems even without monsters, the world outside is as inhospitable as was rumored.

Work together or take a break along the base of the wall and get to know your fellow offworlders a little better. It's going to take a while before this mess is cleaned up.

❥ PROMPT II: Air Sickness

Those who worked at or were near the breach in the wall for any extended period of time will notice that, over time, it gets harder to breathe. Then they begin to feel feverish, even if they don't have flesh bodies or are immune to disease. Their bodies ache and groan and it gets harder to move about without help. Once the natives notice, they set up a recovery area away from where the breach occurred: a giant tent with cots and pillows, thick rugs and blankets to keep the chill away. Unfortunately, they don't have medicines available to treat flesh bodied people, so they're at a loss of what to do otherwise. The priests gather anyone who is ill and brings them here...which is when a curious thing occurs.

While conventional medicines and healing spells seem to have no effect on the illness, staying in contact with another person alleviates the symptoms. After a period of contact with another person or persons, the fever breaks and it's like you were never sick at all.

Return to the wall, however, and you'll notice your symptoms coming back with a vengeance after a few days. It seems that making regular trips between the wall and this recovery tent is the only way to keep working. At least it's an easy fix so long as you're not a germaphobe.

❥ PROMPT III: A Tasty(?) Reward

Toward the end of the month as the hole in the wall is completely repaired and the risk of illness declines, a message is sent to all the offworlders' communication devices. Those who choose to open it will find a very official looking message from The Havenwell Council that reads:

Greetings, Saviours of Havenwell!
We of the Havenwell Council greet you and wish to express our eternal gratitude for your valiant efforts to keep our wonderful home safe. Without you, we would not have survived this terrible onslaught. As such, we wish to express our gratitude in a more concrete form. Your emissary, Magolor, has been in contact with this venerable Council and has brought to our attention that your greatest concern is for the food available. We apologize that due to our inability to taste we have been unable to supply you with satisfactory meals.

To that end, we invite you to work with our scientists to improve upon the taste of currently available offerings from our replicators. Please come to the Northern Research Tower (map included) at any time this month to sample what our replicators can produce and give us feedback on their flavour and textures. We ask that you be as specific as possible in your criticisms so we may improve upon your general quality of life. Please feel free to bring as many friends as you wish.

May the Gods Protect You,
Havenwell Council, Community Liaisons

Those who take the invitation will arrive at the Northern Research Tower and be taken directly to the 40th floor, where a large banquet hall has been laid out. Five rectangular tables, over 5 meters long each, stretch down the room, creating aisles for people to walk down. At the far end are several high round tables, covered in white cloth, and high round stools for those who wish them. The tables are overflowing with food, much like the welcome dinner, but at each table and scattered throughout the room are scientist robots with arm bands that read "Experiment 73" in that peculiar Aellyn script you saw during your time at the Archives. They invite you to taste the foods - both raw and cooked - and to give your very honest opinions.

Enjoy the food, help them improve the flavours, and walk the room to talk with the others who have come. Those who participate will receive a small synthetic fruit basket to take home with them on their first visit. Feel free to come back as often as you like, however! Each time, they'll be changing and adjusting the food available so your first and last visit may be very different. Perhaps that strawberry actually even tastes sweet, finally.

❥ PROMPT IV: A Virtual Spa

The VR cafes are uncharacteristically quiet while the rebuilding effort goes on, but there are still those who come to plug in to unwind after a day of intensive labor. And what better way to unwind than with a hot bath, right? Since the people of Havenwell can't actually submerge themselves in water, they're doing the next best thing: going to a virtual hot spring. There are several types to choose from and despite being digital, their calming and soothing effects on the body seem very real. Choose from:

• The Classic Outdoors: a rock lined hot spring with natural rock floors and steamy mineral infused waters nestled in the mountains. All around you is beautiful greenery like a sweeping pine and low fragrant bushes. The serene air and the calm forest is only occasionally broken by the sound of a wooden pipe thudding hollowly against a rock at a steady interval or the sound of birdsong off in the trees. The relaxing atmosphere is enough to set even the tightest wound nerves at ease.
  
  
• The Marbled Columns: white and painted marble columns lead to a series of different shaped baths with statues of the gods pouring water into them. Each bath has a different healing property, which is clearly marked with a plaque at the rim of each: good for your circulation, your bones, your aches and pains, even acne and metabolic rate. The columns support a beautiful open ceiling that shows the perfectly blue sky overhead dotted with the occasional cloud.
  
  
• The Steamy Sauna: though seemingly austere in their white tile and deep blue bath basins, the air here is thick and steamy and the baths are deep with hand-rails leading down steps to help you enter. All around the basins are stone or wooden benches with towels laid down for those who wish to simply sit and let the warm air open their lungs. If you get too hot? Grab a bucketful of cold water from one of the freestanding tubs and douse yourself to get a shock and cool off.
  
  
• The Milk-and-Honey: a beautifully tiled bath with a large shallow rectangular basin. The surrounding walls and ceilings have blue, white, and gold geometric designs laid out with loving care in pleasant designs that ease the mind. The bath water here is filled with a concoction of milk and honey to soothe and smooth the skin, filling the air with a pleasing sweet scent. The effects of these baths on a person's skin is said to make them glow from the inside out for at least a day after bathing.
  
  
• The Theme Park: the first thing to greet you is the comically oversized bottle of red wine tipped to pour a continuous stream of red liquid into the large crystalline bath basin. The smell of wine is heavy but pleasant in the air and the crystalline basin is round and shaped like a wine glass. Climb up the glass steps and give yourself a good old soak in the red water. You might even find that taking a dip here gives you a heady happiness that lasts all day. And if it feels like you're a little drunk while there? That has to be your imagination! ...Maybe.

Hot springs are great to experience with friends to deepen that feeling of skinship you have with each other, and several Havenwell natives are doing just that. But what about those who don't have a friend to log in with? Don't worry! The game will randomly select another player from this or another facility and match you together. Isn't that nice? We're sure it is! Who doesn't want to talk to someone else while naked, right?

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This event will run from November 14th to the 31st. 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 here.

Comments

[flawed_immortality]

Surely you don't think all members of our army are as familiar with the King himself?

[Come on, Will. You're smarter than that. Cor is in a high position because of his history with Regis. It was all a matter of happenstance. He forced himself into the Crown's attention at a very young age. Needed to be the best, to be acknowledged. Most Glaives do not know the King beyond training and orders, have rarely interacted with him beyond their graduation and that is a formality at best.]

The loyalty to continue to wear something that designates you as his, that dedication only comes one of two ways. Love...

[The Look he gives Will makes it clear he knows damned well it is not out of love. If it were he'd have spoken of him before now, told Cor of his mentor with the same passion and loyalty that Cor speaks of Regis with. Not the hesitant acknowledgment and vehement insistence on a rule no one is present to enforce.]

... or fear.

[twistedempathy]

They surely knew about him, at least.

[Enough to understand what kind of king he was, maybe even what kind of man he was at heart. They knew where he came from, because a king could never shake the weight of the bloodline they inherited.

But his mentor..... His master. He had been a complete and utter cipher. A blank slate, with no connections to anything--no name, no face, no history, no clear goals or motivations.

He couldn't be understood or related to, (or at least, no further than he chose to cultivate empathy and loyalty) not the way Cor was attached to Regis. He could only be obeyed. Even Will's smile falters a little, under the look Cor levels at him.]

He's..... Not a man to displease. He preferred full masks, but they're not always feasible.

[That's a diplomatic way to put it, but the sentiment is there--he doesn't dare disobey that rule, even a world away. Just wearing the mask he wears now is pushing things--one like this should be for times like eating and sleeping, or if he needs unrestricted visibility on the field.]

[flawed_immortality]

[Fear, then. Fear so profound that even worlds away he will not phrase anything in such a way that it could possibly be taken as negative. That careful phrasing, the wordsmithing to ensure no one thinks you're being disrespectful...

It reminds him so much of Mors.

The idea that Will has someone out there like that for him is awful. It makes him sick to think of it, especially knowing how long it took for him to gradually separate himself from that mindset, something he still has not done fully, not even close. Every time he even considers it a chill runs down his spine and he swears he can feel the sharp bite of a blizzard spell at the back of his neck.

Just thinking about it makes him uncomfortable, makes his shoulders tighten and he has to force himself not to tense up again.]

Will... Come here?

[He's pushed too far to feel comfortable invading the younger man's space. If he needs space he can have it. But Cor forces himself to lean back into the wall of the tub, to let the heat seep into his shoulders a little more.]

Regis' father was also not a man to displease.

[twistedempathy]

He did sound a little stiff, from what I heard.

[Not that he's heard much. Just..... What had Regis said, when they'd mey? That the man had no sense of the dramatic, like a charismatic leader should? He can't recall much else. If Cor thinks so, though..... The man really must have been..... Formidable.

Will pushes off the wall of the pool to float towards Cor, drifting in to lean against the older man's side. Is thinking about Mors really discomforting enough to need cuddles? He won't argue, but.....]

[flawed_immortality]

[It's not just thinking about Mors, it's wanting to offer comfort and stability for Will when he's been pressing for answers the younger man has not wanted to give, not really.]

Stiff?

[Cor focuses for a moment, nudging a mental image of the man towards Will. Formidable was a good word... and seeing that image will give the psychic a name to go with one of the twisted monsters leading the army of daemons in Cor's dream.]

An understatement, perhaps. I just... well I understand more than you might think of belonging to such a person. You belong to no one here, unless you wish to.

And if anyone... [Cor wraps his arms around him and kisses his shoulder.] you belong to me.

[twistedempathy]

[Cor's efforts are rewarded with a soft, curious noise; he doesn't have to be psychic himself to grasp how to convey mental images like that directly to someone naturally open and waiting to receive them, clearly. Formidable indeed..... stiff is definitely an understatement. He looks every bit the imposing and dignified monarch--undoubtedly a king, but very little else, perhaps.

Maybe Cor does understand, more than he really deserves to. It's a sobering thought; his smile is apologetic as he cuddles up into Cor's embrace, even as he automatically makes an effort to lighten the conversation.]

.....That's right. I guess you can do with me exactly as you choose.

[flawed_immortality]

[Cor huffs a soft laugh, shaking his head a little.]

You don't need to do that, you know.

[Change the topic, make things a joke to make someone else more comfortable. He didn't need to be the playful flirt all the time if he didn't feel like it. But Cor hid behind his mask of duty just as much so he had no room to say anything. He just wanted Will to know he could talk to him if he wanted.]

Though... I'm well aware of that.

[Another gentle kiss to his shoulder.... and then Cor chuckles, a low deep sound that can be felt more than heard, turning his head to rub his chin against the smaller man, teasing him with a bit of beard burn, holding him close so he can't escape.]

[twistedempathy]

[Will squeaks in mock protest at the sudden scratch of rough beard against soft skin, squirming in Cor's arms. He wouldn't mind a bit of beard burn a little lower..... But a public cafe certainly isn't the place for that.]

Hehe, s-sorry..... Force of habit. That's just..... how I decided to do my job.

[He's..... Trying to be open and honest with him. That's progress, right? Because even attitude and personality are just tools to be chosen and used, a mask he's painstakingly carved and worn for years by hand. It's as hard to make himself shed that one as it is the one he actually wears.]

[flawed_immortality]

[The squeak is adorable and has Cor humming, a small pleased sound, all satisfaction and amusement. He keeps an arm around Will so he cannot wiggle away.

But when he speaks he rests his cheek against violet hair, nodding ever so slowly.]

I know... Just as I keep everyone at a distance.

[It's just how they deal with their work... and what are they if not their jobs?]

[twistedempathy]

[It's..... a little easier like this, not having to look at him while he talks. He doesn't want to admit anything. He doesn't want to jeopardize..... this. A strong arm around him, solid warmth at his back, a glow of affection humming at the edge of his mind.....

He doesn't want to ruin it all. Not when it's so much easier to just be everything Cor wants him to be.

But right now, Cor wants him to talk. So..... he'll talk.]

You do. But..... it's not just that. It's how I manipulated people to do what I needed them to do, too. I was--well, I guess the name wouldn't really mean anything to you, would it?

[He laughs quietly, shaking his head even as Cor leans against him. That's the thing about different worlds, isn't it? On the one hand, it's safer to talk about, in some ways--on the other hand, there's absolutely no shared understanding, the way someone from his world would have. Even a foreigner had probably heard of Team Rocket on the news.]

He brought me into an international crime syndicate called Team Rocket. I was a member until just a few years ago; I've been hurting people most of my life.

[At least Mors was trying to do right by his kingdom, in his own harsh way, wasn't he?]

[flawed_immortality]

[Everything Cor wants him to be is nothing more than being himself. Will has given him so many opportunities to learn who the man beneath the titles is over these precious few months. He only wants to be able to offer Will that same opportunity. To be able to do something like that for him, give him that freedom to let the past rest.]

You were young, Will. Gods, you're still young.

[He drops another kiss to Will's shoulder, offering a gentle reassuring squeeze. And if he's looking for it the psychic will be able to tell quite clearly that there is no change in that warm hum of affection. Perhaps a tint of sadness, a desire to protect. But the care he has for the younger man in his arms does not change.]

Everyone... has the capacity to manipulate others, I think. Especially when you're younger and it's to secure your own safety.

[Astrals know he did his share of it when he was a child playing at being a crownsguard, until he had honed his skills. All that fire and bravado kept him from being overlooked and, more importantly, it kept others from challenging him. Things could have gone much much worse for him.]

I can tell you regret that part of your past and under the... employ of a man like that, no one could blame you for doing what you had to. I'm just glad you've been able to get away from his influence.

[twistedempathy]

I knew what I was doing.

[He knew what he was doing, and he was good at it. He always had been. How is youth any kind of justification? He's an adult, and has been for a while. He may not have understood what he was agreeing to when he let the man whisk him away back then, not at that age, but..... since then?

He had done it all deliberately, with full understanding of the consequences of his actions. Hell, he'd even enjoyed plenty of it. He can't just make excuses for himself. He hadn't even tried to leave until it was more convenient to leave than to stay.

It feels like one more bit of deceit and manipulation, that Cor still loves him--that he feels bad for him, instead of just appalled. Still..... it's hard not to soften under the gentle warmth of Cor's affection, and the brush of lips against bare skin. Will reaches up behind him to wrap an arm around Cor's neck, nuzzling back into the man's chest.

He can stop talking now, right.....? He's explained why the mask is there, now--both masks, even. Surely that's enough heavy topics while they're trying to relax.]

I'm glad I'm here with you, too.

[flawed_immortality]

[There's a finality to it. To the careful pause and then assurance of the present. There's more there, so much more that needs to be said, needs to be discussed. Things that Will cannot carry alone. But at the same time Cor cannot force him to share that burden any more than anyone could force the Marshal to do the same.

He simply nods, understanding both that there's more left unsaid but also that Will is not prepared to share it just yet. Another line of kisses over the top of one pale shoulder.]

And, perhaps, I'd be more willing to accompany you on these sorts of... ventures every now and again.

[He looks around as he says it, still a little uncertain about the whole thing but knowing the pokemon are looking out for them helps a great deal. ]

[twistedempathy]

[Maybe soon he'll be ready. Maybe with Cor's help, he'll be able to talk at length, answer every question the older man has. Sometime when they're alone, perhaps, and the safety and privacy of their own minds isn't tempered by the wariness of being in public, surrounded by people.

Right now, though..... he hadn't been even remotely prepared for this, even such a brief talk, and he can't help but be a little shaken. He does his best to force that feeling away even so, instead purring at the warm trail of lips over bare skin.]

That sounds nice..... Though I'm sure we could draw a hot bath, if you'd prefer the real thing. We'd just have to get more creative to make room for both of us.

[Have a sly smile at that. Surely Cor would prefer the real thing more, if it means naked lap sitting to get them both to fit into one bathtub?]

[flawed_immortality]

It really wouldn't be difficult to get some of the herbs they have infused the waters here with to put in the bath at home.

[He completely misses that innuendo initially, gaze focused on the water, breathing deeply to try to determine exactly what the mixture was. There's a moment, a beat where he's simply thinking. Then he glances down to catch that look.

His cheeks flush but this time he doesn't try to hide it, just gives Will a faint smile and draws his hair back so that the next kiss can fall on his neck.]

I think I'd like that.

[twistedempathy]

M-mmm.

[Will's agreement is cut short by a pleased murmur instead, shivering under the touch of lips on his neck. How could he not like that idea, given what he's gotten a glimpse of in this program already? More time getting to admire a body like that can only be a good thing--especially if they figure out what exactly the water is infused with here. to help Cor relax on a more regular basis.]

[flawed_immortality]

[It's reassuring that Will is able to let himself melt back against him so readily despite the recent topic of conversation. He's not sure he'd be able to let go of it so readily if things were the other way around.]

Not that I have much experience with keeping plants growing.

[Would you help him, dulcissime?]

[twistedempathy]

[Willful denial is his specialty, Cor. Of course he's going to do everything he can to get things back to normal as quickly as possible! He'll gladly help you become an excellent plant dad~]

Well, I'm no expert like Erika..... but I did raise an Exeggutor. I'm sure you'll be okay as long as you do a little research first. The most important things to keep in mind are just knowing what conditions they like and being able to recognize problems early.

[flawed_immortality]

It might be something of trial and error here... I somehow doubt they still have extensive materials on gardening available.

[And for once, he doesn't sound very concerned about something hampering his plans. It's not something he has to get done now or for anyone else. He can just... use it to fill in some of his down time.]

[twistedempathy]

Your best bet is probably the botanical gardens. They might have some specialized things the library doesn't--and the workers there might have even written it themselves!

[That's reassuring, right? Cor probably even has experts readily available to talk to, given how important the gardens are. He can pick up a useful new hobby and get to talk to people a little more, without the results being devastatingly important.]

[flawed_immortality]

[Talking to people about things other than time sensitive all important topics? Sounds fake.]

That's a very good point. I might have to ask for some pointers.

[Another deep, appraising breath. It comes easier now than it had earlier, the tension weighing down his shoulders easing now, like this.]

From the smell of things... anything that doesn't go into the bath could just as easily be used for teas, as well.