+++ 奇跡国 - Miracle Country +++

[In the spirit of obnoxiously early holiday decorations, Kiseki is getting an early winter! That's right, days are shorter, nights are cold, and snow is starting to fall every day. The lake has yet to freeze over, but it's definitely not suitable for jumping in anymore (sorry, Haru), and the overall scenario is clearly fitting of the season, with most trees finally losing their last leaves (save for that one sakura exception, as usual). Even the native Kisekians are looking the part, now dressed for a colder climate.

Some of the shopping district areas have began to be decorated, even, while others might be offering sales on things like warmer clothes, thick blankets, or comfort foods such as cocoa. They might notice that many of these clothes have feather patterns on them, although for anyone who's spent a long time in Kiseki, feathered-themed things shouldn't seem too out of place...]

[Oddities aside, winter is here! Stock up on comfy socks, get your coziest blankets out, and start planning out awkward family dinners! You might not have a chance to do it later on, afterall.]

[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.]

[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))

[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!]

[Since Torin has been around Kiseki for a few months by now, he's used to normal humans seeing him, which means he finds it perfectly natural to make a public video. For those of you who haven't seen him yet... yes, that's a humanoid blue bird in your screen.]

It has come to my attention that I might be in need of a hobby. [Because that's the kind of things he needs to be told.]

After some consideration, I realized I could choose to do something useful as well as enjoyable. So I am offering my skills as a sword fighting instructor. I can teach the basics for those who are just starting, or more specific techniques for those with some experience. Simply let me know if you are interested.

[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.]

[So it's a nice start to the weekend, and maybe you're looking for something to do. Fear not, because perhaps you get it in your mind to explore some of the islands. Should you find your way to the sports island, you'll find a lot of fun opportunities to have some fun: sports courts, fully-equipped gym, ice rink, a giant frickin' swimming pool...

Wanting to have some fun? Work-out? Scope out the hot eye candy working out? Harass the workers? Plenty of opportunity for all these things and more.

Korra, for her part, is one such worker who's in the process of collecting some stray basketballs rolling across the court. Eventually, she gets tired of trying to herd the things so she just sends out a massive airbending attack!!1 to get all the balls rolling in one direction... of course, then they just bounce off the walls, hitting it too hard, and start bouncing all over the place.]

... Geez. [Stop that.]

[She starts airbending again but the basketballs all have their own thoughts and keep bouncing around everywhere.

And then all of a sudden there's a giant polar bear dog bounding in through the front doors and across the court, trying to catch all of them at once. This isn't totally unlike her, though, so Korra what did you expect?]

Naga! Wait - ! [and that's when the video ends.]


[[ooc: this is open for a basic mingle, as well. Come over to the sports island and have fun!]]

[After having some time apart and realizing this whole "being trapped in another world" thing wasn't going to be over any time soon, David & Mary Margaret meet once again, managing to scream less this time. They're both so done with all of this, emotionally exhausted from all the new information, the people they can't remember, the fact that everyone around them insists they're happily married and have a family together.

The journal records them as they're back in their old room, going through their belongings in an attempt to have something trigger their supposedly lost memories. Mary Margaret goes through some assorted pictures, some of the two of them together, others with the kids (adopted or not). Her expression turns sadder again, so David goes sit closer to her, glancing at the pictures too. She smiles, getting wibbly again despite her efforts to keep calm.]

We looked so... [She makes a little gesture at the pictures, trying to get him to understand.]

Happy? [He finishes for her, getting the idea. Agrees, too, reaching to take one of the pics and look at it better, silent for a moment] [...] It's all I wanted to have. For us to have.

[Mary Margaret looks up at him, even more visibly emotional at his words. He starts to mumble an apology, but trails off as they just stare at each other... They move at the same moment to kiss, and the moment they do, a wave of light rushes through the air, expanding all across Kiseki. When they break apart, they look shocked.]

Snow...! [He reaches for her, pulling her closer, starting to smile.]

Charming...! [She does the same, holding to him and beaming up at him.]

[They don't even get to the you found me!1! usual lines, they're too busy kissing again.]

[[OOC: And they're back! The True Love's Kiss (TM) power will send a wave of happiness and good feelings all across the island. No grumpiness for a while! The log is a mingle, so feel free to tag each other on your own. Snow & David will have their own tags to hit if you'd like to talk to them.]]