![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
labyrinevents) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
buttrinthum2025-05-01 10:11 am
May 2025 TDM
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.
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.
- 💐 Blood Weed is a sharp as razorblades. It grows waist high on a 6'0" tall person in places, but never less than 5" tall overall. Small paths wind through the grass, and those who find themselves waking up near the blood weed will have to carefully navigate through the paths in order to come out without being cut. The cuts themselves are painful, the sensation of pins and needles is accompanied with a burning that reaches deep to the bone. It's not debilitating, not completely, but it will make it harder to escape and more likely a victim will bleed to feed.... the blood weed.
- 🌸 Witch Hair is a strange plant, soft to the touch and with the scent of marshmallows. If eaten plain it can soothe the ache of blood weed cuts temporarily, but it is far more effective as a medicine when brewed into a potion. The strangest thing about Witch hair is that it only grows at the water's edge, and then weaves over the ground through the blood weed. It's almost as if it is encouraging a sacrifice to save someone else. A cut for a cure. The one side effect of eating the weed raw is that it can give those who ingest it a temporary ability to affect the weather in a small radius around them. Perhaps this too, could be a boon? The effect only lasts a few hours, 48 at most. Maybe there's a way to have fun with it in the meantime?
No matter your adventures in the garden with its many plants, before long you are found by a gaggle of inhabitants from both the City of Stellari and Somnius. They seem excited in general, and excited to see whoever it is they stumble upon without pause. They approach with handkerchiefs of varied colors and wave them about as they take new Dreamer's hands.
The chaos from last month has settled, leaving a celebration behind in its wake. Officials from Stellari explain that, every year, the city holds a massive event, meant to honor the spirit of competition. This year, they've decided to include Somnius in the competition as well. The crystal-clearing efforts have been fruitful, and slowly but surely, more of Visium is starting to become accessible.
To that end, Dreamers find both Stellari and Somnius transformed, dressed head-to-toe in festival stalls and decorations of red, blue, green, and yellow. Dreamers themselves are all divided into one of four color teams. They are selected automatically, and by traits inherent to their being.
A handkerchief of their team's color is magically fastened to every participant, and can only be removed when a game necessitates it, such as capture the flag. It's an important way of identifying who is on what team. You'll want to know who your teammates are, because teammates gain special benefits when interacting, such as increased strength and magical ability. As well as that, people can also communicate telepathically with others from their team for the duration of the event.
- Red team candidates are either extremely good, in a moral sense, or extremely bad.
- Blue team candidates are either extremely emotional or show very little emotion whatsoever.
- Yellow team candidates are either extremely powerful or extremely weak.
- Green team candidates are either extremely average or exceptionally special.
By the same token, however, being in close proximity with others who aren't on one's team cause negative effects. Different teams have different effects, depending on their color.
This is all, of course, in the interest of making the competition more interesting. Each team will also have a home base to work from, with team red's being the Amphitheater of the Mind, team blue's being Lake Termina, team yellow's being the (old) Church of the Moon, and team green's being The Stone Dragon.
- Red team members destabilize the emotions of opponents around them.
- Blue team members bring confusion and disorientation to opponents around them.
- Yellow team members destabilize magic/abilities of the opponents around them.
- Green team members bring bad luck to opponents around them.
For the duration of the festival, teams will meet to face off in various games and challenges, all earning points for their color team. The points are displayed on large scoreboards, stationed over the crystals in both Somnius and Stellari. Ribbons, medals, and trophies are offered as rewards during the celebrations and ceremonies that occur every night for the duration of the event. More than anything, though, the spirit of competition drives everyone, compelling them to dive headfirst into the games and give it their absolute best.
Some of the events are as follows, though pretty much any sport you can think of is offered - even ones one may recognize only from their own worlds.- 🤾Dodgeball
- 🚩 Capture the Flag
- 🏃♀️ Relay Races
- 🏊 A Triathlon
- 🙈 Hide & Seek
- 🫱 Tag
- 🪢 Tug-o-war
- 🥇 Obstacle Courses
- 🔴 Kickball
- ❓ Etc.
So, get out there and start battling it out - just not to the death this time!
Perhaps the largest event of all is a scavenger hunt in which the items are other Dreamers. Competitors are given a scroll with a list of descriptions, and are asked to seek out other Dreamers who fit those descriptions, and get a signature from them.
The list is as follows:
- 🔎 1. someone who can fly
- 🔎 2. someone who has never killed anyone
- 🔎 3. someone who has killed more than ten people
- 🔎 4. someone who can turn into something other than an animal
- 🔎 5. someone who betrayed someone they love
- 🔎 6. someone who saved the world
- 🔎 7. someone who wants to leave this place
- 🔎 8. someone who never wants to leave this place
- 🔎 9. someone who sacrificed their powers to Vaeros
- 🔎 10. someone who arrived after Vaeros' death
- 🔎 11. someone older than 30
- 🔎 12. someone younger than 15
- 🔎 13. someone who didn't drink their gold/blue/red potion
- 🔎 14. someone who has drunk more than one gold/blue/red potion
- 🔎 15. someone who has returned to their world, then returned to this place
Dreamers then sign their name next to the descriptor on the competitor's scroll. Magic compels them to be honest when confronted, and to give their signature even if they're unhappy to do so.
There is also a variation of this game, though much smaller in scale. Dreamers draw slips of paper with descriptions written on them, then pass them off to others who match that description. Some of them include:
- 💖 Someone you admire.
- ❌ Someone you hate.
- 😱 Someone you're afraid of.
- 🫂 Someone you trust.
- 😳 Someone you wish to know better.
- 😖 Someone you need to apologize to.
- 😊 Someone you're glad you met here.
- 😡 Someone you're angry at.
- 😨 Someone you're worried about.
- 🤕 Someone who hurt you.
Dreamers feel compelled to respond honestly, and genuinely give their slip of paper to whoever they think of first, even if it's something they wouldn't normally confess.
Both games last the duration of the festival, the Scavenger Hunt promising a massive amount of cords for anyone who can complete the entire list, as well as a medal.
Competitions can't be competitions all the time. Players need rest, the crowds need sustenance. But even though breaks are needed, parties never have to stop. Throughout the month-long Games, there's a Celebration along with it. Both Lumindeas and Stellari as well as Somnius are partaking in the celebration. No matter where dreamers wind up during this celebration, there's not a single location where Natives aren't doing their best to partake in a party that never ends.
The feeling and goodwill that comes with the games and camaraderie is infectious, and even the locals from Somnius are feeling more forgiving of Dreamers than they have in months. They visit Stellari while those who live in Stellari visit Somnius. It's the mingling and shared celebration that simply seems to warm up the town that has so long been alienated by crystal. With the glowing feeling of camaraderie in the air and the collaborative efforts to revive the land of Visium, everywhere seems to be in good spirits.
- 🪩 Dancing and Singing
There's music in the air and lights that shine on dance floors. It's hard to mistake the purpose of these portions of the celebrations, but everything is a game, even between the organized events. Every dance floor is a setup for a partnered dance competition. The genre is different in each location: romantic slow dancing, upbeat country music for line dancing, pop type music that thunders through the air and vibrates through the floor. The possibilities are endless, but the competition is stiff. Locals are paired with other locals, and dreamers with dreamers and everyone gets into the spirit, sweating and swaying to the music.
For more organized events there happens to be a cake walk, where dreamers and locals alike are encouraged to participate and win one of the many fruit flavored cakes. Be careful to not land on the same space as a competitor, or you'll both be eliminated and recieve a pie to the face! Don't worry though, towels and a change of clothes MIGHT be offered as consolation prizes.
For those that don't really feel the dancing beat, there's another way to compete for a little fun. Open mic is provided in some of these dancing locations, with magically powered instruments provided by Seravo himself. A simple request, a song title, and the instruments know the song to be played. Or perhaps in some cases a little poetry might be more someone's speed. In any case, the microphone is ready, the band primed to play.
🍔 Food and Socalizing
It's a bit of a task to get nourishment as well. There are food stalls installed in both cities, though every one comes with a bit of a game or competition in order to get your delicious sustenance. Those who approach the stalls of different kinds of food will be asked to win a compliment war with the guest next to them before their order will be fulfilled. Offer a compliment before the timer is up to win the competition against your chosen competitor. Each round you only get a certain amount of time to think up a compliment, with each round decreasing until no time is left. It might take several rounds before the attendant of the food stall feels inclined to hand over their delicious creations. Of course, once the game is over a plate or drink will be offered. If you want seconds, however, you're going to have to fork over another win.
Other ways of getting your tummies filled include participating in eating contests, several of which are set up throughout various locations. Burger eating, hotdog eating, even ice cream and cake or drinks themselves, the varieties of things offered are endless. Lucky dreamers might even find foods that are unique to where they come from. ...if a bit off. Its hard to make things exactly the same when the ingredients might be scarce.
If you're looking for a spot to relax while eating, there are tables and chairs aplenty. There is one catch, though. In order to sit and eat, one must play. Play what, you ask? Musical chairs. Both Dreamers and locals alike are encouraged to participate in a game of musical chairs with their tablemates, while eating of course. The winner will be given a small ribbon to remember the game by.
Well, perhaps even celebration can all be a competition after all.
Expand to see our Event Summary
Garden of Dreams
The Spirit of Competition
Living Scavenger Hunt
The Gametime Jubilations
A note that teams are ICly selected automatically for characters, but OOCly, we will not be assigning teams. Simply choose whichever team you think suits your character best.
Feel free to ask questions underneath the correct header! We also request of current players that most playing with the event happen on the event post so that those looking to TDM have a chance to play in all of the varied games and competitions we have provided! Overflows will be provided when and if needed.
no subject
He recognizes that voice, no matter how quiet. A surge of something wells up in his chest, his heart thundering in his ribcage as he turns to look, to peek beyond the hood. It can't be. It couldn't be. He'd seen his brother burn into nothingness. It'd been months since he wound up back in Somnius, but he still remembers the sight like it's burned permanently into his alien retinas. ]
....Nai? V[ ash's voice is just as quiet, but it's tight, too—like he's choking down the emotion that's welling up in his chest and threating to vibrate up through his vocal chords. ]
I'm not... not— [ His arm drops off of his brother's shoulders, fingers flexing like they might grab onto the fabric of the hoodie before he lets his arm fall down to his side, hand empty. Almost immediately his hand clenches into a fist and the wetness in his eyes hides behind the way Vash's eyebrows knit together in frustration. ]
What are you doing here?
[ A stupid question. Emotional. ]
no subject
So Vash didn't know he was here after all? He's irked at how unfailingly friendly his brother is, even to what he thinks are total strangers. If he wasn't careful, he could have been stabbed on the spot for his trouble.]
I could ask you the same question. [Beneath the cloak, he releases his grip on his dagger.] Do you have a 'contract', too?
[It's not something he buys into for a second, but it's the main lead he has.]
no subject
Yeah, everyone who winds up here does.
[ Meaning, without saying it: he knows his brother has one too. He's not going to ask, almost certain he wouldn't like the answer. He watches Knives with a searching gaze, looking him over from head to foot. He can't see much of his brother's body thanks to the cloak and the other thing's he's wearing, but based on the way he'd breathed before he could tell there was pain.
And...there's the question of this stall, and his brother's quest for food. Something certainly new, and Vash's lips press together before he turns to the vendor. ]
Hey, let me owe you a game later. I'll play twice next time I want to get something.
[ The vendor looks at Vash with skepticism, but he's no idiot. There's a glance spared towards knives before he rolls his eyes and turns back to start fixing a plate of whatever it is he's selling. Vash seems to visibly deflate, relaxing a little. ]
I know a place that's not making people play games for food, next time you're hungry.
no subject
Mercifully, Knives doesn't react to the eyeroll from the vendor, too distracted by the desperation to eat something to actually care. To Vash's offer, he lets out a low laugh, devoid of any genuine humour.]
You don't find it funny? I tried to remake you to be more like me, but instead, I've become more like you.
[Flawed. Imperfect. He'd almost feel better about the blow to his pride if he could goad Vash into a reaction, beyond the kindness he's interpreting as pity.]
no subject
[ There's so much he doesn't understand about his brother anymore. He'd meant it when he said it before. It feels like they're strangers, distant and as different as night and day. He doesn't understand, and he's not sure he can forgive his brother for what's happened at this point, but it doesn't mean he doesn't deserve kindness. It doesn't mean that he doesn't still love his brother, despite everything.
It doesn't mean that he's currently doing anything BUT looking at Knives as they wait for the food to be prepared, because the sudden realization that he could see the damage done to his brother makes his stomach lurch, his mouth watering in that way it does in warning.
Vash rests his hands on the counter, fingers curling against the wood of the stand as he concentrates on his breathing, in through his nose out through his mouth, slow and even. ]
We're probably more alike than we have been in more than a century.
[ No different than humans, either of them. Vash pauses, considering what could have been for a moment. ]
There was a potion with you when you woke up, did you drink it?
no subject
I didn't see it. [He was half-dead when he woke up, and not fully aware of his surroundings, so suspicious potions weren't exactly a priority. Not that he would have tried a single drop, even if he found it.] What does it do?
no subject
[ He finally answers after giving himself a few moments to swallow back the wave of nausea. The vendor turns around and sets down a plate of fried foods: vegetables, mostly. He pushes it towards Knives, and Vash picks it up to hold it out towards his brother almost as if he expects him to not take it unless he's the one to hand it to him. ]
Take it. [ The smell isn't doing anything for Vash's sour stomach, but he imagines it's the opposite for his brother in this moment. ] There's three colors. Red, blue, and gold. Everyone gets one.
[ Again, a level playing field to start with. ]
no subject
It's... not terrible. In fact, it actually tastes good, and he's so distracted by this fact he almost forgets Vash is still speaking to him.]
Did you drink yours?
no subject
[ The implied second time, he'd just downed it. It was almost a weirdly comforting to be faced with something he recognized upon returning. It meant that THAT time it wasn't something temporary like the time with the bracelet. ]
Healing's one of them, animal transformation, magic. H[ e wouldn't have minded if his brother hadn't turned away but there's a pang of guilt every time he catches sight of wounded skin.
He did that. It's his fault. He'd been coping with the guilt before, surrounded by people here that were supportive, but faced with the damage he'd done to his own brother still has him feeling ill. ]
no subject
I take it you didn't drink the animal one, then.
[He's interpreting it literally? You're not standing there looking like a toma, bro.]
no subject
Actually...
[ He laughs, but it's one of those hollow ones, there's no joy in it, just nerves. He lifts a hand up to rub at the back of his head. ]
It's not an all the time thing. I don't usually...
no subject
[He sets the plate back on the counter with a clatter and rounds on him.]
You drank something with the full knowledge it would turn you into an animal? What's wrong with you?
[While he was busy almost dying, Vash was out here making stupid decisions. Even if it's not an 'all the time thing', it's incomprehensible to him.]
no subject
You're overreacting. It's actually kind of useful...!
[ Why is he even trying to justify this to his brother? He grimaces a little, and considers actually using the potion power to make a point. But then, his gaze catches sight of the poor little stall vendor who is in the middle of snatching up the plate and shuffling out of his stall before anything happens, clearly understanding that this is just too intense for him. ]
no subject
[He snarls, not even noticing the poor vendor beating a hasty retreat. His full attention is on scolding Vash for his recklessness, for the perceived rejection of what he is, for once again degrading himself. He had hoped demonstrating the power of his Gate would help him understand it was all he needed, but apparently not.]
What else have you done to yourself?
no subject
You've never had to eat before. You can't use your Gate either, right?!
[ It's the first time he's raised his voice but he's so, so tired of the accusations and the implications behind the words Knives is flinging at him.
Besides, after everything, after watching his brother burn alive due to the power gathered from his gate, fired from the arm he made— Vash isn't inclined to rely on it, if he can help it at all.
He may understand his Gate now, even know how to work it, but that doesn't mean he's any less open to the idea of it or the power it has. ]
no subject
Still--]
Even if things are different here, you shouldn't trust whatever's handed to you. Are you really that easily swayed by a few magic tricks?
no subject
[ He sighs, shutting his eyes for a minute to try and calm himself down. Of course Knives is the person who can rile him up quicker than anyone. He clenches his fists, clearly still teetering on the edge of annoyed. ]
This time it was easier to just do it, since I knew it wouldn't do anything bad.
no subject
You always were adaptable.
[From anyone else, that might be a compliment, but from Knives it's anything but. Even if things are different here, sooner or later, someone's going to take advantage of him. Just like he'd shown up willing to help a stranger with a dagger in his hand.]
no subject
Thanks. I've learned to make the best of difficult situations.
[ Bitter.
He hesitates for a moment but with a last look at the plate he's not certain why he should stick around. His brother is dangerous, but much less so freshly arrived to this place. His thoughts trail to the friends he knows he has here briefly and his expression falters. ]
Do you have anything else you want to scold me for?
no subject
He moves as if to turn to leave.]
Leave matters to me. I'll learn the real purpose for our being here, and release you from it.
[Not a scolding, so much as a statement of intent.]
no subject
You're not even going to ask me what I want? I don't—
[ Vash's mouth shuts with an audible clack of his teeth, his jaw setting stubbornly as he grinds down. His grip on Knives is tight.
He doesn't want to leave this place. Gilded cage and all, but admitting it out loud is difficult. Especially now, to the particular person in front of him ]
Stop trying to make decisions for me.
no subject
Whatever new delusions you've built for yourself here, there are too many things about this place that cannot be answered. Live in ignorance for now, if you must, but I will not.
no subject
He's angry. Angrier than he has been in a while, but it's not entirely at Knives. He's angry at the situation, at the fate that waits for both of them back on that planet, at his brother for once again never being willing to listen to him, let alone to hear him.
The tears that find their way to threatening to build in his eyes aren't sad ones this time. He looks at where he's still holding onto his brother's wrist, his knuckles probably white underneath the gloves he always wears.
After over a hundred and fifty years of being apart, the only time they've touched each other is in anger and desperation. His breathing is rough, and the din of the crowd around them is lost to the thundering of his heart in his ears. Is ANYTHING ever going to change? Is this really it?
He could change the way he's holding onto his brother, hold his hand or lace their fingers together. He could reach for a memory in the distant past. But he doesn't; instead, Vash's grip drops, his eyes fixed on the ground between them. ]
no subject
He's doing what's best for him, not coddling his sense of comfort, and even if Vash is angry now, even if he'll keep on rejecting him, Knives will deal with it. He's been patient before, he can do it again. He hasn't forgotten the vow he made, before he had burned away.]
For whatever it's worth, the food wasn't awful.
[Gratitude, in a roundabout way. Regardless, now that his wrist is free, he turns to depart, and disappear into the crowds.]