Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

[faileas]

Event Log: May, An Inauspicious Arrival

I. Boaltinn (1st - 3rd) Boaltinn comes around again. A handful of Mirrorbound will remember the holiday from last year, but for others, it will be brand new. In both Residential Districts, bonfires burn in central locations through the night, frequented by the residents celebrating another summer come to Aefenglom. Curiously, while last year the bonfires seemed quite segregated by human or Monster, this year, there is more of a noticeable mix at each, and Mirrorbound are invited to join the games and festivities quite happily. Characters are invited to try and jump through the bonfire's flames to burn away any poor relationship experiences, be it romantic or platonic, past or present; to aid them in this, those at the Eastern Bonfire will give those participating rune-etched accessories to protect them from the fire. The city has quite a bit to offer for this holiday: shared rose baths at public bathhouses and pleasure establishments that increase feelings of friendliness and talkativeness, poles draped in ribbons meant to be danced around, wrapping a ribbon around the pole to bring good luck for the summer, food stalls whose offerings are meant to be shared, and fortune-telling set up by Divination students of the Coven, who can tell your day is going to go. To see last year's Boaltinn prompts, you can take a glance right here! Much of it, including the bonfires, baths, and entertainments will be similar this year, so feel free to use those in your top levels.

II. An Unusual Arrival (3rd on) A full year from the arrival of the first group of Mirrorbound, the 1st passes quietly, with no one showing up in the mirror-lined halls of the Looking-Glass House. Dates and times are important in most kinds of magic, and this is strange enough that some Witches of the Coven get together on the night of the 3rd to try a probing ritual, attempting to gather some kind of clues that could be useful in prying out the cottage's secrets. Boaltinn is the best time for such things, when the boundaries are thinner, and magic is stronger. Those who are awake that night at 3 am might notice a pulse of harmless silvery light that spreads like ripples on water throughout the whole city, originating at the Looking-Glass House, but nothing further happens, and the Coven receives no answers. Well, nothing happens in the Looking-Glass House. Before long, the reports start coming in: people are emerging from mirrors, regular old mundane mirrors, all over the city. Anything with a particularly reflective surface could be an entry point for someone from another world! Inhabited homes, businesses closed and locked for the night, pools of still water in fountains or the river, these unorthodox Mirrorbound pop up anywhere and everywhere, causing chaos for the City Guard (folks aren't happy to find strangers in their bathrooms at 3 in the morning) and the Coven both. Out of nowhere, a glint of light catches your eye; your heart thunders in your ears as your body moves on its own, your mind consumed with inspecting the source. Your reflection stares back at you, just as curious from the surface - a mirror, a pool of water, your most trusted sword, something fleeting that your mind can barely remember - then ripples at your touch. If you are one of these unfortunate arrivals, it's likely a rude awakening for you, to find yourself somewhere inconvenient, somewhere other than where you've been. It only makes sense to be confused. Hopefully someone finds you and explains to you what's happened to you. Resident Mirrorbound will hear a message from Miss Nessie shortly after it begins, a call to arms: "Dears, I'm quite sorry to disturb you, but it seems your fellows are arriving elsewhere than the Looking-Glass House this month! We're trying to track them all down for the usual welcome, but we could use a hand or several! If you could just bring them by the Coven, the usual spot, that would be lovely." She'll give her usual orientation and pass out Watches, but no doubt the Mirrorbound will be more helpful in this regard, with so many arriving.

III. The Goblin Market (All Month) Life goes on in Aefenglom, despite the addition of so many new residents. With the City Guard decidedly busy dealing with the sudden flood of break-ins (or, more accurately, break-outs?), the vendors of the Goblin Market find opportunity to set up their stalls more openly than they have since the crack-downs some months ago. They pop up all over the city, but clustered more often in the Residential Districts and the Harbor District, where there are even fewer law enforcement agents out and about to run them off. These sellers, while not as devoid of morals as those major players of the Black Market, still have very few compunctions when it comes to lying, cheating, fencing stolen goods, and misrepresenting their wares to unsuspecting buyers. It's also the place to find those things that are- not quite legal, shall we say. They won't say a word if you don't. If confronted, they are quick to pack up their things and slip away, however; they know this city and its hiding places a lot better than you do. With a brand new batch of what the natives assume are Mirrorbound, many undergoing rapid transformations into their Monster forms, many of the wares on display are potions: supposed cure-alls for aches and itches, calming draughts for the full moon restlessness, some even claim their brews can halt changes entirely! Some concoctions are meant to increase a Witch's magical ability, or decrease it, or provide them a finer control. They offer potions that they say will eliminate the need for a Bond, or temporary Bonding potions of their own that they claim are more pure, stronger, than the ones offered by the Coven. Claims are only claims, though. A few remedies for the pain of changing or some regular temporary Bonding potions can be found here and there, but for every potion that works, there are twenty more that have less than pleasant side effects. A brew that will cause everything you touch to turn to solid gold for up to an hour; a potion that will invert your sense of direction - trying to turn right will make you turn left, trying to go forward will cause you to walk backward; a potion that will remove all traction from your feet, causing you to slide around as if cobblestone are the slickest ice. Worse, some shadier vendors sell things more sinister, including a potion that gives you the appearance of being moderately to heavily infected by the Cwyld. Even if you don't drink any, the vendors are not at all careful where they're sloshing those bottles around, trying to show them off, and they all activate on skin contact.

IV. A Wilde Hunt (7th - 22nd) All Mirrorbound, temporary or not, are likely to feel it. Monsters are always affected by the full moons, but this month, it is more. Stronger. Instincts rise to the surface as the Sisters emerge full and visible in the night sky, and for many Mirrorbound, they are undergoing rapid transformations into whatever type of Monster they are meant to be. Curiously, the natives get along like they usually do, noticing nothing out of the norm, other than the increased agitation and restlessness from Mirrorbound Monsters. Monsters' aggression fades when the Sisters start to wane, but as the new moons approach on the 22nd, Mirrorbound Witches will notice their magical reserves overfilling, and will find themselves stricken with the overwhelming urge to use it, until casting spells, pushing one's magical limits, is almost a compulsion. Those who are not in proper Witch-Monster Bonds will feel it even stronger, with no stabilizing magic to consume (for Monsters) or avenues to expend magic (for Witches) other than casting spells. (For those who are interested, the Coven does offer temporary Bonding potions which can be used to help alleviate the effects somewhat.) The Coven Witches notice the signs, and they take decisive action on the morning of the 6th, the day before the full moons. So many Mirrorbound, likely to be so heavily affected by the lunar cycle this month, many of them coming into new features and abilities at a breakneck pace, only spells danger for the city. They barricade off a massive chunk of Wilde outside Aefenglom, largely free of Cwyld and totally bereft of farms, homes, and Wilder outposts. They invite anyone who feels the effects of the moons too strongly to control to come out for a Hunt. The hunting grounds will be open nightly to anyone who needs to work off restless energy or overflowing magic; all participants will be warned that their safety cannot be guaranteed from others, but they won't be able to harm bystanders out here. The woods are thick, with the river cutting through them, and full of wildlife. There is room to run and chase prey, or room to play with your developing magic. Play cat and mouse with your friends or Bondmates, or stalk a stranger. If playing games isn't your thing, there is something else to hunt out here as well. With the deep Wilde entering into Winter, this patch of land so close to the city is much warmer, and fearsome Shades have emerged to search for prey. These were once living beings, Monsters, Witches, or animals, who have been overtaken by Cwyld infection long ago, leaving them dead but for the infection, white-eyed and seeking out sources of magic to consume and infect. Anything could become a Shade, but the most common out right now are the ferocious remains of bears, wolves, and nomadic Arachne and Turnskins. If not killed, these Shades threaten the people of the Outer City, when they inevitably escape the barricade. Careful to limit your contact, though; anyone infected upon their return to the gates will be escorted straight to the infirmary.

Welcome to May's Fourth Wall event, An Inauspicious Arrival! The comms are now open to comments from all registered users and will be until June 1st. Current players, if you don't want fourth wall characters tagging your posts, just say so in your text. Fourth wall characters can use this post for their own network top-levels, or this post for log top levels. This event is game canon; threads from this fourth wall can be used as application samples later and current players may use these threads for AC. As always, be courteous to each other! Let the mod team know if there are any problems and we will handle things.

As always, please direct your questions to this thread!

Comments

[freecshow]

[Gon smiles, plucking the piece of cheese Killua was previously so dumbly glaring at.]

Or maybe that's just another way they're trying to look out for you?

[that time, Gon's teasing, and he pops the cheese into his mouth—and seeming pleased, his posture straightens, eyes and smile brightening.]

—Oh! This is pretty good...

Oh yeah, when's this Hunt thing you were talking about?

[killuwatt]

Oh. It's... uh. Tonight? Someone said after sundown tonight, to be ready for when the moons are fullest tomorrow night. I didn't understand if that means Monsters are affected tonight too or just tomorrow, but we can go check it out.

[ Grudgingly, Killua takes some of the bread and cheese too, even though he likes the grapes better. Gon's right, though he won't admit it. ]

[freecshow]

[Gon gives Killua a sidelong glance as he continues snacking, because he knew it was tonight! but relative to that...

Gon leans forward to pick a couple of grape sprigs before settling back on his heels.]

Right... I guess that's kinda soon, huh? I don't even know what to expect...

[killuwatt]

Only one way to find out!

[ Gon leaned in... so close. Ah. Killua leans back in response almost without meaning to, taking a drink to hide behind. ]

So you wanna go tonight or wait until tomorrow?

[freecshow]

Let's go tonight!

[Gon pops a grape, talking around it a bit as he chews. it's as flavorful as he'd hoped.]

If they're doing it both nights in a row, maybe if it's fun, we can do it again! Or if we learn something we wanna try and find out more about?

Or...if it's really horrible, then we can just stay away from it.

[killuwatt]

Yep. Those are the options, obviously.

[ Killua shrugs. ]

Sounds fine to me. I want to see what it's all about, and maybe there you can talk to more Mirrorbound people in a similar predicament as you.

I'm fine to leave whenever we're done eating. Sun's been down a couple hours so it should be open, right?

[freecshow]

[Gon frowns, hawking his grape stem at Killua's head for his rude response.]

Like I'd know; I'm just following your lead! But I'm okay to go whenever, [Gon adds, scooting to the edge of the bed. incidentally, his knee brushes Killua's, with how he's scooted so close to the bed. Gon pretends not to notice, bending to reach for his boots.]

[killuwatt]

[ Killua definitely notices.

Their legs barely touch, but the skin to skin contact, however brief, sends a tiny jolt tingling all the way through Killua's body. The casual contact is such a surprise, he almost forgets to answer.

Killua stays very still. ]

All right. Then if you've had enough to eat for now, we can just... go. Or whatever. Who knows if it'll even be fun?

Either way, there's lots of the city I still haven't seen. We can look around and compare notes.

[freecshow]

[Gon isn't sure what he feels well in his chest, but it isn't anxiety—something pleasant that makes Gon sit up a little straighter, his smile growing and eyes softening. the hunt sounded fun, but...

exploring the city with Killua was appealing for ways Gon doesn't bother to look at hard enough to quantify off cuff. maybe because it proves there doesn't have to be some hard purpose to them spending time together. there's a healing sense of hope in that sort of sentiment.]

Mm! Actually, that sounds really fun. We can always do the Hunt when it's an actual full moon, instead. Maybe it's better we just relax a little before that, since we have no idea what that's even gonna be like.

[killuwatt]

Hmm. [ Killua seems to consider this. When Gon sits up, it's easier to move his knee away very slightly without seeming like he's doing it on purpose, since he doesn't want to alert Gon to it. Gon probably didn't even notice. This is so stupid.

Focus, Killua.

He shrugs. ]

Yeah, sure. I don't care. If you wanna see how things are tomorrow night, it'll still be there.

You've spent some time exploring around here, right? Where should we start?

[freecshow]

Yeah!

But... Hmmm...

Some of the stuff I thought was pretty cool I'll probably have to show you some other time, cuz they might be closed by now...

[Gon's never thought about it before; something like touring Killua around, or entertaining him... it used to be that Killua seemed to have fun just because he was with Gon, and less because he was specifically being shown anything. the only time Gon can remember it vividly being that way was when Gon took Killua to Whale Island. a stunning tour of mundanity, which Killua really liked...

but it's tricky, cuz he's also easily lead to boredom.

either way, Gon's not particularly anxious about it. he steps into his boots.]

But there's a couple things I can show you.

[killuwatt]

[ Already, Gon has explored enough of this place to want to show him things...? At least, that's how Killua understands it, for better or for worse, and suddenly his heart is beating faster.

He tries to quell the strange feelings welling in his chest. No. This is just reconnaissance. This is a practical step to take to understand their situation. Of course, having a bit of fun while exploring is only natural, but--

There's still too much awkwardness between him and Gon. First, they need to come up with a plan for dealing with this immediate issue-- and of course the looming probability of Gon's transformation. Killua reminds himself not to lose sight of that.

...but perhaps it's okay. It's not as though he's not taking things seriously just because he's curious to see what Gon will show him. ]

Sounds good. [ he concedes, getting up as well and setting aside anything that remains on the plate so he can put his shoes back on too. ]

I'd like to see what you've found out about this world so far from your own exploration.

[ Both to learn about it... and to see what sorts of things have caught Gon's attention specifically. ]

[freecshow]

[Gon happily leads Killua out from his temporary dwellings, and seems to pretty naturally find his way to what he considers more familiar parts. he shows Killua the outside of those shops that are indeed closed, explaining the wares inside, and the people he'd met—and while however innocuous it may seem, Gon's already built up an impressive inventory of these things. and for his simple nature, he's also never one to forget anything, even minute details—for better or for worse. it's come in handy before as much as it's come to Gon's detriment.

there's a tailor, an oddities shop that Gon seems particularly interested in, and some other things... and Gon leads Killua to the harbor, though he's sure he's been before. he explains what he's learned about port fare in this place, and how it differs from how Whale Island deals its tradings...

and, of course, Gon complains through a sigh that everything is closed. it's not that Gon is remiss of his time spent with Killua, of course. Gon blinks, suddenly seeming to remember something as he's chatting with Killua, and lifts a finger to point behind Killua's shoulder. it's bustling, but everything directly outside of that apparent part of town is...starkly empty, like unless you're in it, you're away from it. seems they've wandered somewhere else familiar.]

Ah, that place is open, though.

Not that I think it has anything useful for us right now...

[in the future, maybe some seedy leads or similar could be pursued there...]

[killuwatt]

[ It feels like old times, almost. Enough to make Killua's chest ache, enough to make him never want to stop. He follows Gon as his friend leads him around, earnest and eager as always, explaining what he's learned of the city from the eyes of its residents and the observations he's made that Killua would have glossed over or dismissed as unimportant: the sorts of things that give a place vigor and life, the things that matter to the people who walk its streets. Gon's always been like that. People open up to him.

Killua, as always, gets caught up in him the same way he's been trying to avoid for nearly a year. It's remarkably easy. Deep down, it scares him just a tiny bit.

But that's something to examine later, alone in the dark when Gon's gone back to his own bed.

Now, he follows and listens, making comments and asking questions, watching the sea wide-eyed from the docks and then following Gon back toward the inner city once more. The night here is bustling despite the time, songs spilling out from taverns, drunken sailors giving way to drunken workmen and women and Monsters off their shifts in their own shops and having a drink on the town. The lights are sparkling out here, a shower of stars in different colors and settings, unlike the quieter, darker residential areas from before. ]

Looks like more bars and stuff... [ The sound of music drifts over on the breeze. ]

Or maybe other stuff's going on? Wanna go check it out?

[freecshow]

—Ah, yeah, it's mostly that.

[Gon laughs a little, wondering if he should tell Killua. it's naughty, but it's kind of a fun idea to just keep it to himself, to see how Killua reacts if he realizes. and if he doesn't, who cares? it's just more of an excuse to hang out with Killua...

until he's back to his own bed, alone and in the dark.]

But yeah, let's go! What else do we really have to do, right?

[Gon can't help it; he knows he should better, and maybe have a bit more self control after everything that's happened, but Killua really does want to be around him, right?—so Gon snags the fabric around Killua's wrist, tugging him towards the destination of those rowdy, glimmering lights.]

[killuwatt]

[ ...it really does feel like old times. Killua's eyes widen slightly, fixed on Gon's fingers tugging his sleeve. The faint brush of their skin, for just a moment, sends a slow warmth up Killua's whole arm. This time, he doesn't try to pull away. ]

You're right! We did want to just look around the city.

[ Killua laughs, cheeks warm. ]

So you've been to this area already, Gon?

[freecshow]

Mhm!

[Gon lets go of Killua's sleeve when he remembers to, smiling over his shoulder. and he's arrested briefly with a sort of breathlessness to see Killua's face that way; it's a feeling sort of like relief, but there's something so thrilling, too. it's nourishing, and makes Gon's smile grow. he should probably be watching where he's going, but... here we are...]

That's how I know there's still stuff happening there. Although... I mostly just passed through before.

[Gon can't help the airy, bubbly laugh that leaves him. he wants to say earnestly it'll be way more fun than it was the last time because now he has Killua in tow, but Gon's still feeling a little cautious, for the time being. regardless, he's having a blast.]

[killuwatt]

Huh. Okay, then.

[ Killua quells the small pang of disappointment in his chest when Gon lets go of his arm. It's not like that anymore, he reminds himself sternly. Distance is better. Not that he doesn't want to spend time with Gon, of course-- he wants to, and he's having a nice time (too nice, perhaps, already). But he's tried to learn his own weaknesses by now. It's not fair to either of them if he starts sending Gon the wrong signals just because he's relieved to see him in this strange place.

Thankfully, a distraction comes along soon enough. The further into this well-lit, rowdy area they walk, the more Killua starts to notice a pattern in the establishments. Most of them don't declare it so brazenly: some are 'massage parlors' with 'exotic services' and some are 'spas' but nobody is really hiding the underlying purpose of these places. Killua's gaze lingers on a (closed) shop that he's... pretty sure sells certain items (and potions? apparently??) for, uh, private entertainment. He feels his ears growing warm.

Does Gon have any idea? Awkward. ]

Hey, Gon. Do you even know what kinda 'stuff' is happening here? You idiot...

[freecshow]

Hey! I mean... Kind of. I'm not as naive as I used to be, you know, [Gon says perhaps too simply, smiling placidly as they wander through. well, that was half true; Gon was still plenty naive, but it wasn't like how back when Gon totally didn't get even something as simple as Leorio's teenaged, lecherous male interest in that girl they were contesting against during the Hunter Exam...

a big part of Gon still doesn't really get that stuff. not the way he feels like he should, anyway. but he clearly isn't worried about it. he shrugs simply.] But that kinda stuff doesn't really bug me, anyway!

And anyway, this place is still open! Isn't that what you wanted? Besides, it's not like the whole Entertainment District is like that...

[even unflappable Gon doesn't particularly feel interested in looking too closely. anyway, Gon's intentions are to lead Killua through this place, not to hang out in it. not that he's let on as much, yet.]

To be honest, it's kind of hard to take it seriously enough for me to feel embarrassed. It's kind of silly, don't you think?

[killuwatt]

If this is the only place that's open, that's not the same thing!

[ Killua protests, flabbergasted. His ears are definitely red.

But then Gon continues to explain what his actual intentions were, and Killua almost reaches over to shove him. ]

Eh?! Say something about that before you lead us into... a- a place like this! Stupid!!

[ Are they even allowed to be here?! Ugh... Killua walks faster, as if he knows where they're going. It might be in part to get away more quickly, but also if Gon is behind him, he won't see the blush. He doesn't answer the question of whether or not he thinks it's 'silly' though. ]

Come on, Gon. If you don't care about it, there's no reason to dawdle!

[freecshow]

[Gon laughs at Killua's explosive outburst. most people would probably be put off by it, but Gon's always liked that side of Killua too. no one is as funny as him when they're mad.]

Killua! Where are you going?

[Gon jogs up, holding the straps of his backpack—and he's grinning at Killua, like he's trying to get a peek at his angry face.]

It's a short strip.

[thankfully, Gon does indeed lead Killua out, not seeming to pester him anymore about his volatile proclivities, and they end up on the other side of the main entertainment district. and it's more adult, sure, but not in that way; a lot of places elsewhere are closed, sure, but this is a different nightlife kind of thing.

not that Gon's actually seen it, he's just heard some talk from patrons at the inn where he's been helping out. it's quaint, but done up in dazzling lights, and it's buzzing; the atmosphere is a lot more lively, the air all livened up with active chatter, and the vibe is lot less creepy.

he turns, beaming at Killua, looking excited.]

This place! I heard sometimes there's performers at night in this area! Like dancers and stuff! —Normal ones.

[killuwatt]

[ Killua raises a hand to wave at Gon behind him without slowing down. Thankfully, it seems he's going in the right direction if Gon didn't tell him otherwise, and when he catches up, Killua subtly allows him to lead even though he doesn't actually fall back. He huffs and sticks his hands in his pocket, turning up his nose at Gon's attempt to get a look at his expression. ]

You really are completely clueless sometimes, Gon.

[ He doesn't clarify. Thankfully, it seems Gon was right about this area not lasting too long, at least in the direction they're going. Was it a shortcut of some sort? Gon clearly didn't find it embarrassing. He probably just thought this was the shortest route and didn't consider Killua might be flustered-- which, of course, Killua refuses to tell him in that way.

Eventually, he follows Gon to a stop, looking up at the sign of the restaurant(?) they've stopped in front of. ]

...Dulcet?

[ Sounds like something to do with music.

Killua's head turns back to Gon sharply at that comment though. ]

Normal ones?! Gon!

I swear, if this turns out to be something weird, I'm gonna be so mad at you.

[freecshow]

What?! [Gon shoots back incredulously, then raises his eyebrows.] It's not weird!!

—I mean, I don't think so, anyway... It's not like I've seen it before. But if it is weird, I don't think it's the same kind as the other place! Don't be mad at me!

[Gon's whining like a brat, but it's clearly in humor. he wants to joke and say it's too early for Killua to be getting mad at him, but saves it. because it's not, really. Gon's lucky they're hanging out at all, and he doesn't want to call attention to that and ruin the fun they're (he's) having.]

I know I said I'd take you to places I'd already been, but I thought it'd be a little fun to go someplace new together in this world, too...