+++ 奇跡国 - Miracle Country +++

[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… ]

[With his last planned event not going as well as expected, and the time of the year asking for a celebration of some sort, Lucifer's set out to hold a successful party this time. Changing his approach entirely, he's booked the ballroom by the garden islands for the night, rather than use the bar.

Knowing him, you might expect something scandalous and inappropriate; instead, it only looks expensive. The place is fully decorated in reds, with small round tables full of food and drinks, and the usual space to dance. It doesn't even look too different from parties that were held there before... save maybe for the presence of Lucifer himself, on one end of the room by the piano he had brought over from the bar. Even the fact that glasses, plates, and other things have a wing motif isn't too out of place there.

He'll have sent out invitations conveniently forgetting to mention who was organizing the whole thing, and noting it's a formal party so people need to wear their best clothes. Certain people might even find that bit's been underlined several times. But of course, if anyone failed to comply with that part, Miracle Country can always help with it, and give them a proper outfit once they're there.

By the late evening, there'll also be a note in the journals, reminding people to not miss the event... And then another one. And another one. Remember how journals don't like it when people don't pay attention to them? Or try to hide them? Enjoy the flashing book following you around, then. It might be easier to simply give in and go, even if it's for a short while...]

[In events that have nothing to do (directly or indirectly) with recent ice-and-snow themed arrivals, it's now been snowing heavily all night. As the recent chilly days signaled, winter is almost here, and just like that, the residents will wake up to a white scenery, the new dome houses now resembling igloos more than anything else (or snowballs? ice cones? don't let anything stop the truly important debates going on). The lake has frozen over as usual, and snow covers the ground everywhere...



The most noticeable thing, for now, is the large snow sculptures that are decorating the place. Large snowmen, of course, but also things like snow Mokona in various sizes, what will likely resemble a snake to most people around, snowy winged eggs, and other cute creatures.

Most of these snow creations are absolutely harmless, by the way, and at most will provide inspiration to create one of your own, or look nice while you walk around... But some might move to toss a pile of snow at people who pass by. Some can move around and make the layout confusing. Some might decide the best place for resting is right at the entrance of your home. Some might look cute, and be hiding a certain type of tree under it... Be careful not to get caught up in their energy.

Even with a few possible incidents happening, it's still a perfect occasion to enjoy the snow, play some games, maybe get some hot chocolate, or be reminded to stock up on warm clothes for the months ahead... Surely a different kind of Snow will help you on that one. If you're more the type to grump about the cold and stay inside, the underground cafeteria will be stocked up with plenty of hearthy meals, and the common rooms are always there to be abused, now with extra blankets in case they're needed.]

[Many are probably not even aware that Miracle Country has a skating rink in it, right? Now it'll be a little harder to ignore - even if you ignore the hand-written flyers detailing what's going on, and placed here and there among common buildings (the welcome center, the underground cafeteria, the school) asking people to go over there, there's now also a video that'll make the journals alert you soon enough.

This video shows the rink itself, and the smiling!!!! face of the journal's owner, as he waves cheerfully.]

Hello! Please come over to the sports island! Not only is it fun, of course, but just for today, you have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from me! [And maybe he rather needs to be able to teach someone, but that's just a small detail.]

I'll be here until the evening, so don't be shy! I can't skate and record myself at the same time, so you'll have to see it for yourselves, alright? [MORE SMILES and then the recording stops.]

[[A little log so he can get his special custom skates here! Poke him in his thread or use the log as you'd like!]]

[It's a certain someone's birthday - not that he's told anybody - but instead of celebrating it, he's decided there's an opportunity to celebrate everyone! Once the rain has let up, at least a little, there's a giant message-board near the new houses. It seems to have everyone's names on it, and above is written -

HAVE A VERY MERRY UNBIRTHDAY, EVERYONE!

"What's an Unbirthday? Why, that's a day that's not your birthday! You deserve a chance to celebrate yourself, because you're amazing! And if you think someone else is amazing, be sure to let them know!"

With all the pens and markets waiting at the bottom, it seems to indicate that you're encouraged to write compliments under people's names. Try to be anonymous? Get caught in the act? Only compliment yourself? Give it a try!]

[After the recent battles, it's a good time to destress, and on this occasion Miracle Country has something different planned out. Rather than spas or food buffets as usual, today people will find that there are art stations scattered around the islands. Go up to one of the large tables full of colored papers, markers, glitter and other things to make card or collages of any kind, or head near the lake to take over a canvas and the oils provided in order to draw a painting, even pick up the buckets of paint surrounding the new houses and decorate your own so its stands out!



... Or simply grab a paint balloon and start a war - there're plenty of these in baskets, along with protective clothes in case you care about that sort of thing (hey, plenty of people around have precious uniforms and expensive suits). You could even take out your frustration at the world by aiming those balloons at the buildings around you. Getting messy and colorful is a great way to relax, right? ]

[Halloween dawns a bright and sunny day – crisp and cool, but pleasant. There are appropriate decorations everywhere you look today – jack-o-lanterns, cartoony ghost decorations hanging from trees, candy apples & candy corn, and all that cheery Halloween décor.

The most notable decoration for the day is that you are being haunted… but don’t worry! You have a new friend who’s following after you! These little spirits take the form of an animal that fits your personality – anywhere from a mighty tiger to a little vole – and they aren’t going away any time soon. They’ll interact with you but are impossible to banish. In fact, trying to run away from them just makes them all the more eager to stay close!



If you’re paying attention, however, you’ll know that maybe not everything is well. The trees that have been growing around Kiseki ever since the flood receded are beginning to bloom, slowly, those strange lantern-like plants glowing as the day progresses. Don’t pass too close. Remember – it feeds off negative energy, and it won’t make you feel great.

You know what you’re meant to do in these situations. You’ve been warned of this. You better start that hunt. And don’t worry – your new friends are here to help! If you head into the forest to fight or meet a loose creature elsewhere, your little spirit guide will transform accordingly – to a weapon, to a shield, or perhaps fluctuating between the two. You have options, of course - you can go looking for the monsters, hang back and risk being surprised, or just sit back and let others take care of the mess. Maybe you just want to hang out with your new friend, after all.

The spirits will linger until they are no longer needed. Once they deem that all is safe and that you are alright on your own, they will start to fade until they disappear completely.]