hugtopia_logs | ♥ December Event Log

♥ December Event Log

December (Ranir) Event Log
The city of Havenwell is recovering very well thanks to your efforts, offworlders. The hole in the wall is sealed up and, while maybe not looking like new, it certainly looks sturdy and safe. The city itself has removed much of the rubble from the battles you fought, and the people are back to their regularly scheduled lives. They're eternally grateful that you continue to put in the time to rebuild this final bastion of civilization and are pleased to see that you enjoyed their festivals so far. As the weather of Ranir turns colder and the nights longer, some may even see snow dust the cobblestone and paved streets in the morning. The time of Rawna has come and with it...

❥ PROMPT I: At Least It's Not a Sweater

a pair of hands holding each other with a red ribbon tied around their wrists

Normally when a new season belonging to a god rolls around, the temple priests gear up and start with temple festivities. Seeing how this is Rawna's month, however, nothing much of the sort seems to be happening. In fact, it's almost as if Rawna's priests don't even care that their god's season has started. Rawna is, after all, chiefly the god of Apathy, so is it all that surprising?

What might be surprising is the sight of Ainea's priests in pairs out around the city in their stead. Each pair carries with them a single bright silver sash and they alternatively stand in broad daylight or hide in the shadows of the buildings. Walk by on your own and you'll be left alone, but when the priests spot two people walking even remotely near each other, they spring into action.

The two robotic priests zip around you and another person with surprising speed, tying the sash off around you - either around your wrists, your waists, your legs, whatever it takes to tie you to another person. With a triumphant buzz of excitement, they declare "Happy Ranir! Kindness comes in many forms!" and depart to find a new pair of ~~victims~~ patrons. As they leave, one of the pair calls out an additional clue for you: "Be kind to unwind!"

Good luck, everyone, you're now stuck with this other person. You can either wait until the sash naturally falls off in a few hours, or you can take the direction of the priests and be kind to the other person to encourage the magical knot to come undone. Each compliment, word of encouragement, or other act of kindness directed at your new partner seems to loosen the sash a little each time, so get to winning the Niceness War.

Oh, and in case you were thinking of blasting, teleporting, or cutting your way out? No amount of magic or physical force seems capable of cutting or removing the sash. Hopefully you went to the bathroom before they got you.

❥ PROMPT II: A Delicious Delight

After a long hard day of dodging Ainea's priests or just slogging through the colder weather around the city, what could be better than imbibing a seasonally festive drink? Well, the scientists in charge of Experiment 73 certainly think so! They've added a limited edition drink selection to all of the replicators and have some delightfully festive booths spread about the city staffed by a few robots wearing Rawna's colors in their sashes and hats. There are five drinks in total to choose from and you should certainly try them! They're only here until the end of the month and then the scientists say they'll be gone! The best things in life are fleeting, aren't they? The best things in life are also surprises, so when you take a sip of these exquisitely delicious (honest! For once they're good) beverages, prepare yourself for a little trick with your treat.

Ginger and Honey Tea: A hot, thoroughly warming drink with the bite of ginger and the sweetness of honey. Drink this and you'll be shored up against the cold, but also feel compelled to tell or blurt out the truth. Whether you're asked a question or trying to tell a little white lie, you find you can't say anything but the truth. This effect lasts for up to an hour after drinking the tea.
Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie: A cold sweet treat of vanilla smoothie topped with sweet strawberry pieces and whipped cream. At the bottom, you'll find a layer of sweet sponge cake cut up into pieces. Drink this with its own special thick straw and enjoy the taste of cake; and the effect of a personal miniature snow cloud that appears over your head. The cloud dusts you and your immediate area within a foot of you with beautiful multicolored snow - and that snow leaves splotches of color behind that last for up to an hour after drinking the smoothie.
Hot Cinnamon Apple Cider: A deliciously steamy beverage that tastes of apple and cinnamon and comes with a cinnamon stick stirrer for effect. This beverage smells as delicious as it tastes and the aroma wafts around the area more strongly than the others. Drink this penultimate holiday drink and you'll find yourself heating up so much that you'll want to stay cold by giving your heat away via holding someone else. You'll want to be everyone's personal heater for up to an hour after drinking the cider.
Gingerbread Latte: A nice piping hot latte with the hint of gingerbread threaded through the coffee, topped with whipped cream and dusted with gingerbread spice. Served in a tall red cup that seems to transfer the heat uncannily well through its thin walls, sip this and you'll find yourself painlessly sprouting an animal's appendage at random. You can have one functioning or non-functioning, cosmetic animal appendage like a cat's ears, a dog's tail, a duck's beak or whatever else you can think of for up to an hour after drinking the latte. They can replace your original body part (e.g. your ears become cat ears) or grow superfluously (e.g. you have regular ears AND cat ears). You can move the appendages or talk with them as if they are your own, but they don't confer any special magical powers with them. So you can fly with those griffin wings, sure, but you're going to need to put the effort into it.
Hot Mulled Wine (alcoholic): This one isn't for children - and in fact, under 18 people might find it hard (but not impossible, be industrious, little ones!) to get their hands on this drink. Red wine is heated with spices and citrus fruit over low heat for several hours - or it would if it wasn't all synthetically created. The effect is the same though, a delicious adult beverage that's a nice way to spend an evening with someone special. And you'll want them to be someone special because drinking the hot wine makes you inclined to get a little steamy with people. Kisses, both chaste and passionate, seem to alleviate the urge which you'll be under for up to an hour after drinking the wine.

❥ PROMPT III: Winter (VR) Wonderland

a wooden lodge at night, blanketed in snow

There isn't quite enough snow on the ground to allow it in reality, but in the VR Cafes anything is possible. This month, the VR Cafes are decorated with snowflakes in odd patterns and designs - holograms, naturally - that spin and change shape and color in a timed routine. Plug into the games and you'll find a new selection among the usual offerings: Winter Wonderland.

There are two modes to Winter Wonderland and each are fun in their own ways.

Snow Fight! Head out into the powdery snow where fantastic snow forts await and battle it out with snowballs to claim the most territory or just see who can hit the other side the most. You can choose Team Battle, Solo 1vs1, or Battle Royale. All magic, skills, and cunning are at your disposal. While the snow might not be falling outside, it's definitely going to be raining down on you here, so bundle up and have some fun. You earned it!

Ski Lodge But maybe you don't want to go flinging snow down someone's shirt and would rather cuddle up on a couch in front of a big warm fire, huh? Sure, we understand that. Welcome to the Ski Lodge, a cozy getaway up in the mountains where you can relax with a hot chocolate (or cider, or glass of wine even) and curl up on the couches and experience a lazy afternoon in thick fluffy sweaters. It's even better with a friend, they say, so why not create this private little getaway for the two (or three or four, we're not judging) of you? For people wanting a romantic lean, you can always slip out the back (and out of your clothes if you prefer) into the private jacuzzi on the wooden deck, too.

For people who want to have some fun tearing it up on the mountain-side though, we suggest trying Ski-venture! A year-round game that lets you ski or snowboard your way down the mountain.

❥ PROMPT IV: A Mysterious Gift [REGAIN EVENT]

Toward the end of the month starting from the 20th and on, some people may find themselves drawn to Rawna's temple late at night, when most of the priests are offline or elsewhere. The only native creatures you can see here are the fledgling rainbow dragons which watch you from their various perches all around the sanctum. As you approach the temple's altar, you realize someone else has been drawn here as well. In the quiet, dim lighting, the barest of candles still burning and the watchful eyes of the dragons, you feel compelled to unburden yourself to the other person. Tell your tale of woe or sorrow, relieve yourself of a secret you've kept hidden for too long, and listen to your companion as well. They say a burden shared is a burden halved after all.

Once you've both shared something, a pair of dragonlings crawl up into the altar's clawed hands. They wind around each other until an iridescent light shines from their scales. The light is blinding and you must look away as it reaches its pinnacle and releases a burst of rainbow light. When you look back, the dragonlings are slithering away and in their places are two objects - one familiar to you and one to your partner - so long as both of you have shared. It seems your tithe has been rewarded with something from home.

OOC: These items from home must be approved by a mod. They cannot exceed the Medium Item regain limit. It cannot be a power or other ability. It cannot be something your character did not own or have knowledge of in their canon or their CRAU. Please post your regain request in the Regain Request thread before threading out the receipt of the item.

This event will run from December 6th to December 31st. Click on each prompt's title to see the text. You are welcome to use this log, or create entries of your own! If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to the FAQ or to the Mod Question thread.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Kaito is absolutely not a person that gets tender looks or even just people trying to stop him on the street. So its a surprise when a soft hand clasps his wrist, enough so that he stopped completely to look down at this action in confusion. That confusion only mounted as-- wait, what?]

Huh?

[He blinked up at her, and she looks just as confused? Maybe? Excuse him?? This is a case of the wrong person, right? Kai shot a few looks around them to try and find the person this girl was actually supposed to be talking to but there's. There's no one there?]

..Huh??

[Oh. Oh god. Oh god oh man. Oh Man oh god. Kai has absolutely no idea what to do. With this. It took him a full moment of deer in the headlights to realize he hadn't said anything substantial to... whatever the hell this is. Ah shit. Here comes the extremely awkward moment where Kai uselessly pat his hand on top of the girl's. So uselessly. Oh god. Rawna help.]

That's... Uh. I'm afraid I can't return your feelings?

[ He's a youth she's never seen before in the city, and she's startled by the brightness of the gold-yellow of his eyes. The color is lighter than sunset, but stronger than wheat in late summer, for a moment, all she can do is stare and--

OH THANK RAWNA, crisis averted, with his answer.

Except it's not. Here's more word vomit: ] Then I will love you from afar....

[ DAMMIT. ] I-- I'm sorry!

[ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA???? ]

[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.]

Uh-- [There is another awkward pat of his hand, but he has no heckin' clue if this is just making this whole thing worse. Who even is this? Kai is 100% sure that someone is about to stomp around the corner to destroy him for breaking this girl's heart even though he has no idea where the hell any of this is coming from.]

Hey. It's-- uh. Look, you don't gotta be sorry. We all make mistakes sometimes, y'know?

No--... [ She shakes her head, her hand squeezing his insistently. ] It's not a mistake to love you.

[ ----It just keeps on getting worse. ]

[Please, mercy.]

That's-- uh-- [Completely wrong, but. Kai even flushed a little as his thick brows furrowed in deep confusion.]

Sorry, but, who are you?

[ Oh look at that flush, and the way his thick brows knit together. It makes his eye color stand out even more. He's so expressive! She can't help but watch him. Normally, she would answer her question for her name. But it seems the truth is coming out regardless of her wishes and her usual carefulness in how much she says of herself: ] Who I am does not matter... [ Pyra shakes her head once. ] I adore you regardless.

[That's. Uh. What. He was rapidly trying to piece together a way to assure her that honestly, truly, she'd be better off if she could place those feelings elsewhere, but his efforts just kept getting toppled over every time she repeated the affection.

Something very suspiciously petal shaped did a loop-de-loop on the breeze just past her hair. Kai steadfastly pretended he didn't see it.]

I think, uh, maybe you got the wrong guy.

[Which is its own kind of concerning, if he stopped to think about it.]

[ There's another shake of her head-- an honest shake of her head, as if to tell him that no, she doesn't have the wrong guy!

If only she could stop herself to clarify further about the nature of this love, but there's also an honest and genuine need to reinforce that he is included in the great pool of the world of those she loves. So, insistently, squeezing his hand in both of hers: ]

N-no! You are the right one. And, ah, I do not even know your name, but... [ Once more, with emotion as the breeze tussles the cropped strands of her hair: ] these feelings are not wrong, and you are not wrong.

[It was a reassuring sentiment. It was exceedingly kind and heartfelt. She said it so honestly, so hopefully, that the nature of her intent was starting to bleed through. This wasn't a mistaken identity, or a stalker situation (probably), but... someone that seemed to really genuinely feel for something else. A bleeding heart, as it were. Maybe.

Whatever it really was, it was a feeling that Kaito fundamentally couldn't understand. He couldn't deny her feelings, but he couldn't agree with them. Being wrong was a kindness to himself.

His other hand closed gently over hers.]

... You might want to be careful with your love proclamations. It's easy to get the wrong idea, y'know.

[ His hands are warm upon hers, not completely soft over her skin. She looks down at their held hands: some scars, but faint, small. She raises his gaze to him again: his expression is somber, reserved. Denying, deflecting--

It's easy to get the wrong idea, y'know.

-- but ultimately correct in his interpretation that this is not romantic love (or so she assumes he's come to conclude). At this, something about her seems to relax, and her weight shifts from one leg to the other. ]

...I apologize. [ The excuse would be that normally, she is careful! She doesn't just go randomly saying this! Except she doesn't excuse herself because what good would it be when he knows nothing about her? ] But--... [ A pause. ]

It's... the truth. [ ...HUH, so it is. Maybe that's what's wrong overall. The tea has tricked her! ]

Seems that way.

[It wasn't said unkindly. There was actually a hint of something there, something that almost bore a resemblance to amusement as if she reminded him of something. She might have, a little bit, of summer days and sun-dappled trees when everything was warm and free. She was certainly warm enough.]

Keep it safe, okay? [He gave her hands a squeeze.] Don't let somebody like me take it away from you.

[He might not have been able to understand, didn't know where she was coming from with it, but there was still enough summer left in him to appreciate it. Idealists (?) had their own hard roads to walk.]

[ The truth... keep it safe? She doesn't quite understand the statement, but she hears the underlying sentiment in his voice, as if she has something that he no longer does, but respects all the same. ]

What is your name? Mine is Pyra.

[There were exceptions here and there, as there always were, but Kai held no love for humanity. At least, not the one he had left behind.]

Pyra, huh... [She was unique enough that he was sure he was't going to forget it. Kai dropped the hand she hadn't been holding, but he didn't make any immediate moves to pull his other one away. The words had been more alarming than the touch-- she could have that. It did them both good, right?]

It's Kaito.

Kaito... [ Repeating his name softy to herself, she doesn't release his hand quite yet. ] Kaito-- [ Again, repeated softly, she continues to gaze at him. ]

You've said that... you want me to keep that truth safe. [ Her words, slow and thoughtful, now carry her smile. ] In turn, I will... give my all to keep you safe.

[ This, too, is another truth. ]

[There's an encore of that brush of color, though it was fainter this time. A trick of the cold, maybe. Possibly it had nothing to do with the way she reverently repeated his name as if it was worth something.

He huffed a bit through his nose, another one of those almost amused sounds he'd been making more and more frequently these days. He didn't actually want to laugh at her, but also: what's with that?]

Nah, don't worry about it. S'better picks out there.

[ What a self-deprecating sound. He doesn't believe he should be protected. ] Since I do get to pick, doesn't that mean I get to pick you, too?

[ If he's going to say something like that, he better have a damn good reason for why he apparently shouldn't be protected. ]

[Well.

She got him there.]

I mean, you're gonna do what you're gonna do I guess.

[ A pleased hum escapes her. ]

Then... I will happily love you.

[ Hgggggrrr why can't she stop saying it. This sucks--

It sucks enough that another truth escapes her. ] Er-- ah. I'm... sorry if this is making you uncomfortable. I think the tea has gotten the best of me.

Edited 2019-12-14 22:38 (UTC)

Hey, don't worry about it. S'nothin' wrong with speaking your mind.

[Even if it was, that. That kind of earnesty was almost refreshing. He shook his head a bit.]

The tea? Like one of those freebies?

Yes... It seems to compel the drinker to... say the truth.

[ To blurt it out, in Pyra's case. She's glad that Kaito seems to understand, however. ]

Oh boy. Ain't that swell.

[Definitely a cool and good time. Kai would keep that in mind, even though he didn't really forsee it being a problem unless it compelled him to blurt things out even more than usual. Which, based on the zero prompting Kai had given Pyra earlier, maybe? That was a thing?? Hm!]

Do you wanna like... wait it out and see if it wears off?

I don't... mind it.

[ Mind saying this sort of truth. Too much, anyway. Any of the other truths she has to hide, however, she will run from him before any escape her. ]

...Unless it bothers you when I say that I love you.

[He shrugged.] A little.

But I'd rather you say it to me than anyone that's gonna do anything funny with it. [Though maybe that wasn't really a thing they had to worry about here...? Then again, Kai couldn't say he'd personally met every offworlder around. There could have been some jerks in the mix.]

I'm good at not asking questions though.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

♥ December Event Log

..................... B

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject