buttrinthum | TDM #1

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!tdm

TDM #1

Arrival / Enchanted Garden

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?

Somnius / Snow Angels

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).

Bonfire

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.

OOC

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[For Katsuki's efforts, Basil doesn't have a scratch on him. He's scared, and he's shaken, but he's unhurt. Katsuki, on the other hand...it's plain that Basil is staring at the growing blood-stains on his clothing, unable to do anything about it but also feeling like he should...go get help? Or something? Because he only got hurt because of him.

So he shakes his head no, despite looking like he's seen a ghost.]

I...I need to- to go get help-

[...Fucking tits. This is really not Katsuki's strong point - the whole comfort and reassurance aspect of what it means to be a Hero. Dealing with that sort of shit is usually left to the paramedics, the Rescue Heroes built and trained way better for that sort of thing - Uraraka, Frog Girl, and probably Yaoyorozu, too. Hell, even shitty Deku is good at that crap.

Katsuki snaps his fingers, breathing hand, but trying to get Basil to focus.]

Naa, just breathe. Stay a while and breathe with me. Only when you're ready you go, got it? [Because Katsuki needs a breather himself.] M'not...g-gonna keel over. Not yet. Not in this fucking place.

[Not ever, hopefully, but definitely not before he gets some answers to a few of his questions, and makes damn sure that those he left behind are alive and well, and he can get back to them.]

[Basil glances over quickly, snapping to attention pretty much immediately at Katsuki's prompting. The two of them aren't that far apart in age at all, but you wouldn't know it just by looking at them. Basil feels years younger than he is as it stands, scared and overwhelmed, yet ready to listen and at least try to do what he can to help.

Or, perhaps, it's more like do what he has to.

Breathe. Just breathe...he nods a little, quickly, but as he stands there his shaking knees finally become too much for him to bear as he slowly sinks into a sit on the grass.]

[God, it's really unsettling how much this kid reminds him of Deku, when he was just a few years younger - scared, helpless, twitchy and jerky...but still always managing to do the right thing. It makes Katsuki's stomach twist, because he still doesn't know what happened to everyone after he finally passed out. Who's okay? Who isn't? Who's dead--

Nodding sternly, Katsuki watches in silence and takes long, deep, shaky breathes himself. He's hot, sweaty, probably running a fever now. He absolutely hates the cold and snow, but grabs a handful of it and scrunches it into a ball to place against his brow. It helps, a little, but he definitely does need actual medical attention. What he does know, however, helps. He presses against the wound on his abdomen, grumbling about how he'll have to clean his clothes, but keeps his voice low. Every three seconds or so, he also glances at Basil, to make sure he's not going to go into shock.]

[Despite his fear, Basil seems to be doing okay. Physically, at least. Honestly, he's more worried about Katsuki right now than he is himself...but he has to wonder, how on earth did he get himself hurt so badly? Did it happen here? That scares Basil to think about...

So, during one of those moments that Katsuki looks his way, Basil asks:]

W...what happened?

[Katsuki exhales, and it feels...wet. That's probably not a good sign. With a few winces and grunts, the spiky blond lets his blazer and undershirt droop off the shoulder, unbuttoned, to show off the many bandages and medical patches covering most of his upper body and arms. The two areas already showing red splotches are the shoulder and abdomen. She shrugs the garments on again after a minute, hissing sharply.]

Before coming here, I was in a fight with some real pieces of shit. [Villains, and his group was fighting the worst of the worst.] I got injured when some dickhead I know thought he could play Hero all by himself...

[There's so much more to the story, but Katsuki's not here to scare this poor kid, he's shivering like a frozen chihuahua already. Besides that, it's nobody's business, really. Katsuki's not the type to dump his baggage on someone else.]

[That is...very scary. Katsuki seems to be handling it well, but...for Basil, it seems like something he should probably be taking care of, as opposed to staying here with him. And as ever, there's a level of guilt there over it...but he isn't going to make a point to bring that up.

Instead, he just looks back at Katsuki with worry shimmering in his gaze, even though he's trying his best to hide it.]

Is...is it going to be okay?

[Poor kid. Back in the day, Katsuki might have been, uh...far less accommodating and sympathetic, but a lot has happened to shift his usual shitty attitude into something...mildly more pleasant. At least when it counts. He's buttoning up his undershirt and blazer, clicking his tongue thoughtfully at the question. Katsuki hates to lie, so he doesn't.]

If it's left like this, probably not...but I won't keel over, if that's what you're asking. I know enough first aid to get by, if I find the right stuff to patch it up...but I know I probably need a light blood transfusion. You got a hell of an outline right now. [Basil is, uh...quite fuzzy right now as Katsuki looks at him, and he takes a deep breath with a small cough.] M'running a fever, too. Not too bad, but it'll impact my movement. Can you stand up?

[He doesn't want to rush the kid, but he does need to find somewhere to get healed up, or at least a place to properly rest.]

[Oh, right. As if he's only just now remembering that he can, Basil is quick to scramble up to his feet- wavering, feeling a bit dizzy- then eventually settling as his surroundings stop spinning. A blood transfusion sounds pretty serious...like, hospital stay serious. Is there even anything like that, here?

Well, if nothing else, Basil can assure Katsuki that he's okay. That's something, isn't it?]

I can.

[Katsuki watches Basil move, readying himself to catch the boy when he starts to wobble, then pushes himself up with a visible wince and slow groan of pain. Now that the adrenaline's worn off, he can actually feel how rough of a shape he's in, and the fatigue is starting to set in, as well as his own bout of dizziness. It won't stop him, Katsuki has the stamina of a workhorse, and he's stubborn as a mule, too...but he's definitely going to take it easy once he's on the mend again (events willing).

And he's only speaking in medical terms - he has experience with healing quirks, but not magical healing...outside of video games, at least. He doesn't know how good or bad it can be, and is being realistic with his expectations. He lost a bit of blood, and that's not exactly something he can pull out his ass. It's not fatal, but definitely...less than desired. And a hospital is just a good idea anyway, to properly disinfect his wound, reapply the stitches, and get clean bandages and proper painkillers.]

Good. Now keep on your feet...I don't actually know if this place has a proper hospital or not. [Maybe an apothecary, and a healer's place with potions and all that shit, but an actual doctor? ...Maybe. It's a huge fucking 'if'.] But I'm not gonna falter, and neither are you, got it? Pretty sure you got people back home waiting for you just as much as I do.

[Haha...yeah. Right...

Basil isn't going to argue of course, staying close to Katsuki's side like glue even as he moves slowly himself. He can stay upright he's pretty sure, he's fine...and because of that, he'll nod.]

G-got it.

[You're in charge Katsuki, he'll follow you.]

[If only he knew... 🙃

But, Katsuki does not and isn't in the realm of poking or prodding about past trauma - he's got plenty of his own skeletons and that is strictly his business and no one else's until he deems them worthy of breaching his walls and unpacking the mountain of baggage inside. Instead, he stands and breathes out, picking a direction that definitely leads toward the center of town. That's the best bet to at least get directions, or a guide to some place that has medicine or medical supplies of some sort. Katsuki is exhausted, he most definitely needs to rest, but at least after maybe a good thirty or so minutes...they're at an apothecary.]

It stinks in here.

[Like actually stinks. There's so many weird herbs and plants that he's caught gagging or sneezing several times as he's looked over by a rather gangly old woman who could very easily be mistaken for a story-book hag. Thankfully, she's far less intimidating or wicked, and only tersely scolds Katsuki when he moves or squirms too much as she applies her expertise to his very obvious wounds. Basil's been put on assistant duty - mostly just fetching her things like hot water, bandages, and vials of various plants and roots.]

[Where Katsuki finds the smell to probably be bad and overwhelming, Basil...in a weird way finds himself comforted by it. The herby aroma surrounding them is familiar and nice, and it helps him relax just a little even though they're still very much not anywhere he recognizes. And sure enough, his comfort levels are immediately tested as he's being made to help out with Katsuki's treatment...though fortunately it's simple tasks, nothing you'd expect somebody without a medical background to be doing has to factor in here.

He just has to hope this works...Katsuki really didn't seem well, no matter what he tried to say to the contrary.]

[No, he's assuredly not well, considering there were holes punched into him not even a full day ago. But, he has been treated by the best doctors in Japan, and was in recovery already (unconscious) for a good three days prior. He's not fully healed in the slightest, it'll take a lot of care for him to be at full percent again, but the young man's got the stamina of a godly work horse. Hell, even the apothecary comments on it a bit as he wriggles uncomfortably - that Katsuki should have been unconscious after just an hour or two. That whoever he saw before did a damn good job and he's lucky he's got the piss and vinegar right now to even be uppity about the shop's smell.

He gripes the entire time, like the brat that he is, but aside from the curse or grunt here and there...he lets the old woman work. Every so often he spares Basil a glance, making sure the kid's doing okay as well. No need for him to pass out and there be two patients... He's there maybe an hour, heightened only by Katsuki's attitude, and by the time he's healed enough to be released and told to rest - given plenty of medicine to take and rolls of gauze and bandages to change himself - he feels...tired. Just genuinely tired and in need of a fucking nap.

Once he's alone with Basil, he addresses him with a deep and held breath. Listen, this still isn't easy for him to do, but it's...necessary. ~~And maybe he needs the practice, too.~~]

...Thanks. For the help.

[Basil is tired, too. Nowhere near as tired as Katsuki of course, but still exhausted over just...the whole ordeal. There's no guarantee that his home is even going to be safe after this either, so he'll have that to worry about later...

For now, he just tries to focus on the present here. And when Katsuki thanks him? He's surprised.]

O-oh...you're welcome.

[He really doesn't feel like he did a whole lot...he was mostly here for moral support, but.]

I'm glad you're okay.

[Yeah, about that... Katsuki had been recalling how he messed up this poor kid's home a bit, and he feels guilty about it. It's not destroyed - he's learned collateral damage is highly frowned upon since his first practical exam thank you - but it's probably not in great shape. He'll definitely offer to pitch in to clean it up, he's fairly responsible, but...his injuries do need to heal, and they both need rest for different reasons.

There's a tightening in the blond's chest, a cold and deeply uncomfortable feeling bubbling in his stomach. This kid is so similar to the fucking nerd. Too similar in some cases, when it comes to his gentle attitude and wimpiness. It's like being doused in ice water, and makes Katsuki feel incredibly small himself. Because he remembers. He remembers when Deku was like that, too. That little shit...he better be okay. He better be okay.]

Mm... [A pause, as Katsuki chews his inner cheek and takes a long, deep breath.] Your place isn't livable cuz of this shit, right? I found a cottage, people said I can have it. ...One bed, but there's space for two.

[Basil honestly isn't sure yet how livable his house is or isn't. He has to imagine there's a lot inside that needs repairing or outright replacing. It's still standing, but in terms of being usable for basic needs...he'd have to go back and check.

So when Katsuki offers his space to him...his home, even as a temporary measure? He can't help the way his eyes widen a little with surprise.]

You...you'd let me stay?

[Exactly - as a shelter from the cold, it's still upright and functioning, but actually being a place of rest, where Basil could easily relax and let this shitty day go? Yeah, no, probably not in the best condition. Which is partially Katsuki's fault, and he's kicking himself mentally for that. Minimizing collateral damage is part of his Hero training, so it feels like he failed in a really, really stupid way.

The least he can do is this. But--]

Not indefinitely. [He makes a face, lower lip puffed out in his attempt to not come off as overly surly...but only managing to look uncomfortable and maybe a little constipated, too. :')b] Until your place is repaired, or you find a new one...you can stay.

[Not indefinitely...no, Basil wasn't expecting that much. But any amount of time at all almost feels like too much, honestly. It's a kindness he doesn't feel like he deserves, after what he's put Katsuki through.

Yet...he's appreciative. It's a relief, knowing that he'll have someplace to be, at least until he can find a home for himself again. It's nicer still knowing that he isn't going to be alone.]

...thank you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TDM #1

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cw: mild MHA spoilers (keeping it vague for you, dear ♥)

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