+++ 奇跡国 - Miracle Country +++

[It starts out as another regular day in Miracle Country, with nice weather, birds chirping, a calm atmosphere and the promise of a nice productive day ahead. Except, of course, it hardly stays this way. The first snowflakes start falling early in the morning. Not much to be concerned about, right? Unless you're used to the world's schedule (when it feels like keeping one), and remember snow at this time of the year is a little odd... It's alright, though, there won't be too much time to sit around and ponder this.

Soon enough the few snowflakes falling here and there become much more, so that by midday there's snow falling abnormally heavily all over the various islands, covering the ground, buildings, trees, in piles and piles of white. The winds blow stronger and faster by the hour, as well, making it near impossible to navigate the place for a while. It would've been better to go back to safer areas once it all started, or you might end up caught on some far-away island in the middle of the blizzard, right? Unless you took a detour to make sure others were safe, or to protect important places such as your own stores, or the farms and gardens in which crops are growing...



But it'll stop, eventually. By the time night falls and the snowfall slowly ends, things become more quiet and calm, almost eerily so. Of course, the snow that piled up won't make things so easy for anyone. Buildings of all kinds might be covered so much with snow that entering or leaving them could be difficult. Some places might even collapse because of it. And, more importantly, the inevitable tense atmosphere will only invite the creatures lurking in the forests to sneak out, drawn by the trees that will undoubtedly flourish as people worry or panic (they do say snow itself is made from tears, afterall, isn't it fitting that it'd cause despair in turn?). So don't be too surprised if your trip back home, or your search for food, firewood, or warmer clothes, gets interrupted by wild wolves, or boars, or even a stray dragon. Or if such trips end up being essential during the following days, either. Because the snow won't go away just yet.]

🌸

[Fai is sitting outside under a tree, looking a lot more cheerful than he probably did when he met most of the people watching this video. He's got part of his family back, and though he misses the rest of that family dearly, Syaoran alone is enough to lift Fai's spirits dramatically. Having any version of Sakura around helps too!

He's also looking a little more pale and drawn than usual, but he can smile right over that. Nothing to see here!]

Mm, I hope this is working right! Syaoran-kun told me how to use this... [he leans a little closer] ...the magic seems simple enough....

Anyway! For those of you I haven't met yet, I'm Fai. And since it seems as though there's no way out of this place... I guess I'm going to need something to do with my time! I know there's already a bakery and a cafe, and I haven't met anyone yet that needs to learn about magic, so I'm running out of ideas. Does anyone need help with anything? [he stifles a yawn with the back of one hand and rests his chin in the other, looking quite a bit like a lazy cat] Preferably something without heavy lifting~

[...right, there's... that other thing, too.]

Also, just a thought: does anyone here know anything about vampires?


((feel free to threadjack or do your own thing, as one does))

[And in a flutter of sakura petals, suddenly everything returns to normal. That wasteland sweeps away, the vegetation and water growing out to cover the proper main island of Miracle Country. And you’re back to normal, too! Everything that just happened… was it a dream or another life? Those memories will linger, regardless.

You’ll find that with the abrupt change, though, that some of the other effects still linger, too: relationships from that ‘world,’ that expectation that there won’t be enough food or water, residual abilities you had then, your own abilities being slow to return. Don’t stray too far into the forest, either – there are worms out there now. And they're a little uneasy with this suddenly new, foreign environment.

But welcome back. The sakura trees are blooming today – and hey, there’s plenty of food and water after a few weeks of dire scenarios. Maybe it’s a little too abundant. A few areas around Miracle Country are a little flooded with the rush to return to normal.]

[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!]

[Beautiful cursive (a k a Text) (also pretend this was written like four days ago):]

Good morning, everyone, and my apologies for the interruption to your day. [He'd introduce himself, but honestly, anyone who doesn't know him by now hardly deserves the reminder. ...And yes, in case you're wondering, the negative aura of the trees affects even demons. How ever did you guess.]

I would address the students at the school, first of all. By now you are all aware of Her Highness Snow White's departure and the school closing. As the only teacher currently left, it is not my intention to allow a trivial matter like having no suitable locale hinder my job. Thus, Literature class will still be held as long as there is student interest, but for now lessons will be held in group room [###] in the library. The hours and times of the week remain unchanged. Have you an idea for a more suitable classroom, do contact me.

Now, I cannot and will not attempt to replace Her Highness and all that she has done for the school and for the people here, but: I am well-versed in a variety of subjects and have experience in teaching them. I could not run an entire school's curriculum by myself (for lack of hours in a day, if nothing else) but if there is interest amongst the students to be taught any particular class, I would be happy to take your wishes into consideration. Naturally, should anyone wish to contribute as a teacher they are more than welcome to do so, and should they need guidance on how to go about it, please contact me as well. Granted, Her Highness was vocal enough about the school's lack of teachers that I expect anyone with a mind to teach would have stepped forward already...


As for the next matter at hand... whilst I am aware it might well be premature to say this: does it not seem as if the shops closing is to be a continuing trend? The food currently available leaves much to be desired, compared to before. [Not that Sebastian really cooks at all these days, but... force of habit to take notice of it and judge.]

As I am certain most of you are aware of by now, struggling against this world's whims is an exercise in futility. We have been given plenty of farmland, which I would say is as good a hint as anything. If I may, I would suggest organised effort be put into it, ideally whilst it is still early spring.

Naturally, it is unbecoming to throw out suggestions expecting someone else to take on the responsibility of seeing them through. I myself am accustomed to farming [oh wow, everyone be surprised that Sebastian knows how to do something] and have the time to spare to lead such an undertaking, but I would like to hear from anyone with an interest in lending a hand. Needless to say, it would be a paid job. [Out of Sebastian's own pocket, if Kiseki won't pitch in. He hardly ever touches his many salaries, after all.]


Lastly: I would not say we have seen enough of the strange trees to yet speak with confidence on the subject of their nature. May I please hear from anyone currently employed to watch out for them? The elusiveness of their nature aside, they are certainly unpleasant, and given the number of physically and magically capable people around I imagine it would not be so monumental a task to deal with them in an efficient manner should we join efforts. Moreover, considering what a small number of people are currently here, organisation might even be a viable prospect. [Not that he still remembers that first and only time he tried to herd cats or anything.]


I apologise for the half-formed nature of many of these suggestions. I would see to them all myself, but that would be quite a waste of time should no one be interested in the outcome. Additionally, as we have no way of knowing when any one person will be torn from this world, it makes far more sense to work on any project as part of a team, so with that in mind I ask that you pardon the length of this message. That will be all. Thank you for your time, and do have a good day.

[...Someone give Sebastian something to do. As you can see, he has way too much free time. Feel free to talk among yourself! Or come see Sebastian because of course everyone would want to hang out with such a fun guy - of course he can be found in The Bakery. Working.]

[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?]

[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. ]