avalaughs | EVENT ✨ Nightmare on Elph Street

Entry tags:

!event

EVENT ✨ Nightmare on Elph Street

QUICK NAV: LOGS ⚔️️ NETWORK ⚔️️ MEMES ⚔️️ OOC ⚔️️ NAVIGATION

This is the event log for IC comments only! Ask questions in response to this comment HERE or use the FAQ for general questions. Click here to view top-level comments only.

The ritual-wiping ritual wasn't the best news for Avalon and magic has been wacky for everyone since it was performed. However, if there was a time for it to happen, it happening before the Spring Equinox was just about the best time it could happen. The Spring Equinox, after all, is a time of renewal and rebirth. It's what you'd call a silver lining. As long as enough people participate in the Spring Equinox rituals, it should be fine... right?

CONTENT WARNINGS:

1st Prompt: --
2nd Prompt: --
3rd Prompt: --

This part of the event takes place on March 20th.

Though there is no Spring Masquerade this year as there had bene the last, there is a much smaller token of appreciation from the castle of Camelot to all of those who live within its borders: a gift basket with a salad of edible flowers, eggs, breakfast sausages, and a small bottle of champagne (or sparkling seltzer for those underage) and a bottle of orange juice to make mimosas with. Those of the vegetarian through vegan persuasions will receive vegan white chocolate eggs filled with coconut cream frosting and a mango puree 'yolk' and Avalon's best plant-based sausages. It's not quite a feast, but no one should go hungry on this day of celebration! Brownies will help to deliver these overnight, so you'll find them on your doorstep in the morning with a special spell to keep everything fresh through most of the early afternoon. Since there is no party this time, everyone will have the chance to see Avalon's plants begin to overgrow at a rapid pace within the city.
Those who saw it last year or locals who are normally residents of Avalon will tell you not to fear, this happens every spring. The plants grow around and not through structures, the buildings still safe and sound beneath large vines and leaves and pools and flowers. Most notably, huge beds of vines, open seed pools, and giantic flowers large enough to take a bath in have started cropping up around town, and they all seem to be filled with a vibrant, glowing liquid of some kind. Each of these floral wonders, locals will tell you, is called a vernal soul pool. Upon entering one, you'll enter a lucid sleep state that connects you to everyone else in Avalon and the island itself. Doing so will cause your magic to be amplified and grow and stabilize, but also allow you to be cleansed and refreshed as a person. How much detail the person you're talking to gives is up to you (in case your characters would back off of it if they had the following details but you still want to experience it). Once someone enters, they will immediately feel as if they are at home and the pod will close over them gently, leaving them in a pool of that mysterious glowing substance-- vines grow further to encase, the pool closes, flowers close into buds instead of open blossoms. Under normal circumstances, the pools would remain closed and in this state until the witching hour and slowly and gently awaken those within. However, even the magics of the spring aren't stable right now, and what ends up happening is the pools suddenly spill open before anyone's dream sharing can truly get underway, dumping their passengers out onto the ground into a state of jarring awakeness. With them, they will find they are unable to access their Avalon magics but instead have one of the following: Unstable, uncontrolled access to their canon powers. They may start shooting off random magic, they may be unable to shut down a normally passive ability gone into overdrive, or when they try to use their abilities, it goes outright wrong-- "Accio Excalibur" in an attempt to save the multiverse might result in all figurines of Excaliburs within 10 miles to come hurdling toward you, for example. Access to the beginner, untrained level of canon powers of someone whose shared consciousness you entered. Even if you don't have canon powers of your own, you will be able to access someone else's with this option. This part of the event takes place late night on March 20th through slightly past midnight on March 21st.
	The fairy queen's envoy, Princess Bluebell, sends out a panicked emergency message (complete with the obnoxious alarm that sets off phones even on silent) after a couple of hours of this, and casts a mirror-travel spell to Nicnevin so that any may quickly arrive just outside of its borders, next to the river. The message states that the dream world and reality have melted together due to the majority of magic being funneled into the time freeze spell or the equinox ritual, which uses Queen Mab as a vessel through which the vernal soul pools channel everyone's magic. The Spring Equinox renewal did NOT go as planned, needless to say. Otherworlders must head to Mab's Cavern to locate Queen Mab and absorb some of her energy by touching her to stabilize their magics and drain the spring equinox's out of her before even bigger disaster strikes!
Mab's Cavern is typically a place forbidden to enter under normal circumstances. It is the world of dreams and nightmares takes from our subconscious what we most desire and what we most fear and our memories and turns them into reality. This is what your character will have to face without their Avalonian magic and the above either unstable or beginner-level powers. Mab normally goes into a slumber and connects herself to the whole of Avalon during the Spring Equinox to allow the vernal soul pools to utilize her magic, so she cannot let everyone in or help anyone navigate her realm. Mab's Cavern looks like a normal mountain from the outside, covered from head to toe in pink cherry and plum blossoms trees, shrouded in a fog that's pink itself from reflecting the petals. The entrance to the inside of the cavern is an ancient door, carved from white marble and enchanted to be impassible without an offering and engraved says: "Offer me your most secret dream and enter this forbidden realm. Dream with me for eternity." The offering, in this case, is simple: speak your most secret dream out loud for the door. The open door will allow one person to pass through per offering, and leads into a hall entirely coated in flowers of a variety of colors. These flowers speak, and will ask you how you are, warn you to turn back, tell you and whoever you're walking with that you make a cute couple, sing the national anthem of their people, whatever. They seem to get more and more chatterbox-y as you head inward and the lights grow dimmer until there is no light left. Even if you light one, it seems as if you are in a black space where nothing exists but you and whoever you walk with (if anyone), and voices.

This portion of the event contains a FOURTH WALL EVENT element and takes place on March 21st.

That is, until you hear a new voice and the chatterbox flowers hush. Anyone from any canon can appear and team up with you within Mab's Cavern as this is a fourth wall event. Guest characters will have access to their canon abilities, but cannot leave Mab's Cavern or affect the environment outside of it.

Your new party member can accompany you through Mab's Cavern, which takes the form of a location from in-game characters' memories. Within it, their darkest fear will turn into a physical enemy and attempt to hunt them down. (How you interpret this is up to you as a player-- please create your own monsters based on your character's fears, even if they are more conceptual than physical.) Within it, their deepest desires may find fulfillment (we leave this to player

glowy cave water

interpretation again, but be sure to ask permission if it involves another character who is in the game or a part of the fourth wall) and their new party member may need to convince them to leave instead of staying in the dream world forever.

Characters who are able to get past both desires and fears will find themselves able to see a door that wasn't within their memory before. Upon going through it, they will be able to find Queen Mab, asleep in the center of what appears to be a glowing, underwater pond with stones that raise above the surface that lead to her bed some hundred feet in. Beneath the surface, more of the talking flowers start to cry about their woes-- unveiling that they failed against their fears and desires, and those who do will find themselves turned into flowers within Queen Mab's cavern, only able to escape if they are able to touch another living person!

If you've trusted the flowers, you'll find yourself in trouble. These are actually souls who crossed Queen Mab and attempted to steal their desires away from her cavern and bring them into reality. Their curse? They can escape if they trade another soul for theirs. Now would be a good time for a partner to help pull you out because as soon as you touch one of the flowers, they will turn into vines and attempt to wrap around you to pull you under the water and drown you! The "water" itself is the same liquid used within the vernal soul pools, so you'll find your life literally flashing before your eyes as this happens, making it very difficult to escape without someone else's help. If you die in the water, the flowers who did it will transform back into their original selves and flee, and you will be transformed into a talking flower yourself.

If you make it to Queen Mab, you'll need to place a hand on her and all dreams and reality will sort themselves out within you-- that is, your broken powers will disappear and your Avalonian magics will return. As you head out again, the guest character brought in to help you will begin to fade away slowly enough that you can say your goodbye before they are gone. There is no way to stop this. All memories of fourth wall visitors will be retained as part of game canon.

After enough people have come to take Mab's powers enough to deplete the effects of the Vernal Pools, the Fairy Queen herself will come to Mab and run a strange-looking dagger through her heart. All of the Spring Equinox magic that was being filtered through her will be released into the land and stabilize magic for everyone, and a flower will blossom out of Mab's heart around the dagger. Within the center of the bud glows a small child version of Mab, and anyone still in the cavern will find themself just wandering around in a dark cave. The Fairy Queen glows in the dark and will lead them out with little magic glow bubbles that try to make them follow if they get separated from her vicinity, but is still not speaking to anyone. She will also transport anyone who has been turned into a talking flower out of the cave via some kind of levitation spell and give them to someone they know-- whether they know them in a positive or negative light is up to you, she can only register connection on sight with magic, not emotion.

A little research will reveal the following solutions to restoring your character:

Siphoners and countercurse potions can remove the curse to get them back to 100% normal.
Animal mages can transform them back into their original species (but they will still smell like flowers for the rest of their life).
Green mages can use their magic to cultivate them into flower people-- who look like themselves, but now require sunlight and water to survive instead of food and occasionally sprout a flower or two in their hair.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

⚔ option one.

[Shirou, finding himself awake in a place that is familiar is, well--unnerving.

Those who end up with him find themselves in what looks to be an underground cave, dark as ever. The further they go in, the manifestations of Shirou's own fears seem to appear out in the darkness.

Things that look like humans in form, but aren't actually as such. Their forms are disjointed and they seem to be more of a blackened body--but if someone dares to touch them, your hand doesn't pass through; in fact, they're hot to the touch, extremely so to the point that it's abnormal. It almost feels like these people are literally on fire, even though you don't seem to physically see it. But removing your hand will reveal the skin underneath the blackened bodies, your hands immediately covered in soot.

And while they seem to hunt Shirou and you down, their words are a dire contrast to what one might think.]

"Why didn't you save us...?"

"You, alone, were a survivor. You could have helped us..."

[Those words seem to be directed at Shirou himself more than anyone else, but helping him will obviously direct their ire at them as well. And naturally, no matter who is here with him, his words are the same.]

[And be safe, he mentally says, but doesn't actually speak aloud.

And it's Emiya Shirou's ideals that make him want to protect others. Which is why he speaks, under his breath, the two words that he knows will help them:]

Trace, on.

[Whether you make the decision to watch him fight in awe, tell him he's a stupid idiot who shouldn't be taking all of this on his own, or something else completely different, they'll at least take notice of the magic that eminates from his fingertips, how two married blades appear in his hands as if it were natural and how he jumps straight into fighting the humanoid beings before him right until the bitter end.]

⚔ option two.

[The place where one can find Emiya Shirou's desires is, well--in the Emiya Estate. There seems to be a television inside the house that flickers on and a newspaper on the table.

They both seem to say similar things:

Speaking about him as a hero that has saved the world a numerous amount of times, how he's even managed feats that seemed almost impossible and saved lives that were thought to be unsalvageable.

The house itself is peaceful and quiet, but there's nothing to fight in here, at least.

No enemies to fight.

Nobody to battle.

There's even a stocked kitchen to easily cook on. One could spend days in this place and never get bored.

And yet--]

[He glances over at whoever's with him.]

⚔ option wildcard.

[Want something else? I'm game for pretty much whatever, honestly. Feel free to message me via PM or at

tsundereban if you'd like to plot something more specific!]

Edited 2022-03-17 10:36 (UTC)

— fresh meat.

( this sure as hell isn't the orphanage, and that in and of itself is cause for Steak to grab at his ever present swords, ready to fight the next thing that comes his way, because this is surely a threat.

there's no sign of the Holy See, the kids, nor Turkey or Gingerbread, and his teeth grit. is that a good sign or no? what exactly was that strange, purple fog filled with spirit power, and what has it accomplished?

his ears prick as the sounds of someone — or something — nearby come from behind him, spinning to face the noise; )

Show yourself!

( where is he and what is going on? is this friend or foe approaching? )

— in the kingdom.

( the kingdom in spring sees the first touches of warmth; the snow in the cities begins to melt, but the mountains framing Nevras still glisten white in the sun. the citizens begin to leave winter coats at home and when Steak patrols, he feels energised and bright.

it's a good time of year. the greengrocer's kids are running about one of the stalls, splashing water at one another, and their eyes gleam with mischief when they catch sight of the leather-clad knight and his signature horns.

Steak doesn't see the sneak attack coming and the water balloon punctures itself on his horn, dripping water all the way down. )

Oi! You brats!

( his voice is loud but the kids don't even flinch, bursting into laughter as they dart away, beckoning chase which Steak gives them, skidding around corners and ducking behind the large gingerbread shield of, well, Gingerbread, who makes no secret of how funny she finds a dripping wet Steak. )

Are you picking on little kids?

( she's barely taller than the kids she's siding with, all blonde hair and amusement dancing in golden eyes. )

They started it!

( sorry, Steak, that's not an answer Gingerbread accepts. it takes her an instant to knock him off balance and get his head in a lock, these movements so clean and well-practiced that any passerby would know that she's done this a million times. )

Get... off!

( ugh, doesn't matter how many years the knights are in service to the Kingdom, Gingerbread and Steak will always be like this. )

— wildcard.

( hit me with something else if you want! )

[I. Gifted]

[Curled up within a vernal soul pool, Zidane dreams. Of being back on Gaia, visiting his friends, his troupe, and family, but he knows it's a dream. Everything's been restored somehow; from what little construction that still remains to the fact Burmecia's repairs are done, but he can dream, right? It's embarrassing where they go, but is it so bad? For something normal, maybe even almost domestic?]

[The dream abruptly bursts and Zidane snaps awake, shaking his head as he finds himself spilled out on the street.]

What the...!?

[Sitting up and looking around, he blinks. Looking over at the nearest person, he gets up and walks over.]

You okay?

[He's not even asking questions... yet. He wants to make sure they're okay.]

[OOC: Again, Zidane's canon powers are not so magical and are more thief skills. However, if you wanna play around with Final Fantasy IX's limit break system, that would be Trance. Feel free to read about it here and play around with the beginner access of perhaps the first Dyne skill, physical enhancement, and a special transformation! Also, it is based on emotional state so enjoy!]

[II. Door of Dreams]

Huh, not bad...

[Looking around at the mountain covered in pink cherry and plum blossoms, it's all very spring feeling even with the fog around. He's a little concerned about possibly facing something he could fear going to help this Queen Mab, but he's also not... sure what he fears. Vague idea perhaps, but its so vague, he's not too worried.]

[Standing before the marble door, reading the words engraved, Zidane nods. He then grins and gives a thumbs up to whomever has joined him at the door.]

I've got this...

[And, crossing his arms, taking a breath, he'll tell the door his secret.]

I plan to marry Queen Alexandros XVII!

[Since they're in fae lands, he avoids her first name, but he feels like the secret still needs to be specific enough. His tail behind him is swishing and his face is a little red at the exclamation, but that's his secret...]

[III. Mab's 4th Wall]

[Looking around, it... it looks like the main streets of Alexandria. The simple homes and businesses with their colorful walls and wooden frames, the tiled roofs, the cobblestone streets, and the people walking around. There's that one penguin trumpeter, the human kids that normally play all day, the goat man from the ticket booth taking a stroll on his break - if it wasn't for whoever is with him, he might think he was back in Alexandria. He can even see the castle from here, but Zidane shakes his head.]

[Avalon, New Camelot, Garnet... find Queen Mab...]

... I think if we head towards the castle, we should find her somewhere.

[He can't let himself get distracted; it's only a dream right now. He has to remember that.]

[OOC: Let's goooo fourth wall characters!]

[IV. Wildcard]

[OOC: Something else you wanna play? Wanna skip ahead in certain parts instead of what's been set up? Then hit me up at

demidemonLove and we can plot that out!]

[The place is cozy and familiar and Archer feels conflicted. The news in the TV, the news on paper... they're pathetic and make him annoyed. Yet the place itself is soothing.

... but the annoyance wins when there really does seem to be an idiot there he didn't wish to see again.]

You should stay here forever. I will move on from seeing this ridiculous dream of yours. On my own.

[I. Gifted]

[Since finding out about the Vernal Soul Pools, Naomi had decided to avoid them. However, the apparent lack of Spring Masquerade does not stop the number of people being out - and some people don't look where they're going. She's certain she ended up knocked into a pool, but ending out outside of it, that didn't seem right.]

[Standing up, she grimaces. Great... another shower was now in order, and don't mind her at least trying to wipe some of the excess glowing substance off.]

[OOC: Since power share had to happen from entering the pools, ta-da. Now, enjoy trying to use Healing Touch... or share in hearing the whispers of dead people unrelated to Death Magic here.]

[II. Door of Dreams]

[Standing before the door, Naomi seems somewhat... on edge. Her expression remains its usual, cool and controlled, but she's so focused on the door and trying not to look at the scenery. Pink cherry and plum blossoms...]

[Of all the symbols this mountain needed to be shrouded by. It makes sense, but she looks towards her companion.]

Whatever secret you have, let's hear it and go inside.

[Sure, she has one, but she'd rather not.]

[III. Mab's 4th Wall]

[Her boots against the familiar tiles of the Cumberland Institute of Forensic Medicine's floor have her striding past familiar hazy faces, surrounded by those 'quiet' whispers since that tabloid (again), and heading in the direction of all too familiar rooms. She's not paying any mind, and neither should her companion.]

Let's go before something decides to change. We still have to locate Queen Mab.

[Someone that sounds highly out of place for the modern aesthetic of the building, but Naomi feels something off. This dream could easily shift into a nightmare if they don't leave quickly.]

[OOC: Let's goooo fourth wall characters!]

[IV. Wildcard]

[OOC: Something else you wanna play? Wanna skip ahead in certain parts instead of what's been set up? Then hit me up at

demidemonLove and we can plot that out!]

H-Hey now... person!

[The heck's up with this kid? Sure the whole pulling pointy objects out of thin air was neat. But, you know, it was kind of silly for him to just run headlong in like that? Anyway, yeah she was currently equipped with her ship parts, guns working on and off apparently. And strikes out at one of the figures with her sword as it tried to stab the new weirdo in the back.

Stranger things have happened at least.]

Calm down and back away from them or you'll find yourself overwhelmed.

A. the house of hades

[In the deepest depths of the Underworld, the house of the lord of the dead is eerily quiet. Not the petrified silence punctuated by the barked commands and harsh dismissals of Hades himself, but simply... quiet. Ghostly, indistinct forms of shades mill around as ever, talking to one another in hushed voices, but as Zagreus enters, the only familiar face he sees is the great three-headed dog by the throne, looking dejected but perking up when its three sets of eyes spots the prince.]

Hey, boy. Where'd everyone go? They all take a break at the same time? Staff meeting? No surprise we're not invited, I suppose.

[He reaches up to pet the right most head, and the giant dog and nuzzles into him for affection. Still, it's strange for the house to be completely unattended except for its faithful guard dog, he has to admit, but someone will be back soon. Maybe. Hopefully.]

B. tartarus

[Fear is for the weak. It was a mantra Achilles drilled into him as part of his training, and for the most part, it succeeded. There are few things Zagreus truly fears, least of all his father.

But this new wretch, a foe he'd never battled before, a giant wielding chains and ice, seemed almost to resemble some shadowy doppelganger of his father. And it was hunting him ruthlessly through the chambers of Tartarus. It taunted him in a distorted voice like his father's and yet not, promising if it caught up to him, it wouldn't kill him -- on the contrary, he'd be stripped of his power and confined to that chamber for an eternity. Never escaping, never seeing anyone, not even getting the reprieve of death. Alone.

And he didn't know how to defeat it. There was no room for his usual brand of reckless trial and error. If he lost here, there would be no second chances, not ever again. Everything, truly, would have been for nothing.

Whoever's helped him fight this far through Tartarus -- or at least get away in one piece -- he turns to them now, gripping his Stygian blade hard to disguise how his hands are trembling. With fear? Or perhaps frustration, rage, even, at the hopelessness of it all?]

...I appreciate the help, but you should leave me now. That thing is after me, not you.

c. wildcard

[Want to play out your own character's fears/desires? Use one of their locations instead? Or jump ahead to a later part of the event? hit me up via pm or moonsilver. I'm pretty much down for anything!]

A - WITH MY DYING WILL; pools, sort of

[It's a nostalgic memory that comes to Tsuna's mind as he settles into the pools. Nostalgic now anyway. He's sitting in his room, facing a baby dressed in a nice suit and fedora. A chameleon jumps down from the brim of the hat, morphing into a gun that the baby then shoots at Tsuna. Tsuna falls back, his last regrets on his mind...

And then his eyes snap open.

There is an explosion from Tsuna's pool as he bursts out, clad only in a pair of boxer shorts decorated with little sushis. A bright orange flame burns from the centre of Tsuna's forehead.]

RE-BORN!!!

[Clad only in his underwear, and seemingly imbued with an endless amount of energy, Tsuna is racing around the town. Do you need help with something? Tsuna will do it, and will probably charge past you to achieve it. You might not even get a say in the matter.

STOCK THE SHELVES - WITH MY DYING WILL!!!!

STOP THE ROBBERY - WITH MY DYING WILL!!!!

COMPLETE THE QUEST - WITH MY DYING WILL!!!!

Whatever you need? He's doing it. And he's doing it in style. Vongola Style.]

B-Fourth Wall Time

[Tsuna finds himself in a very familiar hallway, though it's been a long time since he's physically been there. (Or maybe not that long. Time's a bit weird when he thinks about it). But it's the regular, normal hallway of Namimori Middle. If Tsuna looks out the window, he can see the courtyard and front gate as the sun sets.

Turning around, he sees the door to his classroom. As if nothing has changed since the last time he went to school whenever that was. Almost instinctively, he reaches for the door, but stops suddenly. There's a rush of wind and with it...whispers.]

...loser...clumsy...idiot...murderer...loser...

[And Tsuna freezes, almost scared to look around. Scared to confront whatever is saying those things...]

W-who there?

[Tsuna's dark fears can take the form of many things, depending on how the thread goes.]

C - Wildcard

[Want some completely different shenanigans? Bring it on! Plotting can be done by PM or at

urbaninja]

Edited 2022-03-18 00:55 (UTC)

1) Gifted

[Last year's masquerade ball was a wonderful event, much as Hijikata usually only attends such functions as security in case of an attack or other incident, and it only got more magical when everybody streamed out into the night to find Camelot overgrown with enormous plant life. This year's spring equinox celebration feels a little more sparse: no announcements or invitations, just a gift basket at the door of his remote home. It's understandable; the kingdom has gone through a lot of hardship, and a lavish ball wouldn't really fit the situation. It's thoughtful of the king to get this food to everybody, really.

Despite having taken the night off from his ghost patrol work Hijikata ventures out into Camelot's streets, wanting to see the huge glowing flowers again. A year ago the vernal soul pools allowed him to experience what his life would have been like on different worlds, and it was enriching in more than one way, so he loses no time and gets into one of the large plants (last time his sadistic subordinate Okita was still here and pushed his drunk ass into something like a rafflesia; this time, left to his own devices, he chooses an oversized pea pod).

But before long the pod opens again, turns sideways, and washes him out along with the mysterious liquid. He sits up, totally confused.]

What was that for..?! Did I not qualify this year, or what? Is it because I got hit by that werewolf curse?

[If so he's not the only one, he knows that! He looks around for others who got dumped by their flower beds.]

2) Door of Dreams

A ⦿ Journey to Mab's Cavern

[If Hijikata had never had to hear Princess Bluebell's high-pitched little voice again it would've been too soon, but alas, after trying to silence the obnoxiously blaring alarm from his phone he finds himself listening to her stressed-out message. Oh, so it's an emergency situation... of course it is. He resignedly lines up to use one of the newly enchanted mirrors in a hurriedly opened department store to get transported to the fae kingdom's capital city.

From Nicnevin the expedition soon departs eastwards to Mab's Cavern. He strikes up conversation with whoever is travelling next to him.]

Do you know anything about Queen Mab? I've seen her cave on the map before, but I just assumed that it was named after a past queen of Elphame or something.

B ⦿ Your most Secret Dream

[Once they arrive at the foggy mountain Hijikata is surprised at all the blooming trees covering it. Of course, it's time for them to blossom... it makes him nostalgic. He could be sitting under the cherry trees in Edo with the other men of the Shinsengumi now, but his world is frozen in time, and it was frozen in autumn when the calamity occurred, a couple of months before he arrived on Avalon.

When they all crowd around the white marble door leading into the cave news of the price for entry quickly spreads through the group. Hijikata isn't exactly happy, but what can be done? He thinks about what his most secret dream even is while he waits in line. He wants to save the multiverse, but they all want that. He wants to go home eventually, but surely that also goes for the vast majority of outworlders here. There's really only one thing he wishes for in addition, and even that wish probably isn't unique to him, but it's the best he has to offer. So when his turn comes that's what he tells the door in a low voice.]

Once we've sorted out the calamity situation and I can go home I want to also be able to visit Prismatica again. I've still got the crystal they gave us in the end, so it shouldn't be a problem, right?

[It shouldn't be, but who knows? Even if he can return there, will he find it as it was? Will those he last saw on that crystal world still be there? Anything could have happened between his last visit and this calamity - given how the multiverse operates they could have been pulled into entirely different timelines, dimensions, and worlds. It's a greedy wish, wanting to live in two worlds (plus Avalon, if there'll be a possibility to return here too)...

He blinks when he realises that the door hasn't budged. What did he do wrong? It takes him a moment to realise that he's been withholding the actual reason. His cheeks flush slightly as he speaks again.]

There are people there I absolutely want to see again... again and again.

[Oh man, hopefully nobody listened in. He swallows as the door gives way to let him in.]

3) Mab's 4th Wall

(OOC: Anyone from any canon is very welcome!! Any prompt can seamlessly merge into one or more of the next ones if you'd like to combine them - please indicate your (initial) preference between C and D if we get to that point from A or B. But jumping right in at any point is fine!)

A ⦿ Hall of Flowers

[Hijikata doesn't know what he expected, but a hall covered in flowers wasn't it. He hesitantly moves forward as multiple of them turn to him and address him in turns.]

Oh, who're you? What are you doing here?

[This is Elphame territory, and he knows to not share his name with the fae, or with anyone who could pass it on to them.]

Ah... I'm just a knight. I'm looking for Queen Mab.

It's dangerous to enter her cave! Don't you know?

Well, I heard that the queen doesn't want to be disturbed, but we kind of have an emergency situation--

You definitely shouldn't go alone! You are alone, aren't you?

[Well... is he?]

B ⦿ Caihong

[After walking in total darkness for a short while Hijikata starts to see lights... warm red lantern lights. Naturally he steers towards them with his companion - if he didn't lose them. But in that case maybe he'll find a new one?

As he gets closer his heart starts beating faster. These red temples rising above most other buildings, the countless small shops and the street food stalls that emit delicious smells, the red bridges across the many waterways... it's Caihong, isn't it? He knows this has to be a result of the dream world merging with the real world, but he can't suppress his excitement.]

I... I didn't think I'd get back here. Not this fast.

C ⦿ Fulfillment

[Hijikata loses no time procuring some street food for himself and his companion - he may not have the necessary device to pay with on him, and even if he did, he can't produce currency-transferrable chroma anymore since they're not really on Prismatica, but the vendor recognises him as one of the Moon Knights and is willing to write it up for later. Hijikata naturally pours plenty of mayonnaise over his meal and closes his eyes in enjoyment as he takes a first bite.]

It's just as good as I remembered!

[Is this really as good as it gets for him, though? Or is something even nicer about to happen? Maybe that'll depend on who his companion is.]

D ⦿ The Prideful King (CW: brainwashing, people turning into aggressive minions)

[When the trumpets sound Hijikata is at first confused. They're in a cave, he remembers that in some part of his mind, but it seems to be endlessly high, and while the sky is obstructed by the upper levels of the layered city Lunatia what little can be seen of it from Caihong turns blood red. A figure emitting bright light appears high above... a large, six-winged being, face hidden under a lion mask. The seraph doesn't speak, but moves his hand to lift the mask, and Hijikata freaks out, grabbing his companion's arm and pulling them into a narrow side street.]

Don't look at him!! Whatever you do, don't look at him!

E ⦿ Pond of Flowers

[Somehow he and his companion made it out of Caihong... or maybe he ran into someone new again. They're clearly back on Avalon now, because he's never before seen this glowing pond and the small island harbouring the sleeping queen in her bed.]

Okay, I guess we're in the right place here.

[He carefully steps on the nearest rock in the water, then, satisifed with its stability, moves on... until pitiful, multifold cries reach his ears from below.]

Please help us, Mister! Please! Queen Mab imprisoned us here!

What?

We were people once! We failed her tests, and she turned us into flowers to beautify her chambers... only the touch of a living person can save us!

Damn, I should've known that this was a trap!

[Curse those tricky fae! Something about this doesn't sit right with him, though. Even if Queen Elphame and her people enjoy toying with the outworlders, they need their support to avert the calamity. Surely the queen wouldn't benefit from sacrificing them all and losing them as a source of magic... unless their magic would continue to persist and fuel Avalon even from this pond. There's also the possibility of Queen Elphame being earnest, but Queen Mab having deceived her to take everyone who comes her for herself.

He hesitates while the flowers' pleas and cries for help increase. He looks over to the sleeping queen... her solemn face betrays no emotions. In any case these flowers are clearly harmless, and why should they lie? He crouches down to reach into the water and free them... not his best idea, but will he find out the hard way?]

(OOC: I'm sorry for making such a huge TL;DR post; this event kind of ran away with me..! If you have any questions or would like to plot please hit up my plotting post or send me a PM!)

I – Dreamscape (Marriage Route)

[A person might expect for a warship to be dreaming of battles, of sailing on the high seas! And you might be right in a way. But, well Cleveland’s is a bit more relaxed, in that hers consisted of sitting around in the dorms back home. A whole cavalcade of women moved about their daily lives each having what look to be parts of ships attached to their bodies along with some rather impressive… guns.

Because of course.

That’s not the main focus though! The real focus was on the overall peacefulness of it all and the feeling of celebration in the air. In fact, there’s a knock on the door of the room you’re in. A head peeks itself in next, giving you an unimpressed lookover.]

How much longer are you going to take, Commander? My big sister and everyone else are already waiting.

[She sounds slightly annoyed and was currently dressed in a white gown….]

II – Dreamscape (Entering someone’s dreams~)

[Well okay! So that last one was kind of embarrassing, but she and the other person managed to get out of it! Only for Cleveland herself to wind up in someone else’s dream-memory-thing. She doesn’t particularly understand what was going on here beyond the basic gist of it all. But that was all okay with her.]

Hm, so where are we?

[Came the inevitable question on the shipgirl’s mind.]

III – B O T E

[It was a nice day at the beach, the sun was shining, the breeze was chilly but slowly warming as the seasons changed. And of course there were boats and ships out and about on the water. Gently sailing here and there along the waves crashing against the shore.

Well… there was something out there that wasn’t so peaceful. A figure sped around, splashing among the waves erratically, joyfully. Closer inspection will reveal it to be a modern warship?

No, it was a girl with ship parts attached to her!? And… she was coming straight to the shore towards you, laughing and grinning at full speed!]

[WILDCARD]

[ooc: go for it, if you want to do something specific that isn’t listed here, feel free to simply tag with whatever. Hit me up here or use one of the methods listed. I'm also fine with fourth walls tagging in.]

Edited 2022-03-18 05:31 (UTC)

[ Somnus watches on as Zidane declares his intent to marry into royalty.

...

.........If the door demands a "secret" as payment, then, does that mean that no one knows. Or does this mean that Zidane has not yet officially proposed or told "Dagger" this intention? ]

Are you suggesting she does not know?

[D-Don't look at him like that...!]

Look, I managed to get a ring finally, but I haven't had a chance to propose to her yet...

[And as far as he knows, only Somnus knows his intentions.]

A ❄ the dream he envisioned.

[ Well. Things sure escalated quickly. But that seemed to be a theme as of late around here, unfortunately. So although he's just a tad bit sleepy (it's quite late, if the stars in the sky are any indication), he's ready to do whatever's necessary. They can't afford another disaster so soon after The Wild Hunt.

Tsumugi looks to the door before him, to whoever's standing by his side, then back to the door with a nervous little laugh. Not that he's eager to share his secret dream - it's been a secret for a reason - but... ] I can go first, if you'd like? [ Might as well offer...? ]

B ❄ the memory of our eternity.
( location: veludo way )

[ A place like Mab's Cavern should logistically be a cavern. That doesn't feel like an unreasonable expectation. So Tsumugi's more than a little surprised to see a place so achingly familiar at the end of the flower-coated hallway. ]

Huh...? [ As far as neighborhoods go, Veludo Way might seem rather ordinary. Maybe a little more colorful and lively than some places, but what would you expect from a theater community?

It's hard not to fall back onto old habits - to walk the path that'd lead him to Mankai's dorms - but he reminds himself that he's here for a reason. For Mab. For Avalon. So he shakes off the urge and begins looking around. ]

C ❄ his own eternal theatre.
( location: god-za theater )

[ No matter how many years pass, Tsumugi will never forget how it feels to stand outside this particular theater. His hands clench into fists at his sides, digging crescent moons into his palms. At first, he's hesitant, but with a bit of time he'll eventually will himself to move one foot in front of the next, to climb up the stairs and approach those big beautiful doors at the top.

(His feelings around this place have always been complicated, to say the least. The actor known as Tsumugi Tsukioka had once died here, only to emerge years later from the ashes and dust (the angel feathers littering the stage) reborn anew.)

Once they're open, the scene shifts. Before him - and you - is a theater, opulence obvious even in the dim lighting, a singular spotlight illuminating center stage. It's packed, every seat taken by an excited patron chattering away about the performance. Encore, encore, the show must go on.

Tsumugi's gaze, of course, lands on that empty stage - or is it really empty? In a blink of an eye, the space fills with figures, their faces indistinguishable with the theater's lighting. The number of people keeps shifting, too. Four, five, sometimes less, sometimes more, upwards of twenty-three.

And it's funny - not a single word has been spoken by the actors upon that stage, but it calls to him. There. That's where he belongs. Where he wants- no, needs to be.

Mesmerized, he takes a step forward. ]

D ❄ the beauty, the brilliance, the recklessness.
( cw for near drowning/near death experiences in replies )

[ Even if he had his Avalonian magic and therefore access to his plant empathy, Tsumugi has no reason to distrust the flowers. So when they beckon to him, pleading for his help, he naturally responds. He thinks nothing of straying from the path leading to Mab and reaching toward the flowers beneath the surface of the pond, intent on saving them from their current state.

So when a vine wraps around his arm, he barely has the chance to exclaim ] Ah-! [ before it yanks hard, intent on dragging him under.

And it might succeed, if he doesn't get help soon. ]

E ❄ wildcard.
( what it says on the tin! I'm down for just about anything, but if you wanna talk things out, drop a comment here or reach out privately! )

Edited 2022-03-18 02:24 (UTC)

[ Somnus does, in fact, continue to scrutinize. He has a resting bitch face, it cannot be helped. ]

Proposals needn’t be rushed. However.

[ This is followed by a slight incline of his head. ]

Recall that this star may summon any, including her suitors of noble blood.

[ This is spoken as if he assumes that, as queen, she has a plethora of them already waiting for her hand. (Or maybe he means to suggest that while he can wait, it’s probably not best to wait too long.) ]

I – Grendel

[People were laughing and drinking and singing. A few were wrestling, others were spitting insults at one another in rhythmic rhyme or telling stories. It was all loud and boisterous and smelled wonderfully of freshly cooked meats, vegetables, and alcohol. The light was low but still well lit from the candles and fires around the hall. It was massive, rivaling that of Camelot's castle, with ornate decorations on full display. Treasures gleamed proudly next to a throne where an elderly man sat. A circlet on his head, drink in hand and laugh on his lips. The chanting of "Hrotgar, Hrothgar, Hail Hrothgar!" Echoed among the laughter and singing. While off to the side was Beowulf, he wasn’t drinking and only ate a little.]

You, over there!

[He points towards you, grinning as he leaned back in his seat. A large hand beckoning you closer towards him.]

Come here, you’re about to see something interesting that doesn’t involve you.

[He knows this is a dream, and seems to recognize what sort of dream this is.]

II – Dragon (alternative dream)

[The heat is oppressive, even in the open air. Waves of heat and smoke rose from the burnt and glassed over ground. The sky was completely covered in clouds of smoke, the ground around was littered with melted gold and rock. A frail, old man stood by himself, a large shield in hand that he looked like he could barely hold, and an equally large sword in his other hand, glowing bright and looking like it might break at any point. He was bent over with a noticeable hunch. Off in the distance a person can see other men running away in terror, leaving the lone, old man standing by himself.

He was breathing hard and heavy, his hair was thin and gray, on closer inspection he was missing most of his teeth. The usual, dark skin was far paler than before with faded tattoos and scars on his arm. A long, grey beard hung loosely and tangled from his chin. For those that have met him before, or seen him before, would recognize the elderly man as Beowulf.

Even hunched over as he was. The air around him sweltered in the heat, he looked tired, worn down and like he could barely walk without aid.

Before you two stood a large, winged figure. The scales were crimson, flames occasionally licked out from the sides of her mouth as she stared down at both you and the man. It's size was... immense to put it lightly. The dragon’s whole body radiated with rage, heat, and a murderous blood-lust that would set even the most stout of heart fleeing like the rest of his most loyal men.]

You… stand closer… she’s going to rain us with her fire. [His voice was low, worn like the rest of him, but still commanding and endearing. Even if it’s lost much of its energy and luster.]

III – Invading dreams

[Congrats, whatever is going on with you, there is now a very large and intimidating man standing next to you. He’s armed with a wicked looking sword and looking around rather bored.

Whether or not it’s fighting, or something else, Beowulf being Beowulf was more than happy to help. Even though he himself doesn’t look too particularly happy about any of it.]

[WILDCARD]

[[ooc: go for it, if you want to do something specific that isn’t listed here, feel free to simply tag with whatever. You can also hit me up here or use one of the methods listed. Im also ginr with fourth walls and the like tagging in.]

Edited 2022-03-20 01:30 (UTC)

A. Vernal Soul Pool
cw: violence, flashbacks to torture

[It’s not a dream that the pool brings Gokudera to, but a rush of adrenaline and a confusing nightmare. If you’re connected, surprise, you’re both in an underground warehouse. The sound of electricity humming and foxes screaming echoes, but this memory is one Gokudera is trying to escape, so it shifts to a different one.

He’s lying on the ground, and there is a man on top of him, cutting into his back.]

How many cuts until the fire goes away? That’s one…

[More slicing… with a playing card.]

That’s two…

[Gokudera’s left hand is crushed beneath a boulder, but there’s more flames curling out as he screams. There’s gargling, then a leopard roar.

Machine gun fire is loud and sudden, and the pod bursts open. Gokudera is on fire, the source is a skull on his left arm, and it slowly reduces to just the strange bone weapon. He gets up with a groan, staggers, and then looks at his flame arrow. Oh… that’s… he hasn’t seen this weapon in almost a year. It’s… so cool. But… it won’t come off. He’s not even sure how it got out of his box. There’s a rainbow flickering on his right hand, and he looks really cool, yeah, but that’s about it. These flashy accessories aren’t doing anything aside from getting in the way and attracting attention.

He can be seen staggering about the city, as if the strange skull cannon attached to his arm is sucking his energy. Gokudera feels fine, but his magic is pretty depleted, and he can’t deactivate the flame arrow.

The teen turns a corner and slumps against a building wall, out of the way of the main streets, and seems to pass out.]

B. Mab’s 4th Wall

[He’s had it with these chatty flowers! He doesn’t care what they’re trying to convince him to do, because nothing with the fae has ever resulted in anything good for him.

Gokudera stops in the cavern and yells, because that’s a good idea, right?]

SHUT UP!!!

[There is his fear to deal with. Gokudera is easy prey to scream out like this, and so it dangles wires, spins a giant web of electricity and it pulses around his feet. He’s scared of being trapped, pulled, shocked, and so he’s running. Nope. No giant electric robo-spider. NO THANK YOU.

The monster is an amalgamation of different foes, something he has no idea how to fight, and his desires… he could have both, but he’s just running.]

C. Wildcard

Do whatever you’d like here c: you can PM me to chat it out if you’d like, but I’m excited for improv so HIT ME

Hmm...

[At least they could agree on that. However, at the mention of other suitors, Zidane tilts his head.]

Nah, I doubt that'll be a problem. There weren't any stand outs when I made it back to her before.

YOU FIRST!

[The sound echoes from further in the cavern, louder and more robust than the chattering flowers… and seemingly as annoyed as Gokudera about their blathering.]

…

[Well, that’s a very different voice.

Gokudera stops and recognizes this place. It’s just… a park. The little one not too far from his boss’s house. He’s quiet in response to that yell, looking to see who yelled out past the chattering flowers. Their voices hush and now Gokudera’s listening and looking out.

Who is this person? He won’t ask, but he’s clearly looking a bit distressed. After all, he’s without his magic and has a weapon attached to him that’s not acting right. He’s armed, but not trying to fight anything, just irritable and tired, and as confused as he usually is when dealing with anything related to the fae.]

[A)]

Where the hell am I?

[Kuko called out in the underground cave as he walked around. The last thing he remembered he finished his chores at the temple and decided to take a quick nap before hitting the store. Now he was in a cave with no way of telling what was happening around him. Kuko closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and centered himself. Alright, first thing first, he needed to figure out where he ended up at. The next thing he needed to do was kick the ass of whatever appeared behind him.]

If you want to fight then face me! Don't sneak up behind me!

[Kuko turned around to see a black humanoid figure approaching him.]

You betrayed him.

You're the reason everything ended.

You lost your best friend.

[Kuko ignored the growing tightness in his chest from those feelings he wanted to keep pushed back. He balled his fist and charged at the figure.] You shut up! You don't know anything!

[If anyone wants to help Kuko fight the creatures or lead him away from danger feel free!]

[B.]

[As a monk Kuko didn't actively desire anything, however there were places that bought him comfort whenever he visited. One place happened to be a in front of a familiar convenience store where he would grab the recent issue of Jump along with some snacks. The street was empty a bit too quiet even early in the morning there were some people walking around. Kuko froze when he saw the name of the convenience store.

It was the same one he used to go all the time in Ikebukuro.

He needed to leave now. If there was one thing he learned it was to trust his gut when it came to situations.]

[C. Wildcard]

[Got anything you'd like to do with Kuko during this 4th wall let me know! Hit me up in his inbox or Sunny#5819 on discord!]

[ A pause as he appears to reassess.

Then, almost thoughtfully as he regards Zidane: ]

Does she care not for title or lineage?

[Taking in all of Queen Mab's chamber, Zidane's not paying too much attention to where Tsumugi is going, but next he looks, his troupe member is too close to the water and too close to those flowers. Unlike him, there's been plenty of experiences with plants that Zidane hesitant to believe they need help at all.]

[And he's proven exactly right when vines grab and pull at Tsumugi!]

Tsumugi!

[He shoots forward, reaching out to grab him.]

Huh… that actually worked…

[The flowers were quiet at least, but now there was… some sort of park? Not like the old ones in Werlyt that has fallen into disrepair, and not enough metal to be Garlemald. Eorzea maybe? He wouldn’t know a chocobo’s ass from anything in Eorzea… but wait no. That wasn’t right either. He should be dead? Shit, if he wound up some creepy playground haunting ghost he’s going to personally find Valens Van Varro and drag him into the seventh hell.

He turned when he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. Aha! A hyur! That was… better than being lost in a creepy playground by himself. If he sees him then clearly he’s not a ghost! Sound logic!]

Oi! Hyur boy! You got any idea what in the seven hells is going on here?

[Gokudera doesn’t see anyone else, and he certainly doesn’t recognize this other person trapped in this magic space with him. He walks further into the playground and looks up as the other calls out to him before he nods.]

Probably just some other dream of mine…

[It seems like a safe place to be, so who is this guy and what is he doing here?]

Turn around and go back the way you came. You should be able to leave easily that way.

She does, believe me. It's just... that might've been my fault. She was waiting for me to come back.

[He didn't mean to make her wait or anything, but she did...]

I wasn't even sure if I'd keep that promise.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 55

EVENT ✨ Nightmare on Elph Street

shirou emiya / fate/stay night: unlimited blade works / fourth wall

steak × food fantasy × 4th wall

Zidane Tribal | Final Fantasy IX | OTA

[I. Gifted]

[II. Door of Dreams]

[III. Mab's 4th Wall]

[IV. Wildcard]

two

Naomi Kimishima | Trauma Team | OTA

[I. Gifted]

[II. Door of Dreams]

[III. Mab's 4th Wall]

[IV. Wildcard]

One

Zagreus | Hades | fourth wall

Tsunayoshi Sawada | Katekyou Hitman Reborn | OTA

Toshirou Hijkata | Gintama (Prismatica CRAU)

Cleveland (CL-55) | Azur Lane

II

no subject

tsumugi tsukioka | a3! | ota

no subject

Beowulf | fgo

Hayato Gokudera | Katekyou Hitman Reborn | OTA

no subject

B

no subject

Kuko Harai | Hypnosis Mic | fourth wall

no subject

D

no subject

no subject

no subject