【MINGLE】 August Mingle

[starrystoryteller]

August Mingle

Shrines Lore Drop Starnet Info NPC Contact FAQ Claims List

❤

.

welcome to august

July may turn to August, but the summer heat remains. Wind and Water spirits do their part to cool civilians with cool breezes and refreshing rain showers, while standing fans remain more popular than AC units as a means of beating the heat. All sorts of shops and food stands are popping up around the city, which offer refreshing cold drinks and ice creams for the low low cost of 'thank you.' It's the final stretch before the hot summer begins cooling into autumn.

It's also a time of appreciation for Fallen Stars. The Wonderment Talent Show was a great success and the amusement park is here to stay! The civilians are stunned by yet another miracle brought about by these amazing visitors from another world. They shower the Fallen Stars in small gifts and appreciation all month. The general atmosphere of the city is hopeful and excited, with a teasing question being passed around: "What kind of miracles will the Fallen Stars bring about next?

ARRIVAL

Arrivals happen a little differently than usual this month. Normally, a 'Fallen Star' would simply blink and end up in the city of Starsand. Their sudden appearance does not surprise the natives, who instead flock with concern and empathy for the other worlder's situation. Natives usually offer free food, clothing, and other resources to the new arrivals. They will even direct them to free housing options and help them learn the lore of the city.

But this month is a bit different. When people arrive in Starsand, they are flocked by the natives. The native population is extra excited to see them and extra excited to help them. New arrivals this month may find themselves receiving extravagant gifts, buffets worth of food, and high-end housing. The reason? Natives eagerly tell them that Fallen Stars are bringers of miracles. They can do amazing things that change fate, so everyone in town is eager to support them however they can..!

CLEAN THE TRAIN

Speaking of the Fallen Stars and their miracles.

Recently, some of the Fallen Stars discovered that there used to be a train on the lowest level of the city. Hidden deep in the forest and trapped on old, rusted train tracks sleeps the once proud Starrider Express. It is a black steam engine with purple streaks and it's also... rusted, covered in plantlife, and neglected. This train could once leave the city and take people to distant locations, but it has not been able to move in years. It requires a combination of faith magic and tlc in order to get it moving again.

That's where the Fallen Stars come in! The train's tiny kami has requested help in cleaning her train and spreading the word about it! For the first half of August, Fallen Stars are being asked to come down to the first level and help with this project. Weeding, painting, greasing, oiling, decorating... So much is needed in order to get the train ready to move again! But once her train can move, the little kami has promised to help the Fallen Stars with their future travels!

Check here for a Starnet Discussion re: What to do!

THE JOB FAIR

August also marks the last month of summer vacation for students living in Starsand City. Saint's Crossing Academy is a K-12 school located on the top level of the city and they are opening enrollment for Fallen Stars. In order to get the word out, the city has decided to hold a job faire at the top level's marketplace. Fallen Stars will be able to learn about the school, employment opportunities, and even take business classes in order to open their own business in the city.

Visiting the stalls has a few perks too. For one, people can try on every company's uniform using spirit magic. how exciting wow. Visiting stalls will also produce extra Starling this month, which can be exchanged for treats or luxury items. Including things like pool toys, fancy swimsuits, and loads of sunscreen. But why would that be important..?

NOTE: This prompt is being used to check interest in opening a proper school/SoL portion to the sandbox!

WONDERMENT WATERPARK

To celebrate Wonderment Amusement Park being a permanent establishment, the park's spirits are trying something new... a waterpark! Half of the park is now being used for water-based attractions. Some are simply water-driven rides, but there are whole pools and many waterslides. There is even a lazy river that drifts around the park. At night, the pools are able to stay open thanks to the fish shaped spirits that swim through the water and glow like stars.

While basic swimsuits are freely provided, fancier ones can be obtained using Starling. There are plenty of floaties and other water toys to rent or purchase, all of which can be customized using Starling.

COOL DOWN w/ CURSED ICE CREAM

Partially because of how grateful they are and partially because it's hot as heck, civilians are offering a lot of free ice cream this month. Everything from popsicles to ice cream cones to parfaits; If it's cold and refreshing, then someone is probably offering it for free! After all that the Fallen Stars did in the last month, this is the least that they can do.

All treats are made quickly and efficiently thanks to spirit magic. This doesn't just apply to ice cream, but to all foods and products sold in Starsand City. Usually this just means that things are made easier to obtain and scarcity isn't such an issue... But it also gives room for mischievous spirit to be, well. Themselves. Thinking that it's a way to show their appreciation, some of the spirits are adding a bit of extra magic to the free snacks. They think that a little prank will make the Fallen Stars happy!

If yelled at or called out, then the spirits will always back off and reverse the effects... but otherwise, the effects last until they 'melt' in the heat. The best way to get them to go away quickly is to make yourself hot again.

The pranks include...

• For Popsicles: Check your popsicle stick and pray that it says "good fortune!" Eating a popsicle will cause the fortune at the end of the stick to come true. That might mean incredible luck or a terrible curse. Bad luck won't endanger anyone's life, but it may manifest in the form of comical spirit pranks.
• For Ice Cream: There are many flavors of ice cream and many effects to go with it! Fallen Stars who eat flavored ice cream may sometimes experience a physical change: This might be a new hair colour, animal ears, or height changes. This is not an age changing prompt!
• For Parfaits: Parfaits require that you sit at a table and they're easy to share... Which is great, because the cursed parfait will force you to sit at your table until you share it with someone. The spirits will write the rules of their silly game on a cookie that sits under the first bite of whipped cream: Share Me or Stay With Me. Once the whole parfait is eaten by at least two people, the curse will be broken and you can leave your chair again. Until then: You and the chair are glued in front of the table!
• For Freezie Pops: Ice pops will give some Fallen Stars really persistent brain freeze. This prompt isn't fun and the spirits show a lot of concern when it happens! The best way to cure the brain freeze is with warm hearted friendliness: Holding hands, chatting, and getting to know someone will cause it to fade faster. Otherwise, it can last up to a whole miserable half-hour!
• For Iced Lemonade: A mood changing treat. It's supposed to make the Fallen Stars who drink it feel sweet, cheerful and confident! But sometimes it turns out too sour and they end up grumpy instead. While it won't inflict depression, it can cause a 'sour mood.' Bah Humbug.

... As always, spirits are not trying to get anyone killed or injured! If anyone seems to be in serious physical or mental danger, then a stronger spirit will always step it to reverse the prank.

code

Comments

Akutagawa Ryunosuke | Bungo Stray Dogs (cw: chronic illness)

[unquestioned_loyalty]

I. (Train Cleaning)
[ Naturally given both his status as an ADA member, he's taken it upon himself to be very involved in fixing up the train. His ability made many aspects of it very simple- any heavy lifting was accomplished easily, he could hold things up and affix them easily using Rashomon as extra limbs

This does unfortunately mean that he is overexerting himself and a few hours in he begins coughing. Thanks to his medicine it doesn't hurt as bad but that doesn't mean it isn't bad for him to do. As focused as he is on being useful though, he ignores his body's complaints and continues working, the coughing only getting more and more frequent... ]

II. (Cursed Ice cream)
[ Akutagawa doesn't allow himself to indulge in things that would upset his condition very often, which included cold things like ice cream. So of course the first time he allows himself to have some in years... it curses him. Twice in a row. The first time was earlier when he'd had some plain ice cream and ended up with pointed canine ears and a curved tail, and now he'd sat down with a parfait that he hadn't even bought for himself and suddenly could not get up. ]

I think I change my mind. I no longer like it here.

[ Can he take his boyfriend and leave? he wants to waste away in shame. So he just quietly seethes at the table, ears pinned back and trying not to act more like a dog than he already looked. ]

I

[loveedition]

[ Which naturally, draws the attention of one Ryoko Asakura, worrywart extraordinaire. After a few moments of this, she finally heads on over. ]

Akutagawa-san, right?

[ She almost bit her tongue saying that. Couldn't you guys have come up with better code names? Assuming that's what those are... ]

You should take a break for a little bit.

[unquestioned_loyalty]

[ Akutagawa straightens when he's addressed, wiping his mouth of the blood that was threatening to roll down from his mouth. He's so used to it that he doesn't even think about it. ]

Yes?

[ He's not familiar with this girl much- he only remembered her being part of Yuuto's club in the dream world which... both of them had been skipping after they recovered some of their memories... And yet here she is telling him to rest. ]

Why would I do that? There's work to be done still.

[loveedition]

[ All of her familiarity comes from the moment she spotted him before they split to find the train kami (which she still needs to give Atsushi a good talking to over--) and, the aforementioned dream.

Plus now, the added convenience of knowing he's Yuuto's boyfriend. Which means he isn't safe from Ryoko's wrath.

Or in this case, the smile that certainly indicates how annoyed she is by that comment. ]

I'd appreciate if you didn't add more work by getting sick on the train.

Five minutes. Just stop for a second, please.

[ See how politely she's asking? ]

I

[spacialeyes]

[Aside from using his power to fix the train, Yuuto had been using his skills to quickly transport materials between the train and the upper levels of the city. One of those 'materials' was especially important: Homemade lunches for his boyfriend. Very important.

Yuuto arrives with a closed box of cleaning supplies in his arms and a wrapped bento box being carried by his belt 'tail.' And almost immediately, the sound of Akutagawa's cough has been distracted enough to nearly drop both.]

Ryunosuke?! [The box of supplies drops clumsily and Yuuto takes the lunch box in his hands. He's struggling to open a canister of tea as he rushes to Akutagawa's side,] Are you okay?!

[unquestioned_loyalty]

[ It's the call of his name in that panicked tone that makes him turn, nearly dropping what he was doing as well for fear something was wrong with his boyfriend. It seemed as though it was a false alarm though since Yuuto came skidding right up to him holding a... bento? ]

I'm [ He coughs ] I'm fine sweetheart.

[ And to him, he is. Coughing and the taste of blood isn't odd to him, particularly when he uses his ability this much. ]

Are you? You seem very distressed...

[ I wonder why ]

[spacialeyes]

Coughing like that isn’t ‘fine!’

[But Yuuto would be a hypocrite to complain about how Akutagawa doesn’t understand his self worth. He finishes opening the tea canister and holds it out.]

Here. Give yourself a minute, okay? The train isn’t going anywhere today, no matter how much we push ourselves.

I

[tenimuho]

Akutagawa.

[Oda's aware of Akutagawa's illness, of course. And he wouldn't insult Akutagawa by suggesting he can't be useful because of it. He's in no hurry to die again.]

Can I get you some water?

[unquestioned_loyalty]

I'm fine Oda-san.

[ he's been a bit more formal with Oda since he joined with the ADA, and even moreso since the dream thing happened. Learning more about someone he used to resent so heavily is strange. He supposes this is what Atsushi's been going through in regards to him. ]

... You've never seemed concerned about it before.

[ It's more a comment than a question, but he looks to Oda for an explanation anyway. ]

[tenimuho]

I was more worried about you attacking me for hurting your pride before.

[Now that they're detectives, and not mafiosos, he's a little less concerned that Akutagawa is going to snap and try to kill him again. Dazai would be unhappy about it for multiple reasons.]

II

[nomanners]

I don't see what the problem is, dog man.

[Alice, who had faintly overheard that grumbling, situated herself in the seat opposite Akutagawa. She picks up a spoon and points it at him.]

There's free sweets and you look comfortable there. What's the problem?

[unquestioned_loyalty]

[ The girl gets a rather pointed glare for calling him a dog man. ]

For one, I am not a dog man. And secondly, I am evidently stuck sitting here because the ice cream was cursed by the spirits.

[ He got the dumb parfait for his boyfriend, too. Figures he'd get stuck somewhere and not be able to deliver it. It was just his luck. ]

[nomanners]

[Alice shovels a bite of parfait into her mouth, and then points up at Akutagawa's dog ears.]

Then what's with the ears if you're not a dog man? Those are dog ears.

[She states it matter-of-factly.]

And it's not very nice to curse things. But I'll eat it all. So it's okay.

I

[nightwild]

[Soon as he begins coughing, Fauna's rushing over to take whatever he's holding.]

Don't push yourself. You can leave the heavy stuff to me.

[unquestioned_loyalty]

[ Irritation flares at the implication that he can't handle what he's doing and he stands a little straighter as she approaches ]

I am fine, Fauna. This isn't abnormal for me.

[ He's easily directing the heavy load to where it goes. What he's doing isn't the problem. ]

[nightwild]

That cough doesn't sound find.

We can tag out. I'll handle the inside, and you can lift the stuff outside, where it's less dusty. Dust won't be a problem through my helmet.

ii

[dereban]

[ Inaba, who had been inflicted earlier in the week by the bad, cursed ice cream finds herself trying to actively avoid any further encounters with the spirits, and thankfully given her nullification being turned on?

It's helped a lot in avoiding the curses.

And then she sees yet another victim-- ]

You know, dog ears aren't the worst thing that could happen with that sort of thing.

[ Just musing aloud, but it's not as if it isn't something that he can't hear. ]

[unquestioned_loyalty]

[ One of the ears perk and swivel when Inaba speaks, though they pin back in displeasure very soon after. Still, he straightens so he can look at her. He's still not entirely sure how to regard her, but he can... at least be somewhat polite. ]

Given I've been referred to as a dog for a fair amount of my life it isn't particularly enjoyable to have that be given credence.

[ He nods at the parfait. ]

And now I am stuck here.

[dereban]

It's only partial dog though. I knew someone who's been referred to as.. cat-like eat a magical fortune cookie and turn into a cat.

[ He was fun to pet. ]

I can't eat parfaits. It makes me sick.

I.

[goldenmage]

[It's not really Shugo's style to wander far from the library. He's a nerd, after all. But when talk of the train being cleaned reaches his ears, it is only natural that he come out of hiding to investigate. Not exactly here to clean, but more to observe the happenings and then leave... That is, until he hears a familiar cough.

His reasons for approaching Akutagawa are entirely selfish. If Satou or Yuuto heard Akutagawa's coughing, then they'd panic and lose sleep worrying. He doesn't tell Akutagawa to stop or reach out to force him, but stands nearby with his arms crossed.]

I invent new medicine for your pain and this is how you repay me?

[unquestioned_loyalty]

[ He's admittedly quite surprised to see Shugo and blinks when he registers what the man said, a little confused for a moment. ]

... I took my medicine today?

[ It's not quite registering what the issue is. The medicine was to dull the pain, not to prevent him from coughing. He would still cough regardless, just less often.

Sorry Shoes, he may be smart but he is also an idiot when it comes to things like this. ]

CW: Mortality

[goldenmage]

See, Satou, this is why I think we should legalize murder for just me.

[Shugo mumbles inaudibly to himself as he takes a bag off of his back and begins searching for water. He finds some patience in there too, which he uses to hold a water bottle out to Akutagawa.]

I didn't make that so that you could kill yourself faster. Here. Drink this and sit down until your lungs aren't so irritated. Let me see what I can do about your cough... [He keeps poking through his bag.]

II

[spacialeyes]

Eh? You don’t?

[That wasn’t what Yuuto expected to hear when he stopped by Akutagawa’s table. After hearing Dimitri curse parfaits and ice cream, one would think that Yuuto might think to avoid any cafe selling them. But he’s not one stopped by a parfait selling cafe, but he’s eaten an ice cream himself. His silvery blonde cat ears and tail confess that crime for him.

Fortunately, they don’t come with a fear of dog traits. He stands by Akutagawa’s table, resisting the urge to try petting them and favoring concern. His cat tail and belt tail both sway as he watches.]

Can I help make it any better..?

[unquestioned_loyalty]

[ He's mostly being overly dramatic because he's embarrassed and unable to hide, but he seems to relax a little bit when he notices Yuuto, his ears perking and swiveling towards him. ]

I'm sure the spirits find this all very funny, but I've never much been a fan of being made fun of.

[ He nods at the parfait with a huff, though thanks to the situation it ended up a cross between that and a cough, which he politely covered his mouth for ]

And now on top of that humiliation, I am stuck here.

[ His tail does start to wag just a little bit after a moment though, Yuuto's mere presence having made this more bearable. ]

[spacialeyes]

They are taking their jokes a little too far! Aren’t they?

[Yuuto raises his voice sternly, obviously addressing the spirits. Then he takes the seat across from Akutagawa and gives a warning glare to the nearby spirits.

His harsher persona dissolves pretty quickly when he looks back to Akutagawa.]

… They apologize. They don’t have the power to undo it immediately. It’ll have to wear off on its own. Sorry. [Yuuto’s gaze sets on the ears again,] We match though? We can wait it out together!