+++ 奇跡国 - Miracle Country +++

[Despite the many complaints about it, it's still winter. Now that the world isn't changing things around nor causing a blizzard, why not take advantage of the cold to have a little fun?

With a little help from certain resident wizards, and the intention of cheering up a certain shinki, the lake's been polished for use as a skating ring, and David & Snow are setting out ice-skates in various sizes (left over from previous, more dramatic ice-related shenanigans) for anyone who'd like to give it a try. If twirling around on ice isn't really your thing, there'll surely be some who engage in snowball fights instead, or play other games in the snow.

Maybe you simply want to watch the others, or end up being curious about what's going on and just come over to chat - there'll be plenty of the Charmings family's trademark hot cocoa with cinnammon for anyone who'd like some, regardless. You might want to watch out for Snow trying to fuss over your clothes not looking warm enough, though, don't think she won't try and shove an extra sweater or scarf your way.]

[[Charming house mingle! Hit up the residents of their home while they do various things, or play out your own threads among yourselves.]]

[Had fun being petty and insecure? Judging your loved ones' actions and confronting them over ridiculous claims? Making a fool of-- well, granted, perhaps it wasn't all that fun. Maybe it's time to be treated nicely, for once! What better way to do this than indulging everyone in a little comfort (since releasing the captives in this world or not disturbing their lives once in a while isn't an option, no, don't be silly)?

Whether you were a victim of the last little mishap or not, today you'll find things could be quite enjoyable. You'll find your beds extra comfy (is that a new comforter? Extra pillows? Nicer bed-sheets?), and realize a table with a nice, big breakfast is all set up and waiting for you. Are you not the type to enjoy indulging in meals? Maybe you'll find a big book that could interest you, instead. Or wake up to the sound of purring, and find a new pet (or visitor) there to spend the morning with you. Or a relaxing bubble bath will be waiting, all set for you. You could go down to the common rooms to find just that one movie you've always loved waiting there to be watched, and the usual seats ready with blankets to curl up in, and plenty of snacks to share with others. You could find that the cafeteria's stocked up on several of your favorite meals.

If you're more the type to enjoy the outdoors, the weather will be nice and comfortable despite the time of the year, and the paths you go through every day will seem prettier than usual, perfect to enjoy a walk with someone else, or at least enjoy your usual routines in a more cheerful way. You could get lucky - find an item you wanted to buy, find the peace of mind to finish that paperwork that's been nagging you in time. No tricks or catches this time, it's just a day to enjoy yourselves and relax.

... Not that you can't be a little paranoid, once you notice things are going so well. Afterall, who can trust this world at this point?]

[The eclipse is now fully over, and it's time to return to the usual routine... and hey, what better way to clear your head from a series of bad dreams than with some exercise? If anyone mentions being hit with sticks, don't listen to them.

It so happens that today you'll have a perfect chance for this. Where the (momentarily) half-empty bike shop was, now you'll notice a whole lot more activity. The place was refurbished, and a weapons shop has been added to it. Perhaps because of the empty storage place, or because the current owner is somewhat responsible... In any case, passing by the store will likely catch your attention: if it isn't the impressive sword collection currently on display (and don't bother trying to grab them or steal them, they're all carefully protected with magic), or the actual (less impressive, surely) swords, bows, arrows and other items on sale, it'll be the noise: now and then you'll hear a robotic-like voice repeating PARRY PARRY, THRUST over and over.

You might hear those outside of the shop, as well, since the opening of the new shop means it's a great chance to try out weapons and train a little, and so people are taking advantage of its closeness to the park, to have a special practice day. Whether you're a complete newbie to any sort of fighting technique, or an expert, surely there'll be someone who can match your skills, or teach you... or simply put up a bit of a show to impress you. We're not running out of show-offs, either.]


[[Training/shop log! Pearl can be found here, Neal is here, otherwise mingle as you'd like!]]

[It’s the new year. And with tradition, the first dream of the new year will create the foundation of the rest of that year – either well-wishes or burdens. Enjoy the fireworks as you ring in the new year – you deserve it, perhaps, after such a trying year stuck in this world. Fireworks are sounding, a spark of noise and fire, and it’s exciting… but you might feel a sudden wave of sleepiness – nothing too extreme, but expected after such a long year of various magic and uncertainties.

The next day, though, there is no bright sunny day – instead, there’s an eclipse, the moon steadily moving across the sky to block out the sun. Instead of lasting a few minutes, however, this eclipse will last the entire week. As the moon moves across the sun, lights will begin to flicker out across Miracle Country, light by light. Soon, you’ll be complete darkness.

That darkness won’t last for long, though, so don’t be too frightened… Little flickers of light will emerge, small floating candles hovering in the air and set on certain places – your rooms, the hotel reception, other buildings, and the underground common rooms. You don’t have to be afraid of the dark – these candles won’t abandon you now. You can even go about your normal routine, despite the darkness.

But remember that wave of sleepiness you felt on that first day? It’s back. Like the lights, that feeling of sleepiness won’t abandon you – and no matter how much you sleep, it won’t stop you from nodding off throughout the week.

You and everyone around you will enter a more conscious state of dreaming when you do finally fall asleep. Things will seem vivid, lucid – you’ll remember your dreams with a new clarity you never have before.

And once you do fall asleep, you will find yourself with an ability you hadn’t had before: dreamwalking.

Suddenly, you are not limited just to the landscape of your own dreams – but rather the dreams of others. It could be a simple dream or an extravagant dream – a nightmare or a passing daydream. Symbolism or straight-forward understandings – will your presence warp the dream around you or will you need to locate the dreamer in order to find a way out? There’s no set way to awaken or a clear way to tell whose dream you might stumble into. And there’s no way to keep inquiring people out of your own dream, either.

As the eclipse progresses throughout the week, you will find yourself sleepier and sleepier – falling asleep without intention or without the aid of a bed or resting. Sometimes, you might fall asleep just where you stand, or sit, or in the middle of a conversation. You will fall asleep anywhere and for longer than normal, even through nightmares.

The lines between reality will begin to blur. That strange world you visited – was it a dream or was it reality? That conversation you had with a complete stranger, a dear friend, a precious loved one – did it happen or did you dream it? Did you witness someone in your own dream, visiting you, or were they simply a fragment of your own dream passing through the night? And was it a dream at all?

The lines will only continue to blur throughout the week. This new world you’ve stumbled into – is it a dream? Or, perhaps, it is only Miracle Country transformed, like so many times before. Perhaps you’ve actually returned home, to that moment you’ve been thinking of for so long… Or, perhaps, you have found yourself in a completely different world all together. After all, Miracle Country can’t be the only impossible world out there... right?]


[our anniversary event starts right now! For a reminder on specifics and plotting, please refer to this post]

[Winter is... nearby! And Miracle Country is now shifting to reflect it. With a little extra this time. Snow will fall across the island, with occasional hailstorms now and then.

But of course, our residents won't be left to freeze. For maximum cozy points, today people will find that the hotels are temporarily gone, and the forests seem to have expanded to take over that area. Accessible through many ladders and interconnected through hanging bridges, large treehouses meant to accomodate everyone have been set up. You'll want to look around to find your own, as rooms don't exactly match: the tree houses are big, some meant to house several people in it (with only the usual mini-kitchens missing from them), while others will work the part of the common rooms such as the cafeteria and other underground locations, holding food supplies, blankets and clothes, or even the TVs and other items like books or electronics available.

You might not even notice this at first, however. Some will not be in one of these treehouses, and instead find themselves in smaller huts found across Miracle Country's islands, even on places such as the beach, deep in the forests, or outside the amusement park! Small and cozy, they can either work as more private housing, or simply be an option to take a short break in while walking around. Some of them will carry fitting items for the occasion - things like bags of marshmallows, chocolates, or even scarves and dry, fluffy socks for anyone who might've been caught up in the storm.

With everything looking so accomodating for the most part, it might come as a surprise if certain events happen during these days, given the chances of them happening seem to be a little higher than usual. Perhaps you'll be lucky and simply get to enjoy the changes as they are. ... If you're not the type to enjoy sharing a space with others too much, though, you'll have to learn to manage - the treehouses and huts will remain this way until Sunday 20th!]

[During Friday, there'll be an easy way to relax after the week. Miracle Country's taking advantage of the last few days before the winter, and so the Usyagi will be flying around, handing out little cards encouraging people to take a boat ride. Even if they don't get one, it'll be clear they're set up specially for the evening, all of them looking new as ever and decorated with small lights around them, ready to take those who feel like accepting the offer over to the beach. The ride will be slow and let them enjoy the peaceful trip over to the beach (or the company of anyone riding with them). Maybe you found yourself on one of the boats with someone you didn't mean to take the trip with? Well, it's either enduring the ride, or jumping into the cold river. The choice is up to you.

Once there, they'll find the beach is also set up to receive them. Lanterns light up the way around seats under parasols, some fancier and set up with tables and plenty of food to be shared, some cozier and meant to be used by fewer people. There'll even be a few bonfires you can gather around, if you'd like.

Late at night, the lights from lanterns or fires will seem to dim, allowing the starry sky to be seen more brightly. It might look a little strange, however. Is that constellation meant to be a pig? Perhaps that one's a rabbit, then. Some might make even less sense. At least it's still pretty to look at, right?]

[That's right, dear Kiseki residents, it is that time again! The time you have all been waiting for with bated breath! It is time... for the Modernity Club to gather once again!

Throughout the week, posters similar to this one can be found in various places: the hotel lobby, the school, the bulletin boards in different shops. And on the weekend, should you venture down to the common rooms of the hotel, you shall find-- well.

Something that looks pretty chaotic at first.

All the rooms have been labeled on the doors: one of them reads "well-known movies in three minutes or less", one of them "electronic appliances and how to use them" (the room is full of all small electronic appliances found in Kiseki, along with some posters, such as one that depicts a man in a bath, holding a toaster in his hands, with the headline Don't drop a toaster in a bath unless you want to become toast!), another "interpersonal skills 101" (with a bullet-point list taped next to the door, about How to sneak around (but seriously just talk to people instead), on the cafeteria door "dishes you never knew you could cook", and finally, on the wall next to the lounge, "eat and mingle --->".

Stiles, not being able to be in all the places at once, starts in the room about the movies, standing around with books and actual DVDs he's been able to find; the other rooms have their own people in charge of the education. So pop in, learn things, come in to teach others, or maybe just come there for the free food and drinks!]


( ooc: this is a mingle log! if you want your character to be in charge of one of the very educational presentations, feel free to just assume it or poke me on plurk! if you want to interact with stiles himself, his top level is here. )

[Today is a regular day in Miracle Country - no more pestering Usyagi (outside of their usual, that is), no sudden life changes, so surely everyone can go around and do their routines without much worry...

That is, for those who don't have the unfortunate encounter with a blur of pink as they walk outside, and find themselves suddenly flying through a magical, colorful tunnel of light, and reappear at... Well, somewhere else on the islands. Perhaps they'd travelled all the way to the museum island only to realize they're now out of this dimensional portal and at the hotel's underground common rooms. Maybe they'd only gone out to buy some snacks, and are now showing up inside a cave in the forests. Maybe they had been heading to work, and now find themselves inexplicably inside one of the trains, travelling to whichever station.

Now, a ridiculous inconvenience combined with pink definitely sounds like Miracle Country's doing, but in this case, it isn't its doing. Turns out a certain magical pink pet has been feeling unwell, and as a result been hiccupping these little portals... And because he does what he wants, he's been moving all over the place, which means catching more unsuspecting victims with it. Perhaps it's a good time to suggest some rest, or maybe look up whether a Lion can safely drink tea.]

Let it never be said that Sebastian doesn't provide exceptional and enthusiastic service: everywhere you go, on every island, in every store window, and possibly on the back of a certain person's head are posters advertising the Funtomhive Company's new sister line.

That's right, kind citizens. If you are homesick and want to surround yourself with more familiar items, or miss sleeping by the light of that special lampshade that beautifies your side table, or even worse, can't live without your Aunt Martha's ugly figurine, the Funtomhive Company's new decorative line, Funtom Décor, will work with you to recreate whatever your heart desires. He'll even make bread lamps for you, if that's what you want.

There's nothing so gaudy as a price list in print, but the phrase "Commission on Demand" does guarantee that your piece will be one of a kind. Or ten of a kind, if you seriously want to go that route. Any requests, the flyer says, inquire within through care of post or visit to Earl Ciel Phantomhive or Sebastian Michaelis. The address listed underneath will lead you to a newly opened store in the shopping district- tasteful, small, and with this logo hanging over the door.

Thank you, Sebastian, for correctly interpreting the animal Ciel had chosen.

Inside the door is where the restraint stops, the interior resembling a mini-mansion to the extreme. Why? Because Sebastian. That's why. And because Sebastian's involved, light refreshments are placed to the side, mysteriously refilled every so often with no visible maid in view.

Come explore if you're strolling on by and partake in the fresh, baked goods.


(ooc: Will adapt to your posting style. Anyone looking to commission their services can also seek out Sebastian at his various job locations (what is it, 7 now? you definitely can't miss him), or Ciel at his educational institution or around his hotel. Also feel free to use this post as a mingle, to discuss furnishing/item requests among yourselves. Or discuss it and ixnay it, whatever works!)

[The tremors from the earthquake may be over but things are shakier than ever in the days that pass since the ball. Exposed vampires and their motives have been brought into question. Humans have been turned and fed from in the bloody mess of it all, and even the balance of the kingdom is at stake now. Hunters gather to decide how to handle the situation, while vampires with the most to lose from the leaked secrets must be frantic to keep anyone looking to flee Samara from escaping. No one can simply leave, not now.

But the fact is that neither side can hold out for long either. What will those caught in between do? There's plenty of injured (and vampires crazed by all that blood, even more likely to lose it and attack) and visitors that had nothing to do with the conflict and now dragged into it beyond anything they could have imagined. The rumors are running wild among those recovering and there's the feeling that they all have only moments before hunters and vampires are facing off against one another. Samara may well be on its way to becoming the location of sparking a full out war.]

[Beyond any skirmishes that break out, they won't get to decide -- A powerful wind of black flower petals sweeps through the world in a blur and with that everyone returns! To themselves and their own memories and the familiar landscape of Miracle Country. Typical cutesy Halloween decorations hang everywhere in sight, most so at the park where they'll all return to, greeted by food and drinks and candy alike, and costumes of all kinds courtesy of the same magic. Hope you enjoyed the drama... and Happy Halloween.]