TDM #6

[labyrinmods]

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: holly and bluebells.

Standing too close to the bluebells for too long or smelling them will make a Dreamer unable to refuse requests. This can last for however long a player may wish, whether it be for a few days or just a few minutes. The holly, however, also gives off a strange effect when getting too close to it: Dreamers will feel compelled to be more helpful & outgoing, no matter how gloomy and closed off they are. This effect can also last for a few days or a few minutes-- it is up to the player!

Eventually, Dreamers will find their way out of the Enchanted Garden and into the city of Somnius, whether it be by following the alluring light or on their own.

Webby's Sleepover Extravaganza

It’s funny how if you ask for something, sometimes that’s all it takes to have it given to you. Maybe Webby is just that lucky, or Vaeros is feeling just that generous the day it’s requested but for two days and one night only in the beginning of the month of November, a large castle stands where one didn’t before. It’s grand in that it doesn’t need repairs like some of the available housing does, but it’s certainly nothing too awe-inspiring. But, it’s big enough for its purpose—a sleepover party for every inhabitant new or old.

During the night a few days before the party, EVERY person receives a handwritten invitation to this sleepover blowout. It doesn’t matter who, young or old. For those who wake up in Somius after the invitations arrive, they’ll find an invitation just for them in their pocket or satchel, like they were always meant to be invited from the beginning.
Decorations are bright and colorful, spanning the whole rainbow. One giant room full of cots and sleeping bags, blankets and pillows has been made to be the centerpiece of the whole affair. This is where most of the partygoers will mingle and play games, if they’re not too busy with one of the other activities located in one of the other rooms nearby. There’s plenty of room to wander, though any room that has not been decorated and made up for the party is locked down completely with no way in. There are, of course quiet spaces provided for those who need a quick getaway from all the partying. Or maybe going outside for a stroll in the night garden would be calming too?

For those who don’t have anything appropriate to sleep in, pajamas are even provided. But they might be a little silly, since beggars can’t be choosers. Who wants the unicorn fuzzy pajamas?

Games Galore - There’s plenty to play with, at Webby’s insistence (and by insistence we mean she gives you the biggest doe-eyes you’ve ever seen) and she’s more than happy to give you overly-detailed means on how to play the following -

🎉Twister - a huge sheet blotted with colorful spots has been laid on the floor, along with a square with similar colors and a spinny arrow. The rules are simple - one person spins the arrow, and where it lands you put your foot or hand. First to fall loses, so amp up the embarrassment - er, fun as you all get tangled up with each other.
🎉Truth Or Dare - Two options, one chance for chaos. Surely you’re all going to be mature individuals and not ask mortifying questions or dangerous dares.
🎉Pin The Tail On The Donkey - Yes, Webby’s sole guardian was a woman whose idea of fun was from the 1950s, how did you know? But she’s also put up optional sheets of different animals to stick their tail/bodyparts on while you’re blindfolded, including past threats like zombies and skeksis.

Bountiful Buffet - The best way to stay up late is to stuff yourself silly with sugar, which is why the dining room table is loaded with all kinds of desserts. Remy and Aurora have supplied some of their own sugary confections, and you’re more than welcome to have added your own creations to the buffet. Just don’t start any food fights. At least not where Webby can see it!

As though the castle (or whoever ACTUALLY owns it) wants to help assist the party atmosphere, those who partake of the food might feel a little more inclined to be friendly and amenable to party activities. You know, just for those gloomy gusses out there. There are no drawbacks to this little bit of fairy dust, just a little bit of social greasing, you know?

Makeover Makeover Makeover - Vil has ever so kindly offered his beauty supplies for those of you who want to experiment with some new looks, and you’re free to have brought your own. Test it out on one another or try it out yourself. Then again, when he’s not looking, what’s to stop you from trying to paint yourself up like a B-movie monster?

Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark - Some of you may have had more than enough of your share of frights due to last month’s… fun, but surely you can handle a bit more fright? In a dark room with only one light torch, gather in a circle and share a spooky story from times gone by. Just be prepared for that one person who always sneaks up from behind and goes BOO at the right time. It’s inevitable.

Pillow Fight - Pick a side or be a lone warrior, grab a pillow and show no mercy! The last one standing wins! The only rule is your pillow is your sole weapon! In fact, there seem to be more pillows available than there are people here, so let the feathers fly! If the castle magically produces more, who’s to say? Shrug and keep the battle going!

Bonfire of Growth

CW: memory share, character specific trauma

Some may be aware that harvest season is a season of growth and not just in the cultivating sense. Townsfolk take this time to evaluate themselves and really think about things in their lives that have potentially been holding them back from being their strongest and truest selves. With the newly accessible Indigo Beach providing plenty of room for multiple bonfires, Dreamers will see several bonfires stretched across the dark blue sand, logs and rocks assembled around each one, beckoning Dreamers near.

As soon as they step out on the beach’s sands, characters will find a slip of paper on their person (in their pocket, up their sleeve.. any readily accessible portion of their clothing.) On that piece of paper, they will have a personalized phrase catered to them, making them remember a painful memory that has held them back in some way. The phrase can be anything players want it to be as long as it jogs the memory back into the head of their characters. Those with a paper slip will feel compelled to sit around the bonfire and contemplate their memory; they also will feel encouraged to share that memory with anyone who is sitting nearby. If characters choose to throw the paper slip into the fire, those who have heard the story of their grief will have a very vivid visual of the event in their mind’s eye along with feeling the exact pain they went through as well.

Once these memories are shared and characters take a moment to grieve, they will feel significantly better about the past situation that caused them so much pain. This can be temporary or permanent, it’s up to the player.

Although refreshments won’t be provided, Dreamers are encouraged to bring their own. And yes, something adjacent to s’mores can be something characters may bring.

Suspicious Message #4

On the morning of the 1st, some dreamers will receive a message from an unknown user.

Who or what from home do you miss the most?

They will feel compelled to respond with a truthful answer, as if their brains had gone into a trance, and before they know it, their response will be there for everyone to see. It cannot be deleted or changed. The user will not respond personally, but you get the sense they are definitely reading.

[ This is an additional network option for characters to interact with. Feel free to add a network prompt into any of your top levels. If you do not want to interact with this prompt, simply assume your character did not get the message. All threads are public unless actively privated by characters. We generally encourage threadjacking and engagement, so feel free to mention if threadjacking is fine with you so that others are aware. Note that the NPC will not be actively responding. ]

OOC

Welcome to the labyrinthum TDM! All events are game canon. New characters (invited or not) and old characters alike are welcome to play in it. Existing characters can start their own logs or network posts for the event if they wish to.

New and Old characters are welcome to top level on the TDM. Please state in the header if you are a new or old player! Also, new characters may link their top levels under the new character comment so they are easier to find. Thanks for your cooperation!

New 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.

You can find more information about the game here. Any questions regarding the TDM can go under the comment below. Special thank you to Melissa for the player plot and prompts!

Comments

Li Lianhua | Mysterious Lotus Casebook | New player

[doctor_uhh]

A. Arrival
Waking on cold hard ground, aching and disoriented, with no clear memory of passing from another place to this one - well, that could mean a number of things. None of which Li Lianhua is of a mind to question too closely, for now. The answer doesn't seem to matter very much anymore, anyway. Isn't that funny? It used to matter so much to so many people, and now the only one it affects doesn't care. He has to laugh, a strange mix of relief and fear making him giddy, and he chuckles quietly to himself while he waits for his vision to clear.

Once he's able to take stock, he notes his surroundings - the salty sea air replaced with the pleasant fragrance of wild flowers - and investigates the unknown satchel. The contents surprise another laugh out of him; an agreement for his life? "Eh? Which poor fool got cheated out of a good deal this time?" He shakes his head, then raises the little bottle to the sky in an amused toast before drinking it. Why not? If it's going to kill him, it'll have to get in line. Would be a pretty thoughtless welcome gift anyway, if someone is exchanging lives for wishes around here.

The golden liquid tastes strong and sweet, like his shifu's favorite liquor. Li Lianhua has to swallow more than just the drink at that memory, pulling his heavy white fur-lined coat closer around his shoulders. Perhaps he will sit here in the sun for just a little while longer. After all, what's the hurry to move on?


B: Sleepover; Bountiful Buffet
News travels fast in a sleepy town, eventually reaching even those who are trying to stay out of people's affairs. A building that appeared out of nowhere over night? Li Lianhua can't be blamed for being a little curious and having to see it for himself. He wanders its halls for a while, observing the festivities and the strange collection of guests, wearing a friendly face but not staying anywhere long enough to chat with anyone.

That is, not until he finds the buffet table. Li Lianhua can't resist a good dessert, and he will spend quite some time digging into the candies and loading his plate with small portions of nearly everything. He may also be trying to hide wrapped candies in his wide sleeves. Oh yes, he has no need of fuzzy pajamas; surely his long white robes look so comfortable that no one will even notice.


C: Sleepover; Scary Stories
After overindulging in the sweets, Li Lianhua does feel a little more open to the idea of being sociable. He finds himself drawn to a smaller group in a quieter room and its hushed atmosphere suitable for ghost stories. Once it's his turn to speak, he will pick up a candle to cast his face into eerie shadows and begin his tale in low and gloomy tones.

"My friends, what this humble storyteller has to tell you tonight is all true, for I saw it with my own eyes. Now listen, to the story of the cursed wedding dress and the three pitiful brides whose lives it took."


D: Bonfire
Li Lianhua has been wandering the area a little restlessly these past few days. Not much, just a few short walks along the walls of the labyrinth. Does it really encircle the entire town? Is it built in the same fashion throughout? Does it show signs of age or damage, of innovation or besiegement? Perhaps these questions don't matter, but it's something to do while he waits.

On one such evening, he comes across the Indigo Beach for the first time. As soon as Li Lianhua takes a few steps along this remarkable beach, he can feel the slip of paper suddenly nestled in his sleeve. But what draws his attention even more is the vast expanse of the sea stretching to the horizon. He watches the waves lapping at the sand, watches as footprints and other signs left by people are slowly and irreversibly erased. Doesn't it seem peaceful? His own footsteps are drawn to the very edge of the water before he stops, gaze lost to the waves and his own thoughts.


E: Suspicious Message; un: li.xiangyi
A friendly face to wake up to.

I used to have a dog. He'd always greet me in the morning, no doubt waiting for his breakfast.

[Adding a few more words comes as naturally as writing that first line. Only then does he see the name his message is attached to.

Any replies to this message will remain unread, while Li Lianhua looks for a hole deep enough to drop this cursed thing into.]

((I'll match prose or brackets!))

Bonfire (*cocks gun* you know what it is)

[wife_material]

It was always going to be a beach. Li Lianhua watches the waves and Di Feisheng watches him, remarkably still even for an occasional statue of a man. He doesn't believe in ghosts particularly, but he's willing to be talked around, for how eerie a scene it all makes. Stark white and unworldly sand and the changing and changeless sea.

At least he can't blame Li Lianhua's regression (or failing senses?) for letting him get this close unnoticed; there's nothing to suppress and nothing to give him away, with the sound of waves to mask his steps. It's a little funny for being stripped of all his hard earned skill to be an advantage, except for how terrifying it's been, underneath all the resigned determination to rectify it.

Unfortunately, however peaceful it seems, the peace can't last even if this is the wrong beach and the wrong time. There has to be some accounting for broken promises and broken swords. But first things first.

“Li Lianhua! I'm glad you're still alive after all.”

you can't bring a gun to a divorce

[doctor_uhh]

It was always going to be a beach, but maybe it's not too late to walk out and join the waves. Just to see if Di Feisheng would join him there again, too.

The presence beside him is too familiar to truly be startling, even if he has been caught unawares for once. Now that it's come to this, it seems like avoiding Di Feisheng had always been a fool's errand from the moment he'd spotted him in the castle. So it's mostly resignation that washes over him, rather than irritation or regret or dread or bonding. There's a lot here he could be feeling, so it's probably best to stick with resignation, to be honest.

"Mmm," he hums a disgruntled acknowledgement of both the man and his words. "Di-mengzhu has the leisure for walks on the beach after being taken away by unknown forces? I'm surprised." His gaze remains fixed on the sea for now. This is a threat.

watch me

[wife_material]

Fate probably belongs in the same realm as ghosts, but Li Lianhua is being more than a little unfair if he really wants to blame Di Feisheng for following him this time. Or, truthfully, at least some of the other times as well. What are you supposed to call being fished up by a corpse matchmaker that just happened to be next on Li Lianhua's interrogation list? He's earned a little resignation but no more than that; Di Feisheng arrived here without straying from his course.

The noncommittal hum and immediate evasion aren't lost on him either, and he cuts his eyes at Li Lianhua without turning away from the sea. This is almost a hostage situation, apparently, so he will mind his vibes.

"You shouldn't be. Some questions take years to answer. What's a few days? I have time." Unlike you, he doesn't have to add, even if there's a cold and hurt temptation to do so. "My mistake was trusting you."

[doctor_uhh]

Well maybe it's resignation to fate more so than to Di Feisheng's determination not to allow him a moment's peace. Where Li Lianhua is standing, those two things seem as indistinguishable as the face of the moon and its reflection in the sea, anyway.

Di Feisheng's explanation is almost absurd and charming in its simple confidence and intractability, as if he's going to wear down the walls of the labyrinth by sheer force of will alone. The worst part is that Li Lianhua believes it. A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth against his better judgement and the tension underpinning this meeting. And it stays there, though a little strained, in defiance of the unspoken blame that Di Feisheng indeed does not have to add. He can hear the anger just fine, the stolen opportunity, the failed expectation.

...Except then he does say the blame part out loud. Is that really necessary? Does he think Li Lianhua is unaware of what he took from him? That he actually wants to know whether or not his final effort at making up for his failures was successful?

"...Oh?" is all he can even think to say to that. Giving Di Feisheng the space to air his grievances is only further stalling in the absence of a better escape route. The bottom of the ocean is looking more and more inviting.

[wife_material]

He thinks Li Lianhua is in fact unaware and he's almost certainly right; he doesn't even fully know, himself, what exactly he thinks has been taken from him this time, but it's not even the point in the first place. For this one thing, they could share the blame, because he did say it was his mistake. If Li Lianhua feels guilt, maybe he should do something more worthwhile with it than dying. Why even give him an opening he didn't want when that was a complete sentence needing no elaboration.

This close to the water's edge, he can let some of the tension drain out of his posture, though he still isn't looking at Li Lianhua just in case. There's no sense of ease to it, just an unexpected window into some fraying fatigue or grief. “The last time I saw you was when I made the mistake. I still don't know if it was the only time.”

C- sleepover scary stories

[waterfawn]

Eilonwy had originally planned to skip the ghost stories, especially after everything that had happened last month. But as she realized most of the stories were scary but not horrifying, she's reconsidered and is seated amongst the ones listening. She leans forward, interested.

"How can a dress be cursed?" she asks.

[doctor_uhh]

"A good question, young miss," he smiles at the girl who spoke up, always enjoying a little audience engagement when he recounts a murder mystery reveal story. She looks young and is surely not the only child in the room, so he will take care with his retelling. But children aren't made of paper and love a good thrill, and he's determined not to disappoint.

"Let me tell you, this dress is no ordinary piece of clothing. Its fine fabric is the bruised red shade of a pomegranate, and weaved into its stitches are enticing patterns made of pure silver thread. Yes, even the wedding crown is adorned with so much silver, pieces so numerous and large that they would ring like tiny silver bells with every movement of the bride. Can you imagine it? Isn't it so delicate and precious that it would make a silver mountain jealous?"

He smiles a little wider, now, the candle light glinting in his eyes. "But beautiful things can be dangerous, you know." He turns again to the girl, addressing her question once more. "If not for a terrible curse, how do you explain the fact that everyone who wore this dress was doomed to die a tragic death?"

[waterfawn]

The dress and crown he describes aren't very hard to picture. An ornate and heavily decorated set- something that absolutely sounds at home in a wedding. Eilonwy nods as she considers the question posed back. Fabric that could kill? "It sounds like a very pretty dress, but.." she trails off, thinking again.

"Maybe the dress was too tight? Or too loose?" she makes as educated a guess as she can, with everything she knows. Surely a curse wouldn't pick something as simple as causing someone to trip and fall, and fabric that was too tight could always be cut. Regardless, Eilonwy is invested in this tale and excited to hear the rest of it.

[doctor_uhh]

For all his humble acting skills, the girl's undaunted and earnest attempt at solving this mystery nearly scatters the ominous and foreboding air he's been cultivating here. He keeps it together, of course, but his eyes curve into pleased crescents with a delighted smile for a moment before he gets back to the story. It's just that she doesn't even know how close she's gotten to the truth on her first try. Smart girl. He's going to have to watch out for this one.

"Oh it was quite tight, quite tight. Heavy, too, with all that silver. But it had been in the Guo family for generations, you understand, a treasured heirloom. No one would dare make any alterations to it, to make it a little easier to bear for the young brides. So every few years, a promising and hopeful young lady such as yourself," he nods to his cleverest audience member, "would come to the manor to marry into the family. And every dawn of the wedding day would find the bride drowned in the manor's lotus lake, still wearing the cursed dress." He delivers these lines with a gravity that befits the tragedy, though with enough dramatic flourish to hopefully avoid it sounding a little too real. Once again he glances at the girl, to see if she's got any further guesses on the cause of death or the true culprit, at this point.

[waterfawn]

Eilonwy likes puzzles almost as much as she likes walks in the woods. As the story is continued, she puts aside trying to figure it out for a few minutes and simply gets lost in the telling. She has some ideas but she's still a kid herself, and a good story can be enjoyed without trying to solve it immediately.

Eilonwy exhales, picturing the scene of some poor woman in the lake, people upset that it must have been a curse and blinks as things click. The flourish provided has dulled a lot of the fear of this being more than just a story; and she she ventures her guess.

"Wait. You said the dress was tight fitting and heavy, and never had alterations? Unless the brides were the same height as the original owner, their arms and legs would have-- Well, maybe not have been frozen in place, but it would be harder for them to move. If they slipped and fell in, with their arms and legs weighed down by the outfit, and their heads weighed by the crown, they would have sank." If it actually turns out to be ghosts or some other kind of supernatural curse, she'll feel a bit foolish for overthinking things.

Arrival

[fragmentaryblue]

What's the hurry, indeed. There must be a fragrance or pollen hanging about this garden that takes all worldly concerns out of mind. How else could there be two people in such a place with no vested interest for being in another place entirely?

Having halted her aimless meanderings for the moment, Blue looks on at the person she's discovered, like one might observe a cat sitting in the sun. The prophets would advise her to let sleeping felines lie, but he doesn't appear to be asleep and she was never good at taking advice anyway. If she were more honest (with herself, with others) then she would also have to admit that she's feeling unsettled still. No connection, not to a singular or a collective or anything remotely familiar. A dandelion seed cast out into the wind. The edges of that disconnection gnaw at her mind like a hungry caterpillar devouring a leaf, and she smiles brightly at having found a sacrifice to offer it instead.

"Have you found a nice spot?" she asks. If he looks her way, he'll find a fair skinned woman with dark eyes and short-cropped black hair covered by a flat cap. Her black doublet and white shirt and hose are a stark contrast to the vivid greenery around them, and she idles at the edge of his sunny spot like a specter awaiting permission to cross the threshold.

[doctor_uhh]

The stranger's voice comes out of nowhere, with no footsteps or rustling of leaves or sense of approaching presence announcing itself to Li Lianhua first. Even to someone as close to being a ghost as you can get while still regrettably having a pulse, that's... a little unsettling. His senses haven't dulled to near uselessness yet, have they?

But why not? Perhaps the utter stillness within his meridians, the final lack of any internal force he can feel here is simply the last stage of his journey. That must be it. Blindness, deafness, madness. He'd been well on his way before coming here, and wherever here is, that clearly hasn't changed. That swell of relief and fear is back now, though the tides are threatening to turn towards the latter. It would be great if the madness could hurry up a little; he'd really been counting on that one to do the heavy lifting for him at the end. Li Lianhua rasps out a laugh again, one hand gripping the lush greenery by his side to ground himself.

Finally he looks up at the other person blearily, her image hard to discern for a moment, though she sure looks as out of place as he must in this colorful meadow, clad in near funerary white robes. "Not really," he responds cheerfully, the taste of his shifu's liquor still thick on his lips. "But it seems it's found me." There's no need for permission between fellow specters; she can come or go as she pleases.

[fragmentaryblue]

If not permission, then at least she waits for his acknowledgement before stepping into the sun and settling herself on the grass as well. It wouldn't do to start a diplomatic incident between ghosts. Not that she considers herself one--she doesn't believe in such things--but they do make quite a dour pair sitting in the middle of this clearing.

"It seems to have found me too." It's a nice spot of grass and leaves, no better or worse than any other place to sit in this garden thus-far. She takes off her cap and shakes out her hair, giving the sun a chance to warm the top of her head like a daisy turning its face to the sun. She gives her attention back to him after a moment. "...I hope this won't sound presumptuous from a stranger, but you didn't sound well just now. Should I ask after your health?" Not just his laugh a moment ago, but the way he grasps at the foliage... She won't insist if he declines, but it seems considerate to inquire at the very least for someone of her profession. A good actor doesn't shrug off her role between scenes.

[doctor_uhh]

As the stranger chooses to sit herself down nearby, Li Lianhua waits to see if he's got any disappointment or resentment to feel about that. But it turns out he doesn't mind; she knows nothing of him nor he anything of her, so they can pass through each other's lives for a moment and be no better or worse off for it. It's not like she's going to spoil his rays of sunlight, anyway.

She's got the right idea, exposing herself to the warmth of the sun and he follows suit, tilting his face up and closing his eyes. Though it's unfortunate that she then does attempt to know something because knowing things is a curse, but her wording is less bothersome than most. He releases the grass he's been gripping to wave a dismissive hand in her general direction, not unkindly. "It's nothing worth asking after. The young miss shouldn't trouble herself."

If she's looking for more distraction than that, she'll have to provide it herself. He makes for a rather poor sacrifice, having nothing left to give.

[fragmentaryblue]

Knowing things is subjective and at times unimportant. With infinite timelines and infinite people within each, the health of one person is--by the numbers--so insignificant as to not be a statistically notable fact. Do the planets and cosmos ever stop to ask the daisy how it feels today? It might be funny if they did. Imagine the daisy's surprise! But Mrs Emily Post (any of the fourteen iterations that she knows of) would surely tsk in disapproval if she dispensed with all of the custom niceties that were due to a stranger. It's a good thing then that he politely releases her from the inquiry himself, allowing her to nod understandingly and drop it.

As for distractions, Blue is perfectly capable of providing those herself. She turns her attention back to the garden around them, letting her gaze drift casually over the flowers and trees. How very bizarre that she can't identify most of these plants. It gives the whole area something of a dream-ish quality, and she chuckles to herself as she recalls nonsense befitting this sort of nonsense.

"’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, and the mome raths outgrabe." She recites the opening verse with an amused expression--more to herself than to him, then turns to look at the nearby stranger again. "Where do you suppose this is, this spot that's found us?"

C

[flatteries]

"W-Wait, hold on."

Okay, so maybe Inigo definitely made the wrong decision to decide to sit in on the whole scary stories activity. He figured he could handle it, that it was a chance to show that he's tough, but now he's actually sitting here and listening to Li Lianhua start on his story, he is..

.. well, let's call it a whole lot less sure. It's clearly visible on Inigo's face too, the boy starting to look rather antsy.

"Are you saying it's a real true story? R-Really?"

Inigo isn't sure whether or not the warning that it's true makes the oncoming story better or worse, really.. Maybe a little bit of both. Either way, it serves to make him look even more nervous.

[doctor_uhh]

What, he hasn't even gotten started and someone already wants to back out? Does no one have respect for the art of storytelling anymore? Kids today! Li Lianhua turns to the boy, who clearly looks old enough to handle a little fright, and makes a show of acting rather offended at even being asked such a question.

"Well of course! The only stories I tell are true ones. Say, young man, what are you afraid of?" This is not a rhetorical question and the answer will absolutely be used to bully him a little.

[flatteries]

"What?"

The word is more of a squeak, really, going by Inigo's tone as he's saying it. It still sounds a little scared, but now there's surprise mixed in too, like he truly didn't expect Li Lianhua to suddenly ask him a question like that.

He blinks, and then in a moment of honesty that's probably prompted by him being too surprised by the question to really think about what could possibly be done with the answer, he admits: "U-Uh, bugs?"

[doctor_uhh]

At the boy's squeak, Li Lianhua's eyebrows rise in mild surprise of his own, creeping up further when he comes out with that answer. Oh well. He can't really fault the boy for that particular phobia, can he? But he can sure still have a little fun with it.

Li Lianhua huffs a disbelieving laugh. "Eh? Does the young man know of any insects more horrible and terrifying than the Karmic Fire bugs I could tell you about? Now those, you'd be right to fear." He smiles, and it's as scary as any ghost story. "Do you know why?"

[flatteries]

It's such a simple trick, yet it's so effective. Inigo doesn't even seem to stop for a single moment to consider whether or not Li Lianhua is telling him this on purpose, or whether he's even speaking the truth in the first place.

No, instead he seems entirely caught up with the words themselves, making Inigo's eyes grow wider and wider.

And not just with surprise. No, there's some definite fear there. Like hearing those words is enough for Inigo to imagine these creepy-crawleys already.

"No, I-- I don't, I've never heard of them before now." Which he truly is hoping because they don't exist back home.

.. A-And hopefully not here either? Inigo is hoping. Begging. Praying.

"How bad are they, that they are more horrible than any other bug?"

sleepover; bountiful buffet

[prontissimo]

[ Li Lianhua is in like company, apparently, quite by coincidence. The table of snacks and desserts is certainly vast enough to fit a few people at once, but after a moment, as a couple people clear out with their own (probably reasonably portioned) plates, it leaves just two people left still loading up on sweets. Li Lianhua and a young boy, gangly and tan, with one hand carefully balancing a plate nearly overflowing with food. It's one of those moments where the sudden solitude together snaps one's attention to the other... Li Lianhua has a striking presence, naturally, at the very least the most glamorous-looking person Alberto has ever met, standing in contrast to him with his messy pompadour and kitty cat pajamas, the vague shadow of brown mascara still smudged over his upper lip, after finding his fake mustache harder to wipe off than he'd expected... At first glance, the kid's none too subtle about staring at the older man. It just so happens, though, that they've caught each other red-handed, both stuffing more food into their pockets at the same exact time. Something Alberto hasn't seen anyone else do except for himself (and it's not his first round at the snack table, mind you) but sees absolutely no problem with. Smart move, right? After a beat, it brings a wide, endeared smile to his face, deliberately locking eyes with the man. He doesn't say anything, exactly — just gives a short, knowing chuckle, his free hand frozen mid-shove halfway into his pocket. Great minds think alike, maybe... ]

[doctor_uhh]

[If Alberto had told someone from Li Lianhua's home that he looks glamorous, they would think the boy has gone blind or stupid. There isn't a single piece of ornamentation found on him, only a simple wooden hairpin in the shape of a lotus stalk tying his long hair back. A rather plain belt ties his off-white robes together, and even those aren't made of particularly fine material or cut in a way that enhances his silhouette, like so many young masters and great warriors would prefer. His robes hang comfortably about his slender shoulders, certainly not shabby, merely nothing to take note of. But, and here Alberto is quite right to notice, Li Lianhua carries himself with an air of gracefulness that someone who used to be a master swordsman and noble hero simply can't hide so easily.

At least, that's true when he isn't hoarding a bunch of free candy. As the table clears, he feels someone's eyes on him and glances up, finding a young boy just staring at him. What, does he have something on his face? The boy's appearance, odd though it is, can't distract from the universally recognizable look of someone who is determined to leave this place richer (in desserts) than he arrived. Good for him, honestly. He's clearly got the right priorities.

Li Lianhua returns the boy's smile with a pretty silly wide-eyed oops you got me sort of look, then makes a show of glancing over his shoulder, finally giving the boy half a shrug and a lopsided smile. Guess we're both going to get into trouble, it says, before he goes back to slipping another piece of candy into the folds of his sleeve.]

[prontissimo]

[ The best possible reaction, and certainly the cheeky, conspiratorial smile he was hoping to get in return. Alberto finishes stuffing his pocket with whatever bonbon he'd frozen with mid-shove, only to take his free hand back out and point at a half-empty plate of chocolate-covered strawberries. ]

Get some of those before they're all gone, heh.

[ ...He already has three in his other pocket. And a couple on his plate. He's not playing fair, here. It's every man for himself! ]

[doctor_uhh]

[Li Lianhua hadn't actually gotten around to that side of the table yet, so the hint is appreciated. Very noble of the boy to leave a few pieces of the spoils for others, he thinks to himself with an amused little smirk as he picks up one of those things and lifts it towards the boy in a casual toast.]

Thanks!

[He's already made the memorable experience of tasting chocolate, a truly heavenly treat previously unknown to him, and fruit is a common dessert where he's from, even if this one in particular might not be. But a combination of both... He takes an exploratory bite and instantly his eyes widen with surprised delight. Isn't life incredible? Sweets are the best thing that can happen to a person. He laughs, already picking up another one.]

This is really good!