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

[counterblows]

Define "fucked up dreams." Were they the usual degree of fucked up, or something else?

[Don't mind the interrogation - it's just that since Gladio found it worth mentioning, Wash certainly finds it worth pursuing.]

[piercetheheart]

Usually my fucked up dreams are about home, not here.

[He shakes his head, frowning, clearly thinking back on the dream and what it might mean.]

I was on a raft, a really shitty one, off the coast of an island... not one I recognized but... well I'm pretty sure it was a volcano and the whole island was blown to bits. Crashing down into the ocean, people were screaming... running... I couldn't see a lot for all the ash but...

One of those fires Tory showed us before the bird thing had an awful lot of fireworks. If that's the kind of fireworks? Like hell I wanna be there.

[counterblows]

So you...saw...the future?

[It's not skepticism that arrests him - that'd be a pretty arbitrary thing, considering present circumstances. No, it's more concern.]

Has this happened to anyone before?

[piercetheheart]

Maybe?

Maybe it's nothing but it seems a little too obvious, especially when Mu was flaunting future versions of ourselves when I disappeared.

The disappearing part or the dream part? Because I think some of both.

[counterblows]

This didn't raise any alarm bells for you? You have any idea what prompted it or - what it means?

[He just finds this a little concerning, and the blasé attitude isn't helping.]

[piercetheheart]

No, I don't know exactly, I can only make guesses at what it means and yeah, of course it's freaky but it's been almost a week so I'm not gonna sit here obsessing over it when that's not gonna get me any answers.

[Look, his life has been dictated by fate and gods and prophecy since he was a child. This isn't worth wasting his mental energy on as far as he's concerned.]

[counterblows]

[Obsess, huh?]

[Too bad that's what Wash himself happens to be rather good at.]

You mention it to anyone before now?

[piercetheheart]

Shion and Iggy both. Haven't had a chance to talk to Tory about it yet but I intend to.

[counterblows]

[He doesn't expect answers from the Storyteller, but he doesn't say it. That's the one topic they don't get along with on, and therefore it's one he'd rather not bring up of his own volition.]

They didn't think that was odd?

aaaand here's where I get vague since those are ongoing threads lol

[piercetheheart]

Not the first time this has happened, the way I understand it.

I mean, what here isn't kinda weird?

FAIR

[counterblows]

That's a good point. [He says it wearily, like he really, really wishes it wasn't.] Storyteller is supposed to show up tonight, aren't they? You gonna ask them whenever you see them?

[piercetheheart]

Dude.

[He looks a little annoyed but not outright affronted.]

It's a party. Not gonna get on 'em about work stuff if they actually come down here and relax for a minute.

[He's been trying to get Tory to relax and take some time out for themselves for months.]

[counterblows]

I can see that you're very worried about your potential premonition, sure.

[Don't take it personally; Wash has never been one to simply unpack and relax in a foreign environment.]

[piercetheheart]

Yeah I'm a little concerned but it wasn't Enso so it's not going to affect anything right this moment.

[Hwas wash ever been able to unpack and relax... at all?]

[counterblows]

[Once, a long, long time ago, when he was a rookie...kind of??]

You know for sure it wasn't Ensō? Or anywhere else? You know I arrived on a collapsing island, right?

[piercetheheart]

It wasn't anywhere I recognize, I know that much. Sure as hell not Enso.

[counterblows]

So it might be one of the other islands. Great.

[No relaxing tonight, then. Not that he was...ever going to, probably.]

[piercetheheart]

Maybe even one we haven't seen yet so I'm not gonna fuss too much just yet. Trust me, Iggy'll do enough of that for everyone.

[counterblows]

[Wash isn't nearly so easily pacified.]

You've really mastered this out of sight, out of mind thing, huh?

[piercetheheart]

Only way I've kept myself sane all these years.

[Unlike Ignis if he'd known, if he'd had that drive throughout the Night, the continuous lack of progress would have driven him mad. He knows it, even if he does wish Iggy had told him.]

Sometimes ya gotta prioritize things in a way you don't like. Mysteries can wait until the basics are handled.

[counterblows]

So parties count as "basic" now.

[It's not nearly as disparaging as it could be - it's more wearily dismissive than anything because, as ample time with the Reds and Blues has taught him, parties can be viewed as very much a sort of basic amenity.]

[piercetheheart]

Maintaining morale is, yeah. And considering how many people've died and then suffered for it the last couple months? I'd count that as a basic need right now.

[He sighs, shrugs and throws an almost sheepish look over at Wash. Will it keep them alive longer? no. But it will keep them fighting longer. It's a wonder what a little boost of hope can do for people when the situation looks dire.]

Like it or not humans are social creatures.

[counterblows]

Everyone's already here. Not like I could stop it if I wanted to.

[He's just...not really relaxing in the interim. Does he ever?]

Just hope this actually helps people unwind.

[piercetheheart]

It will, always does.

[A side-eye and Wash you can feel him thinking about nudging you... maybe even a noogie. But he restrains himself to a grin.]

Maybe not everyone though.

[counterblows]

[That's for the best, probably. He's not nearly as prickly about that sort of thing as, say, C.T., but touch is a sticky subject. It's easier to weather when he's in armor.]

I've been more or less conscripted into being the voice of reason. Old habits.