February Event: Just One Mist-ake

[lifeaftr_mods]

FEBRUARY EVENT: JUST ONE MIST-AKE

Who: Everyone who ends up on the floating islands
What: February's event
When: February 15th to February 20th
Where: The floating islands above Ensō
Warnings: Mark as needed!

Sky High

Those curious floating landmasses far above Ensō have only grown more prominent in the coming days. Whether you've chosen to explore the islands purposefully or have ended up there via a mana pool malfunction, you'll doubtless discover their unique properties soon enough. You might even take advantage of their impressionable nature to mold them to your own desires, shaping pieces of the places you once knew, or maybe a place you wish you could be.

Either way, the repercussions to using the floating islands as your modeling clay will be evident by the time midnight rolls around, each night, and the islands impose a regular reset cycle to wipe away whatever changes have taken place, including that peculiar, almost volcanic texture that seems to affect the lands sculpted by your mentality. Just make sure you're not caught outside the depressions in the shape of mana pools centered on each island, lest you bear some unpleasant consequences for a day.

If you haven't signed up for a Reset Penalty and wish to, you can still do so here!

Check Your Wishlist

But of course, it's not all doom and gloom. It's quite the opposite, in fact. If there's something you've been wanting, simple or complex, something that has been making its way into the texture of your thoughts with a frequency that's almost noteworthy, the islands will attempt to see to it that this wish of yours, this yearning, is satisfied in some way or another. Some of the effects will be temporary. Some won't.

Regardless, at some point during the event, if your character visits the islands, the possibility is there.

If you're interested in a Wish Request, let us know here! Remember that filling out this form is required if you want to take advantage of the islands' "giving" nature.

Event Timeline

[ ♆ ] February 15th: The floating islands appear
[ ♆ ] February 16th: The mana pools begin malfunctioning, and characters begin ending up on the floating islands
[ ♆ ] February 20th: Monthly Storytelling occurs, along with a vote as to the next land adventurers will brave. Upon waking, the Storyteller returns everyone to Ensō, and shrouds the islands in cloud once more

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[shatteredlenses]

"That I would have," Ignis bumps Prompto's shoulder gently before turning his attention back to the picture of Soma. "He is up here, but I saw him before I saw him up here. Remember when the stories we told ended up letting people see our memories? His memories were among those I saw. He looks so much happier in this picture. That smile is quite beautiful."

Ignis raises a hand as if he is going to touch the picture, but then suddenly seems to realize what he's doing and clears his throat, letting his hand drop, "It's funny the things you never realize you will miss until you can no longer see them."

[want_to_belong]

Okay, most stuff he wrote off, but saying a dude's smile was beautiful? That wasn't something people usually said, and it made Prompto quirk an eyebrow at him. What was going on here?

Quietly, he searched for a better photo of Soma. Surely he had one somewhere with how often he was taking them. But, instead of concentrating on the photos, he watched Ignis' reaction closely to looking at them.

"Yeah. ...I'm sorry that you lost your sight. I wish it had been me instead."

[shatteredlenses]

Ignis is focused contently on the pictures, studying closely both those that have Ardyn and Soma in them, though that focus changes the moment he hears those words leave Prompto's mouth.

"No!" He almost snaps the word, not in anger, but because of how horrified the very idea of Prompto carrying his burden makes him. "Never wish that, Prompto. What happened, I don't regret. Never. I chose the path that led to it. There are things that I wish didn't follow with it. I never wanted to cause so much tension among us, but the cost? The cost is mine and mine alone. I would give it again and give more if it meant protecting those I care about. I just wish I could have done more."

[want_to_belong]

Ignis' immediate response startled him at first. But honestly, there wasn't anything surprising about what Ignis said. He was that way. He stared quietly at the camera for a moment.

"...Still. You don't have to do it alone. So, promise you'll ask for help if you need anything?" He knew Ignis was a stubborn and prideful man who would push himself. And it wasn't that he thought that Ignis couldn't do anything on his own, or that he shouldn't. He just knew Ignis might try too much before he was ready.

He moved the camera back between them and continued flipping through pics.

[shatteredlenses]

"I..." Ignis' voice drops off and he reaches out to place a hand on Prompto's camera, a signal for him to stop. Once he thinks the gesture has gotten across, he stands, walking a few steps away, hand slipping into the inner pocket of his jacket before he lets it drop free, fingers clenched into a fist.

"There are things I need to talk about, but it's hard. I fear if the truth gets to Noct's ears he will be hurt and I cannot allow that. It is better I walk alone than hurt him more than he already has been. H-he already has lost so much."

[want_to_belong]

Prompto furrowed his brows. He hadn't been around to see exactly what happened when they were separated in Altissia. He and Gladio had been running around taking care of civilians and trying to find him. All he really knew was that Ardyn and Ravus had been around. He stayed sitting, letting the camera rest on his lap while watching Iggy.

"Iggy... We work better as a team. No matter what happened, I'm sure Noct will understand. You don't need to hide anything from us."

[shatteredlenses]

Ignis shakes his head, a sad smile twisting his lips though Prompto can't see it. As if in response to his thoughts and fears, around them the scenery shifts once more to the ruins of Altissia. Specifically, the alter where Prompto and Gladio had found he and Noctis on that day that seems so long ago.

Slowly, he raises the hand that he has in a fist. It's his left one and once he has it held straight out from his shoulder he opens it to reveal what appears to be the Ring of the Lucii sitting in the palm of his hand.

"There are some things, Prompto, I don't believe even his Highness can forgive."

[want_to_belong]

It was hard to get a good view of a small object from far away, so Prompto got to his feet, hesitantly drawing closer because of Ignis' manner.

"Is that...?" He had some idea, but he had no idea why Ignis would have it. "Is that the ring? What's it doing here?"

He was more confused than anything, and he didn't know exactly what Ignis was talking about.

[shatteredlenses]

"It's here because of me," Ignis' answer really is no answer. "As you recall, Noctis has the ring. It should not be here, and yet it appeared in my pocket shortly after I was brought to these islands as if it belonged there just as much as it belongs upon Noct's hand."

He turns his head then, but not enough to look back at Prompto. Instead, it brings his eyes level to the ring that sits so innocently in his hand, "Do you recall what we heard of the Fall when we finally were able to speak with Cor and Monica? A glaive used the ring to activate the Old Wall."

That glaive was here, Ignis realizes, pain lancing through his heart. Nyx. It had to have been him.

"The Kings of Old don't give their power to those without royal blood willingly. It requires a great cost. One's life. Perhaps. Or one's vision."

[want_to_belong]

Iggy remembered more details than he did. A lot had happened to them during the trip, and things like stories of people he didn't know were swept under the rug. He sort of remembered them but didn't think about them.

He approached further, getting close in a cautious manner, like he was a bit afraid of the ring.

"Iggy... You put on the ring?" Was that what happened? They never got the clearest explanation of what happened to Iggy. He'd certainly been tightlipped when he was unconscious. "Why?"

[shatteredlenses]

"I had to protect Noctis," his voice begins to shake and he turns so he's facing forward once more, though his eyes stare blankly ahead, seeing nothing but the rain and the fire of that day. It starts slowly, but his breathing beings to shake as well. Shake, rattle, and sound almost as pained as it had back then when he struggled just to stay conscious until someone came who could keep Noctis safe in his stead.

"Ardyn overwhelmed both Ravus and I. He threatened Noctis, Prompto. Held a knife to his throat. It wasn't my place but I-I had to protect him. If that cost me my life, then so be it. I told them. I told them they could have my life. I just needed to keep him safe." Tears slide silently down his cheeks, "They took my sight instead of my life, but there are things I will never stop seeing. We survived, but i-it wasn't enough. It wasn't nearly enough!"

[want_to_belong]

Prompto's confusion took a back seat when Ignis started shaking. He closed the gap he'd kept between himself and the ring, stepping forward and grabbing Ignis by the arm as if to prop him up. It was rare that Iggy had a breakdown. Witnessing one made things upsetting, because if Ignis was crumpling then things were really bad.

"It's okay Ignis, I'm here," he tried to remind him. Eyes darted around and he attempted to lead Ignis back to where they had been. What Iggy was worried about and what Prompto was worried about were two completely different things. "Come on, there's a seat here. Sit down."

His grip on Ignis' arm stayed firm. His other hand went to the adviser's back, rubbing it below his shoulder as he tried to guide him down gently. "It's okay. It's over. You're okay."

Well. He was blind. But he was alive.

[shatteredlenses]

Ignis' shaking fingers snap closed around the ring and he almost pushes Prompto away. There's part of him that wants to scream at the blonde that he doesn't understand, but the rest of him knows that unfair to Prompto, and somehow, that realization takes all the fight out of him. His shaky breathing is the only thing that makes any sound as he allows himself to be led over to sit. The situation is so familiar to when they first arrived in the dream world before coming here--Prompto calming him as he tried so hard to pull himself together. Only now, he knows the source of all those fears, terrors, and anxieties that floated around in his mind.

He knows and it's all too much.

"Nothing is okay," Ignis voice is barely a whisper when he finally speaks. "You don't understand. I've seen how it will all end and it's horrible beyond words."

[want_to_belong]

Prompto followed along, staying close as he did when Ignis first lost his sight and he started guiding him around.

He was still confused. He had no idea exactly what Ignis was talking about. Something that happened in Altissia? Did Ardyn do something? What did Ignis see? His hand kept rubbing up and down Ignis' back and he still hadn't let go of him arm.

"We'll fix things. Whatever it takes," he reassured him.

[shatteredlenses]

"It's not that easy. Prompto, I tried. I tried to get him to go back and he wouldn't even consider it!" For a moment, he feels a wave of shame wash over him. Speaking of that moment of selfish weakness is not easy, but Ignis needs Prompto to understand just how bleak everything looks.

"While he was still the healer, Ardyn and I talked. We made plans I could try when I went back. Things that might help us outsmart both the Astrals and himself, but I didn't remember any of it when I went back. It was like I'd never been here at all!"

Ignis lists into Prompto and for a moment, it's like the blonde is the only thing keeping him upright, "We have to fix things, but I don't know how to do it anymore."

[want_to_belong]

Prompto wasn't sure the full details of the implications. Did Ignis just not remember because he was back so quickly? Did he really go back, or did memories come back to him? What exactly was going on?

But he knew this all sounded bad. He bit his lip, hesitant to talk, because thus far he'd always been on board with making plans on what they'd do to fix things when they got back. He hadn't said much otherwise because he knew it'd be a no-no. Everything they thought about doing when they got back home had always been his Plan B, though.

"I..." he spoke up quietly, and his reluctance to speak might have made it seem like he was speechless because of the hopelessness of the situation, but he pushed on and weakly admitted, "I wasn't planning on going back."

He followed it up quickly, trying to explain himself, "I know it's selfish. There's a lot of people counting on us. But I don't want to lose Noct, either..."

[shatteredlenses]

"What?" Now that gets Ignis' attention, cutting through all the emotion swirling around in him. He even manages to lift his head so he can give Prompto a confused look. Staying? Forever? Was that even possible? He'd never even considered it.

"I'm fairly certain not much time had passed on Eos between when I originally left and when I went back." His initial memory loss makes it impossible for Ignis to be completely certain and that suddenly bothers him a great deal, "If none of us ever went back, would the world continue? Could it without Noctis? What would happen to the Starscourge with both Noct and Ardyn here?"

There are so many questions and his mind is racing in an attempt to solve them all at once even though he has no way of figuring out the answers. At least, he's no longer in the middle of a breakdown.

[want_to_belong]

"...That's right, Ardyn is here, too."

Prompto hadn't even taken that part into consideration. He said it as if he just realized Ardyn was there, because he'd only been thinking heavily about Noct.

"If he's here, then can anything even happen there?"

Because if not, people would be okay even if they stayed.

[shatteredlenses]

"I don't know. The world may just remain froze at the time we left. If so, those left behind would never know the difference," Ignis' words are hesitate as he speaks. Setting aside the question of if they can actually stay or not, is it right to lock those they've left behind in limbo forever? Even if they don't know what's happened?

Are they really okay with doing that to Gladio and Iris? What about the Marshal, Monica, Cindy, and Cid?

"Noctis will never be okay with it. If he wouldn't go back when I asked, I can't see how he will ever agree to abandoning the whole world, frozen in time or not."

[want_to_belong]

"That's why I never mentioned it to him." Nor Ignis. He figured he knew that his plan was 'bad' and the guilt was in his voice. They were set on going through with their mission. Prompto just couldn't bear the thought of losing his buddy.

"But, if we don't find a way home, it's not our fault that we're here, right? It's just an unfortunate thing that happened." His plan. Basically, 'inaction'. He bit his lip, knowing very well what he was suggesting would, in a way, go against his king, "If we concentrated on surviving and helping people and stuff, and don't work that hard to get back..."

His devious plot was revealed and he knew he could be criticized for it.

[shatteredlenses]

After putting on the Ring in Altissia, does Ignis really have any room to criticize plans? He knows Prompto's heart is in the right place and that means a lot, especially when Noctis is on the opposite side as they are on this.

Astrals, it feels wrong to be on the opposite side of Noctis on anything, but this? How can they just let him go?

"I can't really argue with that, but you know I'm not the kind to sit still and just let things be."

Inaction isn't his thing. It isn't his thing at all.

[want_to_belong]

"We could still plan on how we're going to fix things if we end up back home?"

It was a weak peace offering in a way, and pretty much what he'd already been doing to try and appease everyone. Noct didn't need to know about his alternative plans, and he and Iggy could figure out a way to make everything better if they did go home. He fidgeted idly with him camera, eyes downcast.

[shatteredlenses]

"We need to find a way to make sure we remember when we go home first," Ignis recognizes the attempted peace offering for what it is and so he's gentle with his correction. "Making plans means little when we don't remember them once we go back."

Writing some kind of note and leaving it in a pocket seems like far too simple a solution, but maybe they can come up with something else. It's worth a try anyway.

[want_to_belong]

"Well, we remember what happened at home while we're here, so there's gotta be a way for the opposite to be true, right?"

Scientist he was not. He was just trying to figure out why memories would be lost just from traveling back. Pursing his lips, he asked gently, not wanting to offend or imply that he disbelieved Ignis, "Are you sure you physically went home? Maybe it was something else? There's gotta be some weird time stuff going on, because you're still several weeks behind what I remember happening." His finger lightly tapped the side of his camera as he let himself voice his stream of consciousness. "What if... What if it wasn't something there that makes people forget stuff, but something here? Like, what we have memories being blocked right now?"

[shatteredlenses]

"I must have gone home. Where else would I have gotten my jacket from? What about the cane and the notes from you and Gladio? I had none of that when I first arrived here," Ignis tries to make his voice sound certain, but he's not. He may have studied countless topics as part of his education, but metaphysics was never one of those topics. Neither was time travel or alternate universes. They were all things people dabbled in. They didn't study them seriously unless they wanted to be viewed as a quack.

"If the Storyteller wants stories, what would be the point of blocking our memories here? It would only lessen the supply."