My blind optimism to blame

[reddosmod]

APRIL 2022 EVENT

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: A large green butterfly.]
[Image Two: A woman staring in a daze at light orbs floating around her face.]

Prompt Two
[Image One: A volcano with meteors falling down around it.]
[Image Two: A ball of quivering light hovering in the dark with woman standing in front.]

Prompt Three
[Image One: A woman staring at a mirror-like humanoid being staring back at her.]
[Image Two: A woman in a field of grass with humanoid-shaped flower sculptures nearby.]

[NAVIGATION]

Prompt 1 • Prompt 2 • Prompt 3 • Plotting • Newsletter

[JUMP TO COMMENTS]

MIGRATION OF MOONLIT BUTTERFLIES

WHEN: April
WHERE: Everywhere outside
CONTENT WARNINGS: Hopelessness/corruption, heavy themes of mental trauma/health, killing of gentle creatures.

---

Excerpt from BEASTS OF DEER COUNTRY Chapter 12: Migrations:

"One of the most beautiful natural phenomena of Deer Country is the migration of the mysterious Moonlit Butterflies. These giant creatures are most often the size of a house, with exceptional wingspans. Fear not: they are not violent creatures. Most will fly well above the city of Trench, leaving trails of glittering orbs of light that fall all throughout the city. However, it is common for some Moonlit Butterflies to land and rest throughout Trench. Despite their massive size, these creatures appear to weigh very little, able to rest harmlessly on homes, lampposts, and the like. Don't be surprised to find some scattered throughout your neighborhood.

They have a gentle aura about them and are most famous for their behemoth wings which glow a radiant green. They are aptly named due to their ability to store immense power from the moon during April and are seen as distant children of Argonaut. Being near them will enchant the air with the scent of amber and fresh linen, and you may hear a soothing song emit from these beasts.

Despite their rare and incredible beauty, it is wise to not linger in their presence no matter how captivating they are...And they are captivating. Many residents of Trench have been known to stop and stare, enthralled by the wings or the orbs of light that are shed by the butterflies. Those who have been staring for too long will have an unnatural glowing green glaze over their eyes, obscuring their pupil and gaze. This is known as the Moonlit Drain.

These butterflies do not gather all of their energy from moonlight...but they gather it from hopeful beings as well. It is why they gather among populations of sentient beings. They soak up all hope in the area and the longer you stand in their presence, the more hopeless you may become. Standing in the presence of a Moonlit Butterfly has driven people to rapid, severe corruption in under ten minutes. It is best to avoid these butterflies no matter how mesmerizing they may be to look at.

The little orbs of light are actual manifestation of everyone's hope. Touching them may restore hope and they can be gathered into jars for future treatments of corruption. They do not "go bad" as they are the essence of emotion. One way to restore hope to a corrupt or beast-ridden soul is to slay one of the Moonlit Butterflies. They are incredibly easy to kill as they are naturally delicate and non-hostile.

Be warned: the one who slays a Moonlit Butterfly will be consumed with instantaneous corruption and possibly even beasthood. But once the butterfly has been slain, anyone in the surrounding area besides the killer will have corruption alleviated. Killing a Moonlit Butterfly has been known to fill people with incredible grief and guilt. Few have survived."

WONDERKIND

WHEN: April
WHERE: Everywhere outside
CONTENT WARNINGS: Possible spoilers per canon, time/vortex style presence, variety of possible monsters.

---

Excerpt from an essay titled "The Wonderkind Pthumerian" from the book The Curious Nature of the Weakest Pthumerian: Argonaut and Misconceptions:

"Most of the other Patron Pthumerians are known for exceptional strength and durability during trying times. It is only Argonaut in which people think of weakness. They believe the Patron to be a fickle, tiny thing with little worth, but there is a unique and powerful quality to Argonaut that should not be overlooked.

This is the phenomenon known as Wonderkind. It has only been known to happen once every few years and only ever during April, but those who have seen it would testify to the hidden strengths of our explorer Patron. There is much to be said about curiosity and resilience, after all. Argonaut has wandered through the lives of many without most ever realizing it. He has likely seen into your own life, curious about the odd Sleepers that show up on the shores of this world.

Wonderkind appears as a meteor shower, but these are no meteors. Balls of flaming light will fall from the sky, silent, beautiful, striking, and somewhat ominous and terrifying. They rain upon Trench in intervals throughout April. They do not crash into the city so much as glide throughout. These balls of light are shimmering orbs that have split open time and space itself into unraveling cocoons, exposing portals into worlds foreign to this one.

These portals cannot be entered for they are not portals out of this world...But portals into this world. Sleepers have claimed to find beloved items and pull them out of these portals. Some may find old pets that come out to greet them. It can be a lucky and cherished event for many. Tragically, these portals do not seem to be able to bring in sentient beings applicable characters, but you may be able to talk briefly to a loved one who isn't yet in this world.

But that's not all that can crawl through these portals...Monsters from other worlds have been known to flock to these portals and make their way through. Monsters from your worlds or other worlds slip in to wreak havoc on the streets of Trench. It is during this time that it is of the utmost importance that our Hunters take up arms and protect the vulnerable. If you recognize the monsters or disasters from your world entering ours, then please, make sure to caution those against it.

The portals close after a few hours and cannot be manually closed by anyone. Nothing can be sent into portals, but one can stand by a portal and guard it for potential dangers. Portals from your world may reappear several times throughout the month, so don't let your guard down for even a moment, and always expect the worst even when hoping for the best."

Quick Facts:

1. Respect the setting. Do not bring in monsters that would be capable of destroying the world/city/etc.

2. Things like unique plants/items can be gained through these portals.

3. You do not need to engage with portals from your own canon. You can invent new worlds, engage with other canons, or alternate universes. It's up to you.

FROM WITHIN AND WITHOUT

WHEN: April
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Instant beasthood, corruption of soul, draining of soul, replication of soul, mistreatment of sex workers/night walkers.

---

An excerpt from a journal kept by a Night Walker named Charlotte Finch. Finch was known for being one of the first established Night Walkers and was known for her advocacy on the front of Night Walker work and its relationship to beasthood. This journal is kept in the Archives. It contains content pertinent to Beasthood yet, unfortunately, due to ongoing biases against Night Walkers, this journal is kept in the autobiography section rather than the section for beasthood. Good luck finding it.

"the job of the Night Walker is, of course, undervalued by this world. we do our best to soothe the troubled souls of this place and yet they continue to doubt our worth. what must we do to convince them? must we wield blades to show them how we fight? must we shed blood to prove our dedication? must we pick up books to show our intelligence? nei, we not do that. we sleep beside our worn hunters and rest heads upon the chests of scholars and hold the tired hands of architects. we guide the way to light in a way disciples could never.

all us are valuable, it be true, but why must the night walker be left to the wayside? why must our duties be written off? why must it be that it always a night walkers blood in the streets that leaves no tears to be shed? nei, nei, it is hatred of those who understand the soul and body have a close connection.

you know what i believe? these souls of ours change the landscape of our bodies. you cannot have one without the other. when the soul is corrupt, it only be natural that the body corrupts, turning rigid and hideous and monsterous and beastly. aye yes i have seen it myself, though none of the others believe except for other night walkers.

you see, there is a shape that comes to us in the Long Night of april, a shape much like our own. looking like a person ought to look but with no face and no features, like a mirror glimmering in the shape of you. they look like us, and they will mimic us. these odd mirror beings is the shape of our soul, you see, and once it finds you, it will copy you, and you will be driven mad! mad! how does this thing move as you move? how does it replicate what you replicate?

aye, it is your soul, my friend. your soul in a shape you can see. or something like it, may not soul be in your lexicon. it is you, as you are it. it is the Tether between you and beasthood, see what i say. the Tether will begin to soak into you if you let it, if you let it consume you, and it will consume you rapidly. people have been known to be ravaged by the Tether and turn into beasts within seconds, AYE yes, seconds, not minutes, into a vicious beast. the Tether wins.

But you need not let it be a victor, my friend. you see, we proved it, we did, us night walkers, we proved to lay with the Tether is to soothe the Tether. Allow yourself the kindness of another soul, another companion. touch and feel and express companionship. holding the hand of your lover or your friend or your brother or sister will cause the Tethers to weaken before ye very eyes! i do swear it, my friend, i should not lie on a subject i hold so dear.

you see, when we hold one another dear, when we cherish one anothr truly and wholly, we abate the darkness in our souls. listen to your companions, my sweet friends, and let your souls heal, and you can stop the Tether from consuming. you see, you see. surely you see. this is what it looks like. the Tether is always with us, but only in April under this moon can we see it always and will it be vicious and invasive. do not allow it.

do not allow it."

Quick Facts:

1. Tethers will take the exact body shape/size of you and mimic your moves. They may follow you around for several hours/days. Once they decide to "consume" you, it will be quick. It will essentially look like your body is turning metallic and then you become a beast.

While Charlotte states it happens in a matter of seconds, this can happen in several hours/days as well. Depends on the character and their general resolve.

2. People can be pulled back from this through emotional support whether verbally or physically and general acts of kindness. It's the sincerity that matters here. You do not need to be familiar with the person to help them.

3. Everyone can see each other's Tethers so you can determine how severe someone's Tether has become. The more severe the Tether, the more silvery the impacted person will look.

4. Tethers cannot be destroyed with weaponry/attacks. Trying will only hurt the person they are mimicking. You could actually kill someone by trying to "kill" their Tether. The tether will vanish with those who died but reappear once they have reincarnated.

CODING

Comments

manabu yuuki, coldblood, ota

[siriusly]

Butterflies.

o1.
"What the-?!"

The first time Manabu sees one of those gargantuan insectoids on the outside of the house in Crenshaw, he cannot help but expect a fresh kind of hell is at work. So, dear bystander, housemate, or passer-by...

Behold: a man whipping out a laser saber and pointing it up at the completely oblivious creature, ready to zap it.

What do.

---

o2.
One way or another, he winds up learning about the butterfly thing. Eventually. Now it's his turn to help.

"Hey..."

He'll put a hand on the shoulder of someone seemingly caught up in staring too long, give it a little squeeze and shake if there's no reaction.

"Hey, snap out of it. Can you hear me?"

Wonderkind.

o1.
Falling stars...?

No... Those aren't stars...

Manabu's hopes shift to uneasy dread when he sees them fall, certainly ignorant to their meanings. Seeing that none of them, y'know, set buildings ablaze and instead seem to just glimmer and glide around like errant fireflies helps a little, but given the way those monstrous insects have people acting up, he's...not completely consoled. And when the few closest in view blossom here in Willful Machine?

"Whoa..."

He'll draw near to one - one showing a view of an unfamiliar world, unfamiliar people...perhaps familiar to someone nearby! Maybe even unsavory sorts? Who knows? He's gonna find out here in a second.

"Is this...real...?"

---

o2.
YEP THEY'RE REAL. And they're not all that great, he's coming to find! So his next times out into the city, he's giving these little portholes into other places a wary, wide berth before he draws near some to investigate, hand hovering near the pistol on his hip.

This time, though?

"...Wait."

Is that...?

He may be found stuck in place before one, eyes wide and mouth hanging open in surprise at what's before him!

Wanna see what it is? It's probably some cool junk like space or something.

[note: I won't be doing Manabu-specific Tethered prompts, but I'm 100pct down with helping others with theirs - just drop me a link to your tl or start one here!]

01

[droptheious]

Varian's only been going outside when he needs supplies- making the whole journey done as quickly as possible. He doesn't trust any of this. He does slow at seeing a friend here, though, moving a little closer to Manabu.

"Buddy, I don't think it's a good idea to get too close to-"

The a weird little jangling sound and then a sweet little creature tumbles out of the orb. It sits there, wall-eyed and rattling the bell. It's a hollow, tinny sound that can definitely get annoying after longer than five minutes. Varian looks at the creature for a minute- he was a little too busy having his whole mental breakdown when Rapunzel dealt with one of these but he sure remembers the stories.

"...Whyyyyyy is there an Uumlaut here?"

[siriusly]

"Whoa-!"

When the little critter he'd seen rolling around in that image pops out, Manabu jolts right out of the doubletake he'd done in hearing Varian's voice. He hops back a step, an arm instinctively going out to shield Varian and keep him back, and it stays that way even as Varian speaks up again.

"You...recognize it?" he asks, not even risking a look over his shoulder. Who knows what Trench has in store for this...thing!

[droptheious]

"Yeah, it's from my world."

Varian doesn't sound impressed as he kinda leans around Manabu's arm, trying to...gently shove the adorable little fuzzball back towards the portal with the toe of his foot. His prosthetic one. The one that wouldn't suck to lose. The Uumlaut doesn't seem to budge, blinking its big eyes out of synch and only moving to shake the little bell once in a while.

"We definitely don't want it sticking around."

[siriusly]

"Really?"

He frowns, watching it more carefully. It just...looks...like a critter. A kind of dumb-looking critter, honestly.

"Is it...poisonous?" Or set to detonate? Maybe Varian's just from a very explode-y world...

Butterflies. B

[unphase]

She loves staring at the butterflies. The more she stares, the less her concerns get to her. She can remember an ancient Earth tale about the Lotus Eaters who were lulled into a stupor. It vaguely occurs to her that spending so much time transfixed by a butterfly may not be the wisest choice.

But what the Void, she was already feeling hopeless even before she happened upon these beautiful creatures. So they can have what little hope she has left, let them have the rest.

She heard a voice as if it was coming to her through a tunnel and vaguely felt a hand on her shoulder. But what was that in comparison to the butterflies?

Only to have her focus broken by someone telling her to snap out of it and ask if she could hear him]

"...yes? Hello. Is--is something wrong?" She said in a mildly confused tone of voice.

[siriusly]

Okay. That's...something of a sign. An answer? But no eye contact, no real...focus on the words.

His hand squeezes her shoulder again.

"Yeah, I, I think so. Can you...look over at me? At all?"

[unphase]

She's trying her best to rouse herself out of her stupor, but it's hard when things have been hard and staring at the butterflies was so easy in contrast. She's struggling with problems she doesn't know how to put into words, even if she'd been inclined to share them in the first place.

But the second squeeze gets her attention.

At his request, she slowly turns her head to face him. She's trying to focus, she really is, but. That means focusing on her pain, too. "I...yes. I can do that. What are these?"

[siriusly]

Only when she turns to face him does he dare exhale with a modicum of relief, but even then, he can't be sure: His good eye is scanning her features intently for sign of something fell, something dangerous, even while trying to push something of a reassuring expression on his face.

"Mn, nothing good," he replies, letting her shoulder go. "Sorry for raising my voice, but...you weren't answering for a while. I was worried you were getting, uh, sucked in..."

wonderkind, 01

[monoceroscaeli]

[It was hard not to notice the orb that flew past him and landed nearby. It had almost felt like it had made itself known to him on purpose, and his eyes follow it as it lands nearby, and what more, near a friend of his as well. It shimmers brightly before opening up wide, giving himself and Manabu a view of which he hasn't seen in quite some time. A view that he didn't think he'd ever see again soon, and he can't hide the visible shock on his features when he gazes back into a dark, ancient world that a young boy had fallen into so long ago.

Childe walks up to Manabu, placing a hand on his shoulder in silence.

The scene before the two men was a dark, twisted realm with a toxic energy radiating from it, threatening to take any creature in and twist it into something more malicious, something more feral. Ancient buildings of a civilization that stood there long ago towered in the distance while shadows of creatures that stalked the lands fade in and out of view. Long lost symbols glow menacingly across stone, while the sky itself housed a nebula in the distance that glowed an eerie yet beautiful shade of purple, fading to a dark blue as one's eyes panned across the landscape. The realm exuded a feeling of darkness, and Childe blinks once before sighing.]

Never thought I'd see this place again so soon.

[siriusly]

Haa-?

[Manabu double-takes back at Childe from the ominous, inky sights in front of them, surprised more by the grim quality of his friend's expression than anything.]

Again? [looking back to it:] You recognize this place?

[monoceroscaeli]

Indeed. I've fought countless monsters in this ancient landscape. It's called the Abyss...a dark land that exists between the tree roots that lies under the civilization of my world. And yet it appears here...seems that this world ruled by our oh-so-generous Pthumerian gods doesn't want me, or anyone else, to forget about this place.

[He can feel the intoxicating power it exudes radiating through the portal, knowing that if he isn't careful he and Manabu alike could get drunk on it. Childe cautiously steps forward, reaching a hand out to see if he can go through, but his fingers slide upwards at the invisible wall that keeps him out. Figures.]

Can you feel it? That sinister energy that seeps into your mind? Don't get too close, lest you fall to it, haha.

[The shadow that moves around in the background doesn't go unnoticed, though Childe hasn't announced it to Manabu. Whatever it is, it's tall, and not touching the ground, floating towards them curiously. Spikes seem to sit atop the silhouette, purple armor covered by a white tabard flowing as it seemed to glide toward them.]

[siriusly]

[as Childe explains, Manabu feels a chill beyond the general coldblood chilliness he's subject to.

can you feel it? Childe asks, and Manabu wonders if he really can. it's a sinister sensation, a draw not unlike the way gravity pulls on a person leaning over a high precipice.]

You...lived here? This place is... [it's pretty awful, is what it is!]

b1

[facultative]

There's a man in the middle of the road threatening to eviscerate a butterfly. What do indeed. No, he doesn't remember Manabu, he was rather sick at the time and then chugged down far too much cough syrup to remember much from that day.

"It's a bug, just shoo it away."

Anakin steps forward to do so and the butterfly after a moment, does fly away. The lack of hope to drain from him causes it to seek more hopeful pastures.

[siriusly]

"Eh?!"

Manabu gawks, double-blinking as this guy just...coasts on over and waves it off. He double-blinks again when the butterfly just...goes on its way. Just like that! Like it's not kaiju-sized. It barely even rustles their hair in its passing!

"...It didn't even...try to retaliate..."

That's really weird.

He looks back over.

"You know how these things work?"

[facultative]

"It's a bug. They're all the same even if it's bigger."

It didn't even look like a particularly edible bug despite its large size either which was a shame. It could have been a great source of food if it was something like a beetle instead.

"Did one of them scare you or something?"

wonderkind 2

[arclightning]

"Manabu," Mako's saying before he's even close enough to see what's in there. When you see your friend staring open-mouthed into the jaws of another world, you cross the dark street to see what he's looking at, even when you're in the middle of coming home to bring an increasingly-demanding Wu some very specific liquor he'd basically ordered Mako to get for him.

The fresh air is kind of nice—Mako hadn't really realized how long he'd been in their loft—and he was taking it slow on the walk back anyway. There's nothing wrong with coming up to Manabu's side to see what has him so rapt, which is precisely what Mako's doing. Good thing Manabu's small enough that Mako can basically see right over his head.

[siriusly]

"Gih--"

The sound of his name wasn't what gets his attention - rather, it's the feeling of tallness behind him. It makes him bristle, shoulders drawn up to his earlobes as he does his best to turn his head just enough to see what's behind him without losing sight of what's in front. When he sees who it is--

"Shh!" He hisses, gently jabbing an elbow into Mako's gut before refocusing on what's in front of him.

"Aa, thanks again, Yui!" an unseen voice calls over the shuttering of a sliding door. The view is an interior, lit brightly, but warmly. It's a little hazy with steam, and the wall is lined with cupboards and a stove. A kitchen, obviously. "Have a good night!"

"Have a good night!" A woman's voice echoes. Her back is to them as she hefts a heavy soup pot off a burner and into the sink basin. Blonde hair is tied back in a kerchief, an apron tied around her waist, sleeves rolled up for the business of a whole lot of cooking. There's a fuzzy, curled tail poking in and out of view as a dog paces around the room.

Manabu continues to gawk in awed silence as the back of this woman proceeds to rinse out her dishes, the dimmest of reflections of her face just barely discernable in the window of the night sky in front of her.

[arclightning]

"Manabu," Mako says again, quieter, half-ignoring his warning. "What are we looking at?"

Obviously something important, and probably Manabu's home if the last couple people he's seen frozen on the street are any indication. If it is Manabu's home, does that... make this determined, domestic person his mother? They have the same kind of energy, Mako thinks, watching her work.

throws in a butterflies wildcard--

[megatheorem]

[Palamedes is already in Willful Machine, like he said; he's not far from the canals, just loitering in the laboratory-warehouse he shares with Viktor. It's where the rest of his jars are, cleaned out and emptied of whatever foodstuffs came in them first for the purpose of being used for - well.

Not necessarily... hope orb collection. But miscellaneous necessities, for sure. He stacks a bunch of them into his satchel and heads for the lamp, clinking the whole way; it's within a few paces of the lamp he'll be waiting, light in hand — it's the jar of lights he'd already collected, creating a flickering sphere of light around him within sight of the lamp proper.

It's going fine. He's keeping his gaze turned on the ground, save for whenever he hears footsteps approaching that sound un-beastly. Only then does he glance up, waiting for his new collecting buddy. And also the dog.

He holds up a hand to wave, then extends that wave into a point in the opposite direction of the lamp.]

You made it. The last one I saw went over that building; I don't know if it's still back there.

[siriusly]

[the dog makes his debut, anticipating a new face and set of shoes to sniff - the latter which is almost immediate when Palamedes is spotted. Manabu steps into dimly-lit view out of the transport fog shortly after, a satchel stuffed full of some of the smaller remaining jars Diluc could spare from the Roost.

the slight nod-up of greeting is followed up by a sobering expression, brow furrowing as he follows the point.]

Can't get too hostile with it just to shoo it away or it'll leave some worse effects...Let's just make note of where it's perched and draw our perimeter from there, yeah?

[megatheorem]

[Hold on, a moment must be taken to say hello to this dog; Palamedes half-crouches to pet him almost automatically, as soon as he's being sniffed - hello, bud. The motion makes all the jars in his bag clink together, and again when he straightens up to get back to the serious part.]

That works for me. ['draw our perimeter'...] Are you military?

[But let's walk and talk, as he heads not directly after the butterfly but adjacent, assuming it will have dropped some of those good good orbs on the way.]

Wonderkind 02

[truerevival]

The portals had been a point of curiosity when they first came into being; when they fell and blossomed. They were still very much a draw, Kazuma wanting a glimpse at all things possible. But a few peeks into what appeared to be his own homeland, complete with their own unique momentoes, had tempered the rampant urge to look into every single one he came upon.

There was a bit of a draw in seeing someone else held up in front of one though, especially when it (even in the darkness) seemed to be a familiar face.

"Manabu?" Ah yes, definitely still curious. Can't keep that note out of his voice. "What is it?" And--yeah, no he's going to try and get a good look over his shoulder, thank you.

[siriusly]

Manabu only spares Kazuma a fleeting glance to confirm who it is before his eyes are back on the portal. It's like a window into a window...and outside that window is space. In that space?

A train.

"It looks like Big One," he replies. "No, I...I'm sure of it. Those cars are Sirius Platoon!"

[truerevival]

"The...Big One?" The words are slow, an air of wonder laced through his voice. Because over Manabu's shoulder? Kazuma is getting a good look at a sight he never thought he'd see in his lifetime.

Space. Starlight spread across the vast canvas of the void. But within that void--He remembered some of the talks that have come up between them about Manabu's home. But this, this was more than he could have ever managed to imagine. It was so far outside the realm of possibility in his time.

"That is...a sight. Amazing..."