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

blue, paleblood, ota

[firstroar]

Butterflies.
cws: blood/needle reference, body horror

Blue can't help it, both returning to the empty cottage and filling his vision with the sight of the massive, luminous creature's form. It's taken residence atop the freshly-completed extension of the house - the one which was to serve as his new room...back before the family dissolved.

How peculiar to feel any hope at all...let alone feel it leave him. Siphoned like blood from a vein, it leaves behind...little else but more room for what's already been building up within him.

It's happening again. He can feel it. His skin starts to harden, and each gentle shift or shudder brings about hairline cracks and flaking of that skin. Corruption courses in that familiar way, prompting him to hug his arms to himself as he's seized by the feeling.

He knew this would happen. This is why...he shouldn't be here, right?

Please...not...again...

Tethered.

Don't. Don't touch it.

Blue's thoughts are strident, hoping to pull focus from the unnerving figure forming before the person, stranger otherwise.

Don't let it touch you.

Because there'd be no way for Blue to help them at that rate. But at least in this moment...?

[note: i'm not doing a tl for Wonderkind for Blue specifically, but am happy to jump into any of yours if you wanna throw me a link or tl here!]

Butterflies

[searingwing]

[There is a thundering sound of a horse’s hooves. A black horse and cloaked rider bear down on where Blue is standing. The hood flies back and it’s Diluc.

He leans out over the saddle. If Blue allows it he sweeps him up onto his steed and bears him away from the desolation caused by the butterfly.

Either way on closer inspection there is a horn on his horse’s head and the horse as zero fear of the situation. It could even be said to be bearing teeth in defiance.]

[firstroar]

[it happens very fast - too fast for Blue to brace for until it's come to pass. one moment he's about to drop to his knees, then the next he's swept up into the paces of a beast he could only have considered from a child's dream. to say his breath is taken away is an understatement: it takes quite a bit for him to get a smattering of his bearings and his breath before he can realize the presence holding him and keeping him from falling outright.]

Diluc...?!

[Diluc. his ruby-eyed reaper. realizing who he is can only lead to wonder...

is he to perish again? has he already done some damage his mind is skewing from him?]

[searingwing]

Hold onto me. We need to make distance from that thing. [Diluc instructs as he guides his nightmare horse away from the butterfly and down the street. Once out of range Diluc slows them to a gentle trot.]

Now, It’s good I came in time. I saw its flight while I was filling jars. [He can’t save who those orbs belonged to. Not without unleashing something truly terrible. But he can save those who need help.]

[firstroar]

[it takes some doing to hold on, being jostled as he is; only when the pace has eased can Blue manage to sit up a little better, grasping on one of Diluc's shoulders for leverage. at this distance, much of the corruption damage is fading, the signs of which just linger as dried, frayed skin and red rings under his eyes.

his thoughts convey the bewilderment mirrored in his expression:] Flight...? What has happened? For some reason, my head...it's not clear?

What had I done?

[searingwing]

You looked at the butterfly too long. [Diluc explains as he guides the horse towards Cellar Door.]

It drains the hope out of anyone who stares too long. Corruption rapidly sets in and beasthood.

A fate, I never want to see happen to you. You deserve better than that.

[firstroar]

[but...he already saw it. Blue remembers. Diluc's pained expression...was the last thing he saw before breaking apart. surely it doesn't need saying, so...he won't. looking backward won't explain where they're going right now.

a draining of hope...]

So...there was still some left to take... [Blue's mouth twitches faintly. that's kind of a relief to discover.]

...Thank you. Rescuing me again.

[searingwing]

[Forseti slows as he reaches a small shop nearby that’s out of the way. Diluc slowly slips off his back and helps Blue do the same.]

I’m sure you know it already but I wish I could have saved instead. I can’t fix anything but I can help this time.

[He reaches into a pack takes out a small jar with a glowing white orb inside. He holds it out to him.] I like this outcome better.

[firstroar]

[Blue doesn't answer immediately, needing to focus his energy on getting down, staying on unsteady feet when set upon them. he lets go of Diluc, only to put a hand on the leathers he'd just been lifted off of for balance, his eyes following where Diluc's focus is.

his brow knits, then brows raise as awareness hits him fairly quickly.]

There's...raw emotion in there. Excised from minds... How...?

tethered

[hearuthinking]

Jason pauses when he hears the voice in his head. He's been trying to practice with his paleblood ability and so looks around for the source of the thought. It takes him another moment to recognize it.

"Blue?" Don't touch what? It could be any number of things, in a place like Trench.

[firstroar]

This time, he's no specter. Nor is he far away - just a few paces from the end of the street Jason's been walking. He and his omen linger there, silent and still, as though braced for something - some trap to spring, some sound off.

At the questioning notion, Blue's brow furrows.

Do you not...see it?

[hearuthinking]

He's a little relieved to see Blue in person. He hasn't quite gotten used to just talking with his mind yet. Jason turns again and this time he sees it. The mimic turns when he does, copying him beat for beat.

"What the fuck?"

[firstroar]

Don't touch it.

He doesn't hesitate to reiterate his first warning as he pushes away from the corner and starts to walk toward Jason. As he gets within speaking distance, he opts to speak aloud as opposed to sending thoughts.

"Can you sense anything from it? Without touching."

[hearuthinking]

Jason was not the least bit tempted to touch the creature. It's not like that doppleganger he saw in the portal; this one doesn't feel like another person in another time. This thing is just off.

"I don't know." He lifts a hand and the mimic copies him. "Should I just... leave it alone?" It isn't doing anything sinister yet, just being creepy.

[firstroar]

"I don't know if it can be let alone..." Blue slows to a stop a couple steps away, his focus shifting more fully upon the figure.

"Because...to my senses, it seems to be you, in some way. Pieces of you.

"I've heard murmurings about this, I think. This happening. It's...not new, in any case."

[hearuthinking]

Jason doesn't really understand what that means, but he can't deny that the mimic has the same shape and build as he does. It's even wearing a baseball cap. Jason keeps an eye on it while also maintaining a healthy distance.

"Did you hear how to get rid of it?" Just because it's harmless now doesn't mean it won't do something terrible later.

[firstroar]

"When shadows and mirrored images were following others before..." Blue hesitates, then steps forward, meaning to try and stand between Jason and the tether. "The people being mirrored...couldn't see them. Figments of loneliness, isolation..."

He tilts his head and tries to find something discernable within the form.

"These are different, though. And you...only just noticed it?"

Tethered

[tempredmental]

[Keith stared at the strange mirrored thing... His hand had been raised, but Blue's voice stopped him. He blinked a few times and then looked back at Blue.]

Blue-...? [His brow furrowed slightly, and then he looked back at the... 'creature'? He wasn't sure what it was.] What is it?

[firstroar]

[Blue had felt his heart stop a moment, fearful that he'd spoken a moment too soon. but Keith stops, and he can breathe again.

by this point, he'd encountered this phenomenon with Jason. they studied, they learned, and Blue knows what he has to do.

he just needs to keep the courage garnered from that previous case to do so for Keith's sake.]

...It's you. [he pushes away from the building he'd stopped at, and with the lion supporting him at his side, starts to approach, to reach a distance where his voice can carry.]

Part of you. But it will hurt you, if you engage it.

[tempredmental]

[Keith swallowed.]

Me...? [He stared back at the... thing... again. He felt a bit of a shiver down his spine as it triggered an uncomfortable feeling and a bad memory... clones... hundreds of them... all Shiro... one of them attacking him...

Keith shook his head to clear it.]

What does it want?

[firstroar]

From what I've seen...what I've read... It will harm you. Should you give it the chance.

It is tied to beasthood. Come-- [he gestures.] We should get you...to someone you trust. It will ebb in good company.

[tempredmental]

[Keith stood there for a bit longer, staring at it, almost a little enthralled, but Blue's words finally sunk in, and Keith was able to pull himself away from the Tether to follow the Mu.]

Isn't it going to follow us, though?

[firstroar]

Yes. [and if Keith keeps himself open to negativity... hm...]

...A friend. You have your omni on you, yes? Can you locate one of your trusted friends? [local Mu is psychic but isn't letting his friendship status click, wow.]

[tempredmental]

[Unfortunately, Keith was always open to negativity. He was surrounded by it and full of it. Traumatic childhoods did that to people.]

Mm. [He nodded and pulled his omni out, but then glanced at Blue with the friend comment.] What would that do? [He raised an eyebrow in confusion. Was this really something Blue couldn't help with?]

[firstroar]

From what I have researched, proximity and time spent with trusted friends will dematerialize the formation. It will keep you from the risk it poses...the potential beasthood it can bring.