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Labyrinthum Events ([personal profile] labyrinevents) wrote in [community profile] buttrinthum2025-02-28 08:56 pm
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March 2025 TDM

Garden of Dreams

Whether it be sleep or death, you feel your eyes close, and as your body begins to let go, you see an inky starry nothingness spread out around you. You feel yourself mouth the words, “I wish, I wish..” and utter your deepest and darkest desire.

When you regain consciousness, you’ll find you are in an unfamiliar place with no recognition of how you arrived here. You have the clothes on your back, but nothing else. No weapons and if you had a particular superpower, you’ll notice it is missing. All you have is a satchel with a piece of bread, a vial of water, and a potion. The potion could be red, blue or golden. There are no instructions about these potions other than two words: Drink Me.

Will you drink it or not?


Though there is nothing to prove it, you just know you have made a promise, a contract of sorts, with something and someone who remains but a shadow in your memories.

  • 💐 Corpse Flowers are large stinky things, smelling often of rotting meat. There's only a few in the garden, four at most. However, those who manage to get lured in by the stinky smell will find that time spent with this "alluring" scent may find themselves feeling more amorous than normal. Kisses to hands, flirtatious words, and even the occasional wink are all common. Once away from these smelly flowers, the feelings will dissipate, but could last for several hours...

  • 🌸 Gibralter Campions on the other hand, seem to inspire unbridled and intense hatred in those who get too close. It's almost as if the person they're interacting with takes on the appearance of their greatest enemy, their rival, or even someone who has done them great harm. Violence is usually a last resort, but sharp tongues and the silliness to argue are far more common. Convincing those under the spell of these flowers that you aren't who you LOOK like you are might be a little difficult. Hopefully the effects wear off after only ONE good night's sleep.

No matter your adventures in the garden with its many plants, before long you are found and guided by a dragonkin pair through the garden to the town of Sominus. From there you can choose to settle in the town surrounded by crystal or you can choose to cross bridge that leads up high to a portal in the sky, rimmed by glowing starlight and into the lands beyond, Lumindeas and the Crown City of Stellari.

"Please, come with us. Our world is your new home for now."


Something... A little Romantical

Romance may have been on the mind in early February, but the illness that swiftly swept through Visium and Lumindeas put a bit of a damper on things like dates and doting. In an attempt to boost morale, Dolph Laserhawk has decided to host a speed-dating event at his establishment, Club Quartz in Visium.

It doesn't only offer romantic connection, however. Dreamers are encouraged to stop in and participate even if they're only looking for friendship. In fact, curiously enough, most feel compelled to attend, even if it's normally something they wouldn't be interested in. Overwhelmingly, Dreamers begin to crave connection and closeness and flock to the event. Club Quartz is dressed for the occasion, with red tablecloths and white napkins. The music and lighting are both low, soft orange candlelight illuminating whichever Dreamers face each other at their tables.

Everyone is given a placard to fill out - or, perhaps it's, mysteriously, already filled out.

  • 💘 Name:
  • 💘 Age:
  • 💘 Preference: (friends, romance, gender, etc.)
  • 💘 About me:
There is also a useful set of conversation cards on each table for Dreamers to use, suggesting "get to know you"-style questions. Some are typical, and some are...less so.
  • 💘 What do you do for fun?
  • 💘 What do you do when you're miserable?
  • 💘 What wish did you make to get here?
  • 💘 Do you regret the wish you made to get here?
  • 💘 What's your favorite way to unwind?
  • 💘 What's the sexiest position?
  • 💘 Are you crushing on anyone in Visium or Lumindeas?
  • 💘 What three words would you use to describe yourself?
  • 💘 What would your ideal partner/friend be like?
  • 💘 What is your most cherished childhood memory?
  • 💘 What is your worst childhood memory?
  • 💘 Would you be a dictator or a leader?
  • 💘 What is your craziest fantasy?
  • 💘 What potato chip flavor would you be?
  • 💘 What is something you want to change in the world?
  • 💘 Do you believe in science or magic?
  • 💘 What is your idea of purity?
  • 💘 Do you have any phobias?
Pairs who find they've made a connection will be encouraged to leave their tables and participate in one of the many activities which have been arranged to really seal the deal on bonding. Some of the options include:
  • 💘 Spoon Pass: pairs pass an egg back and forth using only spoons held in their mouths
  • 💘 Charades: send your loved one a message using only your body language
  • 💘 Hide & Seek: find somewhere inside or outside to hide, and see how quickly your partner can find you!
  • 💘 Three-legged race: couples are tied together by one leg each and must hobble their way from one end of the bar to the other before time runs out
  • 💘 Jump Rope: the rope should be long enough for you to both jump through at once, but only if you get close - try to jump together without tripping!

The night is long and lively with plenty of drink and conversation to be had. Hopefully everyone has someone to walk away with at the end of the night!

Nicefield's Nest

A strange settlement has appeared at the edge of Stellari, just a little further out into the meadows and hills that serve as a border between the city and the farmlands that support it. The haphazard collection of crystal-and-wood buildings seem to combine the aesthetics of Visium and Lumindeas in a way that completely (and, perhaps, intentionally) fails to get either quite right. This is odd enough, but stranger still are the curious beings that emerge from the buildings. In a land populated by dragonkin, gelflings, and goblins, it may not be all that alarming to notice their rabbit-like ears and fur, but it's still nothing that anyone could have claimed to see in the land before. There's no need to fear, though! The Loporrits are here to help!

And they are very, very insistent on helping. Wished into existence by a soul who had grown tired of the conflict between Dreamers and locals, these friendly hares go out of their way in every direction to flag down Dreamers and ask how they can work together to improve the space they all share. A particularly persistent pair of Loporrits, Pollingway and Surveyingway, confront any Dreamer they can see with alarmingly aggressive cheer, brandishing clipboards, and barking questions as quickly as possible.

Do you like Stellari? How about Visium? What kind of improvements would you like to see? What are your favorite colors? What do you need most right now? What do you think of spicy food?

And on...

And on......

There seems to be absolutely no way to halt their questioning - until they mention that they're looking for others to gather such information too. Dreamers are asked to take a clipboard of their own and poll their fellow Dreamers, then report back to Pollingway and Surveyingway. If they agree, the pair will mercifully stop talking and hop away. The list of potential questions is nigh endless, so make sure to ask something that counts.

Not far from the Stellari crystal, several Loporrits hammer away on what appears to be the foundations of a new building. Nearby, a more artistic-minded Loporrits paints a large wooden sign that reads: HELP CENTER. A brown-furred Loporrits named Helpingway explains, again, that the Loporrits want to help! They can't help yet, however - too busy arguing with an increasingly agitated priestess as the royal guard draws near. It seems the established locals are still deciding what to make of the Loporrits. Helpingway asks Dreamers to start helping while they deal with the red tape! They're asked to wander Lumindeas and Visium, completing good deeds for locals and Dreamers alike. The Loporrits aren't so much persuasive as they are persistent, so if you don't want one following you around, it's best to comply.

A few businesses run by the Loporrits have also popped up, including "Feedingway's Soup" which offers exactly one type of soup - creamy roast carrot. It's addictingly good. Meanwhile, Tailoringway offers headbands, sashes, and belts, at the moment, with more variety promised to come soon. The Loporrits are just as persistent about trying their products as they are about lending a hand. You'll help them advertise, won't you? Dreamers are asked to give the Loporrits' businesses a try and report their findings to everyone they meet! Once again, you really want to get these guys off your back...

Cleaning Efforts & Haywire Powers

As though prompted by the discussions Seravo recently had with a few dreamers, there is indeed a revitalization effort taking place on the island of Visium only a few weeks after the audience with the dragon-like ruler.

Groups of Dreamers will work together to either clear away crystal overgrowth in Visium, or visit the area and collect samples to bring back to Seravo. He is requesting all manner of samples, from soil to water to food to pieces of crystal. Those shouldn't be all that difficult to find, considering everyone is going around Visium, smashing all the crystal up. Myrta and the locals provide pickaxes and all the other necessary tools for digging through the crystal, but given its durability, destructive abilities are also encouraged. The locals also seem to be slowly warming back up to the Dreamers in Visium as they watch them reconstruct the destroyed island. They may bring Dreamers water, food, or small trinkets to show their appreciation, and will work alongside them if allowed.

There is another problem, though. A mysterious phenomenon seems to occur only while within Visium - Dreamers' abilities are going haywire. Whether it be a regained ability, or one granted by a potion, ability-users will struggle to control their powers. Abilities may engage at strange times, have exaggerated or diminished effects, or periodically stop working altogether. Those that don't have abilities aren't spared, however. While in Visium, every Dreamer is at risk of experiencing a random potion effect from either the red, gold, or blue potions. Even if the Dreamer has never touched their potion, they may find themselves healing wounds, firing off elemental attacks, or transforming into random animals.

Perhaps the most curious phenomenon is that Dreamers appear to be sharing abilities as well. The effects are greatly diminished, but standing too close to someone who has an ability may cause aspects of that ability to appear in the other person. No one appears to be gaining full use of others' abilities, but it's certainly cause for some questioning...

A Suspicious Message

One day, it doesn't matter what day, a message appears on some dreamers' devices, with no discernable user attached.

If you were to suddenly feel someone's hand in your own, whose hand would it be? But whose hand would you want it to be?

As if by magic, dreamers will feel compelled to answer, but also to answer truthfully. Once answered, there's no way to delete it from their phone or take back where it goes, as it is sent out into the network for all to see and comment on. There's no response from the initial person who asked the question, but perhaps there's a feeling of mischevious delight hanging in the air.

[[If you do not wish to participate in this prompt, simply assume your character did not get this message. All threads are public initially, and can only be privated after the initial answer.Threadjacking is allowed and encouraged so long as it is allowed in individual character permission posts.]]

OOC

Expand to see our Event SummaryGarden of Dreams
  • dreamers are brought to the enchanted garden
  • two flowers, Corpse Flowers and Gibralter Campions are causing amorous feelings and intense feelings of hatred.
  • Outside of the garden, newly arrived Dreamers are guided to the town of Somnius, from there they can choose to settle in the unfriendly hamlet or choose to explore further, beyond the portal and into the land of Lumindeas.
Something... A little Romantical
  • Dolph Laserhawk is hosting a speed-dating event at Club Quartz
  • Those seeking romantic OR platonic connection are encouraged to attend
  • Even those who would not normally be interested feel a magical compulsion to attend & an overwhelming craving for connection with others
  • Guests may find that their informational placards are already magically filled out for them
  • There are a list of questions to potentially discuss, some of which were not put there intentionally by Dolph
  • Those who feel a connection are encouraged to participate in mini-games (spoon passing, hide & seek, charades, jump rope, three-legged race)
Nicefield's Nest
  • A strange settlement has appeared at the edge of Stellari, with buildings that resemble both those of Lumindeas and Visium
  • Beings that resemble rabbits, called Loporrits, emerge from the building
  • They are obsessed with helping and want Dreamers to help each other too
  • Dreamers are asked to poll fellow Dreamers about their satisfaction surrounding the world and report back to Pollingway and Surveyingway (Loporrit npcs)
  • The Loporrits are building a help center, but the Lumindeas government is not necessarily reacting well
  • Dreamers are asked to go complete good deeds for others while the help center is being built
  • Dreamers are asked to try various Loporrits businesses and help advertise to spread the word
  • The Loporrits are very persistent and doing as they ask is the only way to get them to leave you alone
Cleaning Efforts & Haywire Powers
  • A revitalization effort is taking place in Visium
  • Mytra is providing materials to help smash up the crystal in Visium, and is encouraging the use of destructive power if necessary
  • Seravo is asking for samples of food, water, soil - anything - from Visium to study the phenomenon occurring there
  • only while within visium, Dreamers' abilities are going haywire
  • abilities are behaving strangely - engaging at random times, diminished or increased effects, inability to control, etc.
  • Dreamers are also experiencing random gold/blue/red potion abilities even if they have never drunk a potion - random bursts of elemental magic, random animal transformation, random healing abilities, etc.
  • Dreamers are also sharing abilities; standing too close to a Dreamer with an ability will cause the other Dreamer to start displaying aspects of that ability (diminished from their full power) for a short time
Suspicious Message
  • Some receive a suspicious message on their phone from an unknown user (this is opt-in; if you wish to opt-out, simply assume your character didn't receive the message)
  • Dreamers feel compelled to respond truthfully to the message, but once they do, the result is publicly posted for others to see/respond to
  • "If you were to suddenly feel someone's hand in your own, whose hand would it be? But whose hand would you want it to be?"

Welcome to Labyrinthum's March TDM! Two of our prompts are Inspired and Drafted by a couple of our players, Timmy and Dragon. Timmy has organized a more romantic portion of the event based in Dolph's Club over in Somnius. Dragon turned in 1200 shards and was rewarded with an approved setting addition! Creatures from FFXIV, created by Venat herself have arrived in Lumindeas. Dreamers ought to help get them settled in!

As always, please direct your questions to the appropriate header below.

proposed: (pic♯17513182)

[personal profile] proposed 2025-03-13 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, true. He struck out with you too... I think. I never knew he was so indiscriminate.

[ Dazai taps his forehead a couple times, toying with a lock of hair as he seems to reconsidering all of this. ]

Come to think of it, I lost track of him at some point that night.
placation: rosebursts (just know your troubles tend to follow)

oh my GOD dazai

[personal profile] placation 2025-03-13 10:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Well, it's Maruki's fault for daring to take a sip of his drink while their dramatics are on pause, because now he's spluttering and choking on it. ]

You– you saw that!?
proposed: (pic♯17613307)

HE'S HELPING

[personal profile] proposed 2025-03-13 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Hm? Yeah. I figured that there would be some gimmick that would cause people to make fools of themselves. In fact, Christmas parties always seem to make people act foolish, so I took it upon myself to make sure that Odasaku didn't do anything embarrassing.

[ And yet, he stopped absolutely nothing. ]
Edited 2025-03-13 22:11 (UTC)
placation: placation (art: p_tor3) - dns (and slate blue earth below)

[personal profile] placation 2025-03-13 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[ AND YET? THE MOST EMBARRASSING THING OF ALL OCCURRED WITH HIM AND MARUKI??

Oh my god. Give him a second to bury his face in his hands, kneading his fingers into his closed eyes beneath his glasses, before sitting back up.

Deep breaths.

And now... back to the melodramatics.
]

Ah... Do you think that could be why he's avoiding us today...?

[ Three months after said party? Well, yes! ]
proposed: (pic♯17737114)

[personal profile] proposed 2025-03-14 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
[ Dazai "helping."

He might be snickering, just a bit, but the question has him perking up. Dazai blinks a couple times. ]


Is that why...?

[ The gears? Turning. The thought to send some ridiculous text to Odasaku? There. In fact, he reaches his hand into his pocket before stopping himself.

Then, positively flabbergasted and about five seconds from some outburst, he asks, ]


... Have we been ghosted?
placation: placation (art: shikipink) - dns (when the black cloud comes)

oda please come stop them because they won't stop themselves

[personal profile] placation 2025-03-14 08:21 am (UTC)(link)
[ Maruki can't make tears appear on command like that, he's not a skilled actor– as evidenced by the way he doubles over clutching his chest as if he's going into cardiac arrest. ]

N... no... say it isn't so...!!
savetheweak: (unsourced 17)

[personal profile] savetheweak 2025-03-15 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
[. . . ?

[Hand on friend's shoulder?]

Are you alright?

[How long has he been here? Well, he just walked in.]
proposed: (pic♯17740815)

cw: suicide

[personal profile] proposed 2025-03-15 03:30 am (UTC)(link)
Odasaku...! Hm...?

[ Oh, wait. Hold up. That enthusiasm is there and gone. H's so glad somebody asked.

He taps the rim of the now empty glass with the look of a man who's been spending his time waiting for this exact moment. ]


Maruki-san. I forgot to tell you. I mixed this with honey made from the nectar of belladonna. Actually, since not long after I came here, my vision has been blurring and my heart's been racing, amongst other things.

[ He's going to gently remove Odasaku's hand from where it's set now, aiming to rest it on the bar.

That done, he's going to lean to one side and tumbling right off of his barstool, and since his abilities haven't been working as of late, he's going to take this once in a lifetime opportunity to try to grab onto Maruki and take him down with this sinking ship.

Think fast bestie because Dazai's about to make a scene if you don't. ]
Edited (this is so stupid i dropped my cw) 2025-03-15 03:32 (UTC)
placation: placation (art: C8H10N4O2June) - dns (can you feel it like a train?)

[personal profile] placation 2025-03-15 06:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ Maruki's so wrapped up in their act, Odasaku suddenly appearing and taking him by the shoulder makes him jerk upright in shock, already unsteady even before Dazai starts talking utter nonsense–

Which means he's in prime position to get yoinked down to the floor.

He panics even farther when Dazai's hand wraps around his wrist–
]

Don't–!!

[ And his soul doesn't spontaneously die, no, but he does start to clatter straight onto the ground.

SAVE THEM ODASAKU!!
]
savetheweak: (unsourced 12)

[personal profile] savetheweak 2025-03-17 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
[It looks a bit like something out a movie (corny) - Odasaku shifts down onto one knee and catches Dazai in one arm, Maruki in the other. All that's missing is a sparkle effect and perhaps a rose between his teeth.]

What's gotten into you two...?
proposed: (pic♯17740412)

[personal profile] proposed 2025-03-17 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
[ Dazai has the look of a burnt black cat being kicked off the counter after starting to knock things off of it. He squirms a bit as he tries to right himself, swiftly pulling away from the pair of them, looking as disappointed as one can be. ]

You weren't supposed to do that, Odasaku... To think that you would deny a dying man his final wish... Sigh... This world really is hopeless... I don't want to die here...

[ Though Dazai does sound resigned, as he already knew that this outcome was inevitable. To that end, he makes no effort to clarify exactly what his wish was, why he's so pressed, or why he's acting in this manner. One may be able to discern what he's dying from, though, given the claims of consuming deadly nightshade. ]
placation: rosebursts (just know your troubles tend to follow)

[personal profile] placation 2025-03-17 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
[ Maruki, on the other hand, stays perfectly still in Odasaku's grasp as he watches Dazai. He's still carrying on with the charade, even though Oda's here now...?

...

Wait.
]

Dazai-kun.

[ Disbelief slowly begins to melt into genuine distress. ]

Did you actually take something deadly?
savetheweak: (beast 20)

cw: more suicide content here down

[personal profile] savetheweak 2025-03-17 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
[Oda didn't exactly think Dazai was joking, but...he seems to right himself and stand up just fine - there hardly appears to be any emergency. Others aren't so used to Dazai toying with his life that way, though...]

It seems like it'll just wear off on its own, right?

[Listen! When there's reason to be concerned, he'll be concerned. He is watching him, at least (lets go of Maruki in the meantime).]
proposed: (pic♯17344271)

cw: more suicide content

[personal profile] proposed 2025-03-17 03:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Dazai nods in response to Maruki's question. He takes a moment to shake one of his hands before curling and uncurling his fingers (sort of stiff,) look around the room (some vertigo,) consider the amount of nausea (food poisoning levels.) He feels pretty bad overall. Miserable, even, though not like he's dying. Against all odds he provides serious answer in response. ]

I recently learned of a way to make synthetic honey, so I wanted to try it. I used belladonna nectar, then I stirred it into the whiskey. I've been poisoned so many times that I've started to build up immunity to certain ones though, so I don't think I used the right dosage.

[ His own tendencies aside, that sort of thing is just part of the job. ]

It'll wear off on it's own.

[ This was just him checking out a speed dating event once. ]
placation: placation (art: pixiv 11317886) - dns (it's an old song)

[personal profile] placation 2025-03-18 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[ .......................................................

Maruki reaches out to grab Dazai's wrist again.

Nothing.
]

Your ability is on the fritz too, huh...

[ And then he looks over at Odasaku. ]

Did you use Flawless to catch us?
savetheweak: (odazai 2)

[personal profile] savetheweak 2025-03-18 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Sort of...

It only warned me a second or two ahead of time, though. If I'd stopped you sooner, I wouldn't have had to grab you both by your collars and gag you like that.

[A glance at Dazai. Used to this sort of thing as Odasaku is, he still doesn't like to see his friend sick.]

Are you gonna stick around a while?
proposed: (pic♯17552132)

[personal profile] proposed 2025-03-19 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah. It's been interfering with the abilities of those around me, too, so it's been a big hassle.

[ Dazai slips his hand into his pocket as he speaks, fishing through it before taking out a small plastic bottle. It looks like one of those travel sized ones, and he holds it up and shakes it a little before taking the lid off and looking inside.

That done, he's going to try to pour the contents of it into his glass for no reason in particular. ]


Anyway, I'll be here for awhile longer, so don't look at me like that.

[ On this earth and in this bar. ]
placation: rosebursts - dns (way out of control)

[personal profile] placation 2025-03-19 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
Is that–?

[ Maruki looks to Odasaku in a panic. ]

Don't put more of that in there!
savetheweak: (funato_87)

we could wrap OR odasaku will just bow out soon hehe <3

[personal profile] savetheweak 2025-03-19 07:05 am (UTC)(link)
Won't it be hard to hold a conversation with all that in your blood?

[He's not gonna take the man's drink away like a baby with a sippy cup, but he hopes Dazai will let it go regardless. No one wants a medical emergency at speed dating...]

I still need to go fill out my card.

[There's a beat.]

Actually, do it for me. You'll write something more interesting.
proposed: (pic♯17740412)

i don't know how this happened but we can wrap; cw: suicide

[personal profile] proposed 2025-03-19 03:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Despite his odd tendencies, Dazai is quite reasonable. There's a defeated sign as he taps the neck of the bottle against the rim of the cup once or twice more before setting it aside. There's a resigned sigh and a shrug of his shoulders that says it's a bit late to worry about that. C'est la vie. ]

Fine, fine...

[ Which one is he responding to? Yes. ]

While I'm doing that, see if you can find some physostigmine for me.

[ Where is one supposed to find that, and why would it be here? Unclear. But Dazai wants to die, not be sick and miserable. ]
placation: placation (art: pixiv 11317886) - dns (that's how it goes)

WRAPT <3

[personal profile] placation 2025-03-19 10:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Maruki busies himself with his drink again, mumbles into it so very, very softly: ]

Perhaps you two should try speed dating each other...