LUNAR INTERLUDE 7

[balancemod]

...... NAVIGATION 1. HOME IS WHERE THE BASE IS A. A NOTE FROM LUCRETIA It's been a week or two since you've returned from Thay, and since the Wellspring, the very source of magic itself on Faerun, was destroyed. And a few of you have even climbed back aboard the roster of Reclaimers, returning from wherever it is that you've been. And at some point, however, you'll receive a message from The Director. It comes in the form of a text, a voice message, or in person — if you happen to be out in the Quad while she's sharing it: I don't believe that there's anything I can say to change how you feel right now. I am not sure it's even my place to. What I can say though, is that you — all of us, as a collective — are far more powerful than you seem, or how you might view yourselves. And when the mechanisms of the world crumble, then I've always found that the best practice is to begin looking at mechanisms outside the world. That's how I found all of you, after all. And — I know this is a bit of a wild idea, but hear me out. Some of you who might have found your way in the Restricted Section one way or another may have encountered it. It's a means of transport. The ride we'll use to, eventually, face the Hunger head-on. And its engine doesn't run on traditional fuel, or even magic as Faerun and its people understand it. It uses a sort of energy that can't be torn apart like a wellspring. It's the energy of your bonds with each other. The memories of the people you love, and the ones who mean everything to you. There are all sorts of writings speaking about the power behind a person's connections — this ship's engine takes that idea quite literally. I firmly believe that if we are capable of traveling on board a ship that runs on the energy of our bonds alone, that same energy can be used to restore magic, a very way of life, to Faerun. That's all. Take these few weeks to focus on the people you love — and the people you haven't figured out you love just yet. My door is always open. And Merry Candlenights. B. CANDLENIGHTS With that in mind, you can expect this Candlenights to pass quietly — as quietly as a holiday spent in a base that used to orbit the planet can pass, at least. There are celebrations both on board the Moon Base — Ground Base? — and in New New Aspen, though, if we're going to have an opinion on it, the town that makes ornaments as its most sacred tradition puts on the best version. The citizens of New New Aspen rely a little less on magic than other towns, so while there's an air of unknown and a sense of fear lingering in the breeze, the focus has — for now — shifted to Candlenights. Here are a few holiday things you can do: New New Aspen ○ You may carve an ornament of your own, and place it on the Candlenights Tree in the center of town. This is the most sacred tradition of a town that values this time of year most. ○ You may snuggle one of the many guards of the town. They're cats about the size of small horses. ○ The absolutely giant fir from the Bureau's very first mission, curiously, remains absolutely giant. Feel free to give it a climb — the view's great! Just watch out for any swooping shadow vultures. ○ Chat up a spider! They are large, not hostile and live peacefully alongside the humanoid residents of New New Aspen. Their Matriarch enjoys discussing tea, books and weaving warm blankets. ○ There is Candlenights celebration itself — you would expect the town to go all out on this day, after all. You can immerse yourselves in the festivities with party games, chatting up whoever happens by, and of course, the feast itself: New New Aspenites particularly like frying up shadow vultures and serving hot chocolate, hot apple cider and apple pies during the holiday season. Henrik Hollyweather will also give a lively, slightly cider'd retelling of the story of Santa Claus. ○ THE GIFT EXCHANGE: This is a small, cozy corner of the town square where you can exchange Candlenights gifts with the people who mean most to you. The Base ○ As mentioned earlier, the simulations run on tech, not magic. They are available for any training you'd like to do. ○ Bender's menu hasn't changed, but any magical effects will not work on this log. ○ Without magic to heal anybody who was injured in Thay, Dr. Tank could use some help. He'll pay 50 gold to anyone who can barter webbing off of the New New Aspen spiders, and will teach them how to it into durable bandages ○ If you're the sort who loves giving gifts and has a long list, the town is offering heavy discounts on gifts. That also includes Fantasy Costco. There is, of course, nothing wrong with keeping to the Base this month as well. The month is yours to spend as you see fit.

Comments

QUESTIONS

[balancemod]

With our main source of RNG (Bender) out of commission, we'll be giving the dice a break this Interlude.

However, if there is something your character would like to do (or try to research) that doesn't involve interacting with an NPC, let us know here, and we'll work it out with you.

[ribticklers]

Since Sans told Wash he would before everything went to magic-less hell, Sans will be trying to research the aluminadium chunk Wash gave him. If he can do tests on it with tech alone he will try that (getting readings and stuff), though considering the state of things he's not sure if the aluminadium has any readings right now.

[philoxenia]

I have the most important question.

Do the guardcats purr if you snuggle them and give them treats?

[ribticklers]

Can I give two NPCs Candlenights gifts or can I only do one as per NPC conversation rules? I don't need a reply from them or anything.

[wrightingwrongs]

Phoenix will be collecting scattered books - some of magic - though particularly the divine type, some of divinities to keep him company as Candlenights winds on. He'll be particularly interested in trying to find any long-form books people have written on Istus - her cultures, her symbols, and the kind of people she approaches. If he's going to be a Paladin, he's going to try and learn to do this right.

NPC INTERACTION

[balancemod]

This will work exactly like the last Interlude: You may pick one NPC to interact with, and we will provide a response from them!

This is limited to one response from the mods per character, so consider your ideas/questions carefully.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Church is pretty stunned after Lucretia's message, but once that blows over, he'll go find her. He's...aggressively himself about it, at first.

"We're going to FLY to the all-consuming void on an ENGINE run on THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP like we're in an ANIME?!"

yes that's how he's going to start all this. Allow him to do a little ranting at first about how he's sure maybe in a world with actual genuine magic maybe such a thing might sound something along the lines toward plausible, but really? The power of friendship. Friendship is fucking magic. Fucking for real.

"You could've just gotten a group of elementary school children then! They'd be WAY more powerful if all you needed was the power of love and friendship! Not middle schoolers though; they're...evil."

Eventually this nonsense ranting will make way for something a little more...hesitant? Quieter. No less emphatic but now more to the meat of things.

"Stop me if you've heard this one before. Actually, don't.

I think you've got the wrong person."

Hear him out first! He's sure he's a perfectly capable, adaptive fighter who can get used to magic and do cool shit when given the chance and means to. And don't get him wrong, he's thankful to be alive again. (This might be said with less enthusiasm than perhaps someone who was dead might generally show.) But he's an asshole. He doesn't really do friends. His friends from home? They're also assholes. And idiots. And team-killing shitheads.

(He misses the hell out of them. He won't say it. But maybe there's a certain twinge of actual fondness while he insults them.)

So, sure, he could get bringing in Wash, too, for his genuine soldier skills, but he's not exactly Mr. Rogers, either. Uh, that is to say, someone super happy to have people around, someone preternaturally friendly. With friends. If what she really needed were people to come together and sing Kumbaya, neither one of them were a good choice for that.

"I don't know how much you...know. About...me." The hesitation, the awkward pauses, the stumbling over himself to find the right words all start coming out fully, rubbing the back of his neck. "About--about what I am? My pa--my history?"

Because maybe she doesn't. Maybe if she did, she would've passed him over. Found someone more...better. More together? More whole and capable and less fragmented asshole. (He stutters several times trying to settle on fragmented. Maybe he starts to say shattered, maybe broken, he doesn't really want to say it but...fragmented.) Someone with memories of people they love. Someone with real memories of people they love.

Someone with real people they really love for real reasons.

"I don't think I'm gonna be much use to you."

[aceso]

Christine would like to speak with the Matriarch about bartering for the webbing for Dr. Tank! As a nurse, Christine has to help where she can, and I couldn't resist the prompt!

[philoxenia]

Honestly, this is a pretty simple interaction: Once Mira's done baking a shit ton of cookies, she'll go to Lucretia, and deliver a dozen. They're assorted flavors, because she's not particularly sure what Lucretia would even like. But they're baked well, and with a lot of love--two each of chocolate chip, oatmeal with cherry and dark chocolate, peanut butter, plain ol' sugar, cinnamon spice, and lemon.

And, if Lucretia manages to spot her while she's trying to be sneaky, this is what Mira will say.

"Thank you." She'll pause, then give a sheepish smile. "I know you might get that a lot, but... where I was before, I wasn't happy at all. Especially after--" She pauses again, and she takes a deep breath. "And I'm really sorry for how the last mission turned out, but... I'll do everything I possibly can to help bring magic back."

She fidgets, then takes a deep breath.

"Merry Candlenights. And... again... thank you for everything. For giving me a chance to make my own choices, have my own freedom. It means a lot to me, more than I could ever say."

[doubledsofjustice]

Mia is simply bringing a gift to Zarves for Candlenights. She'll bring her a fold-top tin of assorted teas separated neatly with flavor 'file' cards between them, wrapped with an expert hand. If Zarves isn't too busy, she'd love to spend time with her again- but in one last quick little addition to her gift actually she needs a small favor, and it really is small.

She'll ask if Zarves believes Maya's made an impact on her life, and if she does feel that way, if she'd make a finger-mark on the end of this cream colored scarf in a gold ink Mia's brought with her. Easiest favor ever!

[seasaltkeys]

[A - I'll be there for the highs and lows; Fantasy Costco]

[For the first time in a long time, Roxas has ventured into Fantasy Costco. He doesn't have the Keyblade right now, and while he can maybe get it back, he's going to need something in the meantime. The shield is still too new, and while he's not about to throw it away, he's falling back on his strengths. Dual wielding's always worked for him anyway.

Time for a new sword.

Checking to see if anyone's around, he selects one, giving it a few practice swings.]

Still feels weird though.

[ B - Give you Mine when your heart gets broke; New New Aspen]

[Eventually Roxas makes his way to the gift exchange in New New Aspen. He's been working hard, as his hands might show, carving ornaments for his friends. Most of them are in the shape of keys but he's tried to do some variations.

Still, he's never really done a gift exchange before so he might be standing there awkwardly for a bit before he find a place to sit.]

[ C - Take My hand and I'll Pick You Up; Quad]

[It's weird, having the moon base on the ground, as opposed to floating. Roxas misses being able to sit and watch the sunset from the edge. He's settled for lying in the quad, looking up at the sky, which is still a weird feeling but then, it's not like he has much of a choice.

Instead, he's trying to meditate on the Director's note. On Bonds. It's a weird thing to think about. Back home, his only real bond was with Axel, and he's not even sure what kind of shape that one's in. And were the ones with Hayner, Pence, and Olette in the digital Twilight Town even real? Well, the one with Hayner seems to be at least. But he has so many more here. He can only wonder, is this what Sora feels like?]

My friends are my power...is that what the Director meant?

B

[mccreehaw]

[ McCree recognizes that awkward look on Roxas's face as he comes to sit down, and decides to get right to the point. ]

What's on your mind, kid?

christine | ota, will match brackets or prose

[aceso]

{ new new aspen }
— the tree —

[ Christine walks slowly around the Candlenights tree, searching for the ornament she made in the aftermath of Wonderland when the pain of her failure was still fresh. It still hurts to think about, but not as badly as it did. When she spies the red heart she made, she notices that it's sitting slightly askew and — being the perfectionist she is — she just has to fix it.

Only it's sitting a little high and just out of reach. So she goes up on tiptoe to try and nudge the wooden heart to sit straight and not be crooked. At one point she wavers and starts to lose her balance. Someone please save her before she gets a face full of tree sap. ]

— candlenights celebration —

[ With a mug of hot chocolate in her cold hands, Christine listens to Henrik tell the story of Santa Claus, her expression turning more dubious as the tale goes on. Once he finishes, she turns to the person beside her to say, ]

Well, that's pretty different to the Santa Claus I remember.

— gift exchange —

[ Christine hasn't been here very long, and it might seem strange that she's stopping your character to place a wrapped gift in their hands, but she smiles with cheeks made rosy from the chill and says: "For the help you've given me," or "For the times we've shared so far," or the like. Chances are if you two have talked and gotten along or worked together on a mission, she's gotten you a little something in thanks. ]

{ the base }
— combat training —

[ She may have faced off against skeletons, but it's become clear to Christine that she needs a solid foundation on using weapons of all kinds as opposed to just the dagger assigned to her. When you're reduced to wielding an abandoned shovel, it's time to learn some proper techniques, isn't it? Wearing gym attire and with her hair back in a tight bun, she stands ready. Are you training her? Facing off against her as her partner? Just here to watch? Now's the time. ]

— gift shopping —

[ Stopping in the town to look for gifts, Christine is happy to join others doing the same to discuss what they're getting for people and to talk discounts. Who doesn't love a sale? But maybe Christine has gone a bit overboard. Shopping for others can give such a high, and Christine must be on cloud nine from all the bags she's carrying. Naturally one or two might slip out of her grasp along the way. Maybe your character stops to lend a helping hand? ]

— wildcard —

[ Have an idea not covered above? Throw a starter my way or hit me up at fairandbright or on discord (megan#2520) to toss around ideas! ]

the tree

[spacerock]

[Rose has been watching ornaments get added to the tree with increasing delight each time a new one is added. She's seen similar traditions on Earth, but this is so much fun! When she notices Christine starting to tip over, Rose grabs her shoulder and pulls her back. Luckily, even without magic, she's still eight feet tall and plenty strong enough to manage something like that.]

Oh, be careful! I don't think you're small enough to be a tree ornament!

mccree | ota, will match brackets or prose

[mccreehaw]

{ new new aspen }
— giant fir —

[ If you go climbing up the giant tree, you may just stumble across a cowboy seated on a branch. He looks down at the town below with a leg drawn up and his arm stretched out across it. In his hand he holds a toothpick and he crosses it back and forth across his fingers as he contemplates. He'd prefer a cigar, but even he knows not to smoke in a tree. It'd freak everyone out to see smoke billowing out from the branches. ]

— candlenights celebration —

[ McCree allows himself to be dragged around by children who want to play party games and he even lets them win. Heck, as long as there's good food, he's satisfied. Well, maybe not entirely. He tugs on his guitar strap to pull the instrument from his back to his front, and starts to play holiday tunes that may be familiar to some. Sometimes he adds his voice when he better remembers the song; sometimes he lets the music speak for itself. But if anyone stops by and wants to sing along, he gives an encouraging nod. Let's entertain the people of New New Aspen, shall we? ]

— wildcard —

[ Have an idea not covered above? Throw a starter my way or hit me up at fairandbright or on discord (megan#2520) to toss around ideas! ]

candlenights celebration

[philoxenia]

[ She's seen him around, with the kids... and it's really heartwarming, honestly. Mira has never spoken to the man, but when there's music involved, she has a hard time helping herself. Especially holiday music.

There are a couple of kids hanging around, listening to the music--so of course she starts in, and nods encouragingly to the kids. ]

You can join in with us, too, it'll be fun.

Aziraphale | OTA

[eastofeden]

a. rancho appreciation society

[ Tea? Books? Warm, comfortable blankets? Why hasn't Aziraphale met these people before?

He doesn't bat an eye at the eight legs or creepy, hairy bodies. Like a much braver and more openminded Miss Muffet, he's sitting next to one of the spiders, deep in conversation as he clutches a cup of tea. Come closer and you may overhear the subject of their conversation - milk to sugar ratio? Elizabethan literature? The intricacies of weaving with spiderweb? - before he spots you and brightens, waving you over. ]

Oh, hello, my dear! You simply must meet my new friend!

b. rise of the star king

[ As always, he can chiefly be found where the food is, though he'll also be trying out (with enthusiasm, if not skill) the games, as well as cheerfully greeting anyone he knows or thinks he might recognize from the moon base. Feel free to meet him throughout the party, though you may overhear him murmuring to himself, a vaguely worried frown on his face, as he listens to the Mayor's Santa story. ]

That doesn't sound like Nicholas at all...

c. all i want for candlenights

[ Aziraphale's always appreciated the finer things in life, but that also means he truly understands how lovely a nice, thoughtful gift can be. He'd gone a bit overboard at Fantasy Costco, breezily charging anything he didn't have the gold for to Crowley's account (surely Crowley has the cash, and won't mind the bill at all). As a result, he has presents - personalized whenever possible - for all of his friends, his acquaintances, and just about anyone he's spoken to or thinks he might remember the name of. Which means you. He brightens upon seeing someone approaching, waving a hand to attract attention. ]

Oh! Hello! Merry Chri-ah, happy Candlenights!

d. wildcard

B

[usamin17]

[Nana is enchanted by the mayor's narrative, so much so that she has listened to it multiple times. She does stop listening, however, when she notices Aziraphale's displeasure during the retelling. She turns to him and whispers:]

What's wrong? Do you not like this story?

[conciliant]

c[A]rving ornaments

[2B can be found at one of the ornament carving stations, her sword set aside (almost as if she tried to use it at some point for this very detailed task), and a small knife in her hand. She's hunched over her little wooden ball, pressing the tip of the blade into it as hard as she can to transfer the image she has in her mind onto the ornament.

And when she's done, she lifts it to show off her work to whoever is seated at the table next to her, with a sense of pride swelling in her chest. But there is something a little uncertain about the way her lips turn from a very subtle but pleased smile to a crooked one.]

What do you think?



[It's not quite the same, but it's pretty close...]

how lovely are thy [B]ranches

[2B remembers hearing about this tradition on one of her first days in this world. From Roxas' explanation and her own deductions, she's come to the conclusions that this must be something that humans celebrate once a year, and that it's a time to share things with others. She's heard of the gift exchanges and has even left tubes of toothpaste outside of the rooms of those she's become friends with here, but there's something very special about the Candlenights tree and the ornaments that adorn it.

Many of them are carved, just like hers, by fellow Reclaimers. She can only assume that the carvings on them represent something meaningful and unique to each of their owners, and she can't help the smile that crosses her face as she searches for a branch to hang her own on.]

The tree is beautiful.

[She says her thought out loud, but so quietly that it could almost be accidental. It's intended, however, because 2B thinks this is an observation and a fact that should be known to all.]

[C]hestnuts roasting on an open fire

[With the very recent decline in magic, 2B knows that this isn't an easy time for some, celebrations or none. She doesn't quite know the feeling, but she attributes it to her not being able to wield her sword, and losing the one thing that she relies so heavily on would take its toll on her after a while. Losing one thing she did rely on for so long already has, and so it's hard to imagine what losing another would be like.

Which is why she's been doing her best to help when she can since they arrived back on the Moonbase. She can't offer much in the way of advice, and she's aware that she's not exactly the best person to vent to about one's problems, but she's trying in her own way...

Whenever she finds someone alone, she sneaks in with a steaming cup of hot chocolate and sets it down near them.]

Are you alright?

[Her question is always cautious, and she won't sit until instructed to.

Also, maybe don't drink the hot chocolate. She probably either put too much or too little chocolate, and then loaded it with marshmallows to the point where you can't even see the drink anymore...]

wil[D]card

[Have something else in mind? Feel free to leave it here, or contact me via PM or over at sheilubby if you'd like to hash something out!]

[A]

[myliteratureclub]

[ Monika can't help but grin back at her. It feels like the first time she's smiled in a few days actually, but 2B's cuteness is so infectious. ]

It's wonderful! You did an amazing job!

Monika | Doki Doki Literature Club | OTA

[myliteratureclub]

Gift Exchange

[ Things have been rough. For a lot of reasons honestly. On the one hand, magic is gone and it’s kinda the Bureau’s fault. On the other hand, Monika finally told her friends the truth about everything, and that went about as well as expected. Which was still horrible of course.

So please forgive her if she’s not really in the holiday mood. She barely understands what’s going on anyway. She has vague ideas of what this is supposed to be about, but Monika genuinely doesn’t know what to do with herself.

Instead of participating, the girl watches quietly with folded hands in her lap. If someone approaches, she’ll try to wave them off without really looking at them. ]

I-I didn’t bring anything sorry...

Ornament

[ Monika will warm up a little more as the festivities go on. The cheery mood is pretty infectious after all. Eventually she gets talked into making an ornament. But…

She has no idea what to put on it. For one thing she’s really not an artist, but also she really doesn’t have any ideas. The girl idly taps the ornament gently with the tool she was given while she thinks. Peeking over, she hits up whoever is sitting nearby for some inspiration. ]

Soooo, what’re you working on, hmm?

Training

[ Magic’s gone… but weapons aren’t. Monika’s magic wasn’t really for combat anyway, but it’s better to start preparing for the next mission now, right? She can be found in the simulation room with her glaive, training against fake enemies. It’s actually a really good way to get her frustrations too!

Between rounds, she’ll be sure to take small breaks and hydrate. When she hears someone else come in, she’ll actually meet them in the eyes this time. ]

Hey! You here to train too? You can join me if you want!

Wildcard

((Hit me up!))

gift exchange :]

[philoxenia]

[ Mira doesn't need her long-gone empathy, or the equally absent Oath, to know that something is wrong. It's... it's strange, honestly. To be so attuned to someone who's not her brother, or-- No, she's not gonna think about that person. Rather, she decides to focus on Monika, who's become so important to her in such a short time.

(It's surprising... but also warm.)

She has a small package in her hands, and Monika is the first she seeks out. ]

It's okay. I don't mind--I like giving gifts, so... here.

[ She sits next to her, and holds the gift out. It's soft, kind of squishy inside. ]

[motherfucking_ghost]

i
[Church will be in and around New New Aspen for a bit doing various things. Ornaments? Sure, he'll...give it a try. Like carving pumpkins, he's not great at it by any means, and really, the only thing that comes immediately to mind is...well, a helmet which probably is only recognizable if you look at it and him head on.

Or, the cats? The cats. Yes, he's a robot, but he will still absolutely cuddly a giant cat. Holy shit. This is the best place ever. Giant cats. So soft and warm!

He may also try to climb the Giant Fuckoff Candle Tree. It's...it's so big. And he knows this is dumb, but if you get up high enough, it's really actually pretty peaceful and quiet and nice. And snowy. But it's not bad snowy. Not snowy like Sidewinder snowy. So long as the branches don't break under him or the shadow vultures don't chase him off, he might be up there for a bit.]

ii
[As far as the celebration goes, he doesn't have any gifts, not really, but he's helping with food.

Well, he's "helping".

He'll definitely help put food out and serve it! What's he gonna do, eat it? But he also wants to help cook food. Or...rather, not do the cooking, but tell people what to cook. Were you interested in helping him out with Hanukkah food? He'll try to explain them. None of them are hard, but it's not like he cooks, so sometimes it's a little vague. A couple of the cooks might shoo him off but he remains undeterred.

Don't worry if some candles and/or candle holders go missing. He'll just, y'know, have a little Candlenights candle corner, nine in all.]

iii
[In the base, he's doing training. Actual, honest to god training. If you're practicing bows with him, then marvel at the fact that he hits an excruciatingly small percentage of targets, and the ones he does hit seem to have improbable/ricocheting trajectories. For the most part, he misses. For seemingly no reason. Inexplicably. If it wasn't for there being no magic, it would seem like a curse.

Swords, on the other hand, go better. What's so hard about swish swish stab? He's already naturally armored, and he's got the strength to heft a sword around, it's just...learning the basics and trying not to swing absolutely willy and nilly.]

i

[philoxenia]

[ The first time she sees him, he's... he's trying to climb the tree. It's hard to mistake him for literally anyone else, and she hopes he doesn't see her before she runs off to her room to grab something for him. And, really, it's not too long before she returns, and if he's still climbing...

She'll wait until he's at a stable place before she calls up, ]

Having fun, Church?

natsuki | mostly ota

[parfaitgirl]

everyone loves a baked good;

[ Natsuki's been hard at work baking her little butt off the week leading up to Candlenights. She's a little shocked herself at how many people she knows these days, how many people she actually wants to get a gift for.

Kinda weird.

Anyways, if you can't find her elsewhere, she can pretty easily be found baking her heart out in the kitchen, apron covered in flour and little smears of frosting. She's got an intense look of concentration on her face, and regardless of whether or not she knows you, if you wander into the kitchen, she might shove a piece of some sort of baked sweet or a spoonful of dough or frosting in your face for you to taste test. ]

Try this.

[ If you're a friend of hers, you can also expect her to come find you and present you with some sort of fresh baked good at some point during that week. She'll approach a little shyly, thrusting a box out towards you. ]

Just ... take it, okay?

[ Feel free to thread out receiving the gift, or if you'd rather handwave the giving part, just comment asking for what Natsuki gave your character! ]

tidying up;

[ She spends some time in the library, as well. She'd been busy training and getting used to finding her way around and hadn't made time to do it before, but the comics section desperately needs some dusting off. So she can be found in the small corner of the library that houses the comics selection, removing sections of books at a time to dust and wipe off the shelves.

... You might also occasionally hear the sound of a tiny sneeze from that corner, too. What? It's dusty! ]

gettin' swole;

[ If she's going to get better at protecting her friends, she needs to get more practice. The people who'd encouraged her after writing her poem had a point: she was still pretty new to this. It was to be expected that she might not be as good at it as others.

That and, without magic, she needed to be fast enough to dodge and not need intensive healing. The idea of being laid up in bed for weeks or even months with a serious injury ... well, it didn't sound so appealing.

So, Natsuki can also be found using the simulations to practice her fighting skills. She looks like she's been at it for awhile, judging by the sweat dripping down her brow ... ]

wildcard;

[Want something else from Natsuki? Let me know! crepusculae or dusking#1264 on Discord! ]

everyone loves a baked good

[philoxenia]

[ Mira's been hanging out here a lot on account of... well. She's been baking like crazy. Usually she does it at a time when she's alone, but today, Natsuki's here. She fidgets a little before she's about to say something when-- ]

Oh-- Yes, of course.

[ She tries a bit of the frosting, and then nods. ]

It's delicious.

[philoxenia]

the cookiepocalypse
[ Holidays... mean cookies. And Mira has thrown herself into the cookie-making like an absolute madwoman. Several days throughout the lead-up to the holiday itself, she's in the kitchen every morning. She has a lot of cookies to make, after all.

She's concentrating pretty hard on making them perfect, but she definitely won't say no to any company. ]

gifts
[ She, also, has a lot of gifts. Admittedly... she did go a little overboard, but after helping with the webbing and having accrued a bit of gold from past shenanigans (like, using Quick Employment), she has money to spare. And, boy, does she spend it.

Sometimes she'll be in the square itself... but otherwise, she'll seek out those on her list. ]

I know it's not much, but... here, [ she says, as she holds out whatever packages she's got for someone. ]

training montage
[ But, of course, she's not going to let herself grow complacent. Mira is hard at work as always in the simulations. She's trying to get used to using a sword, since a dagger requires more close quarters, but it's different and she's struggling a little. Boy, does she try though.

Catch her there later in the evening; if she notices someone's there, she'll turn to them, breathing a little hard. ]

Did you want a go?

wildcard
[ place a starter or hit me up at sweetstacks for something else! ]

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[philoxenia]

for additional prompts!

Nana Abe | iM@S Cinderella Girls | OTA

[usamin17]

A. Cuddle Power MAX

[Nana can be found burying her hands and face in the giant cats’ bodies. She is doing this to the cats that are on patrol, as well as to ones that are changing shifts. Whenever one walks away, she falls to her knees and it looks as if her world is ending.]

Ah! Wait! Come back! Nana wants to cuddle more! Somebody stop that cat!


B. Heart-Pounding Show-Stopping Gift Shopping

[Nana is wandering the floors of Fantasy Costco. It would seem she’s looking to spread some joy and cheer, as she is wont to do, but not particularly. She’s attempting to help Dr. Tank, and in turn, the wounded. Also herself by making some quick cash.
Not being the expert on arachnid interests, she approaches you for assistance.]

Umm, excuse me. You wouldn’t happen to know what kind of gift a spider would like, would you?


C. Usamin☆Syncope

[A lovely tea party has been set up by the spiders. Nana is attending, with her haul from the previously mentioned Fantasy Costco trip. She seems to be enjoying herself! No wait, she definitely fainted from fright. Help?]


D. Wildcard Binches

B

[royalresearch]

A spider?

[Like the spiders working alongside the humans here? Zelda tilted her head curiously, a finger tapping her chin in thought.]

They do not seem like the conventional sort of spider from my home, so I do not believe a simple thing like a fly would suffice. Maybe they would like some yarn? It must be tiring making silk all of the time for what they do.

Erika | OTA

[bu773rfly]

[Erika returned to the ex-moon in the form of a single large caterpillar, stripped of magic and barely hanging on.

In the form of a human-like thing, animated for now by the Director, she's not like a caterpillar anymore, or like any number of butterflies. She acts more like a ghost. If she's not in the room she and Shinjiro share, she's in the dojo, toying with the simulations, having set up pillows and blankets for camping out there and filled her corner with books and dishes and all the other detritus of daily existence. A home away from home. She types and types and stays quiet and looks half-exhausted, nearly ignoring the reclaimers who come to keep themselves in shape, rousing herself to nod or wave at them with visible effort, through visible discomfort.

Bonds, the director had said. Memories. People lost. People found.

There's a lot that's been lost, and a lot left to lose.]


[[ooc: hmu on discord or plurk for custom prompts.]]

[gotyourbach]

[Kaede can't pretend to know what everyone is going through. To her, the loss of magic had been a setback, an inconvenience -- all the candles she and Minato had used to light their dorm room that they'd been able to just wave their hands and use Prestidigitation on are suddenly a huge pain -- but to others...?

Well before Candlenights itself, Kaede had all but commandeered a section of the dojo to practice her runeless fencing. She gives Erika two whole days to herself before finally poking her head into the blankets, dressed not for training, but more casually. This isn't an attempt to get her to swordfight with her. This is just to check on her, to spend time with her friend, to reassure her however she can that although things are horribly different, not everything has to change.]

Erika-san... how are you feeling?

Phoenix / OTA

[wrightingwrongs]

a. the steel samurai - moon base, throughout the month

[Phoenix has been perhaps a bit more of a recluse than usual since the weeks passed by of their mission in Thay... with not undue reason. But there are places you can find him as the festivies wind their way around the base.

- In the dojo, it's hard not to hear the rather loud voice of Phoenix shouting TAKE THAT!, even muffled, as he practices - both with spear and sword, as he tries to make up for lost time and establish some fundamentals for himself.

- In Bender's cafe, late at night, sipping on either a mug of hot cocoa or coffee, depending. He's surrounding himself with as much and as many books as he can get his hands on. Some are about magic. Some are about divinity - with a focus on what he could find about Istus, of course. In having adopted some bad habits from a certain mentor of his, he'll be here in the wee hours of the morning - and where others comforted him when the wound was still fresh - if he sees someone in here late at night, worried, he'll do his best to help them with a kind word of his own.]


b. 'almost christmas' - new new aspen, the 24th

[Phoenix can be found around the tree in near what would traditionally be called the end of Candlenights. He's been considerably scarce as everyone rests and recuperates - but he's out by the tree during the night, and a smile creeps up on his face as he sets out an ornament on it - last minute, as Phoenix Wright is wont to do. A small set of scales delicately assembled. It's not very neat and tidy, but, well. No sense not getting into the Christmas - er, Candlenights spirit. When he stands there, he'll offer a small prayer - which might be a bit uncharacteristic for him, usually, but given what happened in Thay, well. It seems divinities are paying attention. When he inevitably gets up from his prayer, he just stands at the tree.]

Heh... 'almost Candlenights' doesn't quite have the same ring to it...

c. turnabout memories - moon base, after candlenights

[With Candlenights in the distance and presents exchanged, Phoenix has taken a spot in the base to work on his new personal project. Gifted a brand new shield from Wash and a sketchbook from Sayori, he has acquired what looks like a paint set from Fantasy Costco and is going to work on the shield. It's not complete - yet - but there's a form that's starting to take shape. Painted ridges around the edges and a golden color might make it clear to a few what he's painting - or rather, what the inspiration is. As he holds up a small badge to the light occasionally and looks at it.

If you peek at the open sketchbook, you can see what the final design is supposed to be - a pair of scales in the center, except instead of being held up by a brass fulcrum, the scales are positioned around a spool of thread that spins out to either side, creating both the fulcrum and the threads by which the scales are held. He's deep in concentration if you approach him, and might require someone jostling him to shake him out of what's clearly a passion project.]

d. wildcard

[For everything not covered here!]

C

[eudaimonikos]

[Luckily, Michael is not shy!]

Oh! Hey, you got one of these too?

[He is also carrying a brand new shield, as it happens! It's undecorated - frankly, painting it hadn't occurred to him at all - and the only reason he's got it on him was because he was on his way to the training grounds to meet with Eleanor. But he can take a minute!]

[doubledsofjustice]

ANYWHERE - Making a Gift for Maya

[It's fun being alive again and getting to participate in a new holiday with everyone, but there's also some holiday cheer Mia needs to make up for. While she's been running around trying to play Santa amongst finding time to train and research, Mia's been making it her mission to get something done for Maya that might... make a difference. It doesn't have to be magical to carry weight.

So Mia's been carrying the cream-colored scarf and pot of gold ink around with her everywhere, stopping people she knows know Maya as she passes them.]

Listen, I have a favor to ask.

[She'll ask after stopping your character, or perhaps mid-conversation as they've been catching up, even, cutting straight to the chase.]

It's about Maya. You'd say she's left a bit of a mark on you-- wouldn't you?

[And with that question she'll give a rather knowing-looking smile.

So! If you wanted to actually thread Mia getting your character to make a gold-colored thumb-print on a cream colored scarf and signing their name on a list for Maya, then you can! But you don't have to if you'd just like to handwave it. All is good.]

CANDLENIGHTS CELEBRATION

[Listen, every party here has been way better than any of the mixers she's been to. Besides, Mia's relishing any moment of peace they can get for now. She might look actually tired for once, having put in quite a bit of work to making her's and Will's gifts to Maya work out perfectly, and she is late to the celebration, but all the same she's there and smiling.]

So, having a good time?

[She may ask, sending a grin your character's way. Or maybe encounter her however you'd like to, I don't make the rules.]


WILDCARD

[Come at me however yall]

gift

[eudaimonikos]

[At the question, Michael narrows his eyes. If the suspicious smile is meant to communicate her intentions to him, it is not working.]

Weird way to say that, but sure?

[menarefrom]

Candlenights

[Spike's preferred holiday is Halloween, but there's something alive about New New Aspen, and even he has to thank the season for.... being. Out among the streetlights with the chattering crowds, it's just like back on Mars and Earth, where Spike could be safely alone in the mass of lively spirits. He's not too cold with his chin tucked in a scarf from Sayori and hands stuffed in the pockets of the jacket Mira gave him. Though he sticks to the outside of the circles of partygoers, if his eye is caught he might raise his hand and wave and even wearily smile past a half-smoked cigarette, a smile that he'll maintain if approached.

His low, lazy tone doesn't exactly make it sound like he wants to be talked to, but he isn't rejecting anyone.]

This city sure knows how to throw a party, doesn't it?


this shit be hittin' different - quad cw: altered states

[So anyway, there was weed on the moon base, right? We've established this. And through some noodly chain of events, Spike has managed to get his hands on some of it. We'll figure out the details later. Point is, Spike can be caught at some points out on the quad smoking something that looks like a cigarette, sure, but doesn't smell like one. he's outside, though! And fairly far away from anyone else who might be doing anything out there! He doesn't look any more out of it than he usually does, though.

...but still. Inquiring minds might get a joint passed to them. It's the moon weed prompt. Do what you will.]

Candlenights

[royalresearch]

[Seeing as it's her first time at this kind of holiday, Zelda is more than happy to talk to anyone who speaks to her first. The cigarette is a little strange...]

They do. Though I am still not entirely sure what this Candlenights is supposed to be about. Is it a holiday you celebrate in your home?

Michael | OTA

[eudaimonikos]

a. holiday shopping (new new aspen)

i. knives out

[It's Candlenights! And Christmas! And Hannukkah?

Michael isn't particularly attached to any human holidays, and has never really celebrated any in the past. Sure, he and Janet put up Christmas and Hannukkah decorations in their room on Earth, but that was only for fun - they didn't have the free time to spend on human rituals! Now, though, he's got all the time in the world! And some spending money!

Gifts are fun, he thinks. He's rarely given any, and even more rarely received them, but he's enjoyed what little experience he has. Surely this is the most important of the holiday activities?

So today is a shopping day! He is, currently, in front of a weapons store, comparing knives.]

You think they offer a bulk discount on these, somewhere? Like a Knife Costco?

ii. coming home

[After collecting all his gifts, or at least all the gifts he could think of today, Michael is returning to the moon base! Or, at least, he's attempting to do this. His arms are overloaded with bags and packages, and it seems like he's having a bit of an awkward time climbing back up into the grounded base.]

Sorry, I went a little overboard today - oh, could you grab those for me?

[Several knives have clattered to the ground.]

b. home for the holidays (moon base)

i. candlenights day

[Once the holiday itself comes (and frankly, Michael's pretty vague on which holiday it is exactly), Michael is not quite certain what he's supposed to do with it! He spends some time in the kitchens, trying to make holiday food. Unfortunately, the food he knows how to cook is mostly just chocolate chip cookies.

Later on, he'll be hanging around in the quad, furiously scribbling in a notebook.]

Hey, did anybody else buy the Voidfish anything? What are we allowed to feed it?

ii. michael universe future~

[On the 26th, Michael can be found out in the dojo, experimenting with one of his gifts. He's gone through most of the weapons provided there in the past. He knows how to use all of them - he knows how to use pretty much anything with a sharp edge - but fighting with them has never really clicked. Somehow, though, shields never even occurred to him as a weapon until Eleanor gave him one.

Right now, he's bashing a few simulated foes. It's obvious that his fighting style has suffered for the loss of magic; he's used to teleporting around and using a lot of dirty tricks. At least the shield helps protect him from some of his missteps.]

c. wildcard

[ hit me up! ]

here we are in the future

[katopissed]

[ piper watches for a bit. ]

Do you want someone to spar with?