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buttrinthum2023-01-01 04:59 pm
TDM #1
Whether it be sleep or death, you feel your eyes close, and as your body begins to let go, you see a barn owl that is flying through the darkness, soon sweeping you across the clouded sky. 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?
There is a parchment, handwritten, and it simply gives you a welcoming:
“Welcome to my Labyrinth. Per our agreement, you have consented to live your life here for an undetermined amount of time. In exchange, I will grant you the wish that you desire the most.”
You’re in a garden, surrounded by flowers and plants– most of which you cannot identify. However, there are a few that you can make out: poinsettias and mistletoe. You’ll soon find out that being around the poinsettias give you an odd sense of joy no matter how confusing the situation may seem and the mistletoe, which is left over from the holiday season, gives you the desire to kiss or hold hands with the nearest person to you. It looks like there are plenty of others who are just now waking up from their dream-state as well.. why not go ahead and say hello?
With the influx of new life, the humble town a barkeep tells you is called Somnius seems to come alive as well, with new faces to join that of the resident fairies, goblins and other townfolk. There’s bustling energy to the land that the townfolk will tell you wasn’t quite there before, and some suspect that the presence of the new arrivals might be powering the world around them in some way - but that’s a question to be answered on another day. The quaint town of Somnius needs a little bit of care, that rustic feel to the mushroom houses, old shops and weathered castles too evident at first glance, but it’s not a bad place to live, as the locals will tell you. It almost seems like everything will be okay…
But of course, things are never so simple.
Whether you have been wandering around to get your bearings, talking to the locals or exploring your new humble (very humble) abode, you can expect to find mysterious ice sculptures - fashioned in the shape of snow angels, with blades in their hands - appearing in random places around the town. There are some that manifest in the middle of the street, some that sit quietly at the edge of an inn, and even some that appear right beside your bed, staring at you as you wake up. It’s unclear how these sculptures even got here, but close proximity to them will conjure up feelings of unrest, like you should not step any closer.
It’s smart to trust your gut in these situations. Step too close to a snow angel and it will come to life, moving with the grace of flowing water. They make a vague request and will spare only those able to heed it.
“Cold … so cold … Even the days of Visium are so cold. Have you any warmth to spare us?”
Some angels will accept an article of clothing as warmth. Others are greedy and keep demanding more, wanting to take everything that you have on your body. Heed their requests and they will spare you. Resist even just a little, and that’s when they draw their swords.
It’s not too easy to defeat an angel with brute force given that they reform themselves immediately. Running away or blasting them with fire could do the trick. Be careful not to get cut by their blades, however…
Characters who get cut by their blades will experience an inconsolable sense of chill and emptiness, right down to their bones. They will find themselves desiring ‘warmth’ from others in different ways - whether through physical contact, or affectionate words and gestures. There might be the few who go feverish in their desire for warmth. For those characters – the open fireplace is looking like a very tantalizing place to sit in right now (Yes, sit in, not by). They might even feel compelled to pull a friend in with them. That can’t be good for anyone…
The effects will only subside if the condition of receiving ‘warmth’ is met. This can be in the literal sense (physical warmth and intimacy) or figurative (feelings of love, acceptance and happiness).
When night falls, the temperatures only drop further, which does no favours for the poor souls who had to give up their clothing. The locals want to welcome the new arrivals and give everyone an opportunity to unwind from a busy and chaotic day of being hunted by snow sculptures. That’s why they’ve set up a gathering in the middle of town square. Food and alcohol is being generously supplied by The Cask & Anvil, and marketplace vendors have set up pop up stands to try and cajole the new arrivals into purchasing some fancy new clothes or a pretty gemstone they claim will ward off danger (claims not verified).
At the center of it all is a large bonfire that’s warming up the square. Everyone is encouraged to warm themselves by it after a long day, eat, and make merry. In fact, there’s a certain sense of enchantment to the crackling fire that seems to draw even the shiest wallflower in, pushing them to sit with others and make conversation. As the night goes on, the newly arrived dreamers will find themselves settling easily into the warm and bustling mood, any stresses and anxieties melting away. With time, they’ll start to find themselves without a filter, more than happy to talk about themselves and the life they had led prior to coming to Visium. In fact, they will feel compelled to share a story from their past - one that might be joyous, comedic, thrilling, or tragic. Whatever sorts of feelings come attached to their story, it will be one of emotional significance.
In the back of their minds, they might get the sense someone else is listening.
Welcome to the labyrinthum TDM! Characters will arrive depowered and with only their clothing, and will be given a satchel with a crystal pendant, a communication device, some water and bread and a magic potion. If they drink the potion, they will manifest an elemental, healing or animal transformation ability.
With the exception of Castle Vaeros, characters are free to go as they please, so feel free to place them in any of the locations available on the map. Yes, this includes the Labyrinth - though characters will not be able to clear the maze. Please comment here to request an outcome for your character's labyrinth exploration and a moderator will get to you shortly. (The longest a character can stay in the Labyrinth is 3 days.)
You can find more information about the game here. Any questions regarding the TDM can go under the comment below.
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He doesn't apologize, because that shit's hard and Katsuki knows he'd fuck it up in some way, but the little huff and grunt is...passable for one. Maybe. At least he does hush up on her request, albeit with a pout. Yes, Bakugou Katsuki, the Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight himself...is sulking.
His hands jam into his pockets, instinctively pawing at what should be there but isn't, and his shoulders only hunch up further. His body feels tight, and it's not all from his injuries, either.]
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You are correct, I am a princess. [She put the tiara back away into her pocket.] I did not mention it because it's not really that important here, now is it? [She shook her head. If her not informing someone of her birthright was going to have THIS happen she was going to have to sit with the idea of introducing herself as "Princess Aurora." The name seemed hollow.
She looked back to the ground, crushing another mistletoe berry and pressing it against the wall in a streak.]
Maleficent is her name, one of the most powerful beings where I am from. She can be anywhere and wherever she pleases, whenever she pleases. My parents slighted her when I was a baby, and to punish them, she cursed me to prick my finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel on my sixteenth birthday, and die. My Aunt Merryweather altered the curse so that I would only sleep instead. But... with her curse altered, no one was sure my safety was ensured regardless.
So for extra protection, I had been hidden away from her deep in the forest. I didn't know I was a princess even though I was taught everything a princess needed to know, but I was taught what a peasant needed to survive in the woods as well.
And yes, you are correct again, I am betrothed to a prince, and have been since my birth, but I have never met him. Our marriage is to unite our kingdoms and bring peace and prosperity in doing so. I don't know what he looks like, I do not know if he is handsome and kind with a white horse or cruel and harsh and rides a mule. I found out about my betrothal on my birthday, today.
I have had several revelations today, in fact. [She sighed, closing her eyes and taking a breath.]
For my sixteenth birthday, it was also revealed to me I was a princess to a kingdom I have never once been a part of, my parents were alive and well and waiting for me, I am betrothed to a man I have never even seen, in addition to why I lived my entire life in the woods, and my curse reached its fulfillment and while under Maleficent's spell, I have, in fact, pricked my finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fallen into an eternal sleep.
[Katsuki was speaking to the one and only Sleeping Beauty.]
It was while I was falling under the curse I wished... I begged to escape that curse. And now I am here, with you.
So now you have the whole of it. If I am something out of your storybooks, it does not change that I am here, alive, awake, and with you here and now.
That is the total of it.
[She went back to being silent, letting out a breath. Goodness, even to her own ears it all sounded quite ridiculous to her. She would not blame him for being more enrage and not believing an ounce of it.]
no subject
Still, he listens, and while he is quiet throughout, it's clear that Katsuki has his own opinions the more and more she talks about how it all went down. He takes a deep breath, mostly to calm himself down and speak without some of his usual ire and volumn, but there's just...so much he thinks could have been done better. Not by her, specifically, she's the victim here more or less...and if she's really coming from a time back then, well. Things have changed dramatically in the modern age. But Katsuki has never been one to not say what's on his mind, and he doesn't pull his punches for anyone. She may not like what his has to say, because there's going to be some criticism of what was decided for her fate, but...
He's used to being disliking him, it's nothing new.]
...So your parents pissed off some bitch and she took it out on a baby instead. [That's just supremely fucked up, even for the usual Villain. Not totally impossible, he's seen shitty people of all kinds, even those who would weaponize their own kids, but still. This is sick even for Katsuki.] Yeah, this sounds about like what I figured. It's a story from back home, but youre right. You're alive and all that.
I won't spoil your story, Princess, but I'm gonna be honest...your parents are dumbasses. If this person they're so afraid of is as bad as you say...then I'd think they'd be smarter about pissing her off, you think? Not to mention using the sixteen year in between to either fight back or find some way to break that curse. Preparing you for what to expect instead of lying and just shoving their kid off to the woods. Tch...sounds to me like they took the easiest way out and hoped for the fucking best. But this ain't my story - I didn't write it - so no point complaining over what's been done.
But my point stands. You're allowed to be angry about it, too...cuz it's horsecrap that someone who has no knowledge of the circumstance has to endure it.
[He rasps a breath, coughing into his hand and grimacing at the slight pink on his skin. Ugh...right, he's still straining his body even if he's just moving around easily like this. Eventually, he will need to see a healer, but it's not serious yet. Everyone else back in his world...he has no idea if they were as lucky as he was. Sensei, Gran Torino, all his friends and classmates...stupid idiotic goddamn Deku--]
Happy birthday, by the way.
[Is he being sincere or sarcastic? It's hard to tell with this prickly blond.]
no subject
[Aurora does know something of fairytales. Her world is filled with them too. Legends and myths and superstitions abound but in her world, they usually have more than just a kernel of truth to them. In her world, the beings are very real, and so are likely the creatures and heroes and victims within them. When fairies are your literal godmothers, another one cursed you as a babe, and dragons and wood sprites are not just commonplace but able to be found, then there is a very different set of rules to live by.]
In so many words, yes, that is what caused me to be cursed. [She wasn't going to repeat his profanity but he also wasn't wrong.
She has nothing to really say in defense of her parents, of the situation they put themselves and her in, it's not like she can say what should have happened if they had invited Maleficent instead. For all they know, Maleficent would have done it all exactly the same and then people would blame her parents for inviting Maleficent in the first place. Still, there is nothing to be done, and only guesses can be made on the shoulds and woulds.
May this boy never meet Maleficent, is all she can think. She withholds as he begins coughing.
When he starts to cough, she pauses and comes over to him, moving into his space and pressing the back of her palm to his forehead.] Is the willow bark helping with the pain, at all? You are quite warm. You may be developing a fever. We can rest if you need?
no subject
Fair enough, the fae folk, from what tiny amount of old English reading he's done - either on his own or for school - are fickle and capricious. They have a very specific set of rules that they follow, and tend to bend or twist them on a whim to suit their fancy. Loopholes, and all that. But it still doesn't change the fact that he still sees her 'story' to be, well...kinda shitty. Most of the people in them get the extremely short end of the stick before their so-called happily ever after. Speaking of--]
...You'll be fine. If this place can take powerful people to it, means there's someone one there stronger than the one chasing after you. Someone who's not a heaving sack of cat puke. [He would say himself, but right now? Even Katsuki's not confident he can fight a Big Bad and win. Not while he's injured, but especially not when he's quirkless. Would he still try if the situation called? Undoubtedly.] Think on that instead.
Tastes like crap, but it's doing something, probably. But it won't fix everything. [Katsuki frowns, leaning away at first, but isn't swatting her off. He's trying, and Aurora's not the worst company he's had. In fact, she's ticking toward tolerable, which is pretty damn good in his book. Up until she touches him, that is - Katsuki tenses, bristles, and takes a deep breath through his nose, letting it out sharply through his teeth.] ...Sure. Just don't fuc--mmnn...
Hands to yourself.
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I will have to make do regardless of my inclinations on the matter. I am here, for however long that means and so I must do what I can. [Being raised a peasant didn't exactly prime you to be spoiled. You HAD to get up and go cut wood regardless of how tired or achy you might be because wood needed to be in the fire place to keep you warm. You had to go collect food from the woods and fish from the nets if you wanted to eat for the next few nights. That simply was the way it was.
She watches him bristle, immediately reminded of Merryweather and how she disliked when Flora was being particularly forceful. She had to wait several more moments before pulling away, moving out of his personal space as well.] I believe you are gaining a fever.
We can stop and rest.
What happened, if I may inquire? [She gestured over to a wall where moss had over grown on the ground so at least it would be a little more comfortable to sit down for a few moments.]
cw: mild MHA spoilers
I am here, for however long that means and so I must do what I can.
...Right. Can't dwell on it. They'll be fine. He has to believe they'll all be fine, otherwise he'll lose his fucking mind otherwise. For however long he's here, Katsuki has to have faith that all of his idiot friends and classmates are okay. Until he gets back to them, he's got to believe in their strength.]
I was in a fight. [He doesn't mean to be vague, but it's pretty much the gist of it. The finer details aren't really necessary
and the player's trying to avoid spoilers, heehoo. Katsuki seats himself, squatting with a wince and a grunt, but then a sigh when he leans his back against the soft, cool moss. His arms rest on his bent knees.] ...Some moron thought he could do everything himself and nearly got himself killed. I stepped in to stop it.no subject
As he provided what little information he felt like sharing (a far cry, she realized from her laying out all of her life), she tilted her head, smiling warmly.]
You must care for him very deeply, whoever it is you stepped in for. [She had only just met Bakugou but she had concluded at least some things rather quickly. He was passionate, he demanded to share the load of the situation, he was unafraid to voice his opinion, and he had a strong sense of justice for right and wrong, indelicate if the latter was in play.
So the fact that he was willing to step in for someone, well, she could only assume that person was important.] If I can find the right plants and supplies, I can make a salve for the wound to clean it and help it begin healing. We'll have to be on the look out for honey so it can be disinfected.
1/2
2/2
He better be alive is all Katsuki can hope for. There's still things that remain unsaid between them. Him and...everyone else. They all better be alive when he gets back to them.]
Tch...considering the flowers, I'd assume there's hives around, or even bee houses. [The flowers are all blooming, bursting with life. It'd be easy to guess there'd be bees to pollinate them and help them grow. Medicine from honey, though...that's rustic, but it's not uncommon.] Just keep your eyes and ears open, but getting the honey's not gonna be easy.
[He immediately starts picking up nearby rocks and turning them over in his hand. A flint stone would be best to create fire for smoke, but those aren't easy to find.]
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The alternative is allowing that wound you are sporting to fester. I can suffer a few stings if we cannot smoke them away. Besides, we only need to approach a hive calmly and carefully to extract a few combs.
[After several more moments of resting on the moss, she stood up and held out her hand to him.]
Let us continue, shall we?
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If I have the right stuff, I can clean and dress the wound...and reapply the stitches - at least here. [He motions toward his abdomen, the real problem point that could get bad if left to fester, like she said. His shoulder is bad off, yes, but a secondary matter.] ...If you say so.
[He's no beekeeper, but usually bees aren't exactly open to the concept of people taking what's theirs, or disturbing it. But she's been in the woods a lot more than he has, and if she's really some...fairytale character brought to life, then. She's probably got this. Katsuki waves off her hand with a shake of his head and holding up of his own. He's actually being polite in his own way, and though the help is appreciated, he can still stand on his own, and has his pride. Just cuz he's injured doesn't mean he can't do the simplest things on his own. He may grunt and wince a little, but he's up after a bit and walks a pace or two ahead of Aurora but doesn't deliberately do so - his gait is just wider than hers.]
Mm.
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You missed things in life when all you did was focus on where your feet were taking you. She wasn't sure it was wise for Katsuki to be walking so quickly with the wound he has.
She clasps her hands behind her as she maintains pace beside him.]
It seems there's very little you can't do.
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So yes, his pace is quick, even if it strains his body. He's not exactly focused on just himself right now.]
Mm? Tch, that goes for anyone if they have the fu--...fortitude to work hard. You got a goal? [He kicks a stone lazily with the toe of his boot.] Then fight for it. No one's gonna just hand it to you. And if they try, then it's not worth it. It's not something you earned. Goes for anything - work, studies, skills, talents...
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Clearly, this topic is something he's quite passionate about. Although, she has a sense he's passionate about everything. When he trails off, she looks over to him, waiting to see if he is going to say more. She's very good at silence, at stillness. She can spend an entire day being completely and utterly still, like a proper being of the forest, more creature sometimes than a girl.]
And what is your goal?
no subject
He believe is wishes being achieve by one's own strength and resolve, not some fairytale magic. Perhaps that's why he was also so hard on Aurora at first, too - his own bias towards what she represents.]
To be the world's greatest Hero. [It's practically automatic at this point. How many times has he barked out that sentence? He's lost count. However, after a breath, Katsuki continues.] ...It's different from what you may think it is. Being a Hero, I mean...the gist is the same, but it's--
[He clicks his tongue, curling his lips slightly. Hahaha...what even is it? Can he really be the one to say what makes a Hero? Should he? Does he really have the right?]
...S'hard to explain.
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You have a noble heart. [For whatever her words are worth to him.] Was there something that made you wish to be a hero, especially the hero of the whole world?
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[That's the gist of it anyway, like he said. Winning and saving...that goddamn speech All Might gave him and Deku that one time, months ago, after they beat the snot out of each other one night in the training grounds. He'd always taken those words to heart - how could he not - but never truly put them into real practice until maybe very recently. Maybe just moments before even waking up in this dumb place...
With a sideways glance at Aurora, Katsuki just grunts. Noble...hah. What a joke. Her next question makes him tense up, because the answer just seems so frail when he really thinks about it. Maybe there's more to it than just "I wanted to be the best, the strongest" but it simply doesn't seem that way. Not when he's in his own head.]
...I admired a great Hero like that. I want to surpass him. That's all. [It's not. Not even close.] Keep moving, I think I see buildings in the distance.
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No reason at all was just as valid, she supposed. She saw the tops of buildings and a tree nearby. She set down the berries, and, careful of her gown, climbed up the tree into higher branches. If she could, she would merely ask the animals for help but their voices were... silent to her, it was unsettling.]
It is indeed several buildings. [She called down to him.] We should try to veer left if we are able. [She jumped down from the tree, dusting her hands as she did and looking at him.] How is the pain?
I think we can wrap here!! ♥
Watching her climb up, the young man spots the woman lest she fall or a branch snaps under her weight. He says nothing about her capabilities, he can see she's done this before, but accidents happen, and he's still a Hero. If she does fall, he'll catch her.]
Mm...saw a path through the maze that veered in that direction, but we'll need to double back a little. And it's manageable. I don't think I popped the stitches, but it'll need addressing when we get to a place we can. [Because walking around is still causing him discomfort - Katsuki just should not be moving, period, but it's better that they're going a leisurely pace.] Let's move.