TDM + GAME OPENING 🎉

[beleos]

Who: Shard-Bearers, new and old
What: Seeds take root
Where: The Tree of Life, Highstorm, Springstar
When: October 14th and onwards
Warnings: Potential for (mild) body horror, death, dismemberment

I. BEARING FRUIT (new characters only)

It starts out as a pleasant dream. You’re in your favorite place, with your favorite people. It’s a moment of idyllic comfort.

And then, it goes wrong.

The sky turns dark above, and as you look up, you see the black expanse of space spotted with faraway pinprick lights of stars. Yet, they’re not stars. You’re certain. They’re watching you. A billion eyes all looking down, and they spill forth as if sky itself was a dam holding back those dark waters. You reach back to the people you’re with, but they’re frozen in place. Their eyes are black, reflecting only the expanse of dark eyes.

So you run, even though you know you won’t escape it. You glance back and see it not overtaking, but consuming. The landscape around you is being devoured, and you can see it cracking apart. The world itself is breaking, and it cracks under your feet. You fall, and the billion eyes chase after you until the darkness swallows you whole. There’s agony as if you’re being ripped apart, and then—

You cannot see. You cannot feel. You simply are. Yet even so, impossibly, a woman’s voice speaks gently.

I’m sorry it couldn’t be saved. But, come, it’s time to wake.

You wake with a start, cradled by soft, velvety plants, and sticky with a sap that smells faintly of honey and iron. You can see the veins of the leaves that hold you, lit warmly and gently by what looks like a crystal embedded above you. Yet, it’s odd, because that crystal calls to you. When you reach out to touch it, it’s warm. Familiar. Important. You don’t know why, but you know you must hold onto this, because now it feels wrong for it to be suspended in these leaves. So, you pull it out.

The light starts to fade, but only in time to see as the leaves cradling you immediately start to soften and crumble, and with it comes a torrent of dirt. Soft, loamy soil starts to fill the space around you in the dark as you’re buried. Or, rather, you already were. You reach out through the dirt desperately, and your hands finds a root, so you pull while you clutch that precious crystal so close that it almost feels like it sinks into you (in your panic, you don’t notice that it does). You reach out again, and this time, your hand hits open air and plenty of sturdy roots around to grab.

From a seed you’re born, and like a sprout, you make your way out of the ground.

And once you’ve clawed your way out of the soft earth and the roots, nearby, you see the soil shift. Another hand comes up to grasp desperately for something, anything, just as you had been.

II. MORAL HAZARD

There are new Shard-Bearers at the Tree of Life, and Yima has asked that the earlier arrivals go to greet them and help them. These aren’t people from Horos, after all, so they’ll have many, many questions. As Yima explains, the roots of the tree rise up to create caverns underneath, and it’s there you’ll find the new Shard-Bearers. And indeed, with careful steps to not slip on the mossy roots, down you go. Perhaps Communion will help you find the new Shard-Bearers, but it might be a confusing process for them.

The roots all start to look the same, to the point that you’re sure that you’ve already been through this passage. You turn around, and most of the people you had come here with are gone, if not all of them. It’s confusing and unsettling, and strangest of all.. You’re starting to feel ill, even if that wasn’t something normally possible for you. But continuing forward, you do eventually find an unfamiliar face of a new Shard-Bearer. They look no better than you feel.

Before introductions, however, roots around you shift suddenly until you’re enclosed in a room together. From the roots, a face forms in the wall. It speaks in a creaking, uneven tone, as if it weren’t used to speaking at all.

Give to take. A sacrifice. To live.

---

LET'S PLAY A GAME...

As the Dryad will explain, characters are now trapped in a room and have been poisoned by the spores that the lichens underfoot release. An antidote lays beyond the roots the dryad has curled around you, but to access it, you must make a sacrifice.

Characters can pick one of the following options, but the decision must be made unanimously. If one character takes a drastic action (such as murdering another), it’s counted as a failure for the group.

• Each of you must offer up a personal/treasured memory. The memory will be shared in Communion with all characters assembled, and then will be destroyed. No character will retain the memory or memory of its Communion.
• Each of you must offer up something physical. A finger, a toe, an ear, it’s your choice. The dryad will offer a knife if this is chosen that will sever the body part of choice cleanly and immediately stop any bleeding.
• Offer up another. Kill one person in the room.
• Refusing is also a valid option. Characters will get more ill as they debate until they start to find it difficult to breathe, and they’ll die quickly after.

The following is OOC knowledge that will not be known IC: The consequences of this game are about intent, and thus are not real. When characters are freed from the tree’s thrall, they’ll have their memories/body parts/life intact.

This can be done in groups of 2 to 4 players, and Loremasters recommend three if you can swing it! It’s more fun when you get in philosophical debates, right? Regardless, when your group comes to a decision, please record it here. These don’t have to be fully threaded out to be recorded, so the conclusion can be discussed OOC if you prefer. Actions can be submitted until October 21st, after which groups will be informed of what comes of their choice…

When a group receives the antidote, they'll be released from the tree's thrall... But will have a hard time waking up. It feels like something has grabbed onto their spine.

III. DREAMING OF HOME

You may wake with a start from your deliberations (or arguments) with a jolt of pain from the base of your spine as something is pulled away rapidly. A dark-haired man who looks to be in his thirties or so holds you carefully, but as soon as you start to regain your senses, he sets you back and holds up his hands.

Woah— Woah there, it’s fine! The tree was, uh, trying to take you back is all. You’re fine now.

As long as you’re not going to attack him, he offers a friendly smile and a hand to shake.

Name’s Cyrus. Sorry about the rude awakening. Let’s get your friend here unhooked too.

And indeed, glancing over, you can see the person you met in that room laying nearby, and it looks like a vine has snaked underneath them to exactly where something had just been pulled from you… Best not to think about it, maybe. Or if you've been unlucky enough to be one of the last people rescued, you might find vines and roots starting to grow into your skin. It's fine!

---

CYRUS, THE TRIBUNE

Cyrus is the NPC heading up the Meridian Faction, and is available to thread with under this header. Cyrus has come to the Tree of Life to help rescue the Shard-Bearer’s from the Tree, so he’s not going to be inclined to explain too much right away, since he’s on a mission, but he’ll stick around once everyone is successfully freed from Prompt 2 to speak with anyone that wants to. The following is just an OOC summary of information in case you do not need to thread with Cyrus:

Cyrus will gladly introduce himself to everyone, and will further explain his position in Meridian and Springstar (see the NPC Page) and the goals of Meridian itself (see the Faction Page, save for the italicized section). But most importantly, he’ll explain that he knows it sounds like something overly optimistic. It’s fair to be skeptical. He’ll produce a small glass bead from a bag he’s carrying. It looks like the necklace he wears, though not lit up. He’ll explain that the force of Meridian is a gift and can be a tether to your home, if you let it. As his fingertips light up, the energy is infused into the bead, which he’ll hand to you.

Taking the bead into your hands, you’ll take a bird’s eye view of your home world as if your consciousness is split, since you’ll still perceive standing in front of Cyrus at the tree. Rather than a vision, the view of your world is absolutely real, you’re certain. It’s a glimpse at the world that you thought destroyed, and if you focus on a particular place or a particular person, you’ll find the view shifting rapidly to it. No one you watch is aware of your presence, but simply continues about their daily life, whatever that is. But after about a minute, the view will fade as the light in the bead also fades.

That’s an iliachtida, a sunbeam, and when infused with Meridian’s light, allows someone Harmonized to it to check in on their world, he explains. It also acts as an anchor that tethers their soul to their world in the Timestream. With it, their world can’t entirely disappear, so eventually, they can go home. It’s a gift he’ll allow anyone that wants it to keep it, but indeed, they’ll be unable to use it again without first Harmonizing to Meridian.

To help manage threadload for the Loremasters playing Cyrus, we ask that you only tag him with the character you are most likely to app. Similarly, new tag-ins will not be accepted after Monday, October 17th.

III. SPRINGSTAR, αιώνιος ήλιος

After your ordeals at the Tree of Life, perhaps you’re drawn to Springstar, the city of eternal sun and the seat of Meridian.

It’s currently (and fittingly) Spring in Springstar, and the bustling city is coming back to life after finishing up winter. It’s not as if the winters are especially harsh here, but you’ll quickly get the sense that the people of Springstar are vivacious and happy to celebrate. You’ll find the Entertainment District to be the liveliest, whether it’s at a rowdy bar or a brothel, but no matter what, you’re welcome with open arms and without question.

Of course, if you’d just like to use the chance to explore the city alongside your fellow Shard-Bearers, that’s fine too. It’s easy to get lost in the crowds of Springstar and see all the city has to offer.

IV. HIGHSTORM, луны-близнецы

Or maybe Highstorm, the city of twin moons and the seat of Zenith is more to your liking. It’s certainly the quieter of the two cities and is a relaxing, meditative place if that’s what you prefer. The chill in the air is constant, since it’s Autumn in Highstorm and the eternal night doesn’t help keep things warm, exactly. Snow isn’t out of the question at this time of the year, but it’s beautiful in the moonlight.

Because of the cooler weather than Highstorm is prone to, you’ll find many of its delights inside rather than outside. Libraries and museums are popular in the more introspective city, though it’s easy enough to find something that might please you. For example, the indoor hot baths are popular at this time of the year too. You’ll find the people are kind, if cool-tempered, though if you mention the fact that you’re a Shard-Bearer or allied with Zenith, they’re more likely to warm up.

Though much like Springstar, it may just be more interesting to explore the city with a fellow Shard-Bearer. And as a resident may warn you, it’s best to stay in the city. Wandering out into the marshes and forests isn’t advised. Of course, if you do, just contact a Loremaster to find out why. ♥

NOTES

Welcome to Kenos! As a reminder, all players are required to fill out an application, which are now open. This does include characters/players from Aion Teleos, so please don’t forget to fill one out! Any character/player that does not submit an application will be swept from the communities and the Discord after applications close.

Activity Check is optional this month, but is highly recommend so Christy can check her fancy program so that you can earn Activity Reward Tokens! Activity will be able to be submitted shortly after applications close. You can find more about how we do AC here.

This log is Game Canon. Any characters who are not apped to the game will disappear. If Cyrus or Yima are asked, they’ll explain that this happens sometimes, since not every soul has a strong tether to Kenos and sometimes return to the Timestream. They’re fine and may even return to Kenos one day, but for now weren’t able to make the full journey.

As a reminder, your character has a Shard somewhere on their body that encompasses their soul, so keep note of where you're sticking it on their person for reference! Additionally, they have a tattoo of their Aspect somewhere on their body. Please be mindful this Aspect will be assigned to you upon approval and whatever you choose for the TDM may be temporary (for new characters)!

For the Highstorm and Springstar prompts, both cities will be fully open and accessible to all characters once they are saved from their rather harrowing ordeal at the Tree of Life. For prompt ideas and any general information about the cities and what you can find there, please see the Navigation page and check out the locations!

FOR NEW PLAYERS:

New players are welcome to join our Discord Server if you haven't already!

When they emerge from their cocoon/the ground, characters may be wearing their normal clothes, or they might be nude. Up to you!

At some point in the days after leaving the Tree of Life, new Shard-Bearers will have a dream, even if they're usually not capable of sleeping. All new players should read this post, since this details how they'll learn about both factions and their goals and should help them make a decision in which Faction they'd be drawn to.

New characters will not have access to any canon abilities on the TDM.

Your character will be offered temporary housing either at the Heliopolis district or Yima's manor for the first few weeks after their arrival. They will also be given a stipend for basic supplies like clothing and personal effects, and food is served in the cantina (Heliopolis) and at regular meal times in the Dining Room (Yima's manor). Once they Harmonize, they will get personal permanent chambers and a fancy retainer in their Faction's city. Wow! 🌈

FOR OLD PLAYERS:

Characters may be Harmonized to their Faction (if that makes sense for the character, of course!) by the time of this log. This is more for IC reference, and just wait until application acceptance to do the OOC paperwork!

General reminder that your character won't have access to their powers until they have Harmonized.

CODING

Comments

sebastian michaelis - black butler - stargazer (TOLD YOU I WAS READY)

[cutlery]

In Highstorm—

1. bits & baubles

[ It’s a chilly, very lightly snowy not-quite-day in Highstorm, and as such, Sebastian is dressed for the cooler weather to explore the antiques and baubles market. He’s not looking for anything in particular, as he’s not really a material sort of person, but it’s just interest in seeing what’s on offer. As such, he’s impressed by what he finds. There’s beautiful craft in everything he’s seen so far, and that’s simply something he deeply appreciates. A combination of both beauty in aesthetic and practicality in build is the ideal, so far as he’s concerned.

He has a silver pocketwatch in hand that he’s inspecting with interest, but whatever you happen to be looking at catches his eye too. It’s to the point that he can’t help but to speak up, though his interest is of course warm and polite. ]

It is fine work, is it not? Highstorm seems to have a talented pool of craftsmen indeed.

2. caw caw mf

[ Greenwood yards is indeed beautiful to take a stroll in. An elegant garden lit by twinned moonlight is uniquely beautiful, and even not being so inclined to nature, Sebastian can resist spending some time here. Though it’s mostly just to stretch his wings, quite literally. Harmonizing to Zenith was near trivial, and so with his shapeshifting returned to him, there’s a larger than average crow that seems to enjoy hanging around the gardens… ]

a.

[ Are you the kind of poor sap that wants to make friends with a crow? This may be your chance, since as you wander through the gardens, it’s hard to miss the large bird that’s taken up a comfortable perch to observe passersby on a low sculpture. It doesn’t seem to fear people, since the path is very close to the statue, and it doesn’t so much as ruffle its feathers or flinch. In fact, if you choose to approach, its attention does turn towards you, but it stays similarly unbothered. Now is your chance to become the (goth) Disney princess of your dreams.

…Of course, Sebastian is just very amused by it. He’ll play along at being a Totally Very Normal Bird for as long as it pleases him. ]

b.

[ Or, you know, a little less mischievous. There’s all sorts of plants in the garden, and in the spirit of letting it go essentially untamed, it does mean they’re not all safe, exactly… There’s a small cluster of glowing, orange flowers that seem especially interesting. They give off a warm, sweet aroma, not unlike freshly baked cookies, actually? But as you approach, a hoarse voice speaks up. It’s the same voice as Sebastian’s for sure, but without the posh British accent and the hoarseness, it might be difficult to tell. ]

Oh, I would not recommend approaching. It bites, you know.

[ The source of the voice isn’t immediately obvious, but with a flutter of wings, a crow glides down from a nearby tree to instead land on the back of a bench. And, yep, that crow sure is talking to you, apparently. ]

Just a fair warning. You only just missed the gentleman that came by and lost a finger.

In Springstar—

3. old fashioned

[ If drinks are your preference, you’ll find Sebastian at one of the more upscale bars towards what passes as Springstar’s evening. It’s a busy night for the place, which means it’s standing room only, save for a seat at the bar next to Sebastian, naturally. gotta get the thread started somehow Regardless of whether he recognizes you or not, he’ll glance over from his conversation with the distinguished and draconic bartender to see someone enter and gestures to the seat with a welcoming smile. ]

It is open if you would like to sit. [ He gestures to the bartender ] It is a good seat, as Estic does make fine drinks. I am learning much about cocktails tonight, personally!

[ fun fact, cocktails were not really a thing in 1889 ]

4. one hell of a nerd

[ Or if you’re the more academic sort, it’s easy to find Sebastian in the halls of the Akadimaikos libraries. It’s the sort of place he’s naturally drawn to nerd, and in this one particular case, he prefers the offerings of Springstar to Highstorm slightly. The moonlight may be lovely and atmospheric, but he prefers natural light to read. After all, you’ll also see Sebastian wearing his glasses while he works. Even a demon isn’t immune to being farsighted, apparently. ]

a.

[ A book of recipes is propped open, and it seems like Sebastian is almost transcribing it, based on the amount of papers already delicately written out in a stack nearby. It’s probably also why he wants a break, since assuming his table partner seems open to conversation, he’ll pause as he places another paper into the pile to look their way. ]

If you do not mind… I am doing a bit of research on the diversity of cuisines available. What sort of food did you prefer where you are from?

b.

[ Or, you know, you may find Sebastian looking at significantly more, well. Occult materials. There’s a significant pile of books on witchcraft, religion, and, naturally, demonology. These aren’t getting notes in the same way as his new cookbook in progress, but he’s reading over them with more interest. And despite himself, at some point, he does laugh, though he politely reaches up to put a hand to his mouth as if to stifle it. ]

My, my. These stories get exceptionally creative about what demons are supposed to be like.

[ Considering it already being fairly well-established with no thanks to Horos, he doesn’t see any point in trying to hide what he is here so completely. It’s better to just present himself as a nice demon, or something like that… ]

Et Cetera—

[ me bursting onto the tdm to post first because 1) i cheated 2) to free everyone else, post without shame

Anyways, this is the "make up your own prompt"-Prompt! Sebastian can be found within Springstar and Highstorm roughly equally, though he slightly prefers Highstorm because #aesthetic. Also please know half of these are reworked prompts from my planned open log at [redacted], yes. ]

ii. moral hazarding

[joyfully]

[I'm placeholdering until we see if we get another person BUT SO THIS THREAD IS HERE...!!

As soon as the vines close around her, Morgan's immediately murmuring a quiet "uh oh". Once they're properly enclosed and the name of the game is made clear? Then she kind of rubs the back of her neck awkwardly.]

... You know, as far as icebreakers go, I have to admit that this one gets the job done. It's just kind of, you know... heavy-handed...?

gen is joining us next!!

[cutlery]

[ Sebastian turns back quickly as the vines close in, and immediately reaches out to grasp at the vines and try to pull them back... But no such luck. Joke's on him since even though he's already harmonized i'm depowering him for these prompts hA

He makes a noise of frustration and shakes his head as he takes a half-step back, but it's to look at the new face instead. As promised, he indeed doesn't recognize this young lady. The frustration instead turns to a sigh, and he shakes his head. ]

...Heavy-handed is certainly a word for it. A bit of an understatement, is it not?

saunters in late with starbucks

[epiprocta]

[ Notably, Gen had stiffened the moment he'd come limping into the little area and come face-to-face with the two other Shard-bearers (one familiar, one not) -- eyes widening a touch and countenance going a shade pale as he hissed under his breath, ]

Ah, fuck.

[ But no matter how quickly he'd turned on heel to try and leave before those vines could come crunching into place, it hadn't been fast enough. Which had left him with few options other than frustratedly slamming a fist into the root walls now caging them in, and seething in quiet frustration throughout the Dryad's explanation. Almost before the last word has fallen from that creepy root-wall-face's lips, he snarls, ]

Well, what's it going to be. [ Does he sound real testy about this situation they're stuck in? Noooo, not at all. Don't worry about it! ] We're on a fucking time limit, here.

3

[brutalizer]

Whatever.

[ There's no ire and only a touch of tired annoyance to the simple retort as she takes a seat. She's not used to being in crowds - avoiding society is more her speed - but better this than standing around like a dope. ]

This place serve any food?

[cutlery]

[ Oh, chilly. Sebastian gives a little shrug, but he's not bothered by it. He grabs a menu from his opposite side and passes it to her. It's 95% cocktails and alcohol, but there's a basic menu towards the back. It's high end bar food, but bar food all the same. ]

A bit. I've not had any myself, so I cannot speak to its quality, but it should at least whet one's appetite?

[brutalizer]

[ Hm. The way he talks, the mannerism and verbosity... it feels familiar and yet pisses her off. She tries to shrug it off as she looks at the food menu, grimacing. ]

Damn. Why are they throwing so much shit onto potatoes? Sounds gross. [ Seriously, potatoes are good as they are. Little salt and pepper is all you need. The menu is set down between them. ] Can I at least get a beer here, or is this place too fancy for that too?

2b;

[cryomance]

[ Truthfully, the strange glow and shape of the flowers had attracted her more than the fragrance, but it's not enough to distract her from the very horrifying fact that a crow appears to be talking to her. Apparently dying in her world and being reanimated by a tree had scrambled her senses terribly.

She blinks once. Slowly. Trying to comprehend the situation. Is it issuing a legitimate warning or just toying with her?

Or is she hallucinating everything? ]

Where's the severed finger then?

[ She's not sure why she's chosen to engage instead of ignoring the bird. She knows she'll regret it later, but she is admittedly curious about these plants. If they really can bite with that level of ferocity, they might prove useful later as a torture device. ]

[cutlery]

[ He makes what's probably meant to be a thoughtful sound, though it comes out a more of a soft half-caw as he cocks his head. ]

You know, an excellent question. I was more intrigued that it grew back so quickly that I did not pay very good attention.

[ He hops along the top of the bench a bit as he turns his gaze towards the flower. ]

In the stem, maybe? I don't see it on the ground any where, at least.

[cryomance]

[ ...Grew back. Her brows rise minutely, wondering what manner of creature could grow back fingers like that. Probably something deeply cursed, which isn't entirely that unusual, considering some of the roaming monsters she's encountered just around her homeworld. She's also not sure why that's even surprising when there's a crow talking to her. Maybe that's just how things work in this world, and she's the one who has to adapt.

Her eyes scan the grass around them, searching for any further evidence of the finger or any spilled blood, but she doesn't find anything. She's also not foolish enough to check the flower itself. ]

Do its petals snap close at any stimuli? Or does it have to be specifically made of flesh?

[ Because she can just as easily dangle a long stick to see if the bird is fibbing. ]

4b

[passio]

[ dextera will get to the content of “marthe’s” comment in a moment, but at least in the first moments of recognizing that voice, dextera feels the need to re-introduce himself—to establish, unlike some others, that he is recognized and known. it’s been hard to keep track of who remembers what, particularly when it comes to how hazy the last few months have been for him personally. ]

…?

[ he wants to say something, but obviously he can’t, so he taps sebastian on the shoulder with a much more wide-eyed, trusting expression than he wore the last time they spoke. ]

[cutlery]

[ Sebastian turns at the tap on his shoulder, and immediately, Dextera is greeted with a smile that's easy and warm. It's wide enough to show his fangs as well, which is certainly new for how clipped his smiles had been when they had last met. ]

Ah, Mr. Dextera. It is good to see you again.

[ It answers the question of what Sebastian remembers smoothly, and as he reaches across his pile of material for pen and paper, he answers it secondarily. ]

I did receive your return letter, by the way. I do apologize that I was not able to return it, but, well. Circumstances became what they were.

[passio]

[ it feels almost laughable that he would get an apology for no return letter. the world was destroyed—he supposes, at least—and a few letters exchanged must have been the least of the things lost along with horos. it makes him wonder where some of the others he hasn’t seen are, but this isn’t the time for those specific concerns. ]

…

[ dextera takes the pen and paper, although he knows now that he can communicate using his shard without asking sebastian—or anyone, thankfully—to expose theirs. it had been so precarious a situation to navigate before, and even if it’s better now, some people may still not like the intimate connection. ]

It’s OK
I can use my Shard now if you’ll let me

2a

[expiera]

[





picks up a rock]

CIEL,

[cutlery]

[ Okay, that amusement is fading quickly, because truly, what does this woman have against him?? This is getting extreme, isn't it? All he can truly think of that would be so deserving of a response would be the matter of Hayame, but... Surely it wasn't that.

The crow's feathers ruffle a bit as he puffs up quite literally, but for now, stays where he is and doesn't speak to reveal that he is not, in fact, a totally innocent crow. Maybe the rock is being picked up for totally innocuous reasons? ]

bonjour

[expiera]

[replace arihiko with crowbastian ig,

ok not EXACTLY! besides don't compare feral with petty ok, hayame is SO much more valid, i mean,

Since the crow is just Being a Crow, the woman idling nearby from several feet away who just picked up a totally innocuous rock proceeds to simply toss it up and down, up and down, up and down, without directly staring its way. She seems to have solid reflexes, managing to throw and catch the rock without losing her relaxed standing posture every time! Maybe good enough to even pull off a juggling act? Not that one can juggle with just a rock, so... Maybe she's just flexing her arm? Haha,]

wildcarding and u can't stop me,

[kabooming]

--Jeeeeeeves~!

[ it's late at night, but it's always night and THAT isn't super disorienting or anything over in ye olde Highstorm. Sebastian was just leaving the area of the Tomes when he'd find himself unceremoniously barreled into by a blur of teenage girl, tightly hugged around the waist, a blue head of hair smushed into his chest.

he is seized.

captured.

nuzzled. ]

You made it, Jeevesy! Aww, man, the gang's all here, aren't we?!

i would never!!

[cutlery]

[ Though he would vehemently deny it, it probably says a lot about how his time at the Phantomhive manor had essentially tamed him that a teenager suddenly barreling into him for a hug does not provoke an immediately violent response. There is a moment of tension, naturally, because Finny was not a present “danger”, but it’s more the instinctual flinch that comes from also being used to Finny not being able to control his unnatural strength… Though even so there is a little oof all the same. ]

Ah—? [ Nuzzling, though, that’s new. At least between the unusual hair and unique nickname, he recognizes her immediately. ]

Oh, goodness, Jinx? And here I thought you had gotten lost in the dark after all.

🥰

[kabooming]

There was this whole, like, buried alive thing, [ she's waving a hand dismissively (she's released him? yeah, she's released him and leaning back just a bit to look up at him), waving it off as if it's nothing, ] you know how it is. These things happen...! But now I'm here instead of there and you're here instead of there and neither of us is in the dark so it all works out!

[ makes perfect sense!! like, flawless logic tbh, ]

4b!

[lifespanned]

Oh yeah?

[ Misa pipes up with interest— she's over here in the Spooky Section™ more for the sake of aesthetics than anything else. She'd always kept a few books laying around her apartment about the supernatural, drawing inspiration from them whenever she and her friends decided to play pranks, or edit fake ghost footage. That, and... well, she'd like to see if there's any material on her beloved gods of death - what if there's texts detailing about them? It'd be nice to see them, even on a page... ]

So these books are filled with a bunch of made up stuff? I wanna know. Come on, tell me.

[ It's nice to have Sebastian around — he's polite, and fun to talk to, and she'd had about a million and one questions about what it was like being a demon butler. Doubly so, any familiar face right now is a welcome one. Since he has a book open in his palm, she tries to sneak a peek at it, tilting up on her tippy-toes if necessary to try and get a look at the writings inside. ]

[cutlery]

[ The spooky section is a good section to be in! At least, according to your local demon… ]

Oh, yes. Nearly every book on demons is almost entirely fiction. There are bits of truth within them, but they are so surrounded by colorful tales that it would be impossible to pick them out unless you already knew.

[ He lowers the book for her to take a look herself as he explains further. The book itself is rather dry, as it’s an encyclopedia on demons and demonology (or claims to be, apparently). It’s hard to tell if Sebastian was looking for something in particular or simply opened it to a random page, but it’s currently on a section for the letter ‘G’. He points out a particular entry on “Glasya Labolas”. ]

Here… This is a demon I know, actually. Some of this is true enough, as he does have wings, but there’s nothing dog-like about him. He’s more like a snake, to be honest. And to incite people to bloodshed, well… That would be quite the feat, would it not? It is especially so for him, as he is a much more bookish type than you may think.

[ apparently misa gets demon gossip?? ]

2a.......

[gravings]

[ Even if Gray has become used to being in the city and encountering strange new things, she finds solace in the quiet and the outdoors. The plantlife in Greenwood Yards can be especially strange, but she figures that anything dangerous wouldn't be allowed here (or at least would be mindfully cordoned off), so she ambles through the area in search of a nice spot to take her supper.

She settles on a bench by a low sculpture, upon which a large crow perches. She's very used to big old crows, so even if it's an overly curious one, she doesn't mind. She unwraps her supper, a savory hand pie, and considers it for a moment before ripping off a piece and offering it to the crow to see if it's interested. ]

Would you like to try some?

gray... so pure... so good

[cutlery]

[ As Gray approaches, the crow definitely eyes her, but other than a little ruffling of feathers, doesn't move. Clearly, it's used to people, very comfortable, or maybe both!

In truth, it's just Sebastian just having decided this is a most excellent people-watching spot, and if someone comes by to have dinner, that's fine with him. He is distantly curious about the fact that she's hooded, as it's normally a suspicious thing, but as he's learning, Highstorm fashion is the sort that favors cloaks.

When she offers, though, he cants his head slightly in amused surprise. If it were possible to show, he'd definitely smile in response, if only for the charming nature of it. He does considers it for a moment, since technically, it's not that appealing to him, but. He's a whimsical creature, at least when he's not contracted.

He stands from his perch, then gracefully swoops down to land on the back of the bench near her. So, yes, clearly not afraid of people. ]

4A

[superbshot]

[The question, from a well dressed gentleman no less, takes her slightly by surprise. She'd barely been paying attention to the man as she poured over some pages on the history of Springstar...but now that he's spoken up she sets down her book.]

Nothing too fancy, I suppose. I'm fairly partial to duck, but I'll eat most foods.

[Really she's so not picky.]

[cutlery]

Duck is a very good offering, so I understand. It was a favorite of my former master, so I prepared it not infrequently. It is also a delightful bird to cook with, as so many of its parts are quite savory in other applications as well.

[ After saying it, he seems to realize something, and with a laugh, he ducks his head in apology. ]

Oh, and do pardon me for interrupting your studies, by the way. I admit, I am getting a bit ahead of myself! But, my, there is much already that I would very much like to try and make.