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

[forwearemany]

Then you are correct: we cannot breathe.

(It's probably a good thing, given if a Tigerlily damaged them after knocking them unconscious, they would have to be repaired.)

[counterblows]

You could raise a pet of your own here, if you wanted.

[Tigerlilies in particular, given that they wouldn't suffer much risk from their sleeping spores.]

[forwearemany]

(Their flaps raise a bit, in startlement both at the suggestion and their own lack of objection to the idea.)

... Acknowledged.

(Though whether the pet they would want is a tigerlily is uncertain.)

[counterblows]

Plenty of people do. Roommate of mine has a tigerlily she's been...training.

[Training to wake him when his night terrors start waking people up - and everyone else. Back when there was an "everyone else" to wake.]

[forwearemany]

Acknowledged. Training?

(They are curious what "Tigerlilies" are capable of.)

[counterblows]

To, you know. Hunt. Help out. That kind of thing.

[Mentioning the nightmares might be understandable, given what they know of his history, but if he's frank here - he'd rather not go there.]

[forwearemany]

Acknowledged.

(They're probably similar to Varren in capabilities, it sounds like.)

[counterblows]

[He leaves off after offering the tigerlily one final scritch behind the ears and straightens, standing up.]

Damn handy, a lot of the time. They photosynthesize, too, so you don't need to feed them or anything.

[forwearemany]

(That is "handy": time intensive acquisition of specialized food, environmental damage via predation from artificially enlarged pet populations, and potential demoralization due to devouring of sapients and other varieties of pets will not occur.)

Affirmative. Method of acquisition?

(Now they're curious.)

[counterblows]

I think it was in September. Back when those flowers were all over the island.

[Tigerlilies were apparently well in abundance at the time, though that's not what stands out to him. He remembers the date because of the Director, and all that interaction...entailed.]

[forwearemany]

(...This is not the question they asked.

...Then again, a program points out, perhaps it is. Some creatures are unique to specific islands or events. It may not always be possible to acquire them.)

They were available during a limited period?

[counterblows]

They're not from this island. I think they're from the...well, the one that was destroying itself when I arrived.

[He was a little concerned with getting off the island, more so than discerning its name, which is currently escaping him.]

[forwearemany]

Island designation: Zizyphus.

(Aren't A.I. memories great?

Apparently if they want a tigerlily, they'll have to wait until kittens become available. If they become available.

Perhaps, if they desire a pet, there is another species more readily acquired.)

[counterblows]

That's the one. They're from there.

[He's not sure if there are...more hanging around, actually. They were most bountiful back then, but he hasn't been keeping an eye out. Amitusha is enough of a handful all on her own. Or she was, until C.T. got a good handle on training her.]

[forwearemany]

Affirmative.

(Perhaps they will "keep an eye out".

For the time being, perhaps a change of subject is in order.)

Have you been functioning well?

[counterblows]

About as well as I can.

[Better than he could be, but by no means at his best. He's not sure when he was last...his best. If ever. He tries to make his goals at least somewhat attainable.]

Have you?

[forwearemany]

Acknowledged.

(It's a better answer than it could have been.)

Affirmative.

[counterblows]

I think we're all shaken up after October.

[He was fortunate. He made it through without dying and living with the consequences for that for an entire month after, but others weren't so lucky. He dragged the body of at least one person who wasn't so lucky out of the sea spray, because his words weren't enough.]

[forwearemany]

(They chatter at that, headflaps shifting.

Seems things didn't go great for them either.)

[counterblows]

Rough time?

[Just because it wasn't as bad as it could have been didn't make it ideal. He could very happily live the rest of his life here without ever having to deal with shit like that again, thanks.]

[forwearemany]

(They look down at themselves. If Wash were to follow their gaze, he might see a new a dinstinctive mar in their casing, such as what might remain from a repaired stab wound.)

[counterblows]

[He follows the direction of their gaze, his eyebrows lifting incrementally.]

Not a good time for a lot of people.

[forwearemany]

We attempted to prevent Shepard-Commander from following the spectre of David Anderson into the sea.

(Even though they don't particularly like her. Even though a version of her betrayed them utterly. And they got stabbed for their trouble.)

[counterblows]

Attempted?

[Attempted sounds about right. He attempted to keep C.T. alive, too, and that sure as hell didn't really work out.]

[forwearemany]

(They look at the knife scar again.)