starsand | 【MINGLE】 August Mingle

【MINGLE】 August Mingle

August Mingle

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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.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I can't really help who I fall for, especially when you keep being so sweet to me. I don't even think you realize how endearing some of the things you say are.

[ He just sighs, a familiar fond look in his eyes as he looks to Dimitri ]

But that's part of why I want to help you and your brother. Partly because I'm your friend and I care about you, and partly because it'll give you the opportunity to give an answer that's not forced by your situation.

And again, you don't get to decide what can and can't make me happy. I'll have you know just being your friend has made me pretty happy in the time I've been here.

You're so stubborn...

[Dimitri grabs his spoon and forces himself to eat another bite of parfait as a weak way to punish himself. Troubling Ceto should be the last thing that he wants to do. A proper kami would abandon Ceto at the table and never speak to him again... but Dimitri is too human to do what should be done.]

I'm not worried about our situation. It's you all that I'm worried about. Someone is trying to use you all, you know? Yuu and I aren't important in that story. Focus on yourself or I'm gonna have to rescue you all again.

I wouldn't have survived as long as I have without that stubbornness.

[ He notes this as though it's a joke, but it really is sad if you thought about it... ]

I wouldn't say you're not important. You both have been integral in some parts of this whole thing... There's a lot of information that you both have given us about what's been happening, and that's not something to overlook. It's true that someone's after us, and I'm looking into that as well... but that doesn't mean I can't also help you does it? I don't have to choose one or the other.

[ He smiles at Dimitri, his cat ears flicking ]

Besides, I don't want to see you that upset again. I'm not strong. I can't protect you, but I can at least try to prevent situations that would upset you.

[ He eats a bit more of the parfait once he finishes speaking. He believes that Dimitri isn't worried about the situation, but he doesn't believe for a second that he likes it. Not after what happened in the mirror maze. Not when he all but admitted to feeling trapped because of his brother's curse. ]

Enemies can have useful information too. That doesn't stop them from being despicable people.

[His retort is light, since Dimitri does not want to think of himself as potentially being an enemy to the Fallen Stars. Even if it is possible in his mind that he's an obstacle, given his role as the Spacetime Kami.

Seeing Ceto try to eat more of the parfait makes him frown more.]

I don't intend to let any of us get that upset again, help or not. Preying on kind emotions is the most wicked thing of all. I don't need help; I just need to get my head on straight and focus.

You're not our enemy.

[ He shakes his head, sure of this if nothing else. ]

I agree that it's awful to prey on kind emotions, but... It's not a bad thing to need help now and then. It doesn't make you any less capable than anyone else. Take the time you need to sort through things or you'll end up regretting it later.

[ He's unfortunately had experience with that before. It's not fun to watch people suffer from a rushed decision you made. Or worse, having to watch as a rushed decision falls apart around you.

Dimitri probably knew how that went very well. ]

... I'm not going anywhere, if you're worried about that. You're stuck with me for better or worse.

[Dimitri folds his arms rudely on the table again, so that he can hide his face. He doesn't like the way embarrassment and nausea feel, nor is he eager to show what he's certain must be a very strange expression.]

You really need to make better friends. You're going to end up regretting this.

[He's standing by that prediction. Nothing good can come from associating with curses.]

But do what you want for now. I can't stop you until that parfait wears off anyway.

I've been working on making more friends, but you're still special. I haven't regretted it once yet.

[ Not even after that disastrous kiss, which is honestly quite a feat. Dimitri can stand by it all he wants, until Dimitri tells him genuinely that he doesn't want him around, he wouldn't leave him. ]

I could introduce you to some of my friends if you want?

[ He rubs Dimitri's back a little more, assuming the face hiding was due to discomfort from the nausea. It shouldn't take long for him to finish off the rest of the parfait so that they could get Dimitri home and resting. ]

I'm a kami.

[Whether this means 'of course i'm special' or 'watch out,' is anyone's guess, since he grumbles it through his miserable nausea. Dimitri still isn't sure if making more friends would even solve his problem. It may just make things harder for them both. But-]

... Fine. I don't mind meeting more people.

[It sounds like fun. Dimitri may have just learned that indulging in human desires is bad for him, but that doesn't mean he has to take that lesson to heart. Not immediately, anyway.]

How are you feeling after everything?

You're Dimitri.

[ Ceto says this simply, as Dimitri had started their relationship with the intent of not getting special treatment for his Kami status. It was clearly what he wanted- to have normal bonds. So he was sticking to that. ]

Well... It was hard to come to terms with my feelings that... suddenly. I'd been in denial for a while before the dream.

[ He doesn't mind admitting that. Given what Dimitri saw in the mirror maze, it probably made sense that he'd be hesitant to accept feelings like that for someone to begin with. He won't say it, but Dimitri throwing it in his face immediately afterward had hurt like hell because of that. ]

... They're not going to just go away, but I respect you enough to keep things how they were until you figure things out for yourself.

So I guess the answer would be... I feel the same as I always have, just a bit more aware of it.

[He keeps his thoughts to himself, arms still folded across the table in order to hide his troubled expression. There's a lot that he could say, but Dimitri is tired of thinking about it. He's a kami first. The dream made him aware of how much that fact makes him miserable: It's to the point that the only way he could imagine his own happiness was to erase being a kami from his past and present. Everything in that dream is unattainable if he's like this.

But Ceto has gone through enough and doesn't need Dimitri's existential crisis on top of it. Sighing, he pushes himself off of the table again and meets Ceto's eyes with his own.]

... I see. I'm- [His gaze drops again,] I'm sorry for the trouble.

[Then he looks up again, more serious in tone but half-joking in words:]

But if your friends are even half as shitty as me, I'm going to tell you to find better ones. You don't need to settle for miserable people, you know.

You're not shitty.

[ He taps Dimitri's nose playfully with the soft rebuke. ]

I don't think they're miserable people. They all have their problems, but that doesn't stop them from finding reasons to smile. Would you rather meet them one at a time or in groups?

[ He does pause to address the apology, though, his hand silently finding and holding one of Dimitri's. ]

Don't be sorry. My feelings for you aren't your responsibility. You didn't ask for us to be thrown into that dream, either. It's not your fault.

... How are you feeling?

[Dimitri bites his lip to avoid making a strange sound when Ceto taps him (he's not Yuuto!) but his scowl weakens despite his efforts.]

... One at a time. [He doesn't like crowds on a good day, let alone when he's breaking his own rules and socializing.] And I still contributed to the dream.

[Though, to that last question he makes a pitiful noise.] I feel like I ate too much ice cream. Those spirits are going to be lectured for sure.

And? So did I, but that doesn't make either of us responsible for it. It was just... an unfortunate result of what's been happening lately...

[ He's not going to blame Tau for it either. It may have been her power but he doubts it was her intent to harm anyone. He does give Dimitri a little smile and glances around them to make sure no one's looking before allowing one of his hands to glow green. ]

You know that's not what I meant... but let's see if my healing ability is able to ease that for you.

[ He briefly places the glowing hand to Dimitri's stomach, and should it work the pain and nausea would ease gradually. It wouldn't completely resolve yet since he can't actually do anything about his full stomach, but it will at least allow him to function without feeling terribly sick.

Once that's done he eyes the parfait since it's almost gone and finishes it off so Dimitri wouldn't be trapped there. Sure he still wants an answer, but he never intended to force it out of him via parfait curse. ]

Let's get you home, okay?

[ He gets up from the seat and offers Dimitri help up in case he was still unsteady. ]

[Dimitri sighs in relief, since the healing magic does help with the pain and nausea. He nearly wanted to tell Ceto to hide his power, but he's glad that he didn't. He can finally think clearly and without the mental fog of nausea.]

Thank you. Sorry for the trouble.

[Now that he's free from this seat, Dimitri all but bolts into a standing position-- and immediately regrets it, swaying towards Ceto's support. He's still feeling pathetic and he knows it.]

I don't know if I can teleport. I might end up sending us to space.

[ Ceto can't help a soft laugh at that last little comment. ]

I don't think I'd mind visiting space with you, but we can save that for a purposeful trip later.

[ Ceto holds Dimitri close for a moment, careful not to squeeze him in the hug before helping him adjust so that he could lean against him without needing to be fully carried. ]

It's no trouble really, I was planning on visiting the Shrine of Love today anyway. Do you think you can walk or...?

[ He did actually make regular trips to Dimitri's mother's shrine, for both obvious reasons and reasons relating to his own world. He's still getting used to how things work in this world, but it seems reasonable to pay respects to a kami whose domain influences you that heavily, right?

He has an arm bracing Dimitri in case he lost balance, and if Dimitri looked closely, he'd notice Ceto's fluffy cat tail curling happily every now and then. Ceto sadly was not strong enough to fully carry him that whole distance, but he could probably manage to carry him there in bursts if given time to rest. ]

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【MINGLE】 August Mingle

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