June Catch-All (Closed & Open)

[onlypets]

CHARACTERS: Count D + Others
DATE: Month of June
WARNINGS: will update if needed
SUMMARY: A catch-all for everything for the month of June! Feel free to drop wildcards in here if needed.

Comments

DECLAN - GUILD WARS (BIGGE TUNELLE)

[onlypets]

[The ON world is greeted by two dingdongs...

They made it through the Windhaven Woodlands with a little effort, and the forest spits them out right at the husk of a large, fallen tree. Of course, they would come in on the side the wind is entering.

For now, nothing is amiss since they are too far back.]

It's such a shame something so old and magnificent has fallen...

[Big sad for this AU Deku Tree. He glances at Declan briefly.] I suppose we should look around. [And potentially get sucked into the tree tunnel unintentionally.]

KNIVES (A MILLION) - DODO DISREPAIR

[onlypets]

[THE DODO HOUSE IS IN SUCH A STATE!!

The Chickadee room is already a disaster by way of the terrible people in it, so now it is even more of a disaster, and D cannot remain inside until some things are fixed. So instead, he wanders around the rest of the Dodo House to see if it's only their room that's become a mess... but no, it's... everywhere...

Imagine being able to go down the stairs.

One of the thicker boards of the ceiling has fallen down on top of the staircase, and not only is it in the way, but now there is a gap between two sets of stairs. He comes to a stop in front of the debris, frowning.]

Unsightly... What is happening here?

[RELEASE HIM. He reaches out to try at least moving the board, but he can't get it to budge.]

JAM... - HANDHOLDING HOLE

[onlypets]

[This hole is truly about to give them both a time.

Yet here they are, making an attempt to venture into the dark crater. He gives the man nearby a cursory glance. THIS MAN IS 5'4"?! Well.]

Have you been down through here by any chance...?

[They should have put out a party finder for more people so they both wouldn't be useless in this hole...]</small.

ROLAND - HANDHOLDING HOLE...2

[onlypets]

[This won't be the first or the last time he's in the crater holding someone's hand probably. (Thinking about Jan.)

The expanse is way larger than he had been expecting. This rivals the city, honestly. He peers out across the distance as far as he's able before he exchanges a glance with Roland.]

There is a lot of ground to cover. We can look around the first kilometer or so of area...?

[Hopefully, he won't have to drag Roland back on the ground when all of the mana depletes. This is why they'll have to hold hands... Neither of them can really do too much about the pollution either except... handhold. This is fine.]

KAVEH

[onlypets]

[The good ol' ON world party finder...

The ON world has hopped up the Guild Wars, and he loves gathering info about the flora and fauna, so what better thing to do than find more of the species? He's waiting on the outskirts where the giant, ancient tree has fallen, not unlike people might do when forming for an open-world boss.

He stands on a mossy rock, waiting for the accepted party member to join him.

Get on your mount, Kaveh...]

[duskspear]

[Roland nods. Considering the environment, a kilometer is more than a fair distance.]

I came this way before. We can cut through this path and make headway from there.

[His fingers twitch at his sides. He can already feel the unease creeping in again. Some of that excess energy is released into a ball of fire that dances atop his raised palm while he extends his other hand to D.]

Take my hand. It will ensure that we stay together and combat fluctuations in our mana.

[onlypets]

[Mmmm.

Momentarily, he regards the extended hand offer with some reservation. There is a peculiar urge to very quickly put his hand in Roland's own, and he finds that so bizarre. Never has he had the urge to hold a human's hand unprompted, not unless it had been Chris' hand.

He squeezes both of his own together gently in front of himself. Roland is right, unfortunately. It'd do them better to hold hands while things in this world are a mess.]

You went through this place already?

[Reluctantly, he reaches out to rest his hand on Roland's palm, careful of his long nails. It's awful how much better it feels already.]

[duskspear]

[He turns his face away to cough once. It's mild—more to clear away the lingering irritation in his throat from the smoke than anything else. Then he turns back and tentatively closes his fingers around D's hand, securing the hold without trapping D, who seemed a touch reluctant, in place.]

I have, though we managed only to go so far.

[Still, his memory is fresh enough that he starts to move, leading them through the bottom of the crags.]

This place has a way of unsettling explorers. Pray speak up at once if aught feels amiss.

[onlypets]

Mm.

[Both of his brows are lifted when Roland turns back. He is very much not concerned!! But he’s looking… with his weird little mismatched eyes.

Not wanting Roland to have to drag him, he follows after, being cautious about his footing.]

Because of danger, or— [He pauses to cough delicately into the sleeve of his opposite hand.] …fatigue?

[duskspear]

[He glances over his shoulder at the cough before training his eyes ahead again. It must be the smoke, but he'll keep his ears open in case of another reason. D's physical presence is a balm in the dark depths of the crater, and Roland means to deliver as a companion.]

We've yet to see what lurks in the depths. Anything is possible down here—be it fatigue or something else entirely . . .

[Something alive, even. If anything can survive here, it would be a creature of this mystical world.]

[onlypets]

[Frowning, he lifts his head a little to gaze above them. It’s wild how the crater itself and all the spires can create such a canopy that not even much of the light above can pass between.

He looks ahead of them again, curling the ends of his fingers a bit around Roland’s hand.]

It won’t do well to fear just because we don’t know what has survived here… Most—

[Oh.

Awed surprise breaks across his face, eyes looking out around Roland. He slows to a stop, forcing Roland to follow because he doesn’t untether their hands.

Above them, clinging to the spires are some kind of bioluminescent flora; small orbs swaying in an unfelt breeze.]

They look like stars…

[clockworksoul]

[ No doubt on the way here, D was subjected to Declan’s endless chatter about any number of things, though mostly a project he’s working on for Juniper. He seems quite excited about it! (It’s a butterfly-themed battleax.) ]

It is a tragedy, isn’t it? The tree. I suppose that goes to show that even the mightiest can fall. Or, ah, nature takes its course, or some such!

[ … ]

Right, down to business! Should we split up, you think?

[duskspear]

[The slight tug of resistance at the next step pulls Roland back. He turns to D, then follows the latter's awed gaze to the flora above them. His face goes slack in wonder at the otherworldly sight.]

What a splendid view . . .

[He won't claim to be as attached to nature as someone like D, but he thinks it would take someone without a heart to remain stolid in the face of this.]

[reinherits]

[SO BOLD? HOW PATHETIC DID YOU THINK I NORMALLY AM? comments before you can fix your html as retribution. also haha yeah hikari is small]

Once, with Roland. I admit, it was not a pleasant experience, but it is worth it to explore further.

[onlypets]

[wow, maybe i just thought you were soft... ALSO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MY HTML!!! I LOOK A FOOL NOW.]

Ah... I came with him as well.

[Roland really is bridging the gap between them... The world is so small. This is hilarious. But he at least feels slightly more reassured. Does not mention they were holding hands.]

We should be careful then. I'm afraid I won't be much help. I'm attuned to Wind. But I am a Crafter.

[onlypets]

[The smattering of them look like little fairy lights. Together they offer a bit of light, but not much. He reaches out with his other hand, pushing down on Roland's arm holding the fire, trying to snuff it out and let them be swallowed by the darkness.

So they can see the flora, of course.]

Just for a moment, please.

[It's fine, they are holding hands.]

[duskspear]

[His gaze snaps back to D at the contact. Realizing his obstruction of the crater's natural beauty, Roland nods and closes his open palm into a fist. The flame snuffs out, plunging them into darkness, while his grip around D tightens a smidgen to ensure that they don't somehow end up separating.

Perhaps that goes against what D was trying to say earlier, but Roland would rather not take chances with a companion's safety . . . or perhaps it's he who's selfishly afraid of losing the comfort of touch.]

[onlypets]

[In the dark, a small smile curves D's lips up. Roland can hear the sound of his clothes shift as he lifts his head up again to glance above them. The flora are brighter, and without the pollution of extra light, they offer a hazy, blueish-green glow.

He places his second hand over the back of Roland's, sandwiching Roland's hand between his own.]

There isn't anything to fear about the dark. Many nocturnal creatures find comfort in its shroud, and many of them aren't vicious at all. [The hand pulls away again.] We would have missed such a beautiful sight if we had remained too scared to let go of the light.

[But the stars vanish with the day as time moves on.]

Alright. We can carry on.

[duskspear]

[The flora are beautiful, and he knows they're not likely to see something similar on the surface. This is a rare view afforded by D's wisdom. Still, Roland's heart skips a figurative beat when the second hand joins the first, followed by a keen sense of loss once it withdraws.

In that moment, he finds that the darkness isn't frightening at all. D suggests that they carry on, and Roland moves after a pause. He doesn't light another flame just yet.

As they walk, a recent memory rises to the surface. It makes him wonder, and his tone is pensive while his thoughts meander.]

I once dreamed of living out my days in the shadows. I wonder . . . why that changed.

[onlypets]

[i

HELP? The butterfly battleax, I am so proud even if D is like …wow. Luckily, he believes Juniper can do no wrong, so he is happy for her aesthetic battleax. Sometimes, a leporine-eared girl needs to chop.]

I suppose that is how it goes. [He sounds a bit morose in saying this.] Perhaps we can find a seedling.

[He turns his head to glance around the two of them…]

We would cover more ground that way…

[onlypets]

[Once Roland moves, so does D, following along with more careful steps than what usually be afforded to someone blinded in the dark.

The luminescent plants wind along the craggy spires before and after them.]

It’s natural for humans to be unable to live their lives in hiding and solidarity. They are very social beings. A basic necessity right after food and water snd shelter.

Is there a reason you wanted to live in the shadows?

[duskspear]

. . . I don't remember.

[The exact moment he decided on such a life eludes him even now. Still, he has his guesses. Those guesses are why he can peer into the darkness before them, its ceiling dotted by lumiscent flora, and feel that it's more than just the wilderness to him. It's not home, but it's something—familiar.

Hiding and solidarity. D may be closer to the truth than either of them knows. Roland takes a deep, silent breath before rolling his shoulders back and lightening his voice.]

But I forget myself. This is hardly the time for such ruminations.

[He angles his head toward D, but keeps his slowly adjusting eyes trained on the dim path ahead.]

If there are nocturnal creatures here as you say, what would you suggest we do?

[clockworksoul]

[ It’s going to be a very fancy ax okay! It will glow and cast spells and everything. ]

Oh! Wouldn’t that be good? New life springing forth from the old!

[ He gives a dramatic little sweep of his hand, amused. ]

I don’t mind splitting up, but we should be wary of that wind. It wouldn’t do for one of us to get sucked into the tunnel and leave the other behind!

[ Solution: both of them get sucked into the tunnel. ]

[reinherits]

He is quite active, it seems. This world is fortunate to have someone as helpful as him.

[wow your scandalous handholding d........]

I see. I am a Wanderer, attuned to Light, so you don't have to undersell yourself—I imagine your abilities will be of more help than mine.

[onlypets]

That is how the cycle of life should be, yes.

[He was really going to let sweet Declan get sucked up into the tree tunnel alone... A shame. He offers a smile.]

Then we had better stick close.

[Unfortunately for D, they are both getting sucked into the tunnel. Fortunately for D, he's aligned with Wind. This just means all of the work is on him, though.]

Come.

[He will lead the way.]