STARSAND MOD (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
starrystoryteller) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
starsand2022-08-01 11:08 pm
starrystoryteller) wrote in starsand2022-08-01 11:08 pm
【MINGLE】 August Mingle
August Mingle
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.
no subject
No you didn't. Don't lie.
[That's probably the kindest way he's ever chided anyone. He sighs softly - fondly - before getting up on his tiptoes and kissing him on the cheek again, before beaming up at him.]
Okaaaaay~ let's go~
[His irritation has gone away entirely. He's just staying beside him and leading the way out.]
no subject
...You got a plan for when we get there?
[ He asks only because Kokichi always seems to have something up his sleeve. ]
no subject
Now, now, now. Where's the fun in spoiling things, mm?
[Oh, yes, Kokichi always has something up his sleeve. It's just unlikely that he'll tell anyone what it is.]
no subject
Shoulda known you'd say something like that. Well, I'm up for any challenge! Whatever you throw at me, I'm ready to take it!
no subject
Should've known you'd say something like that. Don't get too hyped up...unless you want to deviate from my plan and go on one of the more exciting water rides...
..
[He smirks a little to himself, walking along.]
I can NOT believe you didn't figure me out after I literally tried to make a kiss bet with you before. Something in your head never flipped to 'huh, maybe Kokichi's whole thing is ulterior motives'. Neeheehee.
v3 spoilers alluded to
[ Really, he's saying this is all Kokichi's fault. He dug his own grave there. Boy Who Cried Wolf and all that. He will never admit that maybe he's a tiny bit dense when it comes to the feelings of others. ]
Besides, I'm pretty sure I heard you say some stuff like that to Shuichi and Rantaro, too. Why would I think that suddenly made me special?
[ Other than the fact that he's Mister Special Superhero, and the fact that Kokichi gave up his life for him at the end, there. ]
no subject
Also, you could've just asked Ryoma. Ryoma knew for a while before you. Satou puzzled it out, too. And Yuuto.
I also literally gave up my life for you. I did everything I could, you know. Namely, I let you have warm goodbyes and time. I could've just gotten you first. Or refused to do anything so Maki would get blamed - and if I were stupid, petty, and spiteful, I might've. But I didn't.
Because I always liked you. I liked most of the guys, honestly, the only big nos were Ryoma, Kiyo when he revealed he was a weirdo, and Gonta because he's too pure for me, buuuuuuuut..now you'll never get rid of me. Ever. Neeheehee.
no subject
[ Between Kokichi and Maki, he's starting to realize he's not great at picking up on potential romance. ]
I'd believe you liked me to some extent, but there also had to be a point where you couldn't stand me, right? I definitely spent a lot of time at that point with you.
1/2
[Well, he's not lying.]
no subject
And even then, that kinda broke when Shumai laid into me. After that it was just a lot of crying.
Still. The biggest thing that pissed me off was just that I honestly thought you gave cute girls more leeway than me, because they were cute girls and I'm me. Both Kay-yay-day and Maki both...they got away with running people ragged and asking people if they wanna die, and I couldn't be giving anyone kiddie-insults, that's the breaking point.
[He shakes his head...but he's still right by his side, holding his hand.]
I don't mind now, though. Even if you were a Dummy, you're sweet to me now.
no subject
[ It's said lightheartedly, of course, as he gently hip-bumps him. He's in way too deep to stop caring about him now. ]
But cute girls, huh? I never thought I was treating them any differently...
[ Are Kaede and Maki considered cute? He never really considered it. Well, maybe once with Maki, but that was only once he got to Starsand, and he finally had time to think about - ]
Oh, shit!
[ He glances down at Kokichi, eyes wide. ]
Did I ever tell you what happened with Maki?
no subject
[Called out.]
And yeah, you absolutely did give them more leeway than me. If I marched around going 'do you wanna die' you would've never let me hear the end of it. Meanwhile Maki does it and you were just like 'eh, that's Maki.'
[He quirks a brow.]
What'cha mean? What happened with her?
no subject
[ At least, he thinks he would have? Anyways, that's not the point. The whole Maki thing. ]
Before Monokuma... you know. Sent me blastin' off or whatever, she started bawling her eyes out. Nothing I said could make her stop.
[ As he walks and talks, he idly swings their joined hands in between the two of them, almost like he's not telling the story of his own death. ]
Which, like... understandable, obviously, but I really wanted everyone to see me out with a smile, you know?
1/3
[Kokichi's amused smile fades at the description of the Maki thing, and he hums thoughtfully.]
2/3
We're a lot alike, her and I. That's probably why we clashed so often. So I get it.
And if I'm being honest, at this point, if we had to do any of that again...I don't think I could. I couldn't force my emotions down, I couldn't put up that front again, I couldn't smile. I'd probably break. Worse than she did, with screaming and crying and throwing a fit. We were only able to do what we did back then because there was a distance.
Can you honestly tell me that if I gave you that script again now, if I told you to follow my plan now, if I said 'It'll be fine. This is what needs to happen.' ...would you be able to smile?
[He looks up at him, knowingly.]
You wouldn't, because I know you. You might try to force it, and you wouldn't cry - yet, but you'd still be a wreck because you'd be angry at everything. Me, for giving up when there had to be some other way. Everyone else, for not somehow finding another way. Tsumugi and her stupid mascots, because obviously. And most of all, yourself. And then and only then, you'd cry. But you couldn't smile. Even if I told you to, even if you tried, you couldn't.
So I'd say it's a wonder she just cried.
[The typical dissection from Kokichi. He gently squeezes his hand.]
3/3
Once she finishes giving me a shoveltalk and we fix up a peace treaty...before questioning your sanity since she'd last seen you.
Don't worry about it for now, beloved. Tonight is for us.
no subject
Hold on, there's more.
[ And he's suspecting Kokichi might have already guessed this, but it's something he should say anyways, especially if they're talking about Maki showing up here someday - ]
...She told me she was in love with me.
[ He almost leaves it at that, but quickly realizes just how horrifying that would be, with how serious he's suddenly gotten. ]
And I didn't - I mean, I couldn't - ...All I did was tell her I was proud of her. Like, could I have been any more awkward about it? But that was all I could give her. Even if -
[ He shuts his mouth. Surely the implication is clear. Kokichi's smart. ]
no subject
But you can't take that kind of responsibility. Sometimes things don't go the way you'd think they were supposed to. And that's fine. Sometimes that's even better. But I think no matter what, you made her stronger. You were the first person to reach out to her, and that means a lot. Especially to a girl who probably never had the chance to explore any emotions.
No matter what happened, if I were you, I would've turned that down. Even if you weren't gone forever, hell, even if you were into her...she'd grow co-dependent. She's strong enough to stand on her own now. You're proud of her. She needs to learn to be proud of herself.
So. You did the right thing. Better than me, anyway. The one girl who liked me for some godforsaken reason I tore to shreds to make her stronger and then left her that one line in the script I gave you like it meant something. [He takes a breath out his nose.] I need to apologize to Maki and Himiko. Urgh.
no subject
[ But yes, he will admit, he was kind of a dense idiot there. ]
You're right. That's pretty much what I told her, since it's all I wanted for her in the first place, but... I don't know, man. I just wish I could have comforted her a little more back then. But I guess I don't really know how well it worked, considering...
[ He can't see what happened after he died. So until he asks Shuichi, he doesn't know if Maki was able to keep pushing forward. But he can hope. ]
...Wait, is that why you wrote that? You think Himiko was into you?
[ That's... a weird thing to think about, but alright. He doesn't see it, but hey, he didn't see Maki's feelings for him either. It's not impossible. ]
no subject
[He shrugs at that next bit, though.]
Ask Shumai when he gets to being sociable again. He'll tell you. I'm curious, too, so maybe the three of us should reconvene at some point.
[As for that last bit, he snorts.]
Oooooh yeah. Definitely. As you know, I'm an expert at reading emotions. Minor tics and cues. She definitely had a thing for me, never noticed I was gay, despite being the most obvious one there - apart from Tenko. Sweet girl. Hope she's okay, too.
no subject
[ Despite the whole "being dead" thing. It's said somberly, as he glances down at the ground, but it's only for a moment, as he picks himself back up again pretty fast. ]
I think I am, too. Gay, I mean.
[ A pause. ]
...I mean, that was probably pretty obvious after - all of that - but, uh - what I meant to say was -
[ He clears his throat, trying to regain his composure. ]
Like, completely. I don't think I ever really liked girls. It would sure explain the whole thing with Maki Roll. I remember just kinda feeling... bad that I couldn't tell her I liked her back. 'Cause I just... didn't. And I wasn't about to cap off the end of my life by lying to her, y'know?
[ He'd already done enough of that. ]
no subject
[He'll ensure it.]
...And yeah. Not that I've got any room to comment on anything, being the liar king and dying the liar king, after all. But that still would've hurt both of you, so being honest is for the best.
Even if you've gone on and made a biiiiiig terrible mistake instead of getting some kind of reasonable boyfriend, a mistake you intend to keep making. Neeheeheehee.
no subject
[ He mumbles, gently elbowing Kokichi in the side. "Shut up, Kokichi," is basically becoming his catchphrase at this point, it seems. Luckily they both know he doesn't really mean it - and even if he did, Kokichi would never shut up anyways. ]
You're not a mistake. I'm having fun. It's like you said - we're never gonna be bored from here on out.
no subject
[Kokichi responds immediately. He giggles softly.]
I'm not a mistake yet. And that's true - you just have to be always prepared for it from here on out.
[He says, though it seems more like an invitation than a warning. They're heading towards the amusement park, and it's not too long before--]
This way.
I found this area when I was exploring around. Ah-par-en-tly...it's obscure enough that no one else has yet.
[It's a few corner turns until... they're there.
The pool is beautiful at night. There's a hot tub there, and, with an inviting smirk on his face, Kokichi lets go of his boyfriend-not-boyfriend's hand for a moment to tug out a purple cooler from behind a tree. There's two glasses resting inside it, too.]
Welcome to the private oasis, beloved.
[He shrugs off his jacket, looking over his shoulder at him.]
...We'll just enjoy ourselves tonight.
no subject
There's no mistaking what this is. Kaito may be dense, but he's not that dense. ]
You... you really went out of your way to prepare all of this behind my back, huh?
[ He says, with a wayward look at the cooler - though the sight of Kokichi taking his jacket off is a very welcome diversion. Still, he pulls his eyes back to the drinks again, trying to hide how red his face has turned. ]
...Hold on. Where the hell did you get alcohol from?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)