you and me in the moonlight

[crosslaced]

Who: You!
What: A year end party MINGLELOG to help everyone recover from the Shit we’ve been through.
When: Forwarddated to Nov 24
Where: Enso E4, close to the ST Temple
Warnings: Mark as necessary, but none expected.

As the end of November draws near…… it’s time for that player plot the mods hinted at in their latest announcement.

Laurent’s Witch Labyrinth! -no, actually, it’s just a party.

[preparation]

All day on the 24th people are hard at work setting up on the golden beaches of Enso. The Storyteller’s Temple can be seen from the site and vice versa; it’s just a short walk away. There’s quite a bit to be done, so every extra pair of hands are welcome!

[the party]

As evening falls, a series of torches light up the party site for the lost; most prominent are the three large campfires spaced out across the beach, offering a variety of gathering spots for those who don’t like the loud partying going on at the other one.

There’s more than enough food to go around. An entire Cariborn is being dug up from the sandy soil way up the beach, having been roasted in the ground. There’s a wide variety spread out on tables… of handwaved origin… maybe they’re the ones left around from 4/20?? It’s probably fine. Herb- baked vegetables, fresh fruits, meat of various types, pizza!! and yes, Muffet’s Magic Blackberry Alcohol abound.

We’ve also got party favors. Amongst them, it seems like..... owo are these sparklers?

Come hang out! It’s a well-deserved break.

[activities]

The children (and adults so-inclined) have some cute party games to have fun with. There’s a simple little ringtoss area set up, with rings that aren’t even proper circles (listen, Laurent tried) and wooden stakes in the ground to be ringed.

Across the wide stretch of sand there's a lot that can be done- want to build some sandcastles? Pick some shells? Fight some crabs? The beach is dotted with doodles in the sand, inviting you to join in.

The biggest attraction is perhaps the petting zoo- well, it’s a cluster of animals just hanging out, but you get the idea. Located far up on the beach and away from the danger of the waves, the petting zoo has three whole Chocobos, two whole Tigerlilies (one of which is clearly guarding the Chocobos), and one whole horse. Sometimes two horses, but the grey wandering one is wearing a plaque that says “I BITE. PET ME CAREFULLY.”

[storyteller?]

Yes, ST-chan is invited! I’m leaving it to them to top-level or tag out at their leisure. Keep an eye out for the bunny god, they’re Coming.

Comments

[fireindreams]

[This is escalating far too quickly. Grimm recognizes the tiny flame in the hollow eyes and knew this had to stop now before things became worse. Chip is a child and while he has no grounds to judge their abilities and skills, they were absorbing a power that could eat them from the inside out.

The Nightmare King does not care. Grimm has never once feared that fact because it is not born from pure malice. It was born from a lack of understanding that he could break bugs easily, what the God of Nightmares could do to the land and its children if he desired it.

He teleport backwards again, keeping himself away from Chip's next strikes. He had learned from the incident with Guzma but this will have to be stopped--

...or the Knight can take matters out of everyone's hands. Grimm skids to a stop when the Knight grows and sits, trapping the other child with their arms.]

...easy. I do not intend to harm you.

[He is ready to teleport away again if needed, but no attack is incoming.]

[demonpuppy]

[The Knight easily scoops Chip up, and after a moment's confusion of the change they start thrashing in the now-taller bug's grip, kicking and slamming their head back against their chest. It's like containing a wild animal, in their current state.]

Lemme go lemme go lemme GO!

[But between the drain of using their magic and the heat of the flame, Chip can't keep it up for long. It only takes a minute or so for them to become sluggish and limp in the Knight's arms, gasping for breath and now starting to sweat from the feverish heat.]

[lightlessfuture]

[ They plant their hands into the sand and refuse to move despite Chip's flailing and kicking. They try to cushion the blows - not for their benefit, but in an attempt to stop their friend from accidentally doing themselves an injury.

And then Chip is going limp and that's a different problem. They press their hand to their forehead to check and pull their hand back a bit, because they're far warmer than a human should be (they think) but they don't...really know what to do from here?

They've had enough experience with other bug children eating things they strictly shouldn't to sort of...just jostle Chip a bit in a helpless attempt to try and return what they drained out of Grimm. Is this even going to work?? They honestly don't know. ]

[fireindreams]

[Even at the distance Grimm was, he could see something was wrong. The Knight's reaction to touching Chip's forehead confirmed it. What the child absorbed was a tiny drop of the God's power but even then it was proving to be too much.

Quickly closing the distance, Grimm kneels in front of the pair in the sand. He stares at Chip for a moment before speaking.]

What you have absorbed from me is a power you cannot handle. Please...return it to me before you are harmed.

[Grimm's tone carries a sense of both worry and the tone he had used when he told the Knight to never use the Dream Nail on him again. He was the Nightmare King's vessel, but the line where Grimm began and where the God ended blurred.

He did not wish to find out how much would be too much for Chip.]

sorry for the delay!

[demonpuppy]

[Chip groans weakly from being shaken, even lightly, and they shake their head to try and clear their head in vain of the strange haze still gripping them. They cough, and a wisp of Flame escaped from them (not all of it by far, but at least it's getting out).]

Wh...what?

[They shrink slightly away from Grimm, their reflexive fear in the wake of these fits of theirs blunted by the strangeness of the situation. They don't know what happened, but he doesn't seem to be hurt...? But how do you tell on a bug?]

What'd I do...?