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!]

Luz| Paleblood | OTA

[imaglyphwitch]

Butterflies even Owl City would avoid

Luz had been so used to ugly and strange, watching something truly beautiful, akin to shooting stars, was enough to keep her entranced. She'd been walking with Owlbert and Tempest in the forest to give the two a chance to stretch their legs when she was the huge, glowing butterflies descending upon Cassandra. It was enough to keep her attention, much to both Owlbert and Tempest's unease. The big Timberwolf and Palisman both did their best to pull Luz out of the underbrush to move on, but to no avail. She was transfixed.

Worst was that she appeared motionless, the light in her eyes starting to wane.

"Pretty," she murmured. "Think we'll ever see anything this beautiful again? Would this place even allow it?


Wonderkind, or Let the Wrong One In

Several nights later, when Luz started to see something like meteors, immediately her guard was up. Oh no, they were NOT going to do all of that again, thank you.

"Owlbert! We're not even going to look at that thing. Nope! You're gonna turn into a staff, we're going to blow out of here, top speed, go home, have a nice pot of tea and have a good laugh at how we managed to avoid some strange new phenomenon, ok?"

She'd seen enough scary movies. Owlbert turned into his motionless staff form, but just as Luz was about to mount the staff, she heard something akin to a dark hiss, and voice very VERY close to her ear.

"Luz Noceda. No good to collect."

She would have loved ignore it, she really would, but this time the thing blew past HER, and now she had to sneak a glance and oh boy. She knew what this was.

She'd seen the tail and recognized the slinking speed from her first day at Hexside. It was a basilisk, gray blue instead of that sort of greenish yellow color, but how? They were thought to be extinct! Willow had said that.

OH NO. THEY FED ON MAGIC.

"Owlbert! Change of plans! We're going to have to head that creature off!"

It looked much stronger than the last basilisk too, so. Uh oh. Even more danger.

Circles on Circles on Circles

[Wild card one].

There was a lot on Luz's plate. The notes about that poor guy who was captured. The school Ozpin was running that Luz was trying to join, and the martial arts competition she was bound to lose. The Fathiers. Everyone in the house doing their own thing, or recovering from losing Cassandra (the person, not the city they lived in). It was all a lot, and Luz barely had time to do the thing that she'd been trying to improve on. She kept saying she'd follow up with it with Saeri.

And now she was gone, as were several other people Luz met. So. No time like the present.

It was night, no big surprise, but she'd already cast several light balls around, with Tempest watching with rapt attention. She'd managed to sequester herself in a dark part of the forest, and had several different books open, alongside several notebooks Luz had. There were a lot of scribbles with several different symbols and explanations and glyphs in the making, most of which Luz had discarded.

She knew by now that her glyphs, as Saeri had once told her, needed to be given purpose. For that to happen, she'd come to understand, she needed to figure out their combinations first.

If you come upon Luz now, she'll be deep in one of three spells.

*Teleportation- Not working out as well as she hoped. In fact, you might see the girl furiously scribbling on the floor, only to blip away...a few paces.

"Shucks," she said to no one in particular. "I have the disappearing part down, but the range is where I keep tripping up! How the heck can you dictate travel though glyphs?"

*Disappearing- This is one Luz has actually started to perfect! You'll come upon her books and even her omen Tempest but won't see anyone there at first. Then you'll hear a loud exhale, and Luz is right behind you, heaving a bit.

"I...I did it! Just about anyway! I think I stayed invisible for at least three minutes! Just have to figure out how to do it without needing to hold my breath!"

*Shield- This seems to be giving her the worst trouble.

While the other two spells at least seemed to be in the process of being figured out, Luz kept attempting a shield spell that would immediately pop, which would have Luz muttering some pretty murderous sounding things in Spanish.

"I did it with Lysithea before, why won't this stay?! What's blocking me?"

Might have something to do with mentioning the name of her boss, who was still not around and this causing Luz apprehension she hadn't expected. Losing Saeri had been bad enough, but Lysithea she knew since Deerington. What would she do if SHE were gone??

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!]

Klee | Coldblood | OTA

[sparkknight]

1. They Fly in the moonlight

[It took a while to get used to the eternal night, but it didn't bother Klee too much. Today she wandered around to see any new sights before she spotted the butterflies. Well, she spotted the glowing orbs first and stuff two orbs into her pocket before her eyes landed on the butterflies. They so much bigger than any crystalfly at home. Klee stares in wonder at the humongous butterflies as more orbs rainee down. She's utterly enraptured by the glowing insects and simply stares at them in awe. ]

Ooh, crystalflies.

[She murmurs as she keeps staring. Klee knows she should move but they're so pretty. The little girl stands there simply staring and doesn't move as everything slowly turns green. She can't look away. ]



2. Far and close from home

A. [The scene in the portal is an enclosed room with high walls, glowing torches and beautifully decorated walls. Occasionally, the room flickers to one cold as ice then hot as fire before flicker back the the empty room. Though the environment changes, the only thing that remains the same is an enormous white tree in the background surrounded by a glowing floor. Its branches are completely bare as it sits at the back of the chamber.

Scattered around the foot of the portal are various items. First, there are many different types of odd artifacts strewn aboutwhich include  decorated hourglasses, ornately decorated cups, ornately decorated circlets, ornate decorated feathers and decorate flower. Not to far lies something the looks like an odd fashioned camera and finally several stacks of books. If you look at the title of the book, it says Teyvat Guide. ]

B. [The swirling portal bounces between a child's room filled with drawing and schematics, a barrack full of armoured soldiers all laughing and chatter around a dinner table and finally a wide open field with a beautiful green landscape with large mountain with a city surrounded by castle walls with large windmills. It's beautiful and picturesque.  It's soon settles to the lush field

Klee many feet away is sorting out a small pile of various plants and berries. She singing some sort of odd song while sorting through her pile and unafraid of the portal.

The dark figures appear in the portal before shudders. It ripples before a monster emerges from the portal and make an odd sound. ]

[Occ: You can pick the following monster from least dangerous to sort of dangerous: slimes of any element, Abyss Mages of any element, or a Ruin Hunter.]

3. Those that wander along lost

[Klee doesn't mind the dark. She's almost a big kid being scared of the dark is a little kid thing. Staying indoors had made her antsy since it didn't feel right to explore in the dark. Still, after nearly a week and a half, Klee couldn't stay indoors anymore. She got some treats for herself and maybe her housemates. No chocolates since she remembers all the things that happened when gave them out. She knew the store was an easy walk and wouldn't take much.

But the dark changed everything. Klee nothing seemed familiar as she wandered. The familiar trees all looked different in the moonlight and the path was much more difficult to find. Clutching the straps of her backpack, the treats safely inside, Klee continues on slowly. Nothing seems familiar. She could call for help on her Omni, but she doesn't know where she's at.  ]

Klee is a brave girl. This is the way home. Klee is a brave girl. This the way home.

[She chants outloud while looking utterly lost. ]

4. Wildcard

[If you don't like any of the prompts feel free to make one up. Or if you want a specific starter hit me up at my plotting post or PM me ]

3

[imaglyphwitch]

Well guess who has plenty of light? That would be this girl, on her staff, who pretty much has no choice but to be surrounded by her light spells since there's no actual sun light. She was actually planning on going home soon until she hears some small murmurs down below. Intrigued, she lowers herself down, and Owlbert shakes himself awake and perches on Luz's shoulder. Luz, meanwhile, is squinting to see who she'd spotted].

K-Klee? What are you doing, wandering around by yourself?

[sparkknight]

[Klee was chanting the phrase to herself when she heard her name. Letting out a startled eep, she whirls around gripping the bomb in her pocket and stops. Oh, it's just Luz. She lets go of the bomb and slowly relaxes at a familiar. Her voice a little shaky]

Um, h-hi Luz. Klee was tired of being home. So I decided to got get dessert for lunch or dinner for everyone at home. Klee knows how to go to the pastry store and back super quick. But it's dark and everything looks weird and different at night. So Klee got lost.

1

[violetlies]

[Kokichi, for his part, has managed to resist the allure of the butterflies. Whatever's going on with anything in Trench, it usually isn't good. So he can rationalize that however pretty they might be, these things are dangerous.

Which brings his attention to the fact that on his brief stroll pointedly ignoring the butterflies, he's run into someone who very much isn't. And it's a child, at that.

So that's more than a little alarming. He quickly walks to the little girl's side, hearing her entranced murmur...and then grabs her little hand immediately when he sees the slowly growing emerald color to her face.]

Sorry, kid, but we maaaaay need to let these flutterbyes rest.

[Time to try to drag her away while not looking himself, which is a little bit of a struggle.]

[sparkknight]

[Klee is full entranced by the butterflies and feels a tug on her hand. Whining, she does her best to dig her feet into the ground to keep looking at the butterflies. She weakly tries to tug back her hand and doing her best not to move.]

Nooo, Klee wants to look at the crystal flies. Let go.

[Alas, her feeble attempt doesn't work since the person dragging her away is stronger and older. Her mind is fuzzy as she weakly struggles against the grip but is tugged along. She whines once more her eyes still on the butterflies. Automatically, her mind latches on to the first person who would do this.]

Maaaster Jean. The crystalflies here are bigger and prettier. Klee wants to watch them.

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz saw Klee reaching for something (what)?? but gave a little wave so she knew it was her. She gave the girl a reassuring smile and put out another light glyph so they could see each other better].

Right, of course! It's a lot harder to find your way home with the way everything looks at night, right? You probably don't have a flashlight or anything either. Luckily, magic is really helpful with things like that!

[sparkknight]

[Klee returns the wave as feels a lot better now that there more light. Tree and path still don't look familiar, but it does feel less scary than before. Not to mention, Luz is here which cheers her up.]

Yeah, Klee could find her way back home at night, but the moon back home was super bright. Here's it really different.

What's a flashlight? Klee only has a Vision. I can't use Pyro because I could burn down stuff. I made a promise not to burn stuff unless they're monsters or bad people.

Oooh, I like your magic Luz. It's always really amazing!

[violetlies]

[Time to slip into the typical big brother DICE role. He doesn't even know this little girl, but he's had enough DICE quazi-members like this to know how to deal...he thinks.

He won't think too hard on the fact that he's not certain.]

Sorry, Klee-chan, but they're dangerous. I don't want you hurt.

[Kokichi continues dragging her along, trying to make sure at some point soon her eyes move away from the large butterflies - or at least she gets far enough that she doesn't get entrapped by them too much.

Jean? Who is Jean--probably someone from her original home.]

Bigger and badder. Besides. There's far more interesting stuff to do than just sit around and watch these big guys.

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz had some trouble at first too, but luckily she goes out a LOT more than Klee does, mostly because the fathiers needed to be walked (or ran, really) every day. It also helps that Luz can cast her light glyphs whenever she needs to light the way]

Basically its artificial light made with a light bulb. Usually you need batteries, but I don't know if they make them here. I just use my glyphs anyway. Riight, I'm lucky I can cast light, or I might need to use the fire ones too.

Heh, thanks! How do you make Pyro?

Allen Walker | paleblood

[likethelight]

[ Prompts for monstrous angel-beast things and saving monsters and souls over here!

Mostly doing private prompts for people but have a couple open. Hit me up if you want to do something or just wildcard something my way! ]

viktor | paleblood | ota

[mehanizovati]

1. butterflies, open

[a curious mind means viktor's first instinct when these butterflies show up is not to check the network immediately or err on the side of caution, but to go to the door of his lab and observe from what he assumes is a safe distance. in all fairness that seems a perfectly safe thing to do, complete with the intent to vanish back into his lab at the first sign of trouble.

unfortunately trouble is not a snarling thing ready to pounce but the sight of the butterflies themselves.

he finds himself drawn out to get a better look, an odd heaviness in his chest that brushes away any concerns about being out in the dark. did it really matter? increasingly he wonders how much any of it matters, thoughts he largely keeps at bay but now seem to be sliding easily through his defenses to settle like parasites.

so a dazed scientist can be found leaning on his crutch and staring at the butterflies, likely in the Willful Machine but possibly he wandered. There's that green haze to his eyes, a clear sign something is wrong and he could really use someone dragging him away before the corruption starts to settle in.]


[alternatively he will be out collecting those orbs, so anyone doing the same might hear some fantasy-arcane version of czech cursing when one flies up too high to grab with his bottle.]


wonderkind, open

[viktor is trying not to get swept too much into the fascination of glimpses of new worlds. can anyone blame him? have you seen some of the technology star wars or trek ships have? either way he's well aware he's not a fighter and could easily be overrun by monsters if he lets his curiosity get the best of him. one day he really does need to build a proper laser.

what he wasn't expecting was the monsters to come to him, in the form of an alleyway full of slime. yes, slime, those low level blob monsters that tend to split into smaller and smaller pieces until they finally just go away. the kinds that really don't do much damage at all as long as they're small, and these are pretty tiny. the biggest are the size of his head, and they don't really hurt so much as sting a little if they hit bare skin. and the sound. awful.

unfortunately this alley happens to be the one right outside viktor's makeshift lab, so anyone coming by can here a very irritated czech accent going,] Bah! Shoo! Get out of here, I cannot work with all this racket!

[seriously the slapping sound is just the worst. he tries in vain to push them away with his foot and and of his crutch but they just aren't cooperating.

also maybe be careful, because like most generic slime monsters they could end up fusing bigger again and then they're an actual problem.]

tether, open

[at some point in time viktor can be found sitting at the docks of Willful Machine, watching the boats as they drift by. normal, except across from him is a mirror image of himself aside from, you know, small details. a face, for one.

he regards it with a heavy frown, lifts his hand to see it lift the same. lowers that hand, the hand lowers. he doesn't seem particularly impacted yet, and anyone who approaches will be greeted with,] Eerie, isn't it? I've never cared much for symbology and omens of the dire variety.


wildcard

[ooc; i'd be happy to do something else too, my plotting comment for the event is there. please let me know if i missed someone i said i'd do something with! i'm putting closed prompts in my catch all]

[sparkknight]

[Klee-chan? That sounds a little off but the rest sounds just like Master Jean when she's worried. It must have been really bad if she was pulling her away. After a moment, she starts to follow 'Jean' obediently and turning away from the butterflies. Her mind is gradually getting a little less fuzzy. ]

Klee's not going to get solitary confinement, right? Klee thought they were crystalflies.

[As they move farther and farther away, her confusion starts to clear up quickly. Klee soon realizes that the person who took away from the butterflies isn't Jean at all. Then the butterflies were mean things too.]

Like what, Mister? Oh, thank you for getting Klee away from the bad butterflies. I thought they were like the ones at home or the nice small fuzzy one.

[sparkknight]

Ooh, then it's like a fireless latern. I get it. That sounds like a really good thing to have!

Like this! See

[Klee holds out her hand and a small fire appears in her palm. Soon it turns it into a laser flower that glows bright red. She looks around and spots a rock then raises her hand. Out the flower shoots a Lazer beam that hit the rock and there's a scorch mark.]

That's how Klee does it.

Kokichi Oma | Darkblood

[violetlies]

[Series of opens over here!

osomatsuniisan to set up anything private~]

[imaglyphwitch]

Pretty much! It just does light, but it can do way more with the right combinations!

[Luz stared in awe, because of course, seeing someone else perform their version of magic is still pretty amazing. She even managed to change what she was doing and focus it to performing a specific function]!

That's great! My fire glyph is a little like that too, but I don't think I could refine it into a flower! Only my plant glyph can do stuff like that!

4 spear fishing

[searingwing]

[The forest outside of Trench is thick and foreboding. Even water sources look suspect. There is a dark tone to everything that sets Diluc on high alert.

He had promised Klee he would show her how spear fishing worked. It’s a reasonable lesson. Should she be teleported - as this realm is so fond of - to another place, she would know one way to catch food.

He took them out on Forseti, a great black horse that charged into the fray instead of away from it. If a monster or something tried to fight them, Forseti would gore them. He walks to a spot at the edge of the lake where he can see the shadows of something swimming under the surface.

He beckons to Klee and reaches behind himself for the spear strapped to his back. The head of the spear has been covered in thick close wrapping. He unwinds it, tucking it into his pocket. Then with care he lays the spear against the nearest tree.]

Before I begin. What was the most important lesson the knights have told you with regards to weapons?

L Lawliet | Death Note | OTA

[hearthebell]

I. Moonlit Butterflies (Gaze)

[Reliably, L is a pragmatic man without much use for hope. It's a thing that feels deceptively nice, like the bloom of warmth and comfort that sets in right before one begins to freeze to death in earnest. It's a pernicious influence, in other words, better kept at arm's length.

Trench has a way of melting into one's core, though. Human contact, relationships and gentle kindness have warmed him through, bit by bit, and with those he would call friends, one he would call nemesis, and even one he might call a crush, in spite of the darkness L has perhaps more legitimate hope than he ever has before.

The result is that he guards it jealously. When you happen upon him in Gaze, he is filling a third container with orbs. He's no killer, but his fevered greed has resulted in a dearth of them in this area.

Maybe you're in dire need of hope, yourself.]

II. Wonderkind (NETWORK in Crenshaw, CW: Monster attack, tongue eggs, amputation by hand-melting]

[L is crouched in his latest deserted hovel, scouted for a week prior before he moved in for a mere two days. He has one day left before he'll move to his next location; it's important to him that foes and friends alike never have an easy time finding him, that his exact residence is never easily or readily known, because then it can be shared, sold, purchased, exploited.

As a result of his approach, he has to travel light. His sleeper backpack contains all his worldly goods, a compact bedroll in the form of a single tatty blanket, and a set of clothes in addition to the ones on his back to allow for occasional laundry. His lamp friend remains, as he's never set it down in a place he can call home permanently. Bits of food, bloodstones, and a carefully-wrapped journal also reside in the bag, and tonight, this final item is what he stoops over to study, careful to only handle it with a glove on his right hand, and only then turning the pages with his fingertips.

He's read it twice, now, a piece of necromantic literature purloined from The Emperor's study, but he is going over it again for missing pieces, anything he perhaps failed to memorize perfectly.

A ball of glowing light glides through the open window. The shift in shadows immediately catches L's attention, but the ball seems to blot and burn a hole into the fabric of the world right before his eyes. It isn't his world he's staring into; it's one that's both very similar and very strange. A battle on a subway platform between a tall muscular man with red skin and sawed-off horns, and a sickening and gruesome monster is occurring...

...and then, the monster is in L's secluded room, all slobber and disconcerted rage. He bolts to his feet, but not before it has lashed out its tongue, wrapping its slimy length around his ungloved left hand. There's a piercing sensation near the delicate bones there, something between sucking and penetration, and when the thing lurches away to propel itself out the window, L's left staring at the slicing wound in his left palm, and the half-dozen gelatinous orbs nestled secure inside.

He steadies his breathing, dissociates to the best of his ability. Using the hook of his right index finger, he tries to pry the eggs loose, but they're snug inside, practically glued. He swallows, starting to shake in spite of his best efforts to remain calm, when his eyes fall on that warded book. He thinks of the promised effect of touching it, the care he's taken so far to avoid doing just that.

Surely just one corner, strategically applied, might yield the result he needs. Hating that he doesn't know the timeline he's working within, or whether seeking medical attention instead would be prudent or folly, he lifts the book in his gloved right hand, turning it so that he can ever-so-carefully apply a little bit of prodding pressure to the embedded eggs in his palm with the tiniest possible portion of its cover.

It works immediately; it works too well. L sets the book hastily aside as the eggs disintegrate, and, with them, his entire left hand, down to sinew, down to bone, and then the bones, too, are puddled and fizzing at his feet.

He steps back, watching the blood that drips from the stump of his wrist drip and pool and follow him. Wherever he goes, there it is, and he is calm but it is a weaker insistence now as his vision starts to blotch around the edges.

His blanket is his compress until it's soaked through and summarily tossed aside. Then his spare clothes; by this point he's had the presence of mind to tear a sleeve off his bloodied shirt and use his fork to create a makeshift tourniquet.

He manages to type a message with fingers jittery from adrenaline, clumsy from blood loss.]

UN: ENPAWNSANT

ATTN sleepwrs in crenahw

rhter is a movstert that has emedged grom a oportAL

watch the tobgue

effectiva devense measures not nknow at tis time

III. From Within and Without (Cellar Door)

[A little later in the month, L is whole and mended once again, but his troubles in April aren't yet done. He knows because he's begun to notice his shadow, perhaps for the very first time.

At first he thinks he's cracking up, maybe in the sort of way that isn't all bad. It's like having a friend, after all, someone who follows him and does what he does and doesn't shun or judge. He even laughs at it sometimes, the absurdity of it all. Gradually, his milky skin starts to take on a silver hue, which is not as alarming as it might be for one who isn't as pale and paleblood as L.

It feels very natural, even. He always knew he'd be devoured. Now that it's happening, how can he truly fault the creature that's bested him?]

Hey...

[The edges of the strange man's eyes and veins seem to be molten silver.]

I wonder if you can give something to a friend of mine. He'll want to have it, and I don't think I'll be able to do it myself. I'll pay you in bloodstones, or... actually, you can just take everything I have, OK?

IV. WILDCARD

[Don't see it? Want it? Have at it! Wedge some slice of life in between these events, offer to get the book back to Jod's study for a price, or anything else your heart desires. I'm easy.]

[violetlies]

[S...Solitary confinement?]

No, you're not getting solitary confinement, that's not...that's not a crime.

[It's concerning that a little girl knows those words. Then again, here's hoping she was just repeating things she'd heard from adults around her. It'd really throw him for a loop to find out that this kid was some kind of bomb-chucking anarchist or something.

ANYWAY. When Klee's head starts to clear up, he lets out a little sigh of relief.]

No problem, Klee-chan. Not that we know each other, but I know those big guys are baaaaad news, however pretty they are. Which is a shame, because I like butterflies, too. Easy mistake to make, though, so I hardly blame ya.

[He's not letting her out of his sight, though. Just in case.]

As for what could be more interesting...you cooooould test something I created. My name's Kokichi. I'm starting up a toy-making business. Did you wanna maybe try my little prototype here?

[Luckily, he shoved his little project into one of his pockets while he was heading out. What he fishes out from one of his pockets is...]

It's for a kaleidoscope. It's my first time making one!

[It's small, and hand-sized, and it's his first time truly making something like that - he'd been messing around with it in his free time - but hey, fortune favors the bold.

He gently holds it out to the little girl. If she chooses to take it, there's a small sea of beautiful colors when she looks through the lens.]

2-A

[floatsaway]

[Klee's isn't the only portal around, nor is she the only one picking up items. A young, teenage girl also seems to be about, her arms full with a few small items, that were bittersweet reminders of home. Weirdly enough though...the items in her arms don't seem to fit her very well at all - a black t-shirt with a skull design, a poster of an imposing, costumed man, and a colorful, knit scarf. Each item is held gently, folded or rolled with the utmost care, and tucked away safe. Ochako barely even looks for anything else - she has what she needs already, it's fine, these should all go to her friends. In reality, she's just happy to have caught a glimpse of home... It's been so, so long.

Her eyes are a little red, and puffy - homesickness definitely made her cry a bit - and she almost trips over the numerous items littering the ground still from Klee's world. It's a goblet that does it though - her foot catches and she squeaks as it rolls under her sole and makes her stumble, dropping all the things she had in her arms.]

Eyaaah!! [Graceful. At the very least, with the sudden surprise, none of the heavier items go too far, but she scrambles to her feet to try and catch the poster before it blows away or gets wrinkled or ripped. Or just...gets blown away completely.] Oh, no!! Come back!

i.

[encyclonepedia]

Locked.

[The word is spoken with a sort of absent annoyance, as if he's too distracted to let the concept bother him as much as it normally would. Much of the natural knowledge of this place is lost to him. Having to write the books himself is a pain. They will sometimes appear on the shelves of his mental library, but far too many of them require keys that he wouldn't even know where to start or whether it was even worth his time.]

With the keywords "glowing butterflies" I've found Princeps nireus, but a bit of florescence on the wings doesn't compare to this.

[Cross referencing with anything involving floating lights had brought up the will o wisp. While a fascinating subject, he doesn't believe there's a connection here. Perhaps vaguely.

He has to shake himself out of research mode (never an easy task) to recognize that he isn't actually alone and talking to himself.]

What are you doing?

amaterasu (ōkami)

[brushy]

ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀᴋɪɴᴅ

[ would you like to help a furry mother with pest control? would you be in trouble and need said wolf at your rescue? choose a demon, fight a demon! boss battles are first come first serve, common demons are unlimited! comment here! ]

uchiha sasuke | naruto | darkblood | closed prompts

[retsuden]

[[ I'm going to be sticking to closed prompts only this event since I'm swamped IRL. If you'd like to plot something, feel free to PM me, or hit me up on keshet or cunnilinguist#4424 on discord! ]]