seasonsgreetings | Test Drive Meme #5

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Test Drive Meme #5

Test Drive Meme #5
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Arrival

Part 1

You arrive in an unknown space, dressed in white clothes (player choice what kind of clothes, as long as they cover everything). Whatever was happening to you before no longer happens. It's like everything was put on a pause and you were transferred away from the situation without you realizing it happened.

The space that you find yourself in is one of these four options:

An empty landscape filled with snow and ice, almost like a blank canvas.
A field with cherry blossom trees and spring flowers.
A sunny beach near an ocean that seems never ending.
A quiet forest with falling autumn leaves.

All of the spaces seem to continue endlessly. No matter where or how far you walk it almost seems like you're not moving at all. There are no animals here - just those who happened to wake up there at the same time, in the same place. Everyone is wearing the same kind of plain, white clothes.

Despite the possible rollercoaster of emotions you might be feeling, the place somehow feels familiar. Like somehow you belong there.

And it looks like you're not alone.

Part 2

After half an hour has passed the surroundings change as everyone is teleported into a room with all the other new arrivals, no matter what space they woke up in. It's a large place with plenty of seats to sit in and beverages to enjoy. Medical attention is offered to those who need it and the doctors here are very prepared for any challenging situations.

Here, in this room, everyone gets an answer to where they are and why. A hologram of a man appears at the center of the room, waiting to be heard. He brings a message on behalf of the leaders of Ellipsa.

The Message [ Click to Expand ]

Hello, my name is Olwen. I'm one of the leaders of Ellipsa as it currently is. I'm also one of the four who summoned you here.

Our world is in trouble and we need your help. I apologize for tearing you away from your world and forcing you to come here but I hope you understand. The magic we used doesn't let us ask in advance, nor does it let us choose who we bring here.

This world is composed of four Seasonal Segments. All of them represent one of the seasons. They were the places we used to get our resources from, but now they're dangerous places no one should go into unless they have the power to fight back. All of them have their own sets of powerful monsters and natural catastrophes.

We used to have plenty of people here who could control the powers of the four Seasons. We called them Seasonal Power Holders. Unfortunately, due to a tragedy you can read about later, we lost almost all of them. Now only four of us remain and the world is in chaos. We have done our best to protect the world, but we need more power holders to do that.

That's where you come in.

All of you have been assigned to one of the seasons. Whatever space you were in just now is what season you represent. You will learn different skills based on the season and those skills are going to help you save this world.

These powers don't interfere with your own natural powers. They use a new energy that has formed inside of you. It's harmless to your health, but it's vital to your seasonal powers. Your own powers should still work, even if the dark energy outside the city might interfere with them.

Unfortunately bringing you here wasn't as simple as it sounds. We couldn't do anything about how to keep you anchored to this world other than making a simple spell that helps with it. That is, you need to touch someone else who is not from this world ideally at least once a day. It will help you stay in control of your powers and boost your magical energy. If you don't, the consequences aren't very good. But as long as you hold someone's hand or give someone a handshake, you should be fine.

That's all I have to say about the situation. The staff of the Research Center will give you more information about housing and other necessary things. I will, however, promise that you will be sent home once the situation becomes better. That's the least we can do.

The hologram can be viewed in private in a separate room later, should someone wish to look at it again. For now, the staff of the Research Center hands everyone their new smartphones with their small flower lucky charms (the flower is anything the player decides). They're also told that the building next door is where everyone can find a room assigned to them with some of their belongings there and possibly even any animal companions. Those concerned about their mount-sizes companions are welcomed to the stables downstairs to see if their friends are there. The mounts are allowed to stay there until you find a place more suitable for them.

In the Arrival's hall there are also several stands with information pamphlets.

First type of stand is for the local Guilds and about the benefits or joining one.

Second type of stands is for the Welcome Center that aim to show otherworlders what the world is like and help guide people in the beginning of the journey and helps in getting settled into the new world. They even have people to help if you're unfamiliar with the new phones.

Third type of the stands is for The In Touch Support Group that is led by the Otherwordly Ambassador, Kamisato Ayato. The pamphlets have contact information for businesses looking to help Otherworlders. They also focus more on the lore of the World and what they have discovered so far, as well as a guide on what to think about when preparing to venture out to the Segments.

Once you get your smartphone and necessary information, you're urged to go out and find your apartment. After that whatever you want to do is up to you.

Part 3

The building next door is where everyone can find their new apartments. As you enter, you're told by a friendly native that for the first two months you can live anywhere rent-free and five meals a day are paid for you. After that they get a monthly payment that helps with some of their living expenses, but otherwise they have to have a job to support themselves.

All of the apartments are comfortable, two bedroom apartments with all necessary utilities. They are also completely soundproof. Sometimes the magic system, however, does glitch and you might find yourself rooming with a stranger. This is not the intention and the staff will immediately prepare you your own room if you ask them. But maybe having a roommate isn't all that bad?

Light a Candle For You

Part 1

All throughout the city, a festival is taking place. It's the festival to honor the dead. The areas are decorated with aesthetically appropriate lights and different flowers. Upon a closer look it becomes clear that all the flowers are bundles of flowers, based on the otherworlders' flower charms. Where a characters' flower is depends on their Season, but all of the appear in the Nightwake Center district.

The main part of the festivities is to light candles in various places. There are even floating lanterns, that can be either launched to the skies or put on surfaces of water. Those who have lost (= to death) someone at any point in their life will receive a message from them in their dreams and otherwise pleasant dreams about them if they light up a candle during the festivities.

Those who have died before (back in their world or on Ellipsa) will receive a protective light around them if they light up a candle. This light will also let the natives know to treat them with kindness and respect during the festivities. They will even receive special bonuses at some of the shops and restaurants, like discounts or extra items. The light itself will decrease any damage done to them for the rest of the month. The light will dim "when needed", but even as it's not easily noticeable, it will continue to protect.

Characters may receive both of these effects.

Part 2

The second part of the festivities involves making small ghosts made out of paper or cloth. These crafts are for the local ghosts to possess so they can be seen by everyone. Once the ghosts have possessed the crafts they will hover around the place, experiencing the festivities better than in their ethereal form. Only ghosts that wish to move on to the afterlife will possess the crafts.

Some of the ghosts gather at the Blossomcrown Park where magical crests have been set on various tables there. These ghosts are those who have been waiting for this moment to pass onto afterlife. Everyone visiting the bonfire will be given a special flower wreath. The goal is to wait for one of the ghosts to move and take hold of the wreath (literally holding onto it with their craft ghost forms) before placing it on the crests together with another person. This will help the ghosts to cross the border into afterlife. The wreath disappears after the ghost has passed on. This ritual can only be done at this time of the year, as the air is filled with a mysterious essence that helps with passing on. The scientists have yet to properly determine what the essence truly is, but it seems to concentrate on the park and at least it's not dangerous for the living.

The park also has some places to just sit down and enjoy the atmosphere at the park. There are also some food and drink stalls.

We All Become What We Pretend To Be

Part 1

The final part of the festivities is the multi-day Costume Party Masquerade happening in the largest airship of the city. The ship circles around the whole city of Nightwake, occasionally stopping at the dock and taking new passengers (or letting old ones out) before continuing on again. The airship is special, as it has a giant ballroom in the middle. There are also cabins, some more private and some more communal for those who just want a quick place to crash rather than a proper room.

Everyone who boards the airship must wear some sort of a mask, but they also have to be in a costume of some sort. Those who don't have either or both will be guided to a dressing room where the magic will pick them whatever they are missing at random (= of player's choosing) and dress them (their current clothes will be waiting for them at the airship station later). No one escapes the rule of a costume and a mask around here!

A magic is also applied to everyone's mask, making it harder for anyone to recognize the person wearing it (possibly even those who know them very well). This is said to add some level of mystery to the evening. Of course the spell will pause whenever someone takes off their mask and that may reveal a secret to someone. No one will just automatically forget if they saw someone take off their mask.

The music encourages people to dance and be brave in asking a stranger to dance with them. Thanks to the atmosphere of the masquerade, touch energy will feel even better than usual, even if you'd be "fully loaded".

Part 2

Another sort of magic sneaks into the party, as people's costumes start to take over their personalities. Someone dressed up as a king might start acting all regal, while a vampire look-a-like might try to bite someone in their neck. Some might even lose the sight of who they really are and completely take on their new roles for the time they're in the airship and in the costume.

Fairies will start trying to bomb people gone weird with water balloons, as a splash of water on their faces will wake them up from the trance (even if the said person is wearing a mask). They're even teleporting water balloons for others to toss - especially if it looks like someone is acting a bit too dangerously.

Another way is to strip them out of their clothes, but that might be something reserved for the privacy of a cabin, rather than the ballroom.

Even once someone has been freed from the spell they can unfortunately be spellbound again later on - but it's just less likely.

OOC TIPS

- Ask your questions related to the TDM here.

- The TDM is available only to friends of the mods and their friends. If you want to play in the TDM, please leave a note here to inform us who invited you over. We will get to you as soon as possible.

- Test Drive is open for current characters to make a top level as well. New characters can add TDM on their subject line to indicate they're new!

- Current characters cannot access the starting area again to meet new arrivals. They can, however, be at the Research Center when the newbies are teleported in.

- The TDM is game canon so anything in the TDM can happen for your character(s) in the game as well.

- Smut is not allowed on the TDM. You can play situations leading to it, but if the thread is turning into smut, please move it to a private space such a post in your character's journal, or a locked post in the game's log community if you decide to app!

- Check Locations: City to find more areas to explore inside the city. Every place in the districts are open.

- Similarly, Locations: Segments is useful for outdoors adventures.

- You can find monsters to encounter on Beastiary.

- FAQ has information on characters' smartphones as well as general things about the world that might be handy.

code bases by tricklet

Threaded | Flat

[A: the one with the child death talk tw]
[Shinji probably would not have lit a candle if he was warned he'd start glowing about it.

Okay, yeah, he does like getting free stuff. He especially likes getting extra desserts at every restaurant, as almost any nine year old would. But the waiters always look so sad when they see him, and keep asking if he's okay and if people are taking care of him in Ellipsa.

Today Shinji has learned that there is such a thing as too much ice cream. Especially when you'd rather not think too much about the reason you're getting it for free.]

...I can't finish all of this. Do you want some? [That's you, person at the next table over.] I don't want to waste it even if it's free.

[B: the other one]
[Shinji has discovered the magical ribbons and is testing one that shoots lightning.

Being untrained in any weapon before this, it turns out that knowing Mortal Kombat does not automatically mean you'll be good at fighting in real life, and a bolt narrowly misses your foot.]

Sorry!

Edited 2023-10-12 22:25 (UTC)

I. Arrival Pt 1

[Musumi is at the beach? He doesn't remember going to the beach? Or wearing what he's wearing right now. That's odd. Oh well.]

The ocean~ I wonder if I can find any triangles here~

II. Arrival Pt 2

[To be quite honest, Misumi only understood the gist of what was happening, even with the introduction. He's wandering around the city now, a bit worried. At least he has his lucky charm still.]

Maybe if I find triangles, I'll feel better. Do you want to look for triangles together?

III. Ready and Fire

[The first time Misumi uses his new found powers, it was an accident. Luckily he didn't burn anything. Now he's just holding a small flame in his hand.]

It's pretty! And triangle shaped.

[Maybe if you squint the fire is triangle shaped, but its close enough for him.]

IV. Ghosts

[Misumi doesn't fully get what's going on here either, but apparently they're making homes for ghosts. After cutting out one, he shows it off.]

If they need a home, I'll give them the best home~ Look Look~

[Its a triangle with little arms.]

[A: locked to housemates. tw: talk of child death + suicide]
[Yesterday, Kantera came home glowing (literally), but otherwise nothing was unusual.

This morning, he's still glowing, and can be found in the kitchen crying as quietly as he's able to while working on breakfast. Given how often he has to stop to rub his eyes, it doesn't seem to be going well.]

[B: open]
...I'm uncertain how I feel about a holiday for the dead becoming a shopping day for me.

[The discounts for the continual glow around him mean this makes it a good time for him to pick up the groceries or get new clothes, but it feels a little bit irreverent. Then again, he's the dead person it's being irreverent to, so...]

Perhaps I ought to donate the savings to a funeral home...?

[C: open]
[Various places around the city, Kantera can be found with a Memory Camera, taking pictures of very specific shots of no one.

Some places he knows right away. A zoo, next to the monkey exhibit. A restaurant. A gardening store, a church. A hospital, after some thought. The shooting range. Those shots he takes with only a little bit of deliberation.

But the most important one, he isn't sure about. He ends up idly wandering the city, paying more attention to the background than the people, and liable to bump into someone.]

Edited 2023-10-12 22:52 (UTC)

Arrival 1

Predictably, when a guy turns in for the day, he doesn't expect to wake up like this. And he'd finally recovered enough to put himself out and get back to work again too. He should really have been used to the weirdness, but it felt like the bar just kept going up.

At least this place seemed nice enough. A field of flowers and cherry blossoms was not the worst place he's woken up. And the night air was pleasant enough. But there was that persistent feeling of something being wrong and the idea he'd be missed. He needed answers.

Arrival 3

He felt like a fledgeling again. Not in the fun "Oh this takes me back" way you would hear older people talk about, in the "Oh god I've been dropped in the deep end again" way. No inheritance, no ridiculously loyal bodyguard to guide him through a world of shadows, no shady businessman to take him under his wing. Just an apartment, free meals and rent for two months, and magic to learn...

Fuck...

Outwardly he was calm at least. He was good at calm. First step was just a matter of finding his apartment and making sure he wasn't going to die day one. Next was changing into more normal clothes. He could keep the food money for future rent money, so that was fine...the trick would be hunting and feeding. His beast was currently sated from an amazing night yesterday, but that wouldn't last. It never did, and his hunger was often not just for blood. He was a monster after all, but only physically. And keeping things on the downlow meant nobody got hurt usually.

"Maybe I should get to know my neighbors before I find my place..."

Lighting Candles

A coincidentally interesting time to arrive. Izzy smiled a little. He didn't like open flames. Really didn't. But a candle he could handle. And he had several to light. More than he could count actaully. Not all people he cared about, but all somehow related to actions he had taken. Well, one at a time.

One candle for the building, or one per floor? Probably not enough candles to account for every person. But one candle for the one person that died has he ran past. The death that caused the others. That was fitting. Half a dozen for the ghouls his thoughtlessness got killed. One for the revenant that died saving his ass because she didn't deserve that. One for his sire, gone before he even came to understand her. And one for Tim, whose funeral he couldn't even go to. Ten candles he would need to light total. Ten scary little flames to face.

Number one.

And he hasn't yet noticed the soft glow surrounding him yet.

Masquerade 1

An airship masquerade? That was new. Izzy had decided to check it out, and had to admit to liking his costume. It was a simple three-piece suit that reminded him of a butler even though he wasn't sure it was the point. Almost black, with a dark green vest and white shirt under the jacket, and a matching dark green and gold wolf mask complete with muzzle. He really liked the mask, the green being the main color with the gold as most of the furred edges and a gold rectangle in the middle. A bit on the nose, but it looked good.

Dressed the part, he slipped out to join the other guests, taking in masks and costumes and watching for someone to see about a dance with. If someone didn't approach the wolf first.

Masqerade 2

The night has been fun, so easy to get wrapped up in the spirit of things. Though his beast has been growing restless. Many sheep, and him a wolf. He was hungry, but also he shouldn't give himself away that easily. He was the cunning predator, not the bold reckless one. Always. He needed one to draw away. There.

It didn't take much to slip in behind the person on the floor and murmur in their ear. "Is there any way I can serve you tonight?"

[ arrival: ]
[ the snowscape is barren enough that any people there stand out, but perhaps particularly eyecatching is the tall woman with the snake-skull shaped mask. she doesn't seem particularly bothered by the cold, but does transfer her gaze to frown slightly at her outfit once she's done scanning her surroundings ]

...White. Really? Black was perfectly suitable...

[ or you could find her later in the Research Center, looking over her phone and a sheaf of assorted pamphlets, muttering to herself ]

They're well organized, I'll give them that. Was there ever a setup like this back home...?

[ festival: ]
[ a festival for the dead... her timing is impeccable, apparently. but she could use some good dreams of those she's lost, instead of the usual, so as soon as she found a free lantern she gladly took it.

of course, as soon as she lights it, she lights up, and startles with enough force to almost drop the lantern. ]

—what in Hell?

[ anyone want to break her the (bad...?) news? ...or rescue her from empathetic shopkeepers later, for that matter. she's not objecting to the extra goods, but she's starting to look a little overwhelmed under the mask. ]

Candle lighting & afterwards

[ Saya has a warm glow around her after the candle lighting. So many candles, one for each part of her family that she broke. She keeps wiping at her face to remove blood splatter that doesn't exist. ]

[ Her dreams were full of messages. From those she remembers and many she doesn't. Her family, her victims. With one very noticeable absence. And it's for that reason that Saya is more or less wandering the festival areas aimlessly, now and then murmuring aloud: ]

I wonder why he can't find me here?

Masquerade

[ After some thinking, Saya decides not leave her worries alone. She's finally whole, finally happy, too much to be bothered by the whims of interdimensional death politics. So she attends the masquerade, dressed as a burning phoenix with a red and gold rose crown. She chose this costume intentionally, and sees it as no great matter when over the course of the evening she feels less and less burdened by the past. ]

[ If someone happens to be drinking, she'll settle down beside them. If they seem to be milling about, well. ] Interested in a dance?

Edited 2023-10-13 01:06 (UTC)

Masquerade 1

[A party? Sign Deuce up! And they even gave him this very fitting ensemble.

Of course, Deuce wasn't really prepared for dancing, at least until he realized no one knew him, so he's been fumbling through it, slowly gaining his bearings. Now he feels pretty confident and he extends his hand to the next person before him, grinning.]

May I have this dance?

[He feels so cool!]

Masquerade 2

[Of course it was only natural that Deuce would be affected by the same magic as everyone else. Now he's Sir Deuce Spade, the most gallant of knights!

And as much as this knight would like to take a day off, he can't when everyone else has been bewitched into thinking they are their costumes! Madness! ~~I know, I know. Bear with him.~~

So naturally Deuce is throwing balloons at the behest of their fairy hosts. Sure it sucks that people are getting drenched and having their lovely costumes ruined, but such is a knight's duty.]

Stand still! It's for your own good! Don't force my hand!

[Or else he's going to do something drastic.]

Wildcard
[Deuce is not above stripping people in order to help them at the masquerade though we can take that elsewhere if it gets racy. Deuce will also be around to light candles even though he doesn't have anyone he really mourns. And if someone wants to get into the swing of questing or guild work here is his plotting post. Otherwise, feel free to dm me/hit me up on discord(cauldroned) or plurk(

kanetsugu)]

Edited 2023-10-13 01:41 (UTC)

Candles - A

[Minato had not heard what would happen should he light a candle and the protective light that enveloped him shortly after was rather warm and comforting. It wasn't until he noticed the change in attitude amongst the locals that he realized something was up. They weren't mean or anything.

But the pitying looks were hardly wanted. Or, perhaps, it was mere sympathy.

He didn't need to be told what was going on, though. And it was only confirmed once he overheard a native advising other otherworlders what the candles meant and what would happen depending on their circumstances. He pursed his lips, earphones clipped onto his ears and head lowered as he decided to step away from the crowds.

Minato had not told very many people, indeed not even a handful, what had happened to him prior to his arrival. He had wanted to keep it that way but now he was a beacon. There was no real way to avoid it now, strangers and friends alike. So, he did his best to try and find a more secluded route to head home.]

Candles - B

[Minato didn't quite make it home. His stomach led him to an establishment that didn't seem too crowded, but the food smelled very invitingly. It was rare that he would look uncomfortable and shy as he waited to be seated. But, as he had come to find, the waiter was quite kind and respectful and didn't bring attention to the light surrounding him. Instead, he was led to a booth that was away from other customers (per his request) and given a menu.

Once he found out that his meal would be discounted, Minato decided to loosen up a little. It also came with free dessert. So, in this particular eatery, one may find it startling that a boy of Minato's size would have a table full of different foods. And he was easily eating through it all. He had the money, even if it wasn't discounted, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to take advantage. He also figured he could get a take out bag of the meatless dishes for Louis.]

Ghosts

Um, excuse me?

[Minato, still bathed in that light from lighting the candle, awkwardly held onto a flower wreath at an empty table. A paper ghost was patiently holding onto it as well. He hadn't decided the paper crafts for the ghosts, he was no good at that sort of thing, but he wanted to help them move on, at least.

He knew a thing or two about that, what with not moving on himself and then ending up here. Although, he wasn't a ghost, of course.

He looked down at the wreath and back up to the person.]

Do you mind? They want to move on.

[And he needed a second person to do this.]

Mysterious Masquerade

[Thankfully, the light dimmed sometimes and it seemed being at the masquerade was one of those times. Talk about awkward otherwise, right? Still, he didn't have an outfit on hand so he was given something upon arrival. He certainly approved of it, the butterfly look gave him a weird bout of nostalgia although he had no idea why.

While dancing is totally not his thing, the music does help him stop being a wallflower. One hand still in his pocket, the other is held out to you.]

Wanna dance?

Wildcard

[Or we can do something else! Let me know. Just PM this journal, hit me up on Discord at mossflowered or plurk at

rainy_mood

GRAB MY FLOWERS, GHOST!;

[Julie is more than happy to take the flower wreath once it's offered. Plunking it straight down on her head she takes a moment to clap her hands together in sheer excitement.]

It's so neat getting a flower crown without having to make it first! Do you think it will take long for the ghosts to show up?

MYSTERIOUS MASQUERADE;

[In general Julie loves any excuse to whip up a new outfit for a new occasion! Talk of the Masquerade is one such occasion. The costume she comes up with is nice and all but when she gets to the airship and hears about letting magic pick her outfit, well!

So she pops out as a very sparkly little witch indeed! From the tip-top of her little witchy hat with it's veil to the sparkly flounce of the dress itself and the constellations on her tights she's definitely ready for this masquerade! Her mask isn't quite as fancy but it gets the job done!

She might scrape a bare three inches over three foot but she's an active little witch tonight! Anyone who gets close to her will inevitably find her rocking back and forth on her feet as she asks:]

Want to dance?

WILDCARD;

[Feel free to hit me with other prompts! My PMs are open for plotting.]

Lighting Candles

[There are just five candles that he can definitively light. Three whose spirits returned home in a sense, two he failed to protect. And what even happens if you die in that place.

It's something he shouldn't dwell on, but it's always at the edge of his mind lately. Probably due to his own temporary death. Definitely why he's got the glow too.

Watching the candles floating through the air, he has a thought. How many were lit per person? How many of those were personal or just out of respect.

Though speaking of temporary deaths. Cole finds two final candles. The deaths weren't permanent...but in one case he's still gone because of it and both shouldn't have come to it.

Lighting the first, he sets it adrift and crouches next to the water to watch it.]

You did it. I know you came back. And then you one and came for us...but there wasn't time to check on you once we died. Maybe you'll see this wherever you are.

[He lights the second, but he hesitates there and watches the flame flicker. Not fair. He's still out there, but he had to go away. Cole had to let go to save him. And here he's got this little flame representing him and it's hard to let it go.]

It's not fair...

Ghost Ritual

[Not helping here seems wrong. He's seen what can happen with ghosts before. It may not be a thing here, but the memory of those three children was enough. He's been crafting little ghosts for possession, but it's awhile before a ghost touches the wreath beside him. Maybe because they didn't want to disturb him?]

Oh? You're ready to go now? Alright, let me help.

Masquerade 1

[Cole isn't usually one for dances, but it seemed a little weird to only take part in the more somber traditions. He decides to see what the appeal is. Luckily costumes are provided, and he's soon dressed in a nice suit with a deer mask. He's less prepared to join the dance though, and instead wallflowers where he can watch.]

Masquerade 2

[Cole's finding himself...feeling a bit lonely. The little bit of contact he's had tonight felt really nice while it lasted, and he doesn't really think about the fact that touch is a scary contact. Instead he decides it might be worth finding someone who won't mind getting a little closer. The only catch is that safety is a must. And his gut is usually good about a person being safe enough to approach.

When he finds the person that fills that one little checkpoint, he's not overt or pushy. He just quietly leans against them, tucking himself against them. Being small, not even five-foot, he thankfully can't really off-balance his pick at least.]

Edited 2023-10-13 06:05 (UTC)

[ ooc: hello, I'm Anneh bringing you yet another shingeki (oops) |D; apologies for the extreme tl;dr in this toplevel, I'm physically incapable of writing short openers, but please don't feel like you have to match length or even format - I prefer to write in prose, but if you like brackets, go for it! ]

Prelude

Erwin had not expected an afterlife.

In truth, he'd had no expectations for what comes after death. Inasmuch as he'd believed - and seen, in many dreams and waking moments - that the fallen, those he had sent to their deaths, were watching him, watching over those who remained waiting to see the fulfillment of their sacrifices, Erwin never once imagined that he would join them even after his own death. No. Surely, he would be sent straight to hell, if it existed, or his soul just fully obliterated into nothing as payment for his crimes.

But he had joined them. And they had all been there, to welcome him to the ephemeral space they inhabited, waiting...for resolution, for release, for whoever came next.

It was a fleeting existence that feels hazy, now, nearly like remembering a dream. But what isn't hazy is what he had witnessed. The trials and triumphs of those who had once been his soldiers, carrying on the legacy in his absence through seemingly endless pain and betrayal and sheer impossibility all the way to incredible, bittersweet victory. All of these moments feel more like his own true memories as witnessed from afar. None of them will know that he was there, that they all were there. And finally, by these actions, they had been set free. But not without cost.

He had not expected there to be even more after.

[ I. Arrival - No Rest for the Wicked ]

After the initial confusion of appearing in a wondrous forest, trees adorned with golden and orange leaves and a crisp scent of autumn in the air, the orientation to this new place, even Erwin had to admit, was quite thorough. He can't help but find it all a little ironic, to be pulled from after death out of a world he couldn't help save into this one, where he has doubts his presence will make any sort of difference. He's missing pieces of himself yet - his right arm, in particular - and without the influence of his position and reputation here, his true power is limited. There is the magic of course, but even so...Perhaps if he wished, he could easily wind himself into the structure of the efforts against the dangers here, build up rank and inspiration and organize those who are here, to put his experience to use, such as it is.

But a little voice whispers in his ear: does he really want to?

Something to contemplate, when he finally gets out to see this world. And what a place it is.

Erwin is fascinated by the strangeness of it all - moving images and strange machines and a device that can be operated simply by touch. Alleged conflict notwithstanding, there are so many things about the place that are brand new to him, so many things to experience and interact with. Even if he'd been able to witness parts of the outside world in flashes of experiences with his comrades, Erwin hadn't been able to interact with any of it. Now, he can.

A cursory investigation of the apartment reveals it to be clean but relatively unadorned. Some familiar clothing and personal items - of which a particular book stands out. An ache blooms in his chest, and Erwin trails his fingers over it lightly before setting it reverently on a shelf, and then letting himself loose into this new world.

Perhaps you'll meet him in the hallway of the apartment building, or just outside it. You'll encounter a rather tall man (at about 6'2") with blonde hair neatly combed, handsome features with a strong (what some might call) roman nose, and blue eyes the color of the sea. They're bright with interest, and there's a friendly smile on his face as he briefly waves a greeting with his left hand - the only one he appears to have. The right arm stops just above where the elbow should be, the sleeve of a white dress shirt dangling freely.

"Hello - my apologies for bothering you. I've just arrived, and I was wondering if you could tell me a good place for a cup of tea. Or do you have a favorite place to visit here?"

[ II. Lantern Lights ]

As evening falls on his first night in this strange new city, Erwin wanders solemnly among the displays honoring the dead. Such collective rituals didn't exist in quite this way in his home; they'd had their own traditions in the Survey Corps, but there were no festivals or days of remembrance in their culture as a whole. Funerals and memorials tended to be close, individual affairs, but there is something incredibly comforting in this. Grief and loss can be openly acknowledged, the pain shared, rather than closed into one's heart.

It's strange, being alive again - and he is alive. There's a slight ache in his feet from all the walking he's done in just one day, trying to take everything in. The air is cool against his skin, and everything just feels so much sharper and real compared to that amorphous place before, where he and the others could only barely overlap with the world around them, where he had no concept of time or space or even, really, himself. It had been him, but an uncomplicated, almost superficial version. He could witness events, but if he'd felt any emotions attached to them at the time, Erwin couldn't recall.

Someone encourages him to light a candle for the deceased. Erwin thinks he would have to fill up an entire plaza with hundreds of candles just to give all of them their due respect.

But he can start with at least one.

As the candle heats the air, the lantern eventually gently lifts from his hand and begins to float away into the sky, joining dozens more across the square. A moment later, a similar soft, golden light seems to emanate around his form, warm and protective. Erwin briefly touches his hand to his own chest, as though to confirm...something...and then it floats back to his side.

Perhaps he is standing next to you, watching the lanterns float away into the night, as he says: "As though we're sending them up to become stars themselves."

[ III. Wreaths of Remembrance. ]

Some time later, or perhaps on another night, Erwin finds himself at Blossomcrown Park, taking in the festivities and the ghosts - real ghosts. If asked before his own death, he might have tacitly admitted to the possibility of spirits and ghosts, but would not have necessarily stated that he outright believed in their existence. Clearly here that is not the case, though rather than fear or terror, there's just a profound sense of ethereal wonder.

After sampling some of the offerings of the food and drink stands (perhaps you'll share something with him, or give a recommendation?), Erwin wanders back toward the bonfire.
He takes up a wreath, holding it carefully in his hand as he examines its construction - the materials, how it's put together, endlessly curious about these new customs. After a moment, he looks for someone who might be willing to partake in the ritual with him.

"Shall we do one together?"

[ IV. Wildcard ]

Write your own starter! Feel free to run into Erwin pretty much anywhere - he'll be exploring everything and maybe ask too many questions, who knows. Go wild! Any questions please hit me up via PM for now, ty~

Edited 2023-10-13 23:06 (UTC)

A) Light a Candle For You

Part I

[Hijikata isn't the most spiritual person - his attitude towards death could, for the longest time, be summed up as, "I'll see you in hell" -, but since his time on Avalon and his experience as a death mage there, he's felt a certain responsibility towards the souls of the dead. Given that he has no such abilities here on Ellipsa and isn't even able to see ghosts anymore, the festivities are tinged with bittersweetness for him, but he does participate and lights some candles.

It may just be a coincidence, but the next night he dreams of his older brother who took care of him after he lost his parents. 'It's alright, Toshirou.' It's a small message, but the warmth in his brother's voice is all he needs.

The day after that, however, his luck takes a turn for the worse when he sends a lantern down the river. He's "blessed" with a soft glow around him... a glow that reminds him (and, presumably, everyone else who knows) of his ridiculously unnecessary death in the stomach of an anglerfish will'o'wisp over half a year ago. Hijikata, back then, completely brushed past the incident as soon as he was revived, feeling too embarrassed to dwell on it at all - and now, he's suddenly stuck with this visible reminder of his of recklessness and stupidity.

When he grabs lunch at a food stall, the vendor insists on giving him 50% off and resists Hijikata's attempts to decline. It becomes an argument that turns into a bit of a hold-up for other customers...]

Please, I don't want the discount! Just let me pay the full price!

[He looks like he's about to snap and shake the man. Oh dear.]

Part II

[Despite his struggles with his "death aura", as he mentally calls it, Hijikata still wants to help the ghosts who are ready to pass on to the afterlife. Memories of Avalon keep flooding back... they tried something similar, there, only for it to end in a terrible disaster that claimed many lives and souls. All he could do was save as many spirits as possible and give them a purpose while they remained stuck in the land of the living.

Hopefully, things will be easier here.

While he's not very good at making craft ghosts, he enjoys seeing them float about all over the city. They don't look very scary like this... he did relapse into being scared of ghosts and spirits here on Ellipsa, but it's not as bad as it was before, and if there's a comprehensive context to their presence, it's a lot easier for him to calm down and accept them that it was before.

He dedicates a bit of time almost every day to assist the souls at the park in Blossomcrown, and that's where he approaches a fellow otherworlder today, appearing a lot more subdued (and, maybe, serene) than usual, holding a flower wreath together with a tiny paper ghost.]

Would you want to help us?

B) We All Become What We Pretend To Be

Part I

[Hijikata isn't a party person, but it wouldn't feel right to miss out on the finale to the festivities! So he shows up on the airship with his usual crow tengu costume (he didn't buy that nostalgic Mythological Mask to leave it in his closet)! However, the airship staff has a different idea. Hijikata's mask is already magical, and not of the type they have in mind for their event! His costume won't do.

He has mixed feelings as he enters the dressing room, but the magic gives him a costume he can live with: A neat butler suit, complete with a simple mask (that he's told will nonetheless conceal his identity, somehow). Despite his nervousness, he soon relaxes after entering the party proper (though he likewise can't find any familiar faces behind the may beautiful masks... what is up with this magic?).

Eventually, he ends up on deck outside to smoke. He looks down on the many lights of Nightwake City. It's a comforting sight. So far, the city has withstood all dangers encroaching on it. It's our home, for now. When someone joins him at the railing to share the view, he smiles faintly, exhaling smoke.]

I've come to like how cities never sleep.

Part II

[As the party goes on, Hijikata, who's used to calling the shots back home, starts keeping an eye on whether the other party guests have everything they need. When he spots someone with an empty glass apparently looking around for a drink, he grabs a bottle from the nearest table and beelines over.]

Let me give you a refill. Here you go... is there anything else I can do for you?

Candle Lighting

[ A festival? Interesting. Macaque doesn't recognize the trappings specifically, but the candles are self-explanatory enough. Although Azure had been misguided in a number of ways, they were still Brothers. He still deserved to be honored. But when Macaque lights the candle he finds himself with a soft, gloaming light around him. ]

[ After getting treated way too well a couple of times, he asks what the deal is. ]

[ Yeah, he should have seen that coming. ]

Masquerade

[ Upon trying to attend this thing in his normal clothes, Macaque was promptly shoved into a room and given a suit in peacock colors and a matching mask. Upon getting repeated reassurances that he won't be recognizable with the mask on, he relents. He could use shadow portals (not that he puts it beyond a magic realm to catch him) but he could use a drink or fifty, so. ]

[ As long as no one will know who he is, fine. ]

[ So he finds himself wherever drinks are being served, intending to peoplewatch and perhaps sulk a bit over the candle thing, but finds himself feeling oddly... good. Maybe it's the freedom of not being recognized and thus having no need to keep up the layers of sarcasm and irony that he uses as blade and shield these days. Maybe it's something in the booze here. For whatever reason, he's feeling talkative. Like getting a few things off his colorfully-dressed chest. ]

[ As someone takes a place beside him, he turns to them. Friendly. (Very unusual.) ] Did you get stuffed into your costume too, or were you granted the dignity of getting to pick? [ He might actually admit that his stubbornness was at fault, here. ]

Light A Candle (cw: death of a young teen, hints of suicidal ideation)

There is no grave for Marcel Galliard back home. No marker or plaque honoring his death; no coffin draped in Marley's colors; no body left to bury. The Galliard family doesn't even know that Marcel is dead.

But Reiner knows. Reiner is the reason Marcel will never make it back home. Reiner is the reason Marcel died.

If Reiner had just reacted in time, if he'd moved instead of standing there like a useless fucking moron…

He holds the candle close, his broad shoulders curled inward, face twisted with grief, guilt, and regret. He wishes he could undo it. He wishes he could go back and protect Marcel instead of being protected. He wishes he'd died instead.

"I'm sorry," Reiner says as he lights the candle, crouched by the water's edge. He places it reverently in its floating lantern, then gently nudges the lantern onto the water. "This is as close as I can get you."

To crossing the ocean again. To going back home.

What We Pretend to Be

Part 1

Reiner dons his "oni" costume without a lick of self-consciousness, only wearing the mask (black and gold, covering his eyes) because it's required. He has no shame when it comes to his body. He knows he looks good, the outfit showing off his abs and almost the entirety of his chest. Why would he do anything other than strut his stuff?

He's not much for dancing, having never had time to learn. However, he's happy to flirt with other men, finding easy excuses to touch arms and shoulders. Any perceived lack of interest causes him to quickly move on, not wanting to dampen the mood.

And the mood is good, isn't it? The more time Reiner spends happily anonymous, sliding out of himself and into a role, the more cheerful he becomes.

Part 2

As time passes, that cheerful, flirty attitude takes on a different edge. Reiner's smiles grow sharper, hungrier, leaning in close as he eyes his conversation partner like they're a delicious meal. He's a big guy, six-foot-one with an envious physique, so it's hard to miss how much he starts looming.

Even that could be excused as mere lust. But when Reiner purrs, "You look good enough to eat," his tone makes the hair rise on one's nape.

He's not speaking metaphorically.

Edited 2023-10-14 04:01 (UTC)

Arrival
[Goku spends that first half hour exploring the autumn-themed space. He's never seen trees that quite looked like that before, and he wastes no time climbing them up to the very top to get a better look around. He feels... restless. Unsettled. He doesn't know where his friends have gone, or why he's no longer in the spooky city. Nothing smells familiar, even his body feels different, and he has no idea why.

And being teleported into a new space is equally jarring, and he blinks around at all the people who have suddenly appeared alongside him, stunned. Maybe his friends are somewhere here? He sniffs at the air to see if he can catch any familiar scents, winds his way through the groups of people in search of anyone he recognizes... But nothing. Some guy eventually starts talking, seemingly addressing everybody in the room, and it's enough to make Goku stop and look up at him.

Though... everything he says goes way over Goku's head. He even looks a bit like trying to pay attention to it all has made him dizzy.]

So... Huh??

Light a Candle For You Pt.1
[He's primarily at the festival for the food. All festivals, even sad ones about remembering lost loved ones, have tons of good food to share with everyone. So Goku spends most of his time there going to the food stands and sampling all of their dishes, having a grand time of it, too.

But the more he hears about what this whole lighting candles thing is about, the more he feels like... maybe he should light one, too.

So he does, but as he stands there by the water with the lantern in his hands, staring down at the flickering light, he can't help but feel... weird about it. This is the right thing to do. This is something he should do. He feels that in his gut. But why? His three closest friends are still alive in spite of everything. And yes, there are others that he's lost in his time, but... they're not who this candle is for.]

Who are you...?

Wildcard!!
[Bring your own adventure! Feel free to hit me up at

hikaranko if you need to~]

Hmu on discord @ elfwife or

elfwife if you want a custom starter. I can also switch to brackets if that's your pref.

Edited 2023-10-14 05:15 (UTC)

Research Center

[The beach where the little girl had woken up was one thing- the huge ocean that seemed to go on forever, the frilly white dress, the feeling of that hot sand against her bare feet- but now she was surrounded by all the people and all the things, and it was proving quite the overload of information.

Mary didn't even hear the helpful guide trying to see if she was okay once she'd snatched her phone, instead lightly poking at the little flower-charm attached to it; a tiny yellow rose.]

Oh- you've made everyone's flowers so small-

[Not that she seemed particularly worried about the change...

Later- after having spent most of the day running around seeing all the things, the tired kid found herself at the Welcome Center, crashed out on one of the sofas struggling to keep her eyes open.]

Apartments
[Implied spoilers]

[Mary found her way to the apartment assigned to her eventually, and after finding her belongings carefully laid out inside- she stormed out the room immediately. She needed supplies. She needed to protect herself.

...Mary would be back later, staring at the door with some heavy duty tape in hand and struggling to hold various other supplies in her arms.

She wasn't going to let anyone get to her things. Never.]

Hm...no, that won't do at all...

[OOC: Lmk if you want (?) to get stuck as her roommate, first come first serve. You get; Mary's secrets, She gets; A freakout and the opportunity to get stabby.]

Candlelight
[Implied spoilers]

Leave me alone!!

[To say that Mary seemed almost violently offended at the offer of a candle by a guide was something of an understatement.

Completely misinterpreting her alarm- she was very young, after all, and maybe her parents had told her not to play with fire- the guide gently offered to help her light it to make sure it was safe? Just slowly holding out the so-far unlit candle and match-

However, all that lead to was her shoving them away with all the strength a nine-year-old could muster and running off in the opposite direction, crashing into someone else nearby.]

Ah...! Hey- tell this person to leave me alone...!

"But I was just trying to help, miss! It's for the festival."

Little Ghosties

[Other parts of the festivities were much more aligned to Mary's interests. She'd found somewhere well away from the bonfire, and was in the process of cheerfully making a little army of crafted ghosts.

Crayons and pens and other art supplies were scattered messily around her as she worked, chattering away to her creations- she wasn't a Winter-aligned, but once they'd taken their physical forms, Mary could at least try! She understood that they were stuck in this realm, until someone could help them cross over to the other side. But what would that process actually involve? Was it really as simple as the guides had told them?

She beckoned for anyone passing by to come join her.]

Hey, do you wanna come help make little bodies for our new friends too?

[And, after a little while; ]

...Do you really think this'll be enough for them to cross over okay?

[OOC: Gently voicetesting the new girl- hmu on Discord @ archangelamy if you want to plan something in particular.]

Welcome Center

[Naegi is busying himself at the Welcome Center, usually during the mid-month. Usually that was when things started happening around the town, he had come to notice, so he wanted to be prepared for possible newcomers.

The drinks and snacks offered at this time are 'Halloween' themed. There candy bowls, but also halloween-decorated ration bars, as well as different hot and cold drinks with different seasonal flavors and colors.

The young man himself greets anyone walking through the doors with a smile:]

Hello, Welcome.

Light a Candle For You: Part 1

[Naegi is determined to light a candle for every one of his classmates that died, as well his parents. There aren't that many so it's a reasonable amount of lanterns to light up.

You may see him watching a lantern float up into the sky, holding his hands to his chest with a soft, solemn look on his face, thinking of only fond memories of the person he sent it for.]

I'm sorry.

[He whispers.]

Light a Candle For You: Part 2

[Being a Winter holder, dealing with ghosts is one of the things he knows he'd be doing a lot. So of course he wants to help them pass into afterlife. He holds onto the flower wreath, looking around.

He smiles at the nearest person.]

Would you like to do this together?

Edited 2023-10-14 10:35 (UTC)

Arrival

Part 2

[Oh, while the beach setting was nice, Marie needed to find a better place to be at. Of course, the city was just that. Of course, being told why she was here caused her to frown in disappointment.]

Oh, is that all? I was hoping for something more exciting.

[And that frown turned upside down as she clapped her hands]

Well, then! Now that that's out of the way, I need someone who can show me around! And also direct me to where I can find my stuff. A white dress does not suit me at all and I need to make sure I have everything with me!

Part 3

[Marie had finally found her apartment building and switched out to her regular clothes - a blue ensemble that included a jacket and a skirt with a belted waist cape and an intricate set of boots with jewels on them. Of course, she was staring at four items laying on a table - a cutesy brooch, an intricate sword with a red handle, a metal mage's staff with a gold head and a buckler shield.

And she is very crossed]

I had more! I had so much more equipment! A mage and a scholar in all things magical artifacts cannot go unprepared! Where's that support staff?! I'll turn over the entire building to find the rest of my stuff! No one steals from Marie Twinwaters!

[And she's coming apart at the seams it seems - part of her body is becoming... water?]

Light A Candle

Oh, what an adorable and respectful holiday...

[Marie decided to participate in the candle lighting - she's had a few comrades lost in her time as a scholar, so it would do to honor their memory, lighting candles for them. Of course, when she lit the first one, she gasped as she saw herself glow.]

Oh! I... I guess temporary evaporation will do that. I... didn't want to linger on that one...

We All Pretend

[Marie let out a chuckle as she watched the people quickly lose themselves in the moment, becoming what they dressed up as. She quickly removed her mask once things went completely mad and spotted a fairy with some water balloons.]

Excuse me, what are you doing with those?

[And once the fairy explains, a mischievous grin crossed Marie's face.]

Water or stripping, huh? Oh, I can do both!

[And Marie's body quickly turned to water, tossing aside her clothes for the moment]

It's time for some fun!

Network Post - un: twinwaters

Hello! Hola! Salud! And all that good stuff!

I am Marie Twinwaters, searcher and researcher of all things magical items! It seems that I'll be joining you on this strange journey, so I hope we can have so much fun together!

Oh! If you guys have any mystical artifacts on you, either of this world or from your worlds, please, let me see them! I just have to know how they're like!

--1. Light a Candle For You: Part I

[ There's no equivalent for such a festival back home, at least not one Levi is aware of. There had never been much room for memorials, not unless somebody was rich or high in the hierarchy of their world. The Underground didn't even have a cemetery, just MPs collecting corpses off the streets, and the Survey Corps tended to burn their dead in mass pyres, though they would say some words and send letters to the families of course. Levi had his own little rituals -- remembering all their names, collecting their wings when he could -- but it was never something like this. ]

[ It feels right, somehow, though he knows he'd need to buy up the entire stall's worth of candles to honor everyone he lost, and that's not counting the deaths he indirectly had a hand in by not preventing the Rumbling. He probably could, it's not like he's really been spending money on anything and he made plenty, but it seems wasteful. It's not trinkets that matter, after all. It's the memory. ]

[ In the end, he buys one pack - twelve little candles to float down the river. Kuchel. Farlan. Isabel. Petra. Eld. Gunther. Oluo. Miche. Kenny. Sasha. Moblit. Erwin. ~~(Who he doesn't know ended up here too yet).~~ Hange and Eren don't need any; they're here, safe and happy (as much as they can be). The salesperson insists he takes one lantern for free for his purchase, and he reluctantly agrees, feeling like he shouldn't be singling out any one of them, but at the same time already knowing who will be getting that trip into the sky instead. ]

[ Find him quietly crouched on a less busy pier by the river, or perhaps mumbling the names under his breath (save for the last one), gently lowering the little lights into the water. ]

--2. We All Become What We Pretend To Be: Part I

[ Levi doesn't do balls. ]

[ It had been true back home, it's still true here. And yet, somehow, he ends up on the airship. (It's probably Hange. Whenever he ends up socializing where he normally wouldn't, Hange is usually involved. Something about him needing to talk to people or get a "hobby" or whatever, bah.) ]

[ At least the costume he's been forced into isn't too disagreeable -- a long dark robe with a hood, effectively covering him head to toe completely, especially when paired with the bone-colored mask engraved in black. The oddly sturdy scythe works well as an improvised cane, too, so he's fairly comfortable. ]

[ At least until somebody asks him to dance and he feels weirdly compelled to agree despite having never done it nor even knowing how to. ]

[ He manages to refuse and glides over to the refreshments table to hopefully make himself look busy with some tea, but there's a good chance that if he's asked a couple more times he might just end up on the dance floor after all... ]

--3. We All Become What We Pretend To Be: Part II

[ The shift is subtle at first. Nothing much changes about Levi's presence itself -- stealthy, silent, perhaps a little foreboding. But something is just off. Perhaps it's the way how he holds his scythe a little differently, and did it always look so... sharp? Perhaps it's the way shadows arrange in his mask just in the right angles to hide his eyes, making it look like it is in fact a hollow skull. ]

[ Perhaps it's his tone, still inflectionless, but lower, somehow, and soft like a cemetery breeze. ]

Every day, you scramble for some semblance of meaning in your life. There is no deeper meaning than the one found in death.

[ Perhaps it's the words, about the exact opposite of what the real Levi would say. ]

--4. Wildcard

(( Hit me up with something else! o/ ))

LIGHT A CANDLE FOR YOU
Possible TWs for murder, genocide, titans eating people, parental death.

PART ONE:

Eren is slow to take up the candle custom. He's slow to want to join in any sort of festivity to begin with; this isn't his thing, really. But this one about remembering the dead seems topical, so he shows up.

Find him crouched by the edge of the water, a stream of candles in front of him moving away into the waves. He whispers names for each of them, but most of them are unintelligible. If you listen closely, you might hear a couple: Sasha. Ramzi. Grisha. Hannes. There are so many others that it might seem troubling. That's a lot of death. Is he okay? (Spoilers: no.)

There's one that he holds onto, though, as if he's reluctant to give it up to either water or air.

"Carla," he says, this name clear as day.

PART TWO:

Ghosts, you say? Eren can be found here with his own pet ghost — er, ghost Pokemon. Yamask seems fairly at home here, though it sticks close to Eren, clutching its mask in its tail appendage tightly.

You might notice Yamask interacting with one of the floating paper ghosts. Are they talking? Are they just vibing? Who the hell knows. Eren lets Yamask do its own thing, though he's never far away from it.

He does eventually pick up a wreath, looking around for another person to join him.

WE ALL BECOME WHAT WE PRETEND TO BE

PART ONE:

Thanks to Eren's penchant for losing his shirt or just not bothering with one for some reason, the costume that gets picked for him is also shirtless. It comes with a gold mask, dark pants, and black feathered wings attached to him with some straps around his arms. His nails are painted black and his hair is left down. From behind the mask his eyes seem almost too green.

He sticks largely with the food and drinks, though if someone is very insistent, he may be convinced to go to the dance floor. Maybe get him a drink first.

Eventually that gets to be too much and you can find him on the deck without his mask for a bit. He's not at all chilly despite being shirtless.

PART TWO:

Later in the night, the costume warps Eren into a demon. He can move quickly and silently, though the flutter of wings may sound. He may appear behind someone at any location, bringing extra darkness with him.

"Dance with me," he says, less a question than a demand. Thanks to the touch energy thing, he's much more likely to casually touch, trailing sharp fingers along an arm or something like that. He has the barest touch of a smile on his face, but his eyes are dark and cold.

Or, "You have something I want." (Dealers choice what that is. A drink? A snack? A kiss? PG-13 and under options only though.) He'll likely offer a trade in return, but you should be careful making deals with devils.

[ If you'd like to break him out of this spell, temporarily or otherwise, lmk and we'll figure out how. ]

WILDCARD

Whatever else you might like, throw something at me! I'm boywonder if you want to plot something out there. New and old CR welcome. I'm in favour of handwaving that our characters have met previously to skip past introductions. I prefer prose but I'll match brackets.

Light a Candle for You Pt. 2

MK was not going to pass up arts and crafts time. That wasn't the kind of person he was. With paper, some glue, crayons, and his Artsy clone, they were designing paper dolls and bodies for the ghosts. The two of them working together were going the extra mile though. Artsy was using the crayons to draw the clothes, faces, and hands. Meanwhile MK was folding paper and gluing it all together. Their project was to make full little bodies for the ghosts.

Each doll had torsos, arms, legs, and heads. They folded the paper so the arms could stretch, reach, and bend. Same with the legs. They even used other pieces of paper and some metal clips to make sure the smiles could be turned upside down, same with the eyebrows, so the ghosts could show emotions. They wanted to make sure each ghost had a nice working body. Perfect for the wreaths at Blossomcrown so they could do the ritual together with others.

MK will even show others how to make these dolls. Arty, of course, was obsessed with making each doll perfect. That was why they had only made two so far. It was a slow process.

Light a Candle for Me Pt. 1

MK sat with the paper lantern he had found and the candle. A box of matches sat next to him but he had not lit the candle yet. He wasn't ready yet. He had someone to light the candle for. Someone who had been, he thought, a friend. Someone he could trust. That hadn't been the case though. At least, he thought so. Then they parted ways. MK thought back to it, the fighting, the rage, the sadness, and the tears. He sniffled as he touched the matches but recoiled like they burned him.

"...How do I say goodbye when I feel like I didn't get to say hello to the real him?" He asked aloud to himself and anyone in ear shot.

We All Become What We Pretend To Be Pt. 1

A masquerade party up on an airship? MK was not going to turn that down. It was the costume part he had been thinking on a lot for Halloween this year. He was going to go as something that scared even him. Which was why he ended up in a black, blue, and white dress and a blue bandana and a skull mask. He walked around the party, danced on the dance floor, and ate at the food table. He wondered if anyone would recognize who he was dressed as.

He knew the people from home would. Time to find out and time to party!

Light a Candle for Me Pt. 2

As the party went on, the magic took hold. MK was changing. His voice became more regal. He held his arms behind his back or neatly folded in front of him. All around him where ghostly whispers that echoed his words or warnings to those around him. His usual friendly demeanor became condescending and cruel.

MK was becoming a demon. Beware the unprepared.

♡ light [a] candle (cw death/murder mentions)

[ A festival of the dead in October, huh... of course, naturally that makes sense to her, as someone who's familiar with a lot of the varying cultures from back home.

And of course, this is something that she actually is fine with- no, rather, it's something she can sympathize with, in a way, as someone who's died not once, but twice.

Which is why the moment she lights up a candle, it's pretty obvious to the surrounding people that she winds up getting what's basically an aura, although Inaba herself finds herself a bit confused and curious about it, hence why she tries to find someone to ask- ]

[ She gestures at herself, unknowingly. Of course, she doesn't mind being outed as someone who's died twice, but as someone who worries and is skeptic about the supernatural, she can't help but ask. ]

♡ pretend to [b]e

[ Inaba definitely doesn't trust the masks. Last time she wore a mask, it was a bit of a disaster, so having to do something like that again is definitely a bit...

But she's managed to come dressed up properly, mask and costume and all. Sure, she doesn't like entirely that it's representative of her first name, Himeko, but it's fine- probably? She's very much a wallflower throughout, keeping mostly to herself in spite of the music playing; she's never been much of a 'party person', really- she's just here out of sheer curiosity; nothing more, nothing less.

But then, everything is 'not fine' and people seem to be going amok with these weird personality traits. To which Inaba winds up 'helping' out with some water balloon throwing, so better watch out! ]

♡ wild[c]ard

[ Want to play something else completely different or perhaps want a custom prompt? Feel free to hit me up either via PM, Plurk (

tsundereban) or on the Discord server! ]

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