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starsand2022-12-02 07:02 pm
starrystorytellers) wrote in starsand2022-12-02 07:02 pm
【MINGLE】 December Mingle
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dec intro
It’s the final month of the year… and one month until the ‘Fallen Star’ phenomenon will be one year old. One month until this world will have survived a year without a timeloop. And one month until the Wish Maker appears to keep their ominous promise. Come January, this wish granting being will attempt to create a tidal wave of Rumors and flip the city of Starsand on its head. They’ve promised to overturn the power of the Kami of Love and create a sorrowful chaos unlike anything that the Fallen Stars have experienced yet. And the days to prepare for this attack of despair are ticking by fast…
But until then, Starsand City is a blissfully unaware winter wonderland! Snow covers all of the buildings and beautiful sculptures line the streets. There’s some disappointment voiced among the natives about how the snow statues haven’t come to life this year, but it isn’t more than a low rumbling of gossip. Spirits still populate the city in the form of glowing lights, blinking in all colours of the rainbow, but they seem to be avoiding the city center this month. They can mostly be found on the outskirts, such as forests or quieter residential areas. They also continue to make wishes on the Wishing Boards, which are seeing a few more wishes than last month; and a few answered as well.
There is no traditional holiday celebrated in December. The New Years celebrations of Starsand don’t actually start until January 1st. Even the concept of a New Year’s countdown is foreign to the people here, who insist that it’s bad luck to be awake when the year changes. This means that the Fallen Stars are free to celebrate any of their own December traditions. The civilians will show polite curiosity and offer help, but most will not want to engage in the holidays themselves.
(A) NEW ARRIVALS
Arrivals in Starsand are different again this month… but different in a familiar way. While some arrivals may still follow the standard procedure— opening their eyes and being in a new, but friendly city,— Others will find themselves in total darkness. And if their muns want this prompt, they should tag over here so that they don’t get missed!
This darkness seems to go on forever. If characters try to walk, they will see that their footsteps leave glowing ripples on the dark surface. Within those ripples, they can briefly see images of their life flashing before their eyes. Their bodies, too, give off a faint light in contrast to their dark surroundings. After a few minutes of being alone, whether they walk off or not, they will see the glowing form of a girl in the distance…
… Once that encounter ends, they wake up in the city like any other arrival! The city is cold and snow covered, so civilians will rush to the strangers and offer them free winter clothes. The native population is extra insistent on getting Fallen Stars hooked up with free housing and warm food as soon as possible! Just… Beware of the free hot chocolate. When Starsand City calls it ‘hot’ chocolate, they don’t just mean the temperature. It has chili powder in it and is quite spicy!
(B) BETWEEN TIME & SPACE
The Spacetime Shrine has locked itself again this month. The door that usually leads into the shrine’s other dimension isn’t just closed: It’s an empty doorframe of glass, with the usual door entirely removed. Even the natives have taken note and turned it into something of a curious tourist attraction (it’s not like they have anywhere else to tour!) During the day, crowds of people gather here and walk through the empty door frame like it’s some kind of novelty. It’s so busy that there are even food stalls set up during the day, which sell warm drinks and deep fried snacks. No one seems particularly worried, since this shrine and its kami have never done anything for the city to begin with!
But if Fallen Stars wander here during the day, they may find it harder to tolerate. The closer they get to the doorframe, the louder they will hear a buzzing sound. It’s like radio static inside their heads, sometimes making the sound of voices from home. And mixed into the cacophony of noise is a girl’s distant voice, pleading: "Visit me at midnight."
If they do return to the shrine at midnight, Fallen Stars will find that the doorframe is no longer empty. For a single minute, they will see another space through the doorframe. It’s completely black and glitters slightly. A familiar goo seeps out of the door frame… If they dare to step through, they should post over here.
(C) A SNOWY DAYDREAM
Snow isn’t the only wintery delight to be found in Starsand City, though it is certainly a huge appeal. Carving snow sculptures is a popular pastime and beautiful statues of snow can be seen on nearly every street corner. The roads are generally shoveled by the shopkeepers who operate nearby, but a bit of help will be rewarded with a few starling pieces. Thanks to the efforts from last month, the shrines are covered in lights and colourful flowers are miraculously blooming in winter! The cityscape is coated in crystal white, dotted with colourful lights, decor, and plantlife…
But as promised, there is more!
The Kami of Winter has finally made her shrine, which is a huge ice castle located in a forest clearing. The lake outside this three-story castle is frozen solid and perfect for ice skating. When you’re done skating, you can retreat into the castle and get free hot tea. Unfortunately, it isn’t spicy… But fortunately, the castle itself is surprisingly warm and comfortable. The upper floors have icy furniture, delicate sculptures, and a telescope on the third floor balcony. Anyone is welcome to hang around the castle, though the Kami of Winter still isn’t showing herself. People say that she is quite shy, after all
(D) SNOWED IN
For all of the nice things that people say about the Kami of Winter, she is still a mischievous spirit at her core. While her general role in town is to keep the snow fresh and winter weather mellow, she is prone to emotional outbursts… and, with them, bursts of power. One moment, you may be having a relaxing day with snow-laced sunshine. The next, you’re snowed into the grocery store. She’ll randomly dump feet of snow on a place and forget to remove it. After a few minutes (or hours,) she will usually come back and remove the snow. Until then… Well, hopefully you’re a patient person!
(D) THE WISHING BOARD
Many of last month’s wishes were successfully granted, which has boosted faith in the Wishing Board! Unfortunately… It still isn’t the most useful device ever invented. And with the recent snowfall, the monitors often get so cold that they simply stop working. Still, some stubborn spirits are trying to leave their wishes. And thanks to helpful Fallen Stars, they’ve managed to leave wishes despite those technical difficulties! Some of those new wishes include…
01. I want to see everyone eating hot ramen and smiling!
02. I want to form a spirit contract with someone who likes to cook.
03. I want to leave an offering for the new kami.
04. I wish someone would find my ice sculpture and admire my art.
05. I want to see the Kami of Love fall.
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And... [ How should she word this... ] I dunno, the people here... they're not that bad. I don't... want to just give up and watch it fall apart again. Plus, who knows if we'd end up in the same place...
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Even after this obnoxious conversation... ]
Hey, Aisaka-san. Um... if we had the chance... would you want to stay here? I mean, in this world.
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[ Taiga doesn't mean to sound like such a bummer, but it was the truth. She wouldn't last if she ended up back in Nyoi-cho, and... there wasn't any room for her back home, anymore. ]
I feel like I can be useful here. People don't all hate me.
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[ Though, that's just how excited he is! That confirmation leads her to a smile, and leads her to place a hand on Taiga's head. ]
It's up to you. If it'll help... I already made my choice. I want to stay here.
1/2
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[ Totally normal things to say. ]
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She's going to die if she keeps thinking on that, so she's. Going back to the distraction. ]
He probably would. I haven't tried it myself, but he's not the type to get mad over... well, anything.
A...Anyway. Um. Once everything calms down, we can talk to him about that. Ah, staying. It sounds like he can make that happen for us.
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[ How is such a weirdo capable of something so vast? Whenever Taiga had interacted with him, even though she knew he was a kami, he gave off such an innocuous vibe, almost child-like. And here she was, thinking about what would happen if she punched him.
Sorry, Yuuto. ]
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...it'd be sad not to see my friends again, but I know they'll be fine. It's fine as long as they're still thinking about me, right?
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[ Taiga's mood switches near instantly, and she flips open her phone to scroll through it. Something else to look at, even though her eyes were unfocused. Of course, Ryoko had people who were dear to her, who'd long for her presence in their lives. ]
Must be nice... [ Her voice is low, a thought that she didn't mean to express aloud. It takes a moment to realise she'd even spoken, and judging from the frustrated huff, she knew it wasn't right. ] Sorry.
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...but, hearing that caused a slight ache. One that she recognized, far before she was able to have her "dream". ]
...it's the same for you too, isn't it? I mean, your friends or, your parents...
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[ Again, her tone is harsher than necessary, and Taiga shakes her head. Ryoko didn't mean anything bad by it, she couldn't have known it was a sore spot. Even still, it wasn't anyone's problem but her own, and it wasn't fair to take it out on others. Santa would be disappointed. ]
It's... complicated. But no, I have nothing waiting for me "back home", not anymore. I can't go back there.
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[ ...No, she doesn't want to press too much, but she has to think. She had that friend that gave her food, didn't she? But... ]
...Because... because of your wish?
[ She immediately responds to her own question with-- ]
You don't have to tell me, but... that's... why I'm in the same boat.
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[ The silence that follows is deafening, and Taiga tosses her phone aside, screen still lit. It wasn't helping as a distraction anyway, and she could feel Ryoko's concerned gaze. ]
I'm always just... in the way. S-so I thought...
[ Why had she taken Kyuubey up on his offer, anyway? It felt like so long ago, a decision made in a haste as what felt like an easy solution to a greater problem. And, well, she couldn't deny that it was a solution. Too good of one, even. ]
I was too weak. It was causing problems, m-my friend... No one believed me, they kept worrying about me... I don't think they were wrong, but... I couldn't let it keep going...
[ She's quiet for a moment, rubbing at her eyes with her sleeve. ]
They're happier th-this way...
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Her expression was crestfallen, and she builds up as much confidence as she can in her words. ]
That's what he does. He... he finds you at a moment of weakness, but that's not who you are. I meant it when I said you had gotten stronger--
[ No, that wasn't something either of them wanted to go down, in terms of memories. ]
...did... something happen between you and your friend?
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I-I was trying to do someone a favor. He wanted to get to know her, b-but she got the wrong idea because I kept... hanging around. I couldn't...
[ She couldn't convince them, because she couldn't stop relying on them both. It was hard to even blame them, how could she expect them to believe she could stand on her own when she had never proven it? ]
What kind of idiot makes a wish to ruin their own happiness?
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The image of their first Valentine's Day rolled around, in how there was a misunderstanding that Ryoko wound up furious about. In how it took a bit more courage for Yuki to give chocolate to him, huh? ]
...well, there's one idiot sitting in front of you that would.
[ Naturally... but... ]
Did you both make it clear that it wasn't like that? I mean... if it's that obvious...
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[ She absolutely did not make it clear, she just threw a tantrum and change nothing about her behavior. But in her eyes, it was obvious. She couldn't help that others wouldn't listen to her. It wasn't her fault, Ryuuji was doing her a favor as well, they couldn't just... not interact. And either way, he insisted on inviting her over for food. She couldn't waste it, and Yacchan was always so happy to see her. Minorin didn't get it, it wasn't anything beyond two people using each other for their own gains.
...She had snapped at Ryoko again. ]
S-sorry. I shouldn't have said anything... I... I dunno. It's just... I-I just know its better like this.
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[ The worst thing was, she was starting to get a little more curious about the whole thing. But, if Taiga didn't want to talk about it, then... she won't force her. It sounded complicated, it still felt raw to her it seemed...
This wasn't the right time. ]
Just...
[ ...she doesn't know how to continue, but... ]
...if... if that's what you feel, then... okay.
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[ Maybe if she doesn't say it, there's a chance it's not actually true. It didn't matter at this point, she knows it's too late to regret it all, but maybe it would hurt a bit less if it's never voiced. ]
Sorry.
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[ If Ryoko was allowed to make her own decisions, allowed to feel however she wanted... of course Taiga deserved the same. She couldn't tell her how to feel. It wouldn't be right. ]
For now, you don't have to think about it. We don't have to look that hard at the past, or we'll start to feel worse.
[ She says as if it's as easy as closing a book, as if this whole thing didn't sprout from her being unable to let go of her insecurities. ]
We're going to make this a great Christmas for everyone. Something to give us something to look forward to. Okay?