+++ 奇跡国 - Miracle Country +++

[Today, perhaps you're traveling from the main island to check out one of the outer islands - there's one island in particular, the wings island, is suddenly seeming more inviting than usual. Perhaps you feel a strange urge to visit the island with the wings, to walk along the sand, to stand at the reservoir and stare down into the water.

It's one of those weeks in which the outer islands have moved close enough to join the main island, so it's a simple enough walk - no trains required today - and if you stand near enough and just let the wind brush through your hair, you might feel the slightest kiss of sand traveling across the two islands, inviting you closer.

And as you get closer to that island, closer to those ruins, you might start to feel the effects of that island, as well - thinking of your family, of your friends, of all those who are precious and important to you... and suddenly, that bond you share feels like the only thing you can think of.

And in response to a recent arrival, it seems there are sakura petals falling everywhere you look. Not a lot, just enough to spark that memory - of someone familiar, of someone important, perhaps... or perhaps no one at all.

( CW: brief description of water )


[[ooc: please feel free to use this as a mingle - Sakura's actual intro will be the first comment to this entry, should you wish to interact with her specifically.]]

[Today, November 17th, is Makoto's birthday. He personally hasn't paid much attention to it, but unknown to him, Kiseki decided to celebrate it for him. And how does it do that? By deciding to throw a pool party, of course.

Everywhere around the different island there are posters announcing the party in the gym, where there is an indoor pool. Once there, everyone would be able to see everything neatly prepared: things for the younger residents of Kiseki to swim in without sinking, the welcome ladies organizing different kinds of swimming competitions (including a relay).

There are even tables filled with all kinds of food and cakes, for those who might not want to swim. There's also posters around the walls with safety rules for the pool.]

[So today, it's a bit chilly outside, so maybe you don't feel like going outside too much -- thinking of maybe just hanging out in the underground tunnels beneath the hotel -- there's the cafeteria, and a few common rooms with televisions and couches and fluffy places to relax.]

[In one of these places, you might find Arthur and Merlin, who were attempting to spend a peaceful afternoon but have now, as usual, descended into Arthur's frustrated grumbles/shoutings. Merlin's all cuddled up on one of the couches, noming on some popcorn and curled up in a big blanket and Arthur is kneeling down in front of the DVD player and television]

[Arthur, for his part, looks grumpy -- this is his attempt to help Merlin relax a bit, since the deal with all those loses before ended up shaking him up a lot more than might be immediately noticeable. But this blasted modernity!!]

I don't understand! I made it work before! Emma showed me.

[The video doesn't really demonstrate it easily, but anyone super observant will be able to see that Arthur is putting the DVD in upside down in the machine, although he doesn't realize this]

It goes in, see! It should work now. [Stares at the screen, which stays frustratingly blank.] I press this button, and...

[Nope, blank screen. On the couch, Merlin says I could just--]

Shut up, Merlin, I can figure this out. The movie's 79 minutes, so I just... [he presses 7 and then 9 on the remote and then suddenly the screen goes fuzzy] [asdlghasld;] What happened?!

[Merlin sighs behind him and says yes, Sire all the while grinning obnoxiously, in his "you are dumb and cute" kind of way and keeps eating some popcorn, watching as Arthur continues to struggle and adds, I believe in you, Sire.]

... Shut up, Merlin. [Arthur blushes a it as Merlin continues to smile oh so innocently and wiggle his toes a bit under the blanket]

[Maybe you'll have more luck than these two, though. Feel free to hang out with everyone, have some fun or just relax... or put these two out of their misery.]


[ooc: Post is open for mingling! If you'd like for Arthur or Merlin (or both) to respond to your comments, just note in the subject line or as an ooc note in your comment!]

[Anyone passing by the candy shop today or glancing at their journal will see Himawari outside the candy shop's front door, holding a little tray of little baskets, all full of little candy-coated chocolates, and sparkling at anyone who may be passing by]

Free samples! Today only - try our new recipes and flavors!

[Over the past seven years, this day has usually been one for melancholy or thoughtfulness, considering it marks another year in Kiseki, but this year, Himawari is determined to face it with more cheerfulness and happiness than previous years. Dare she even think maybe with a kind of hopefulness? Regardless, her good mood doesn't seem faked for once.]

Free samples for everyone today to mark the candy shop's anniversary! [It's not the exact day for the shop, of course, but she's long since forgotten the day she got the job here - or the day she inherited the shop from Kakei and Saiga. So today works as well as any]

The candy shop has been around for almost seven years now, so I just wanted to do my part to thank everyone for your continued support and business over the years - to both old and new customers. Thank you very much! Shizuka-kun, Lancelot-san, and I are all incredibly thankful!

And if you like the candies, please consider returning and buying all our different lines of candy!



[Of course, anyone who actually does take the candy samples from her will find themselves, a short time later, undergoing some strange side-effects, ones that no one might necessarily expect, least of all Himawari. Suddenly, her good mood (and lack of good luck) seems to be spreading to others around - and everyone's suddenly just a little bit lovestruck.]

[The effects of the candy will last for as long as half of an hour, or shorter. Your character will eat the candy and then fall in "love" with whoever they happen to see first upon eating that candy. For more information about the original event, go here. The candies being offered will be listed in the cut below.]

( ooc: candy colors & their type of love )

[Look at that calendar, dear Kiseki residents! Do you see what day is today? Do you?

Exactly

It's Harry Dresden's birthday! Yay!

It's such an important date that the land itself decided to throw a themed party for him, in which he's trapped and unable to leave before midnight. Therefore, starting at around 10 am, a big section of the park starts resembling Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!

That'd be the wrong wizard named Harry but who cares as long as the food is good, right?

We have, among other things, a Quidditch field with brooms that don't fly - unless except MAYBE if you ask an actual wizard to enchant them -, a TARDIS-sized Shrieking Shack, and a replica of the Great Hall where there are tables with lots of food and cake and more cake and the ceiling is just like the sky… No, wait. That is the actual sky.

Oh, oh. I guess it's Halloween too. Thus, some of the characters who wander inside the party zone may have their clothes changed to the Hogwarts house they'd be in if they were students. Even if they have never heard of anything Potter.]

((OOC: Everyone is welcome to the party! And welcome to mingle, of course =) You can give your good wishes to the birthday boy in his thread here))

filtered to yuuki;

[ thank you robin, for teaching souji how to use filters. now he can abuse the shit out of it ]

[ basically, he's doing this ]

public;

[ a lot of shit in kiseki has made souji think long and hard about his life choices, but the best thing to do when trying to confront certain painful truths and startling conversations with other people is ignore your own problems

and focus on someone else's ]

So. [ he's outside of hanahito, looking thoughtful ] What should you do if your girlfriend's upset at you?

[ 1. souji doesn't have a girlfriend

2. the 'girlfriend' in question knows this and would be annoyed

3. spoilers it's yuuki ]

[With the last shreds of cake dissolving and leaving the usual sakura tree back in place, things seem to slowly be going back to normal again. Or as normal as it can be in Miracle Country, anyway. The monsters are finally gone, allowing those who are still searching for their lost things to get them back in peace.

While the decorations, confetti and such are gone, there might be something else people will notice. Hair, lots of thin white strands of fur falling from seeming everywhere... Aang is flying around on Appa, who seems to be in need of a good brushing. So when he notices Appa is shedding all over the place, he'll take a detour towards one end of the park so he can take care of his bison properly.]

[[ooc: open mingle! if you want aang, comment to his tag here, otherwise abuse the post as you'd like.]]

[Today seemed as though it would be another quiet day in Miracle Country. Mild weather, a peaceful atmosphere, people probably had no idea anything would soon be wrong when they set off to work, school, or a day of goofing around.

Soon it'll be clear it won't be that simple. Creeping out from the forests and from within the lake or ocean, some creatures will set out to attack others. Becoming impossible to stop at the exact moment of this attack, these monsters will set out to steal something important to people: an ability they have, or an important personality trait, which will now take the form of a tangible, brightly glowing light.

The monsters don't seem to want them for themselves, however. They'll either sneak away quickly, and end up hiding what they took in some difficult place, or they'll challenge the owner - or anyone else who'd like to step up and fight - to a battle for the stolen traits or abilities.

If the creatures get away from you, either because they've gone off to hide your skill/trait or because the battle was lost somehow, the owner of what was lost will always be able to find their skill or trait eventually, as their presence will call back to them. Similarly, if they find someone else's lost skill or trait, they'll be able to know it's not their own. Perhaps they'll want to give it back, too, or maybe even keep it for themselves for a while? While they cannot absorb the abilities or traits themselves, it could be a good way to manipulate others or get a favor from them...]

[[Mingle for the lost traits event! Keep in mind the timing, since any new post opened until the 21st will be happening within the context of this event.]]

[The video starts out with the above image, of a few jack-o-lanterns set up on Snow's teachers desk, and a moment later there's a small, almost self-conscious laugh as she holds up the journal to get a better view.]

I thought it'd be a nice thing for everyone to do today. [Arts and crafts is getting hands-on today, kids.] If you want to carve a pumpkin, come on down to the playground at the school today. We have picnic tables set up for carving, and you can make pumpkins like these here.

Everyone's welcome to join in... I have lots of pumpkins, and with Halloween so near, it'd be great to get into the spirit of it all.


[Anyone passing by the school today, or having seen the video, is free to join in on the pumpkin-carving. Snow's got a big collection of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, and will be handling the actual knives part for the younger kids -- and strictly supervising the older ones (and, lbr, the adults too)

And she's set up some other Halloween activities, such as making ghosts, and of course there are some some treats and goodies for anyone who doesn't want to put in too much effort]



[ooc: this is open for basic mingling, too, should you so desire!]

[Ever since the start of this week, you may have noticed a change in the weather and the general mood of Kiseki. Yes, summer is over. While it was really quite warm following up to this week, this week it's a little cooler, a little crisper - and other than the sakura tree that's always in bloom, all the other trees in the park and forests have begun to change color and fall. Fall is here in Miracle Country!

This week, maybe you need a little adjusting. Need to buy some warmer clothes? Have a sudden urge to eat something pumpkin-flavored or caramel-flavored? There are piles of leaves to hop into, maybe.

And throughout this week, the crisp, clear skies may cloud over and it'll start to drizzle, and sometimes even just rain. It'll drizzle throughout the day with some sun breaks, but it's definitely a clear indication of the change in the seasons.

But when it's not raining, and your character feels like exploring, they'll find literal cornicopias of fruits and vegetables all throughout the garden island, the park, and the forests. Sample them for yourselves, or perhaps make a pie with them.

Autumn is a time of harvest and abundance but also a time of waning sunlight and longer nights... so perhaps you feel that shift in the air, and are left reflecting on it.

Regardless, autumn is here.]