larkers: (pic#12386243)
MEADOWLARK MODS ([personal profile] larkers) wrote in [community profile] meadowlarklogs2019-09-08 12:26 pm

EVENT #006 AFTERMATH LOG

WHO: Everyone
WHERE: New Amsterdam
WHEN: December 19th to the end of the month.
WHAT: Event aftermath, Winter Solstice, Christmas.
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Character death, self-sacrifice, drug use. Further notes at end of log.

> EVENT #006 AFTERMATH LOG

Zerzura's demise is a very near miss. Three out of four of the bombs detonate, with numerous Mycenaean guards' lives taken as a result of the assault. It's probable—even likely—that numerous Displaced were injured as a result of this attack. Just as the last bomb seemed likely to go off, everything stopped. As in: the scene ended, shifting, putting all of the Displaced to sleep. Zerzura won't end. Or will it?

The return from Zerzura will feel like waking up from a long nap. Instead of anyone waking up in their beds, they will find themselves on the ground beside the man-made river that runs down the center of New Amsterdam. The ground beneath them will be moist with recent rainfall. Anyone who was still in the throes of a fantasy and believing themselves to be a part of Zerzura will find themselves tossed out of that existence. Anyone who died at the precipice of the spear will still recall their actions vividly: their mind and body hitting a point in which it was finite, slipping away. There may be some room for doubt regarding their deaths. After all, they're very much alive now.

There are two constants among the Displaced when they observe themselves and others: that all of their chests are glowing with that familiar blue glow, and they'll all experience a feeling of serenity. This feeling won't come from any of the Displaced themselves. Much like the intrusion of the empathy bond, it will feel as if it's coming from elsewhere. The problem is that it's always there: there is no way of disconnecting, at least for now. The good news is that the serenity will begin to fade within the next day, and with it, the blue glow will go away as well.

All of the Displaced can't remain at the riverside. If they linger too long, it will begin to rain again. The rain itself will only be a light misting against their faces at first, before turning into a heavier downfall. If they're wary of returning to their lives initially because of the blue glow, they'll soon find that the people of New Amsterdam seem to look away from them as they trot through the city to return to their lives. This is a temporary sensation, seeming to have overtaken the city's citizens for the time being. Within a day or two, the blue glow will be met with the same paranoia that was fostered by the UN following the abduction of Kurt Fischer.

What can they do now? Aside from the feeling of serenity, little will have immediately changed for the Displaced. The best thing they can do is try to return to their lives as if Zerzura never happened.

Some things to check in with, though?

WORK. Upon realizing that the Displaced disappeared yet again, El worked overtime to make sure that all of the Displaced wouldn't lose their jobs. After all, that would mean they'd likely have to give up their housing, and Morningstar would need to financially step in to help. Not all of the places of employment will accept these excuses, especially since El can't put together a doctor's note without it promptly being verified as falsified. It's ultimately up to anyone's discretion over whether their character lost their job.

CHANGES. Some of the changes will appear out of nowhere: a dream that's shared, or a memory that's passed on rather unwillingly. It's time to explore what's happened, and even theorize as to why this has happened. And those objects that were the core of remembering who they were, back in Zerzura? They're permanent fixtures from now on. And what about those Union Attacks? For now, they may have an interesting place in the fighting rings. Time to convince the people running those shows to start including doubles matches.

PLANT LIFE. All around New Amsterdam, plants will begin to grow. These plants are varied, and they'll make an appearance anywhere that they might be allowed to grow. Is that a sink that's frequently full of water? Now it's mysteriously stopped up by a plant that's growing through the pipes. While all this plant life may seem like a miracle, having plants growing in every part of the city will quickly prove to be a problem.

HOLIDAY SEASON. The good news about everyone's trip to Zerzura is that they didn't miss Christmas—or rather, the December 25th edition of it. The city is still covered in Christmas trees and ornamentation. The stadium is still hosting a holiday market.

> WINTER SOLSTICE

In the days leading up to the Winter Solstice, there will be an uptick of paintings around New Amsterdam hinting as to where this year's party will be held: Sunpeak Garden. While there won't be any official notice, anyone interested or curious is free to visit this location on the day of the Solstice (December 21st) to see what's going on, and it will go on for the next three days, ending on the morning of the 24th. As they draw closer to the location itself, they'll find the botanical garden secured by a large, overarching tent, preventing rainfall from getting into the garden itself. On the air, there will be the scent of something being smoked—which they'll soon learn is a set of goats that seem to have been acquired by whoever put on this shindig.

Unlike many other events around New Amsterdam, this seems to be more private in nature. There is an unspoken understanding that beyond the paintings, there will be no social media posts. Inside of the garden, there will be a lot of plants and decorations carefully molded into sacred geometric shapes. Despite the unofficial nature, whoever put this event together definitely spent their time doing it. This Solstice party isn't a spontaneous thing, and anyone who goes will hear about the previous parties and how the proprietor does his best to make everyone happy.

Anyone who went to the Harvest Festival or Insomniac's Ball will see a lot of the same people working it, complete with some familiar tattoos. They'll be eager to welcome in any of the Displaced, especially any of the ones who tend to be featured in the shrines around the city.

Once everyone's here, they're welcome to enjoy themselves. Under some of the canopies of trees, there will be beds and futons, giving people places to rest. Some of these will be claimed, so anyone who's eager to stick around for a few days might want to get dibs. Otherwise? It's time to enjoy what's been put together:

FEAST. There will be a feast for the next three days. Aside from the smoked goats, there will be a lot of goat cheese and vegetables. These are the people who put on the harvest festival, after all. There will be a lot of pickled vegetables out on tables, salads, and everything else. Aside from cheese for snacking, anyone can partake in some delicious berries (strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries) and nuts (walnuts, pecans, peanuts, and almonds—despite the difficulty in getting most of these in New Amsterdam). There will also be figs, because of course there are figs.

FLOWER CROWNS. To go with the more laidback flair of this event, there will be flower crowns available for everyone. They will look more Christmas-like in spirit, like small little wreaths to go on everyone's heads.

ALCOHOL. Of course, what kind of Solstice or Yule event would it be without alcohol to imbibe? There will be mulled wine available, as well as the delicious apple-flavored beverage of wassail. It seems as if these two things never run out. For anyone avoiding alcohol, there will also be some sparkling grape juice and apple juice.

PSYCHEDELICS. Undoubtedly also inspired by Yule celebrations of old, anyone can partake in some species-specific (and at a safe dosage) amanita. Primarily available as a tea, anyone can drink this pleasant beverage and have a good time together.

MISTLETOE. There will be spots all around the botanical garden where the decorators took good care to make the mistletoe stand out. Surrounded by little lights, no one will be able to miss them. That means they can be easily avoided, if that's what someone would prefer!

BALL PROPRIETOR. While he's not hiding that he put this on, he's just as mysterious as before. If anyone wants to catch his eye at this event, they can. They'll need to stand out to get him to talk to them. To do this, reply below! Ball will definitely be interested in any Displaced trying to catch his eye, but it's still up to them to go through the motions.

> CHRISTMAS

As the Solstice party comes to an end, it'll be time to focus on Christmas itself. Around New Amsterdam, this is a deeply commercial holiday. Since most of New Amsterdam's citizens prefer to celebrate Sinterklaas, the day of Christmas itself largely emphasizes purchasing access to Christmas movies and giving gifts to anyone who had been forgotten earlier in the month. For new couples, Christmas Eve acts as a romantic occasion, giving them the chance to spend some time alone. Restaurants around the city will have Christmas Eve and Christmas Day specials and feasts—though these will be very expensive to enjoy.

> GRINCH INTERLUDE

Once reports start to hit the news about the rapidly healing atmosphere, a strange cypher begins to appear in the replies of people's posts on Cooltalk. This misfire appears at random and without a pattern. While some of the Displaced will get hit on their Cooltalks, they won't be among the majority by any means. How to get ahold of [profile] 100342? A reply might do the trick, or it might not. Drop a message in the questions thread with ideas!

Then again, this message more of a simple response to a slight than anything else, most likely recognizable to the displaced, who are familiar with the cipher's formula:

200805 02011414051819 1506 200805 11091407 1506 08051212 04180123 031215190518
200805 02011414051819 1506 200805 11091407 1506 08051212 04180123 031215190518
200805 02011414051819 1506 200805 11091407 1506 08051212 04180123 031215190518
200805 02011414051819 1506 200805 11091407 1506 08051212 04180123 031215190518
200805 02011414051819 1506 200805 11091407 1506 08051212 04180123 031215190518
200805 02011414051819 1506 200805 11091407 1506 08051212 04180123 031215190518
200805 02011414051819 1506 200805 11091407 1506 08051212 04180123 031215190518
200805 02011414051819 1506 200805 11091407 1506 08051212 04180123 031215190518
200805 02011414051819 1506 200805 11091407 1506 08051212 04180123 031215190518

> FINAL OOC NOTES

Welcome back to the world of New Amsterdam proper, Larkers! This will act as the mingle log for the month of September since we didn't receive any applications this month. In order to plot out some aftermath, please head over to the CR Meme for the month of September! Our September calendar and Event #006 Aftermath are also up for perusing.

If you'd like to get your character in touch with Ball, please reply to the comment below with how they'd like to stand out! Ball, like all of our NPCs, will act as a means to an end to uncover plot details. With the gates excursion on the horizon, we wanted to make him available for all of the playerbase. Due to time constraints, this means that Gaby won't be available for this log.

If you have any questions about event aftermath, please hit the thread on the Aftermath Post here. If you have any questions about this log, go to the questions thread on this post!

inherited: (stop pretending there's others)

[personal profile] inherited 2019-10-01 03:15 am (UTC)(link)
[In hindsight, it's not a reveal that comes with a very pleasant explanation. Riku draws in a breath and then takes a seat, setting down his sack of goodies beside him. It remains closed, hiding away anything inside—which is good, because Riku didn't wrap a single thing in there.

He looks over to Sora through heavy lids, feeling somewhat guilty about this admission.]
I don't think Roxas understood why you'd want to give in to something like that. [That's a guess as to Roxas' understanding, and Riku sounds uncertain even saying it.]

It wasn't easy for you to go getting your powers back, and being told that you couldn't be there with the rest of us. And—finding out what happened after all of it. I only got off easy because of the dreameater thing, and later, the immunity to my heart ... I don't know if that kept me safe there, but I guess—I thought it might be because you wanted something happier. Even for a little while.
lighthearted: down, sad (for an eternal oath)

[personal profile] lighthearted 2019-10-02 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Maybe Riku's right. Had Sora fallen for Zerzura's lie because part of him still doesn't know if he'll ever get that happiness back home? Not because his friends wouldn't welcome him with open arms and bright smiles, but because he can't actually go back. It's a possibility that both he and Riku have stubbornly ignored, but they still don't know what might happen when they find a way home. If he'll be able to make that trip. ]

It could be. I wasn't the only one who fell for it, either. [ So what were their stories? Sora doubts they're all in the same situation as him -- or rather, he hopes that's not the case. With a sigh, he moves over to take a seat next to Riku on the couch. ] I don't want to think about the possibility that I can't go back with you, but... it's hard not to wonder, you know?

[ He closes his eyes for a moment and flops against the back of the couch. This is the last thing he wants to talk about, but he also realizes he can't completely avoid it either. Especially if they're going to loop Roxas in. ]
inherited: (stop eating rotten food sora.)

[personal profile] inherited 2019-10-03 08:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[This whole conversation is hard on a lot of levels.

It's not just losing Sora, but feeling as if he failed him somehow in losing him. He was his person to protect, to care for, to do anything for, no matter what. That clarity had helped him once he could see it without a veil (or blindfold, if you will) over his eyes. And as much as he's lived with it, he's had to think about it more and more lately.

Being with Nill. Feeling her grab his hand. The fact of knowing that the intensity of what he feels for Sora will never be matched by anything else.

And knowing, without an ounce of jealousy or frustration, why Sora had to go find Kairi. Why it had to be him who went, and what it meant for him to do it alone. It wasn't just that Sora's mind was made up: he had to prove his strength to himself once and for all.

Riku also knows that Sora wouldn't walk it back.]


I wish we had our powers. I could train you in them, make it so that when you go back to that time, you can make it back with her. [Again: no acknowledgement of switching gears. They must save Kairi. And while time travel exists, Riku knows it's much too complicated to offer to be by Sora's side.]

Without them ... the best I can do is promise to come find you. You picked up the slack by saving everyone else, so I figure—I won't push myself too hard if it's just you. Right?
Edited 2019-10-03 20:12 (UTC)
lighthearted: up, smile (and about the recent promises)

[personal profile] lighthearted 2019-10-08 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sora also wishes that they still had their powers here. On top of the fact that it would make their jobs so much easier, it means that Riku would be able to teach him more, to impart his knowledge as a Master. They have all this time here that isn't going to waste, exactly, but they'd be able to make even more use of it if they could still access their Keyblades.

Dwelling on something they can't change isn't going to help anything, though, and so it doesn't surprise Sora when Riku pivots to a plan B. This is how it's always going to be, isn't it? They'll throw themselves into the fire for each other, each and every time. Just like Sora's already done for Kairi.

Once upon a time, Riku and Sora had been willing to stay in the dark together. So long as they had each other, it hadn't seemed like such a terrible fate. It's why their time in New Amsterdam hasn't been so bad, either. It's the thought of being left here alone that eats at Sora.

He would never try to convince Riku not to take that risk. It wouldn't be fair. And so Sora nods, his smile slowly returning. ]


You know that if I tell Roxas, he's going to want to go with you.

[ It's something that Sora just knows. Maybe it's because Roxas is his Other and their connection is special. Sora can't imagine a situation where Roxas would hear all of this and not want to do something about it, though. ]
inherited: (i like sea salt on everything)

[personal profile] inherited 2019-10-08 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
He'll know what happened once he lives it. [That part of the time situation is hard for Riku to grasp, but he's talked with Roxas long enough to line up the pieces where they matter. Timeline-wise, Riku's definitely at the latest part of it. He's seen what happens when Sora leaves to go save Kairi, returning with her in hand (but not for very long).

As it is, that doesn't stand as a dismissal of telling Roxas here. Riku knows that it isn't, but he might need to clarify. The wheels are turning in his head. Once, these wheels were more reckless, clinking together, worried about what he could do to save Sora, slipping in and out of shadows in a black coat while trying not to get caught. He was the imposter at the time, causing trouble so that he could save his friend. Those wheels are better now, fitting together, the gears making the other wheel turn.]


Everyone saw you disappear. So, I don't think I could keep all of them out of it if I wanted. I might be able to work with Aqua to split up our teams and find clues, but in the end, it might need to be me who comes to get you. Just me.

[His hand comes to cover his heart. If he could teach Roxas, it would be one thing. But Riku doesn't think they'll have time for that. For Roxas, for Kairi, for anyone.]

Aside from Mickey, I'm the one with the Power of Waking, and the best control over it. And I'm the one who's closest to you. [Riku looks and feels resolved.] That's not to say that I won't ask for help, or have ways to make sure we both come back in one piece. I can figure that out. We'll figure that out. But still—it's gotta be me.

[To Riku, it doesn't feel like throwing himself into the fire.

Doing anything and everything for Sora is what he lives for—it's his purpose and what defines him. What it means to protect someone.

He just didn't have the means to think about it yet, too caught up in being here, and too afraid about what might come after.]
lighthearted: talk (let's talk more)

[personal profile] lighthearted 2019-10-11 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
[ Riku is probably right. Once all of their friends realize what happened to Sora, they're going to want to do something about it. Not one of the people he'd left on the Islands would be willing to just accept his fate. It leaves Sora's chest feeling warm to realize that he's got so many friends who would do everything in their power to get him home.

There's a calm sort of resolve to Riku as he explains why he has to be the one to "come get him," assuming that Sora remains lost even after they leave New Amsterdam. He has reasoning to back up everything that he's saying, so it's not like Sora can argue with any of it. Riku had been the one to save him from those dreams, too. ]


Yeah, I... I guess it does.

[ Sora closes his eyes for a moment, then lets out a long breath. Roxas had been the one to bring him to his senses in Zerzura, but when it came to reclaiming his heart and bringing it home? Of course that would have to be Riku.

When his eyes open, he gives Riku a smile that's just a little sad. ]


Sorry I keep putting myself in situations where you have to come find me. But...

[ He holds his hand out, fingers extending to reach for Riku's. ]

You know I appreciate it, right?
inherited: (minus the sleeps)

[personal profile] inherited 2019-10-16 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
[There isn't a world where Riku would ever ask Sora to apologize for this. While Sora will run himself ragged saving everyone—and that is quite literally what happened back home—he knows that he has to be there to back his friend up. It's not that Sora is easily hurt or easily lost. It's that his heart connects to everyone so easily. Riku needs Sora to be Sora. No matter what that means. No matter what it takes.

He bobs his head with a quick "mm" sound, reaching over to take Sora's hand.

His chest begins to glow before he realizes what he's done—and he's not thinking it through, not entirely. He's done his thinking. Right now, his heart is guiding him, telling him what he needs to know: that his best friend isn't gone. Just as he told Sora he didn't want to give up, Riku himself didn't want to do that. Couldn't do that.

The feeling is at once one of peace and ease: resolve. Determination. But a deep-seated understanding of who Riku is seeps through: a constant of appreciation and love for the boy in front of him. The center of his life in every way. He would always be there to follow him, to protect him and care for him. Unconditional love isn't the sort of thing that's a constant, overwhelming feeling. It's just there in the peace, the resolve, the certainty. His love for Sora calms his head and heart, showing him the way.

When he speaks, it becomes clearer:]
We need you to keep getting into those situations. I'll just be there to back you up. Always do what you need to do.

[Riku could keep beating himself up about allowing Sora to make that choice, but he knew what it meant on that day. He knows what it means now. He accepts it, grasps it, understands it, and doesn't resent it. Maybe he should. But he's no longer the know-it-all child trying to grasp for power he didn't understand to protect a boy he loved more than anything. He knew and understood that love, and understood why he'd do anything for Sora.

The emotion behind that is complicated in how it's evolved, but simple in how it presents. And Riku will give off a sense of foundation and certainty to it, more than he's ever felt about anything in his life.]
lighthearted: thinking, down (in a kingdom of thieves?)

[personal profile] lighthearted 2019-10-17 04:30 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sora hadn't been thinking about the empathy bond, either. It's not something that he obsesses over the way that some of the other Displaced do because he doesn't mind sharing what he feels or getting the chance to know what a friend is feeling. With someone like Riku, he doesn't even need to think twice about it.

What he gets from Riku isn't that shocking, at least at first. There's a calm determination and resolve that flows through Sora like the waves at Destiny Island gently lapping at the shore. It's familiar, and comforting, a sense of home that leaves him more homesick than he's been in a long while. Except when he looks up and finds Riku's eyes, which are the same shade as those waves, he knows he doesn't have to be homesick.

Of course Riku would be this calm, and would know exactly what he had to do. He's always been that way, for better or for worse.

The more unexpected thing is how everything Riku's feeling seems to revolve around Sora. Should that shock him? Maybe not, but it's still a lot to take in, and Sora's heart thuds in his chest as his fingers tighten around Riku's.

Riku doesn't have a problem with Sora being Sora, with his reckless choices that he makes for the sake of everyone who matters to him. He doesn't have a problem with his big heart, so big that it accepted as many people as it could hold. Riku accepts him as he is, and while Sora may have already known that deep down, feeling it is something else.

What comes across the bond from Sora's ends is a crushing relief and gratefulness, maybe even an awe that he has someone as amazing as Riku as his best friend in the universe. ]


Okay, Riku. [ Sora glances down at their intertwined hands, a warmer smile touching at his lips. ] I will.
inherited: (fried eggs!)

[personal profile] inherited 2019-10-17 09:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's only after Riku feels that rush of gratefulness and relief that Riku realizes how much he's shared, and exactly what he's done. After Nill, he's not surprised to be feeling those things. Coming from Sora, it's weird, to be sure, and the similar feeling is one that he doesn't know how to put to words. The feeling itself is for entirely different reasons, but—still.

Riku drinks in that feeling for a long moment before he finally pulls his hand away. As much as he's worried about saying those words to Sora, it's easier this way. There's no need to put any of it out there. After all, he maintains that it doesn't change much. He's unlikely to change where he stands. He doesn't have any expectations. This is just—this is who he is. There is nothing more to it.]


I'm gonna take my gifts and put them away, and then I think we should head out somewhere. Hit an arcade. My treat. [Since Sora won't let him give a real gift, he'll do something else right now.

That sounds fun, anyway.]


Besides, I ought to be the one who pays to beat you at everything we play.
lighthearted: watch, surprised (it's hard to let it go)

[personal profile] lighthearted 2019-10-18 04:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ Even if that moment of touch between them had been overwhelming, Sora doesn't feel a need to put words to it either. Riku may have taken some wrong turns in the past, but that's all ancient history by now. Things have been good between them ever since Sora woke up from his year-long sleep, wanting nothing more than to find his friends. Riku's looked out for him more times than Sora could count at this point, bringing him back from the brink time and time again.

It's effortless for them to pivot to an easier topic of conversation, something that has nothing to do with all the heaviness they just discussed. Sora hasn't forgotten how the conversation started and he'll make a point of talking to Roxas about it at some point, but that can wait for another day.

For now, they're going to go to the arcade.

Sora's up and off the couch almost as soon as Riku makes the suggestion. Right as he's about to protest Riku's offer to pay, though, Riku comes out with that taunt all of a sudden. These days Sora knows more than ever that Riku's comments are playful teasing and nothing else, but his reaction to them is also almost scripted. ]


Hey! You're definitely not gonna beat me that easily!

[ But as Riku goes to put his gifts away, Sora heads over to grab his shoes near the front door, eager to go unwind for a few hours. ]