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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.
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...Well, I just wanted to make sure I understood what you were saying correctly. That said, it's kinda weird... While I don't know anything about freaky, multicolored bear mascots, I've also had bad experiences with a black and white one.
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[Kokichi glances around. And then he lowers his voice, looking at her with a deathly serious expression.]
...Monokuma?
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[Chiaki's usually placid face tightens with worry.]
Are you a survivor of the Tragedy that was triggered at Hope's Peak Academy...?
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You must be from earlier in the timeline, maybe. Before the Gofer Project. I...don't remember much before that.
[It wasn't his first rodeo. Of course it wasn't. How many other people died thanks to that bear? How many senseless lives were lost?]
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[Though the confusion and concern doesn't leave her face, her voice remains gentle.]
Maybe you and I should sit down... and try to figure this out. We shouldn't rush to conclusions based on preconceptions... right?
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Despite Kokichi's anxiety welling up, his expression shifts into pre-trained ease. His voice goes back to a normal tone.]
Right, right. C'mon. I know a cafe this way. We can sit and chat.
[He beckons with his head as he starts walking.]
Oma Kokichi. Ultimate Supreme Leader. And you?
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[Maybe she'll switch to -san when she learns he's older, but for now, this is what feels familiar and right. She follows him, hands on the straps of her backpack, mind whirring behind her relatively blank expression.]
...I haven't heard of the Gifted Inmates Academy, either... Can you tell me more about that?
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[Kokichi began strolling ahead.]
Mmm, let's see, let's see. Relatively big place. Had talent labs based on each of our talents in the floors unlocked by every time we went through a trial, an outside garden...a casino, a love hotel - for some reason, a whole garage area...
The garage was where they stored these...bigger robots. Like the type you could see in anime as 'fighting robots', they called them Exisals. The bear's spawn piloted them and used them to try to keep us in line. There was a dome around the school preventing us from getting out, and supposedly our only way out was past an obstacle course that we could never beat.
Which I think was a lie. The bear lies. Relentlessly.
Any of this seem familiar to you?
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[That's not all that kept them contained, of course, but Chiaki finds she still can't talk about it. Keeping her disappointment to herself, she continues:]
The facilities available on each island... probably weren't tailored to each student's talent individually... I think. There was no arcade for me, for example, or sports training facilities for the athletes. Most places were things multiple people could use, like restaurants or music venues. One island was a whole amusement park...
[She trails off, and then, after a while, sighs.]
If things had been different... it might have been a lot of fun.
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Would've been pretty content with an amusement park island, though. Always liked those places. [He notes, a hint of amusement to his tone. It's good they saved the amusement park here. Now he's even working there, so it's moving up in the world.]
Not that we had too much time to just have fun. I wish we did. It started with our Ultimate Unknown getting bonked on the head...and ended with Kaito and I. Considering everything, I'm trying to establish a new life here for all of us. There's...Kaito, Shuichi, me, and Ryoma right now. So that's Astronaut, Detective, Supreme Leader, and Tennis Pro.
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[As she walks along quietly, her hands slip from her backpack straps and move to cup her elbows instead.]
...Did all of you... die in the mutual killing game? That's what you meant, right, when you mentioned the trials and the blackened?
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[Kokichi glances down, pausing in the street.]
Ryoma gave up first. Second trial. Victim. Kaito and I didn't get offed until the fifth. And even then, it was because of my plan to try to stop everything. Shuichi...Shuichi figured it all out. He kept going. He lived.
But the rest of us? Yeah. The mutual killing game got us.
[He turns a corner. He has to take a breath before he holds his head high again, but he does.
As always.]
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I'm sorry, Oma-kun.
[She looks down at her shoes.]
I wish it could have stopped with our game. But... I couldn't even stop that. If it kept going after all, I know... that you must have suffered a lot.
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But at least we can all be happy now.
[Kokichi sighs, but he smiles.]
That's why I'm dedicating myself to this world. If just one of us becomes strong enough, maybe, I can save all of us. I'll have to expand my scope, now that I know there's others, too, but...
[Finally, they reach the cafe, and he sits down across from her after they walk in.]
...I've got enough starling to cover for whatever, so don't worry.
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...]
Oh... right. Paying for things... typically requires an exchange of resources. If you're sure, Oma-kun... I appreciate it.
[She looks over the menu like it actually requires long consideration.]
...Since it's a café... a coffee-based drink would be appropriate, right? I'd like one that's sweet...