starsand | 【MINGLE】 March Mingle

【MINGLE】 March Mingle

March Mingle

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march mingle

With the arrival of March comes a slow spike in temperatures. The snow that previously lined walkways and clung to treetops is beginning to melt, resulting in slow trickles of water through the city and a consistent sound of running water. The large amounts of water run off into streams and rivers on the first level, which then pour off the sides of the stacked city as controlled waterfalls. Accompanying the melted snow water is a huge bloom of flowers... and of course, as most things are in Starsand City, the flowers aren't entirely a natural occurrence.

March marks the start of flower season in the city. From the start of March until end of April, most stores will be including a small package of one to five magical flower seeds with all purchases. The seeds act a lot like Starling in that they can give spirits a boost of magic. While most magic in the city relies on the spirits to grow, these seeds seem to be a rare exception: Anyone is able to grow them, regardless of magical experience, so long as they desire it. Growing flowers around the city is almost an expectation. Shops will begin putting out flower pots and boxes for people to grow flowers in. You can also 'buy' various gardening supplies, including How-To books, in order to start your own gardens outside your residence. And for those suffering from wanderlust, there is always the option of taking a trip to the third level to see the freshly blooming flower fields.

The city atmosphere is peaceful. Fallen Stars may notice that there is less emphasis on treating them as heroes and more focus on treating them as regular civilians. They'll begin to get job offers and civilians will express more interest in their natural talents... After all. It's been almost a year since they appeared. Maybe they're just stuck here.

(A) NEW ARRIVALS / A BAD TIME

New Arrivals can happen as they always have: With a blink, you wake up in a pastel coloured city. Snow melts along the street and gems accent the buildings, while the civilians regard your sudden arrival with mild surprise. They'll be quick to approach and offer you access to things like free food, shelter, and an explanation. They usually insist that you visit the Shrine of Love or Shrine of Spacetime for further information, but don't press uncomfortably.

Or... It can happen another way. This can even happen to Fallen Stars who have already arrived in the city. Instead of blinking and arriving in the beautiful city of Starsand, you blink and find yourself standing at one end of a long, white, and sterile corridor. There are doors made of thick metal on either wall and a larger, red door at the end of the hallway. The lights overhead cast an artificial and sickly light to the floor and occasionally flicker, causing the entire corridor to plunge into darkness. Sometimes when the lights turn back on, the door at the end of the hallway will have changed colours or design.

This prompt is optional, and exploring the corridor will act as a mod directed mini'investigation. Characters can visit the corridor a maximum of two times: Once alone and once with CR. Exploration groups can be no more than 3 characters. More Details here.

Once corridor exploration is complete, new characters will arrive in the city as normal.

(B) GROWING FLOWERS

... Well, that was weird! Luckily, no one needs to linger on that weird vision. You have things to do. Like growing flowers!

The process of growing flowers is relatively simple: Anyone can do it. Take one of the magical seeds you've received and cup it in your hands. After whispering your sincere feelings to the seed, it will begin to sprout. Place the seed in some soil and that's it! Throughout the month, that flower will continue to bloom, so long as the feelings whispered to it remain true. Flowers imbued with happiness will bloom faster if you're in a good mood and flowers imbued with sadness with bloom faster if you're upset. No flower will ever reverse its blooming or die: They'll simply be slower than the rest, until your feelings come into alignment again.

A common practice in the city is to hold flower tea parties; Everyone plants a few happiness flowers, then spends the afternoon having a lovely time together over tea and desserts. Most cafes will happily lend out their spaces for private parties. Otherwise, there are public afternoon tea events being held all around the city where the only price is planting some flowers.

And of course, blooming flowers this way is very good for spirits. They will be glowing especially brightly when they visit the gardens. You may even hear them humming little notes from time to time! And when they're not being sweet and innocent, they're up to their mischievous ways... Spirits will follow people who have unplanted seeds, causing minor mischief until they stop and bloom the flowers. Mischief may include a personal rain cloud, a tripping curse, lots of puddles to step in, hiccups... Small things that are more annoying than dangerous.

(C) VISITING THE FLOWER FIELDS

On the third floor, there is a tiny village that exists almost separate from the main city. And they love flowers. Anyone who investigates where these magical seeds came from will learn that they're from a rural village called Flower Field Town on the third floor. They call themselves a separate village, because they can exist separate from the main city using spirit magic. Almost everyone here has a spirit contract and the flower growing magic originated here.

Visits to the third floor are highly encouraged this month. The populate is barely over 200 people, but they all live in perfect harmony with the spirits. They claim that this is the ideal way to live in the new world of spirits and magic. Technology here is entirely reliant on spirits and all needs are being met through magic. Simply opening a oven can produce a whole meal, putting clothes on the drying line will instantly clean them, etc. etc. When visiting, it's possible to rent a cottage and field to give this way of life a try... But there is a catch. At least one person staying in the cottage must have a spirit pact. If not, then the magic to make food and power the building won't work. You'll have to survive the old fashioned way!

(D) BURY YOUR HEART | cw: themes of depression

There is another use for the seeds, but it's one that is not as widely spoken about. It's something you might learn of through an old fairytale in the library or gossip on the streets. It's a little thing called Heart Burial.

"During the first Flower Blooming, the people of the world were bitter, scared, and angry. The reveal of magic had them questioning their lives and the generations of lives before them. People felt immense guilt for their long history of ignoring the spirits, who helped them in secret, and they had no way to relieve it.

And so, a kami born from human failings created the magic seeds that we know today. They wanted to give humans a chance to repay the spirits with the magic from their own hearts. But they also wanted to alleviate the guilt and shame that could not be magicked away. They imbued the seeds with an extra power: If you whisper your shameful feelings to the seed before you plant it and then visit every day to repent, the magic will slowly drain that feeling from your heart. This way, people could let go of their ugliness and be reborn like spring."

Heart Burial is not something encouraged anymore. If it's brought up, then the older generation will insist that it's a terrible idea and you should find other ways to make up for your sins. But for the younger members of the population, Heart Burial is still popular. You may catch teens trying to burying unrequited love, grudges, or embarrassing memories in their gardens. And they're talking an awful lot about it this year, to the point that the adults are beginning to worry.

(D) FLORAL CHAOS

Part of having a seasonal event where the city is covered with flowers is... having a city covered in flowers. Unfortunately, not everyone in the city understands that the roots under flowers can cause them to suffocate and die if they're too close together. So while growing flowers is all well and good, there is an additional task of carefully digging up flowers and transplanting them to safer places. That's where The Flower Rescue Squad! comes in. They're a very passionate bunch. If you're recruited then you'll get a special purple armband with a flower embroidered into it. The spirits will pick a flower that reminds them of you, so everyone gets something special!

Volunteers will be taught how to recognize a flower that is in danger and how to careful transfer it to a pot, then asked to bring pots to the other city levels for replanting. The first floor is the one most in need of flowers; The civilians there will begrudgingly accept the offer and almost everyone has a planter box or two ready for flowers. Though the first floor residents resist most magic, they are very passionate about taking care of the spirit flowers.

A flower in danger needs to be moved quickly, because it isn't just a danger to itself. The sick flowers are filled with magic, after all. They begin to glow and spread minor curses to those who inhale their aroma. If you aren't working with a mask, then you might feel side effects. And if you aren't aware of the danger then... Oops.

It's a magical effects prompt!

Affected flowers will morph into a specific type and give specific effects. It's possible to research the effects beforehand, but they change every year. Information will not be easy to obtain until the 10th of the month. Until then, not even the most seasoned Flower Rescue Squad! members know what to expect. The effects last no more than two hours. And for once, spirits can actually cure these effects!

Peonies: The scent of these flowers will leave someone feeling energized. They may be more ambitious and fearless than usual... and also, a bit reckless.
Roses: The scent of a rose will cause your hair to change to the colour of the rose you were dealing with. Animal ears and tails are also unfortunate side effects of this scent.
Lilies: The scent of a lily causes someone to become incredibly clumsy. You'll need a lot of help just getting around.
Carnations: These flowers will cause your emotions to be written on your face in text form. They can appear anywhere from your cheek to your forehead.
Daffodils: The scent of a daffodil will allow someone to temporarily see the spirit realm. This realm exists alongside the regular and it filled with a blinding number of spirits. Their feelings may bleed into your own. Right now, most spirits are very happy. Headaches and nauseas are common.
Iris: The scent of an iris will cause you to spew compliments to anyone you meet. Repeating compliments is fine. So is lying.
Poppy: The scent of a poppy flower will cause intense drowsiness, paired with miserable insomnia.

code

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

short and optional

RULES:

Each character is allowed One (1) Solo Investigation
Each character is allowed One (1) Additional Team Investigation.
Teams can be 2-3 characters.
Reply here with your character's name and investigation # in the top-level.
Investigations will only last 5 mod replies. After that, the vision ends and the character is sent home. This is not up for debate.
Please include character observations, questions, etc. in your replies. The setting will react to what they are looking for, so I need to know. Thank you!

[ Well, that's definitely concerning!

But Inaba's going to keep her cool and breathe--she'll be trying to listen for any discernable sounds as she puts her hand on the wall to see if anything happens; after all, she has nullification on and is trying to continue to be careful. ]

Edited 2023-03-03 07:04 (UTC)

[Congratulations on returning to a familiar location, Inaba!

She may be able to recognize this hallway as being the same one she was in months ago; It seems to be the Facility. Or at least a replica. The doors have familiar lockpads on them. When she uses her nullification on the walls, the walls will flicker between looking old, rusty, and then smeared in blood, until she turns her power off.

The door at the end of the hallway will have also changed.

What does the door to look like? Please describe what a door to 'home' would look like for Inaba, because that's what she will see! Weird.]

[ Thanks, she hates it.

And no, she isn't going to turn her nullification off.

The door to home actually looks like what she'd get at her actual house back in Yokohama. It's definitely strange and not something to be trusted. But that's exactly why she chooses to ignore it.

Hell if she's going to walk into a potential trap like that.

But let's see... do the lockpads work in any of these doors at all? Because if they do, she's going to try and input four numbers in each one she finds: 0627. ]

[The door at the end of the hallway is looking awful familiar, then! If she gets too close, then she'll hear static-y radio sounds from the door. They may be vaguely familiar, but only if she is listening for familiar voices.

The lockpads do work! And the number does get one of them to beep in recognition. The door swings open to show a room with a white medical cot, wardrobe, and desk with a chair. It looks similar to a doctor's office. Because of Inaba's nullification, there are bloody fingerprints on the desk and wardrobe. The bed is pristine and clean.

There are five more doors on the hallway. Remember that you only have 3 more replies, so investigating all of the doors will be impossible.]

Edited 2023-03-03 10:27 (UTC)

[ While she flinches slightly, she presses on. This is nothing compared to the other investigations she's had to deal with. It'll be fine.

She's definitely listening for familiar voices, just to see if there's anything to discern there.

But the fact that there are bloody fingerprints on the desk and wardrobe...

Let's check the desk first. Is there anything on the desk at all? She's especially looking to see if there are any documents or any potential pieces of technology that she can access. ]

[ How many damn places is she going to wake up in? A couple more, and she'll start to get irritated.

She has a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, hating everything she's seeing, but she'll have to get out of here in some form or fashion. The first thing to do would be to find something wieldy to act as a momentary weapon, in case she's attacked. She does have her gem, but like hell she's using her magic. What kind of items would be around that she could either pick up or potentially even rip from a wall?

From there, it's slipping by quietly, listening out for the sound of footsteps, or any indication that there's anyone around. Or, anyone that's been around recently. ]

[The hallway is completely silent, aside from the sound of the lights flickering. There are 3 doors on either side of the hall and they look to be locked by simple 9 digit number pads. The only visible item that Bonnie might potentially wield is a fire extinguisher, which is on the right side wall about halfway down the hallway.

The scent of iron hangs in the air. When the lights flicker next, Bonnie will see that the door at the very end of the hallway has changed: What does the door to look like? Please describe what a door to 'freedom' would look like for Bonnie, because that's what she will see! Weird.]

[ Well, it looks like Bonnie is equipping a fire extinguisher.

While her nose crinkles at the smell (definitely familiar to her), she spots how the door suddenly has changed. In contrast to the rest of the hallway, the door she's staring at is comprised of stained cherry wood, certainly one that may be seen on an old cottage. It... feels odd.

She feels like she's seen a door like that before, but she can't remember. Son of a bitch, she thought she had sorted all of her memory issues out before... if she did have her memory intact, she'd recognize it as the door that would lead from... or maybe, into, her grandmother's house. The one place she could actually be free from the rest of the world.

There's no door knocker on the front, nor anything indicating that this would necessarily be an exterior door... regardless, she strolls right up and gives the door a knock.

Anyone home? ]

[When Bonnie knocks, she will notice that the door feels hollow; Not at all like a strong wooden door, but almost flimsy. Sounds can be heard behind the door if she listens for them. Like tuning a radio, they become clearer when she focuses her attention. They are the sounds of a forest; Birds chirping, the rustle of leaves, the occasional twig snapping. It sounds like a peaceful wood behind the door.

But there's a voice mixed in. It's faint, like a whisper:]

Don't go. They're waiting for you.

[The voices won't say anything discernable, exactly. The most that Inaba may hear is her name exchanged between the speakers in a fond tone. She will hear her friends from the SCP and Yokohama, all sounding to be in conversation together. But when she walks into the room, the voices fade; The sounds are coming from the door to her 'home.'

There's another voie beginning to call out from a distant location:]

"Yuuto-oniichan is here! Zeta, Zeta! He came home!" [And a pair of approaching footsteps. The door to this room is still open.

At the desk, Inaba will find a pile of stacked papers. They show the information on some of the Facility children. The top-most page shows Omichron, her hair cut short and her expression one of utter hatred. She looks to be around ten years old and has her height, weight, and blood type listed next to her image. She is Omichron #1, whatever that means.

The footsteps are getting louder. Zeta speaks up next:]

"I don't think he'd be stupid enough to use that code and lock himself up, Theta... Be careful."

[ Well, shit. But that's definitely something to keep in mind for later. But for now, she's going to try and find a hiding spot. Is the wardrobe big enough for a person? Because if so she's going to rush her way inside of it. ]

[The wardrobe is indeed big enough for Inaba to sneak inside of it. There is an overhead shelf with stacks of fresh bedsheets and a line of lab coats on hangers. The door is cooperative and heavy, clicking closed once she's inside.

Two sets of footsteps enter the room; One at a regular walk and the other sounding like they're skipping. Theta's voice grows closer as she makes a beeline to the desk.]

"Huuuh? He's not here! But that was his code!" [The papers begin to rustle,] "Who left these here? They look oooold."

[Zeta's footsteps walk the room slowly, each step sounding purposeful. She approaches the wardrobe and eventually her weight will be heard pressing against the door.]

"This place is still sort of wonky, right? They might literally be from the past. You better not touch them or we'll have a paradox, Theta."

[Clearly listening to instructions, Theta can be heard tossing all of the papers into the air. Then she begins leaving the room at a run,] "I'm going to go find Yuuto! He can't have gotten far! Yuuuuuutoooo!"

"Mmk. Guess I'm playing pick-up..." [Once Theta has left, Zeta will step away from the wardrobe door. Then the heavy door to the room slams shut.] "You can come out now. Really, you didn't think this through. You're stuck now, you know?"

[ It's clearly bullshit. The pleasant sound fills her ears as she concentrates, reminding her so badly of her home. Her real home. When she'd spend her time relaxing after jobs well done, after killing a high-priced target.

It's a life she doesn't have anymore. The one she gave up for a bullshit wish.

Her plan's to step away before she's told not to. Without missing a beat, she responds to the voice out loud. ]

What do you think you're hiding? It'd be rude to keep anyone waiting, right? ♪

[Hm. Hasn't been a while since the last time Stella went to sleep, only to awaken someplace strange.

What an odd and familiar place this is. Maybe that's why Stella isn't afraid - not yet. The sterile halls reminded her too much of Overbrook, her time with Jackie and Daria. The sadness in those places, what she did to improve it. Not even the flickering lights got her down much.

So, she steps forwards. She holds her Everlight aloft, the glowing orb attempting to illuminate the corridor in-between the times the lights shudder off, hoping to catch... something.]

[The sounds continue to trickle out from the door. The voice, too, continues to whisper from beyond the flimsy cherry wood;]

"If you go in, you may not come out. The doors... are tests. You should be careful which ones you open."

Edited 2023-03-04 10:27 (UTC)

[ Looks like she's caught. It didn't matter to her if she was stuck or not, there were ways for her to potentially deal with it.

But if she's noticed, then--

She steps out, although she doesn't look directly in Zeta's eyes. ]

Is that so. But I wouldn't be the only one stuck, right?

[Stella will be able to walk down the entire hallway uninterrupted, should she choose. Beneath her feet, the floor begins to rumble and a low humming seeps from below. Though they are few, a handful of spirits do phase through the walls to begin following Stella and her Everlight. Their glow is soft, weak, and a sickly shade of green.

There are six doors lining the walls, three on each side, and one large red door at the end of the hallway. Where her Everlight casts light on the walls, the sterile perfection is revealed to be an illusion: Stella will see that the walls are actually decaying, with stains of blood and deep scratches. Where her light does not touch, the illusion returns.

This will apply to the end of the hallway too. When the lights flicker again, the door will change: What does the door to look like? Please describe what a door to 'home' would look like for Stella, because that's what she will see!]

Gosh, is that so. I've never been really good at testing! I have a tendency to do the opposite of what I'm told, you know.

[ She taps her chin in false thought, idly hugging the fire extinguisher in her grasp. ]

It'd be rude to keep a guest waiting outside, but I don't necessarily have any intention on leaving just yet. I just got here! What to do, what to do...

Ah!

If it's a choice between going and staying, what if I just bust this door down and then walk away?

[Zeta stands with her back to Inaba, facing the door and watching Inaba through the small window's reflection. She shrugs.]

Yeah, but that's fine. The doors unlock after an hour. And I could use a little break.

I guess they're getting ready to take you back here... You should be more careful next time, you know? That code isn't some toy.

[The floor beneath them begins to rumble. Inaba will likely recognize the sound of a large machine coming to life and its mechanical whirls and fans. As the sound gets louder, the room begins to brighten to pure white.]

Ah. Well- [And then Inaba will be at the Spacetime Shrine. She's at the door at the top of the long staircase. For just a brief moment, the door looks like the one to her home from Yokohama. Then is returns to being a prismatic jewel.]

[There's a long period of silence. Aside from the peaceful sounds of the forest beyond the door, the hallway becomes eerily devoid of sound. Then, as if a switch has been flipped by Bonnie's answer, the floor begins to tremble. A heavy rumbling can be felt from the ground. It even rattles the ceiling enough for little particles of dirt to rain down, but only a small dusting.

The cracks of the door begin glowing faintly. These new sounds also make the little voice beyond the door that much harder to make out.]

"If you break them... I don't know... if you can go home again. But if that is your choice, then... That's curious too. After all... Wouldn't you have two doors? I wonder... If this is the correct one for you..?"

Hmmmm... it's true. I suppose I would have two. I have unfinished business in both places, but... hmmmm.

Well! If I had to choose, I'd choose to keep the doors closed right now. You know, I'm not keen on being kicked around anymore, and I have too much pride left to go back to Makai as a monster.

[ That last word drips with venom. ]

Sorry~! Guess I failed again, didn't I?

[The rumbling continues to roar, its volume overwhelming the sounds behind the door. And in an instant, the room bursts into light. Bonnie is standing in a blindingly bright space, where the shadowed form of a girl stands directly in front of her. She forcefully takes Bonnie's hands and folds something hot and metallic into her palm.]

"You don't fail until you give up, right?"

[Then the brightness fades, taking the girl's form with it. Bonnie will awaken at the top of the Spacetime Shrine's long glassy staircase. The door, normally a prismatic and locked work of art, is now the cherry wood door that Bonnie had previously faced with. It slowly returns to its old crystalized form.

In her hand, Bonnie now has two crystalized keys with her name engraved on them. They're hot to touch and will remain uncomfortably hot, no matter what she does to cool them down.]

Edited 2023-03-04 11:13 (UTC)

[1. tea party time]

[At one of the public flower parties, Kokoro shows up having planted a flower and sits down at one of the open tables. She stares at her tea and strawberry sandwich, enough that she almost doesn't notice you arrive.]

--ah, well met. I must say at least greening up the city is a good endeavour.

[2. dig up your heart]

[Or you can find her sitting in one of the gardens, looking around at the flowers with a small frown.]

The pain put into these... This has Rumour written all over it. But how do we negate it before it goes wrong?

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【MINGLE】 March Mingle

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