+++ 奇跡国 - Miracle Country +++

[The days pass, and more and more creatures begin to show up on both lands. The border between both sides is now the best hunting area, with easy access to creatures from either side, nevermind the possibility of sneaking around to get some other supplies, to gather info, to steal weapons. Maybe even simply visiting to have a chat, nothing says diplomacy can't be attempted, right? Much as the memories everyone holds say it hasn't worked out so far...

Ah, speaking of memories, they'll be getting a little fuzzy these days. Now and then, you'll feel like you can't recall certain things, some encounters, past events, stories you've heard. Or maybe you remember them, but they're not what you expect. Small flashes of people you can't remember ever meeting here. Locations that aren't anywhere to be seen, neither here nor back home. Like dreams that feel too real, too solid, too important to you, to merely be some construct of your imagination.

Is it the confinement, maybe? A longing for a different life, now that everyone seems trapped here and left to fight a battle not even their own? But then, why is it that some of those memories resemble a trap, as well? Trying to manage in an unknown world, the feeling of helplessness, the bonds you couldn't have made otherwise.

On this clear night, with a full moon visible from either side, these visions will be clearer than ever, more powerful than before. And if the ruins of some destroyed building seem familiar all of a sudden (haven't you seen that exact shade of pink before? Were the ruins the sand covers ever this colorful?), or the vegetation over at the other side looks oddly shaped (like the vines and trees on one area are forming a bridge, all of a sudden), well, it's clear something might be changing. Your own abilities might be shifting, as well. Is your magic not working as it should, doing new things, unable to do the usual spells? Is your aim off, or suddenly incredibly accurate? Does your trusted weapon suddenly feel inadequate? Let's just hope your skills in this world didn't involve things like flying, or aren't needed at a crucial moment, such as when fighting a giant monster, right? You wouldn't want a malfunction at that time, afterall.]

🌸

[[Our CLAMP AU event continues!]]

[It’s another beautiful day in this wasteland, isn’t it?

You know how it is here – you’ve been brought here from your own world, maybe months ago, maybe years ago, but very little has changed: the two sides fighting for the much-needed but depleted supplies, the harsh conditions of this battered desert landscape, the tensions that run high on the worst of days or simmer towards the boiling point on better days.

There’s been a tentative peace between the Dragons of Heaven and the Dragons of Earth these last few weeks, though... Very tentative. You’ve all had enough on either side to warrant a ceasefire on all the fighting – not needing to interact with anyone on the other side. Nobody really knows when all this fighting started – only that it keeps going and no resolution has worked so far.

This isn’t your original world. You still want to go home – but it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen anytime soon. You’ve been brought here to fight on these two sides. Hopefully you can survive this, because this place is certainly not doing you any favors.



Because now the supplies are running lower and the monsters lurking out in the sand, or beneath the water, or in the limited vegetation are getting more aggressive, fueled by their own hunger. Maybe it’s not such a peaceful day, after all.

You’re all in need of supplies. One side has the water and vegetation, what you desperately need to survive another day. But the other side has the clothes, medical supplies, shelter materials, hunting materials. Supplies on both sides are running low – it’s “spring”, after all, and so the plants haven’t yet started to grow back fully, and the underground locations in the old city are running low on the stockpiled medical supplies. You’ll have to find a new cache soon.

But not all hope is lost…

A large sand worm – the first of the season! – has been spotted near the border between the two territories. It’s a good chance to get a leg-up on the other side: the meat can be used for food, its poison for weapons and antidotes, its skin for clothing or shelter, its teeth for tools. Of course, it is dangerous, so it’s important to be cautious. Especially if you run into the other side while hunting! Or maybe you’re sneaking across into enemy territory to steal supplies by force. It’s been known to happen. But you better make sure you don’t get caught or there could be real trouble.]


🌸

[ooc: Our (belated) anniversary/CLAMP day event begins - CLAMP AU! Go here for information/plotting.

Happy CLAMP Day!]

[It's just a series of short videos that post intermittently throughout the day.

The first, the sakura trees in the park all starting to bloom, there's even a fuzzy out-of-focus shot of a close-up on some of the flowers before the camera adjusts and it comes into focus.

The second, the horses on the farm island, snorting softly as they walk along the fence. Porthos' hand reaches out to offer an apple and one of the horses butts into the other in an attempt to get there.

The third, Aramis napping. He's also maybe snoring.

The fourth, the way the sunlight's filtering in through the leaves of the trees on the forest path - in the distance, one of the forest huts, little birds on the roof tweeting.

The fifth and final video is just a recording of a pile of papers. Porthos' hand appears again, brushing aside a few on the top layer to get to one at the center. The camera moves in close, and up close, it's clear it's a note from Robin, addressed to Porthos. It's nothing too special - just a quick note asking if he'd meet her at the library.

Why is he recording and posting these videos? Not certain. Maybe ask him about it?]



[ooc: feel free to use this as a mingle post! Porthos has his own thread as linked above.]

[Something feels different. Like a déjà vu gone completely wrong, like you've forgotten something important, missed a relevant date. The feeling lasts through the day, and all calendars showing there's been a missing week, or the fact that you might've woken up at a place you don't remember falling asleep in, won't help with the confusion, most likely. But this unusual sensation, or finding yourselves inside the forest for no reason, or floating at the pool in the sports islands, and so on, isn't all that feels off. The world itself seems to be uneasy for a moment, and for those sensitive to magic, or auras, and such things, it's clear something's up...

Until it stabilizes. And then it's back to normal. Except it isn't, or at least not entirely. The Usyagi flutter around, looking busy, most of them heading towards a specific location: the shopping district, which now looks rather different. Quieter, less bright. Most of the shops that one can usually find, and the moving maze of magically appearing and disappearing stores, are now replaced with an odd stillness and boarded up store-fronts. It seems almost every shop has closed up, save for a few of them. These only carry very basic goods - perhaps a few clothes, basic necessities, staple foods. And not much else.

For those with long experience with Miracle Country's shenanigans, it might not seem that unusual, right? Supplies have been cut before, only to come back a while later. And yet, this change is here to stay. The cafeteria in the underground tunnels will now carry some staple foods as well, should anyone go and check for availability there.

But well, it's not so bad, is it? Afterall, there is a massive farm around, now. There're the fast-growing fields at the garden islands. There're fish at the river and sea, there're wild animals at the forests, and the shops owned by those who were brought here are still intact. Maybe it's a good time to get more familiarized with all of those, if you're far too used to the convenience of finding anything right away. And should anything prove too difficult to obtain, there's always the Usyagi to turn to. For a price, of course.]


[[What it says! Changes are established here, do ask us about any questions or doubts you might have regarding what's available or not.]]

[Are you busy watching that special person from afar, convinced they will never notice your existance? At home, working hard on that home-made lunch to share with them? Busy rehearsing that perfect confession to your special person, to say during a windy day so that flower petals flutter all around the two of you? Alone, longingly thinking of that one person you can't meet, the world separating the two of you...



Wait, that doesn't sound right, does it? But today, it might not seem that far-fetched. It's St Valentine's Day, and today, love is in the air. Cheesy, clichéd, corny love, it seems, the kind that makes you trip in slow-motion into the arms of the object of your affections, reach your loved one just in time for a perfect confession, get to do all the things you love with that person, find that ridiculous teddy bear or gift that'll turn you and your significant other into pure mush around each other, and so on.

But of course, there's no need to always stick to the traditional and obvious. So if that confession which you didn't plan on ends up being heard by someone you can't stand, or if you get momentary romantic feelings from someone sneaking into your room at midnight to hide, or maybe something more upsetting such as your confessions being interrupted constantly, well, here's to new traditions!]

[[Romantic cliches event! No need to stick to CLAMP themes, pick your favorite trope and roll with it.]]

[Another bright day in Miracle Country, where everything is calm and quiet and... colorful? Not just pink this time, either. It'll be hard not to notice that something's different, even from simply looking outside each house's windows.

Outside, it's a jungle. A plastic one! Slides, rainbow-colored net bridges or tunnels connecting different buildings, or treetops, or the many maze-like structures that have been magically put up during the night. And all around, ball pits, massive ones full of little colorful plastic balls to swim in, or struggle to get out of. It seems simple enough, right? Climb through the ladders and bridges, slide down the slides, and reach your usual destination... Well, some of the bridges may vanish now and then, leaving you to fall to your colorful, plastic-y doom. There are false steps on some of the ladders that'll cause the same results. Sometimes you'll find yourself taking a wrong step and falling down a slide that you could swear wasn't even there before. Even the usual comfort of the underground seems at risk, given that it's possible to take a wrong step or turn there and find yourself going down a slide... that might lead to another end of the islands entirely.



Basically, you're very likely to get lost, confused, and frustrated... Or have a ton of fun jumping from here to there in this magical game, especially once you notice not all the plastic balls are the same! Some are squishy like stress balls, some might be large bubblegum, others might have effects like tickling the people touching them, and so on. Now, for those who aren't so keen on it, don't despair - some of the ballpits are set with things like picnic baskets, or even pillows - maybe just grab a snack, or rest from a tiresome day of playing around. Some of the bridges and tunnels going across the trees of the various islands lead to little treehouses where you can catch a break, as well. And should you be stuck out there even through the night, you'll notice that the different plastic balls start to glow, helping with visibility.

So perhaps it's better to have a more positive outlook at the situation, and simply have fun with others... Or pray that your tunnel doesn't lead straight into the forests while help is difficult to come by. Well, you do all have a handy way to communicate at least, right?]

[Some people might’ve noticed that, since the last change, Miracle Country now has some air balloons ready to be used by anyone who wants to. Today they will be a bit easier to spot because all of them are out in the air, making the view more colorful than usual. The skies are clear and compared to the last couple of days, it’s a lot warmer so the weather is not an excuse to not enjoy them.

The Usyagi are waiting by the balloons that haven't left their place on the ground yet, ready to hand some paper with all the basics you need to know about air balloons, what to do and not to do while being on them. Other than that, there really shouldn't be anything to worry about- they move on their own, on a pre-set route that's slightly different for each balloon.



And even if someone decides against it or has other plans, they might find themselves there on one of the air balloons either way. Probably with some company as well because being stuck in the air is a perfect opportunity to bond, isn’t it? There’s even a little picnic bag with some snacks and drinks to share while you enjoy the ride and make new friends or get to know the ones you have better.]

[It’s a beautiful winter’s night, clear and crisp, with the stars and moon out, even the occasional shooting star. What better time than tonight to have a winter celebration? Tonight is a Kiseki Snow Festival – as will be clear to see once the sun is set and the decorations show up, little glittering snowflakes attached to buildings or hanging from trees, snowmen holding signs, some snow shelters should you get too cold once it starts snowing.

Throughout the islands, there’ll be small lanterns floating in the air – delicate and cute, almost like little snowflakes themselves with candles flickering inside, and there’ll also be little snow huts along the paths to guide travelers along – take a nice night stroll through the snow.



There’ll be little festivities throughout the night – hot chocolate carts from the Usyagi, ice skating on the lake, little booths set up to play games for snow-themed prizes, and even fireworks at midnight. The world is inviting you to relax and to enjoy, and to stay warm during the winter months. Everyone is invited to attend and you might even feel that familiar compulsion to join in the fun, even if you’re someone who might sit it out.

So enjoy yourself! Take a nice walk with someone special, or try your hand at winning prizes, or serve up some hot chocolate to friends and family. The lights will guide you along all night, and the lanterns will start to float away before morning comes. ]

[Today for anyone who's walking around the shopping district, they'll see Yuuri pushing along a cart. There's a sign he's written on and attached to the cart, with just a simple message: Free Katsudon!]

[He's feeling utterly absurd, but is also rather determined - and he might even start steering the cart directly towards you if he spots you, which may or may not be alarming. At the end of the day, he's been here for over a month but hasn't really spoken to many people - mostly keeping to himself. Seems now he's trying to change that?]

[He'll be going around throughout the day, timid at first but more determined to approach people as the day goes on. It's important he shares this katsudon, after all! Which is when he gets an idea... He fumbles a little with his journal - he's had one for the time he's been here, obviously, but he hasn't actually paid that much attention to it. But if it's true that you can record messages through it, then... But sigh. He doesn't really do things like this. Does this count as some kind of strange magical social media?]

Um... [erm.] If you feel like katsudon, then maybe--

[No, that's not inviting at all. He'll never sell these if he talks like this! He looks visibly uncertain, staring down at his journal with a look of confusion and horror. But this is important. He can't back down now.]

For today only, you can try a Japanese pork cutlet bowl. [From a cart. Which is weird. But whatever.] It's delicious and filling and for a good cause. So please consider it. I highly recommend it.

Oh-- it's also free.

[There, that sounds okay, right? He frowns down at the camera, momentarily forgetting it's still turned on. He hopes this works. He looks oddly determined and insistent about this - which may or may not be worrying.]



[ooc: Context here - help Yuuri get Makkachin for Victor! Yuuri will be here so feel free to use this log for a mingle, if you'd like.]

[It’s another beautiful winter day in Miracle Country, and starts out a normal enough new day in the new year… it’s snowy and crisp. Great for snuggling up and keeping cozy, or walking around outside and enjoying the scenery.

Of course, it’ll be easy enough to tell that something is going on. Maybe you won’t notice it right away. But as soon as you see a friend or a loved one – reach out to hug them or to kiss them, to greet them in some kind of way, as simple as a brush of your hand – you’re stopped. There’s a literal physical barrier between you and everyone else. Maybe you think it’s a magical force, but if you look closely, it’ll be clear to see it’s a little pane of glass between you and the other person.



And no matter how hard you try, it won’t break.

Well, that’s a little upsetting, isn’t it? Maybe your strong magic can do something, or your physical strength as a warrior. But no, no matter what you do – it just won’t break. So you’ll have to wait for the magic to pass. Hopefully that isn’t too difficult for you. It shouldn’t be too bad – so long as you don’t get hurt for some reason, or you suddenly feel sick. It might not be a bad thing that happens, either – maybe you just can’t resist holding someone’s hand or you just need some warmth to get through the afternoon. As you know all sorts of strange things can happen at any time… ]