【MINGLE】 August Mingle

[starrystoryteller]

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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Comments

[violetlies]

They will be eventually.

[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.

[luminarian]

Shut up, you.

[ 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.

[violetlies]

Can't. Physically unable to.

[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.

[luminarian]

[ It really is a sight to see. A whole area of the water park, all to themselves. Maybe it isn't truly "private", but the way Kokichi says it is still enough to make his stomach do somersaults.

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?

[violetlies]

Sure did. I wanted everything to be perfect. So I ensured it.

[He shrugs lightly.] I have connections. Does it matter? I'm 20. By the laws of Japan, I can legally purchase alcohol. This may not be Japan, but it's not America, either, so I'll go with the laws of our home nation.

You, on the other hand...well. I'm older than you, huh~? Not that it matters... [He undoes his bandanna, putting it on top of his discarded jacket. He strolls over, now only in his thin t-shirt and shorts, and he's almost purring.]

So much for heroism and holding ourselves back - you're in my capture once more. And since I'm the villain here...

[He slides his shirt off, tossing it near his jacket and bandanna. Now he's completely shirtless, which isn't an unfamiliar sight to be sure, but instead of it being a time when there was no time to think on it whatsoever, now there's all too much time. Even if he's mostly pale, and he's fairly thin. No muscle whatsoever, but it's mostly because he's not built for that. More 'cute' than 'handsome'.]

Let's be bad, yeah? I'm sure even you have your... [he leans in, up on his toes, near his ear, his voice breathy] vices. [He leans back, but he's already moved his not-yet boyfriend's hand onto his hip.] Don't you, Mr. Hero~?

[luminarian]

[ He's not just 'cute' to Kaito. He's handsome, too - and let's be honest, hot. He's more attracted to Kokichi than he truly know how to articulate, probably because it's something he hasn't really experienced until recently. At least, not with full acknowledgement of what he was feeling.

So instead of using his words, or his head, he thinks with his heart, and pulls Kokichi in to kiss him hard. No words needed.

He pulls him in close, arms around his waist, hands lingering around the edge of his waistband. His mind should be running wild, but instead he finds he's not really thinking much at all. He's running completely on instinct... which should be something he's learned not to do by now, but who could argue with these results? ]

[violetlies]

[Ohohoho, yep. That is EXACTLY what he wanted, yep. He just needed the right environment, and--he couldn't argue with these results, either.

Kokichi is kissed hard, and he can't help but release a moan he doesn't bother to push back - an incredibly lewd one at that. He wraps his arms around his neck as he's tugged in close, and he relaxes into his touch. Even if he's more excited than relaxed, persay...

He kisses passionately in return, his tongue peeking out. He feels needy, longing, absolutely too hot despite basically only having pants on and swimtrunks underneath. Doesn't help that his face is now burning red, he supposes.]

Mmmnn!! ♥ Mmm...mm...