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(no subject)

Who: Everyone!
What: February open log.
When: Feb
Where: All over the place.
Warnings:
Notes: This log will run the whole month as part of the AU plot. Pick a date and go!
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February Open Log

blue moon

So the people within the Sphere City miss the moon. At least, that’s what someone can draw from the fact that as January slips into February, large images of the moon are everywhere. The Full moon, to be more specific. There are silver streamers around the merchant dome, and lights have been modified to have a more silver than golden glow in appearance, even at all hours of the day there. Sure it makes things a bit difficult to see, but that’s not really a problem is it?

At night, several domes have large projections of the moon made against the domes. They’re pictures of the moon in varying states of artistic and scientific values. There's a kind of dreamy music that’s played, and a lot of the locals have silver flowers in their hair. Fire pits are common, and older residents are seated around them, telling tales of the moon and its connection to the waters above them. Some stories tell how it glows and shines or is made of green cheese. They also tell how sometimes there were people in the moon, men or women, gods or goddesses, or animals like rabbits. And some stories tell of how the moon would make people mad, and that’s where the term lunacy comes from.

Oh, and there are a few stories about werewolves too. And about how there walking among the people in the Sphere. Even now.

Food at the festival is based around the moon too, or at least the idea of the moon. There’s mooncake of course, but there’s also moon pies, half moon cheese pies, and pierogi, and various cheese and cracker platters, because the moon is made of green cheese after all. There’s moon-based cocktails, that are blue and silver. And some that are shimmering and shining.

People can draw fortunes from the moonwell, but, they’re silly and nonsensical, and people eat the silvery rice paper after they’re finished with them. A few of them however have more ominous sort of fortunes in them. Things like “help me” or “they’re out to get you” or “they’re coming and you can’t stop them.” People shrug those ones off too though. if someone asks about them.

what big eyes you have

So, there are rumors about werewolves that have been circulating around town, and people seem to be given red cloaks at random. Pretty girls and women are offered them the most, but they are open to anyone. If people put them on, which the surrounding locals will cheer and encourage them to do. Then they tell them that their clue is in their pockets and that they will save the town.

In the pockets is another silver disk with a list of names on it. One of those names is a werewolf. You’re given three clues (something like: ‘wearing a blue sweater’ or ‘bald man’ or ‘at the candy stall’) for each one, and then you either accuse them of being a werewolf or clear them. If you accuse them and you’re correct then you’re given a small vial with glowing stones in it and are told that they were actually pieces of the moon before it was lost. Whatever that means. You may want to hold onto them.

If you accuse them and you’re wrong, the game is over for you for the moment and the cloak is taken away. Each cloak has a different list of six names on it, and the names replenish every time someone gets a new cloak. Why yes, the Sphere is playing a game of werewolf with you. How the game goes entirely up to you, and whether or not your character gets invested or what. NPCs are definitely available for this if need be! Please feel free to go a little nuts with this, and player characters can definitely be one of the suspects if they're up for it.

something that was lost can be found.

It’s big news around Sphere City: some old lost and sealed domes have been found along the edges of town. Not only have they been found, but they’re open! Not only are they open but the stuff inside is there on a first come first serve basis. These old domes show no signs of dust, but there are some personal effects within them, pictures and the like. They definitely belonged to someone who had been pulled into the city at some point within the last seven years.

And they’re definitely worth checking out. One never knows one might find in them. Various varieties of clothing are available, as are books, food items (probably shouldn’t eat them), toys and there may or may not be some magical or important historical things hidden here or there if your character is very lucky. Mod note: Nothing world breaky or living can be found, but small things like potions or jewelry or amulets or small weapons (daggers or guns with a very limited amount of bullets.)

photo inspiration

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Laughing softly, Alex just gives him her hand easily. "Well, I mean there are definitely worst things to be than a good guide, I would think, Rhy."

"Like dead?" Rhy offers. Because he's been there, he's done that, and he's actively passing on that. But he takes her hand and instead of shaking, presses his lips to the back of it.

"Ah, but I am quite charmed to meet you."

"Dead would be one, I suppose. But also lacking in your company counts too." Alex just beams at him, because for all of the things that she's experienced, someone being sincere with meeting her and kissing her hand isn't one. If it was someone else, she'd probably think that it was hokey, but on Rhy it seems earnest and real and Alex is always a fan of both of those things.

"And that feeling is entirely mutal, Rhy. Really."

Oh that works too. He smiles at her comment because she's gotten EVEN more interested.

"I am glad to hear it," he smiles before downing the rest of his own drink. "Tell me more of you, my lady."

Alex Reagan is well familiar with the sort of person who calls people 'milady' in that irritatingly 'ironic' way that nerds of a certain older and whiter way have--she's definitely interviewed more than a few and her best friend has some unsavory people in his life, but Alex doesn't get the pop of irritation that comes with him calling her that. No, instead it's charming because he means it in the most respectful way and and Alex can tell.

"Please, just call me Alex," it's not angry at all, but it is earnest. "You don't need to stand on ceremony with me. But I'm a reporter, back home."

The advantage of nobility on his level is that for him, the term is meant to be genuine. A status acknowledgement. Or putting one on a higher level than they normally would be.

"Of course, Alex," he says, letting a touch of accent slip into his words. Not because it would really come through, but because the man is trying to sound interesting in how he says her name.

"A reporter? And what is that?"

While Alex isn't the same Alex that she was, she's definitely had gone through all of the old messages and files that she'd used. So, she's ready for this answer with one that she's given to other people who have come from different times. "It's sort of like a combination of a town crier and a storyteller. But I tell the news of things around what's going on. At first it was from like local stories and what not, but now I just tell particular stories."

"Ah, how intriguing," Rhy says, because it is. There isn't much in the way of publications in his London. But he can respect the purpose of it. "For us, most of what we do is have things sent across notice boards. They're magically tied to a central location."

Alex’s eyes light up at that because they can’t not—Alex is a believer in such things even when there’s very little proof and she knows that people from other places aren’t here. So she just asks in a low voice as she leans in to do it: “you have magic?”

Ah yes, people keep asking for shows. Good thing he keeps chalk on him these days. He pulls the piece from his pocket and starts drawing a very exact constraining circle.

"I'll need a few drops of alcohol. Undiluted from mixing. If my brother were here he could show you something more impressive though."

When he asks for alcohol, Alex just flags down the bartender with a lean and an easy hand. What he brings over is a shot of the moonshine that Max makes from the black market. It's enough to strip grease from engines and is definitely enough to light on fire. "Will this work?" She just asks as she hands it to him, but then Alex just grins a bit again, the smile warm and inviting. "And while he may be able to show me something more impressive, I definitely think that there's no way in hell he could be anywhere near as charming."

"Yes, Kell lacks my people skills," Rhy admits. Once he finishes the circle he dips his finger into the alcohol and lets three drops fall into the middle of the circle. "Normally I do this with lamp oil."

He shakes his hand dry and puts his hands on either side of the circle, focusing on the alcohol drops. He reaches for the elements and fire and lets it curl inside of himself and finally channels it into his heart and the alcohol. And fire leaps forth in the circle, licking against unseen barriers formed by the constraining circle. The fires leap far higher than the alcohol alone could manage, filling the whole circle in a raging fire that raises a full foot into the air.

Alex is definitely amazed by this. While she doesn’t put her hands in the flames (she’s an idiot but not that much of one really!) she does put them near enough that she can feel the heat coming off of them. “Wow. That’s really impressive!” It’s clear that she means it, that’s for sure. “Is the magic the trade off for people skills?”

Good thing she doesn't try to touch. That would break the bounds of the circle and unleash the fire. Which was bad.

"No. I'm just... weak."

And he knows it.

"Well, I mean we all have things that we're good at and that we're not good at you know. Because everyone's got their strengths. Yours in being a good king it sounds like. That doesn't make you weak--it's harder to be a good leader than not to be one."

What an interesting point to make. And yet...

"In my world, magical might holds quite a bit of weight. A non-magical king may mean that we are attacked by other nations, believing I cannot protect my people."

And it is a concern he can dismiss in part because of Kell.

“Is that something that’s come up before? Like have you been attacked?” Because it doesn’t sound like that to her from what he’s said.

"My mother was assassinated by a rival nation. They tried to kill me as well," Rhy answers quite honestly. "But it was when we were being attacked by another world. Black London."

Yes, his last few months have sucked.

“Oh!” Alex’s face instantly twists into a look of empathy. “I’m so sorry! I can’t imagine how hard that must have been for you!” But also because she’s Alex, she can’t help but to ask: “what’s Black London?”

"Destroyed. There are four worlds parallel to each other. Black London fell to the greed of magic. It's told as scary stories for kids. And that matters. Because it was all true."

Beyond true.

Alex just frowns for a moment and she tilts her head considering what he’s said. “If it fell to magic isn’t it better to like not have a magical King? So that you don’t need to worry about that happening again?”

"That... no. I don't think it is. Osaron was from another world. An invader. There are other people who rule other nations, and they seem to be strongest and most aggressive with magical rulers."

But Rhy has... what does he have? Heart? Diplomacy? They have that too, he supposes.

“Wow.” Alex says the word as a breath as she thinks about it, and then she just drains her drink before she adds, “that sounds scary. How do you handle it day to day?”

She's definitely interested now, not that she wasn't before of course. But now it's just more than a flirty attraction--Alex is definitely interested in his world and what sounds to her like the worlds that are around it.

"Well, we just, you know, won. A few days before I came here. So yes, it was quite terrifying. It possessed our people and turned them against us."

There had been no greater fear than the powerlessness he had before it. He offers her a sad smile.

"We were saved by my brother, and a mage from the Gray World. The only they had, and she chose to be among us instead. I think she fancies my brother."

“Wow. That sounds awful.” Alex's reaction wouldn’t be anywhere near as mild in the face of possession as it is now, but she doesn’t have the same fears that her other self has. So, she just puts her hand on his arm once more. “I’m so sorry that all of that happened.” Alex means it, she can’t imagine how hard it was to watch that.

“If she gave up her home and everyone and everything that she knows to stay there, you can probably say that she loves him. It doesn’t sound like something that someone would do out of just fancying someone.”