+++ 奇跡国 - Miracle Country +++

[Winter is finally here, and of course, it's holidays season as well. With the treehouses gone, Miracle Country will dress itself accordingly, with the Welcome Center, hotels, and other buildings getting snow-themed decorations, christmas lights, and other various things. You might notice that a few of the huts remain, here and there in the garden island and inside the forests - well, the usual cabins in the forest are a little cold for this season, aren't they?

In any case - it's a good time to check out the shopping district to get gifts, or ask about holiday traditions around the multiverse, should you be less familiar with some of them...

The one that's very likely to come up is mistletoe, as these little plants will be appearing along with the decorations; some perfectly harmless and normal, others the magical ones which some of our residents will be familiar with. These'll get people stuck under them until they fulfill one of these randomly-picked instructions, so have fun with that... or, as these could show up anywhere and are indestructible, maybe watch out for them and try to stay close to someone you trust, or even opt for hiding in your room. Don't forget, your handy journals can aid you in finding someone to get you unstuck. Afterall, no one wants to spend the holidays glued to one spot, right?]

[ So someone is really super pressed her idiot boyfriend (who is temporarily girlfriend???) broke his (hers??) arm and didn't think proper medical attention was a thing that should logically happen next.

As such, the handwriting that appears on the page of the journal is still neat but definitely has a slant to it that could be described as... aggravated. ]

Could anyone tell me how to proceed when someone's in need of medical attention? Is there a hospital? [ Not that she'll know how they'll get there with that blizzard... ] A doctor or a healer available, somewhere? I need somebody to take a look at (what is likely) a broken arm ASAP, so prompt responses would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

[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. )

[ The video feed clicks on to reveal a young man of visibly modern stock - the snapback, polo shirt and hoodie combo sort of give it away. He squints dubiously at the camera. ]

Is this thing on?

[ Apparently he decides that it must be, because he stops trying to poke at the thing and starts talking again. ]

Alright, I dunno if anyone can hear me, but my name's Eggsy... sorry, Gary Unwin. Listen - someone wanna explain what the hell's goin' on? Last I knew is the world was goin' to shit and I just finished putting it all back after Valentine nearly got us all killed. Tried asking where I am but all I've got here is a load of fuckin' rabbits in my face, dunno what they're on about.

[ He pauses for a moment. Considers - he doesn't want to give too much away, but at the same time, he's got to make contact if there are any other Kingsman here. ]

Right, and - in case this makes sense to anyone here. Oxfords, not brogues. ... Yeah, 's about it.

[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.]

[Walking around today, you might start to see signs pointing you towards the entrance to the park. And should you follow those signs, you're going to see a pretty, old-fashioned booth set up. Those seem kind of common lately, don't they? Likely because this is another instance where a certain someone wants to retrieve something from their world - and this is the payment:

Bull is sitting a little wooden booth with a sign - Free Kisses! - overhead. And, yes, it's exactly what it sounds like. Doesn't have to be on the lips, of course. But how can you say no to the... big qunari... person? And with such a winning smile, too! Or something. Yes.

Yes, that's right. A certain number of kisses is what's going to get The Iron Bull what he wants.

The Bull, for his part, seems perfectly content with this set-up. Hey, not exactly his idea, but he's also not going to complain if it means he's getting that necklace back. He's gotten himself nice and comfy - comfortable enough stool that also leaves him level with most people's heights around here. He also has a stuffed animal companion, a stuffed nug courtesy of Dorian.

For all intents and purposes, Bull is perfectly happy. If there's any underlying anxiety or frustration, it's definitely not showing on his face.

He's friendly enough, despite appearances. Want to get a kiss?]

[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.]

[It is a cool night in Samara, but the night is clear. If you look up, you can see stars, and there are lights lining each path that’s leading towards the center of town. After the flurry of activity and hard work to get the ballroom prepared, you can now see the fruits of that labor: tonight, you are cordially invited to welcome Queen Anne of Leridae in a grand ball.

Turns out those rumors about Queen Anne were true. Don’t worry, you won’t be required to talk to her if you’re shy or not too keen on royalty, as the ball is expansive enough and with enough people that it might actually be difficult to approach her so easily, what with all her bodyguards.

But that’s alright, because the party itself is well underway. There’s the beautiful lilt of music to dance to, floating candles that dart away just beyond reach – a little trick of magic to keep the ambiance – and the beautiful gardens out beyond the balconies, for those who need some fresh air. There’s a distinct lack of food to partake in, but that’s just as well. All the better to not be distracted from the beautiful sights, the beautiful costumes, and the beautiful company.

However, not everything is glitter and loveliness tonight. What is promising to be a quiet, delightful night full of politeness and dancing will take a sharp turn towards midnight – where the ground will suddenly start to shake in a massive earthquake. Perhaps at first you think it’s some kind of attack, the force of it all so sudden and debilitating.

The earthquake is so extreme that the walls buckle around you, the glass in the windows shatter, and the ground beneath your feet begins to crack. There’s falling debris everywhere, so try not to get hit or pinned beneath falling beams. Hopefully you aren’t standing too close to the glass windows and get shattered glass hitching against your skin.

That is to say: you probably aren’t getting out of this party unharmed. That is, of course, unless you’re a vampire with healing powers. Quite the inopportune time for your secret to be revealed, isn’t it? And what do you know, hunters – all this time, you were in the company of so many vampires.

How are you going to reconcile all of this?]


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