+++ 奇跡国 - Miracle Country +++

The day is finally here – the day that everyone has been waiting for after so long. It’s the day for the Meeting of the Realms, The Bridge Between Worlds finally open to all three worlds. For those who have never attended the meeting before, it is a formal affair, and many arrive to the Bridge in order to discuss these negotiations for peace. The main point of this meeting is for the rulers of the three realms to negotiate for peace and establish themselves this way – and these discussions will span over the course of days. The rulers and a small contingent of their closest advisors and strongest allies will accompany them for the official meeting, but the Bridge is open to all members of the realms who wish to attend and meet within that world.

It’s a formal affair, certainly, but also one of celebration – for many, this is the first time in centuries that a Bridge Meeting has even taken place, and being able to witness the temporary collapse of borders is one to be remembered. The last Bridge Meeting was short and brief, due to a collapse in negotiations – but many are hopeful that this time will be different. It’s a chance for everyone to come together on neutral ground and meet with the other worlds, exchange cultures and understandings – it is, after all, the overall hope to achieve peace and acceptance. What better way to do so than to truly get to know your world neighbors?

The world in which the Bridge resides is a small little bubble of a world in comparison to the expansiveness of the other three realms. To explore the entire world, it takes only a few hours’ trek across fields, around the lake the Bridge stretches across, or navigating the mountains. The world, though small, is mountainous, and the air is crisp, clear, and clean. The Bridge and its lake lies centered in what appears to be a valley, surrounded by mountains and beautiful sky.

The Bridge itself is an old-fashioned relic of past cultures long since lost, the remaining remnants of an era of peace and prosperity. It’s old, but sturdy. Korra and Aang, maintainers of this world, have done well to preserve it and prepare it for the many new arrivals to this tiny realm. They’ve taken all they’ve learned of the various worlds and incorporated it into this realm to make everyone feel as safe and welcome as possible – there are clusters of trees reminiscent of the Otherworld, the waters of the lake are the purest and cleanest outside of Heaven, and there’s even a fire pit similar to the one found in Hell.

The first day of the Meeting is taking place on the winter solstice – and it’s clear wherever you look, the entire world dusted with a layer of snow, and the clouds above threatening more at any moment. There is definitely more snow incoming. It’s chilled and crisp, so perhaps best to keep warm or stay warm with someone else.


[ooc: Again, if needed, check out info & plotting for this event in regards to what will go down during this meeting - and please keep your top levels to the appropriate subthreads.]

For centuries, the three worlds – Heaven, Hell, and the Otherworld – have been separated, often at war, sometimes in stilted tension waiting for the next war, but never, truly, in harmony. Thankfully, between the three worlds, there is a neutral ground – the Bridge Between Worlds. The purpose of the bridge is to be a connection point for all three worlds, in which peace treaties can be negotiated and signed on a neutral platform without having to invite potential enemies into one’s own realm.

For the first time in decades, the Bridge is being opened and the three worlds are meeting – and everyone is waiting in anticipation for that moment. The barriers between the worlds have slowly weakened over the years, making it easy for demons, otherworlders, and angels to drift between the worlds if they so choose (and some certainly have), when means of communication through magically-connected journals no longer seems enough. In addition to this, there have historically been long, grueling wars between the worlds that have only recently started to wane in intensity. With this weakening of the borders over the decades and the long war, the need to reach agreement between the worlds couldn’t be stronger, and sorting out those differences is goal number one.

… Or so it might seem. Because there are rumors that Hell isn’t as on board for peace as the other two worlds are. In fact, there are whispers that the Demon Queen has perhaps had her hand in disruptions. There’s no way to prove this, and certainly anyone to suggest as much would unleash another decade of war. Still, things are tentative and tenuous between the three worlds, and the success of the bridge meeting is imperative.

Still, such rumors give light to a truth – things are tense between the worlds, and not even the entire worlds are in agreement. There are rumors, too, that the two Otherworld rulers are in disagreement about how to proceed with respect to the other two worlds – one wishes for connection, the other for isolation.

And while things may seem good and peaceful in Heaven, perhaps not everything is as it seems there. Heaven is very powerful, and very populated – more and more angels are being born every day, and there are stirrings within the Otherworld and Hell wondering if Heaven is truly as good as it seems, if they aren’t planning some form of invasion themselves with their gathering numbers, their protection of their barriers, their secretive insistence on peace. Perhaps there’s something more selfish hidden behind the guise of kindness and compassion.

But things aren’t going smoothly already. With random attacks happening every day across the worlds, things are more and more uncertain – and there’s no telling what will happen at the bridge meeting, or even if everyone truly wants peace.

And it’s no good to go into negotiations feeling as if you’ve been pushed to be there, after all… The Bridge Meeting is only a few days away and, regardless of one’s position on it, there is a quiver of anticipation – the opportunity for peace or, perhaps, for the opportunity to meet others who have, until now, been separated from one another.


[ooc: Please check back with the info & plotting for the event if need be, and if you want a list of where everyone is, check this thread. Please note that this event is a full AU, meaning that your character has no knowledge of Miracle Country or any details from their old life. This post is purely for characters to interact within their world – the bridge will appear in a few days time with a new log; characters can move between worlds, but it’s difficult to do so at this time, emphasizing communication through journals or through messages sent through Korra & Aang, and interaction with one’s own co-worlders. Each of the three worlds has its own individual thread.]

[There's an accidental video of Esmeralda's face, still with the same half-smile half-grimace it's been sporting since her conversation with the WC ladies.]

Hm. Cute.

[She flips open her journal to doodle a butterfly. And then a flower. C:]

What do you say, Djali? Is that enough "writing to our friends"? [Baa.] I think so, too.

[Urgh, but she really is going to have to talk to a supposedly magical book? About her supposed kidnapping?]

...Someone's got nerve, that's for sure. Not to mention a nice supply of smoke and mirrors. I might even be impressed, if you're not careful. Oh, or is this the secret back room of the cathedral? Someone like me wouldn't know, right? [Not exactly a regular church-goer, is she.] Who knows, maybe "the way to the Heavenly Kingdom is through the church" was always more literal than I thought. Wouldn't that be unexpected.

[Cocks an eyebrow at the journal, that same unamused half-smile back in place.]

There! I've talked. You can't go to all these lengths to promise me conversation and then not deliver. [Let her out of here, you jerk.]

[OOC: Esmeralda most likely doesn't know how to read. If your character responds with text, please let me know somewhere in the comment?]

[In the spirit of obnoxiously early holiday decorations, Kiseki is getting an early winter! That's right, days are shorter, nights are cold, and snow is starting to fall every day. The lake has yet to freeze over, but it's definitely not suitable for jumping in anymore (sorry, Haru), and the overall scenario is clearly fitting of the season, with most trees finally losing their last leaves (save for that one sakura exception, as usual). Even the native Kisekians are looking the part, now dressed for a colder climate.

Some of the shopping district areas have began to be decorated, even, while others might be offering sales on things like warmer clothes, thick blankets, or comfort foods such as cocoa. They might notice that many of these clothes have feather patterns on them, although for anyone who's spent a long time in Kiseki, feathered-themed things shouldn't seem too out of place...]

[Oddities aside, winter is here! Stock up on comfy socks, get your coziest blankets out, and start planning out awkward family dinners! You might not have a chance to do it later on, afterall.]

[Today, perhaps you're traveling from the main island to check out one of the outer islands - there's one island in particular, the wings island, is suddenly seeming more inviting than usual. Perhaps you feel a strange urge to visit the island with the wings, to walk along the sand, to stand at the reservoir and stare down into the water.

It's one of those weeks in which the outer islands have moved close enough to join the main island, so it's a simple enough walk - no trains required today - and if you stand near enough and just let the wind brush through your hair, you might feel the slightest kiss of sand traveling across the two islands, inviting you closer.

And as you get closer to that island, closer to those ruins, you might start to feel the effects of that island, as well - thinking of your family, of your friends, of all those who are precious and important to you... and suddenly, that bond you share feels like the only thing you can think of.

And in response to a recent arrival, it seems there are sakura petals falling everywhere you look. Not a lot, just enough to spark that memory - of someone familiar, of someone important, perhaps... or perhaps no one at all.

( CW: brief description of water )


[[ooc: please feel free to use this as a mingle - Sakura's actual intro will be the first comment to this entry, should you wish to interact with her specifically.]]

( Filtered to Asami; unhackable )

[She's concentrated enough to make this next part completely anonymous: there's no pictures, no way to identify her through the writing. It's all filtered away.]

What do you do if you're seeing things that aren't actually there? If you can't sleep, if you keep getting nightmares, if you keep remembering all the stupid things from the past? [The island she's camping out on isn't helping that, but she doesn't know that.]

Is there a magical solution?

[Bending isn't doing any good, nothing at home was doing any good, going to the Tree of Time did nothing. She knows she has to figure it out on her own, but, maybe there's a solution that she can find here...?]

How do you know you're not just going crazy?

[All replies, except to Asami, will be filtered like the entry - there won't be a way to identify it as Korra unless she identifies herself personally (castmates past her canonpoint can feel free to guess it's her, if they have the ability to do so)]

[So today, it's a bit chilly outside, so maybe you don't feel like going outside too much -- thinking of maybe just hanging out in the underground tunnels beneath the hotel -- there's the cafeteria, and a few common rooms with televisions and couches and fluffy places to relax.]

[In one of these places, you might find Arthur and Merlin, who were attempting to spend a peaceful afternoon but have now, as usual, descended into Arthur's frustrated grumbles/shoutings. Merlin's all cuddled up on one of the couches, noming on some popcorn and curled up in a big blanket and Arthur is kneeling down in front of the DVD player and television]

[Arthur, for his part, looks grumpy -- this is his attempt to help Merlin relax a bit, since the deal with all those loses before ended up shaking him up a lot more than might be immediately noticeable. But this blasted modernity!!]

I don't understand! I made it work before! Emma showed me.

[The video doesn't really demonstrate it easily, but anyone super observant will be able to see that Arthur is putting the DVD in upside down in the machine, although he doesn't realize this]

It goes in, see! It should work now. [Stares at the screen, which stays frustratingly blank.] I press this button, and...

[Nope, blank screen. On the couch, Merlin says I could just--]

Shut up, Merlin, I can figure this out. The movie's 79 minutes, so I just... [he presses 7 and then 9 on the remote and then suddenly the screen goes fuzzy] [asdlghasld;] What happened?!

[Merlin sighs behind him and says yes, Sire all the while grinning obnoxiously, in his "you are dumb and cute" kind of way and keeps eating some popcorn, watching as Arthur continues to struggle and adds, I believe in you, Sire.]

... Shut up, Merlin. [Arthur blushes a it as Merlin continues to smile oh so innocently and wiggle his toes a bit under the blanket]

[Maybe you'll have more luck than these two, though. Feel free to hang out with everyone, have some fun or just relax... or put these two out of their misery.]


[ooc: Post is open for mingling! If you'd like for Arthur or Merlin (or both) to respond to your comments, just note in the subject line or as an ooc note in your comment!]

[Look at that calendar, dear Kiseki residents! Do you see what day is today? Do you?

Exactly

It's Harry Dresden's birthday! Yay!

It's such an important date that the land itself decided to throw a themed party for him, in which he's trapped and unable to leave before midnight. Therefore, starting at around 10 am, a big section of the park starts resembling Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!

That'd be the wrong wizard named Harry but who cares as long as the food is good, right?

We have, among other things, a Quidditch field with brooms that don't fly - unless except MAYBE if you ask an actual wizard to enchant them -, a TARDIS-sized Shrieking Shack, and a replica of the Great Hall where there are tables with lots of food and cake and more cake and the ceiling is just like the sky… No, wait. That is the actual sky.

Oh, oh. I guess it's Halloween too. Thus, some of the characters who wander inside the party zone may have their clothes changed to the Hogwarts house they'd be in if they were students. Even if they have never heard of anything Potter.]

((OOC: Everyone is welcome to the party! And welcome to mingle, of course =) You can give your good wishes to the birthday boy in his thread here))

[It had been a few minutes since Beat had arrived in the wonderful world of Kiseki and already he's started to create a ruckus. He'd just been escorted out of the Welcome Center but even then he puts up a fight, waving his fist in the air, his feet dragging against the ground. At some point, his journal had fallen out of his hands, opening and recording the following]

Yo! I didn't ask for this, aight? I'm done with all that crap 'bout UG. This place don't even look like UG, man! What gives? [Clearly he wasn't listening at all when he was being briefed about Kiseki.] You think I'm aight with you bastards pullin' me outta RG jus' when I got back? Hell naw!

'Sides, I gotta... [He quiets down for a moment, almost looking pensive. But even that doesn't last for long.] I gotta go back, aight? Don't matter what the reason is. I jus' want outta your stupid game. If I gotta bust some heads or rip someone a new one to get outta this, then bring it, yo! I ain't scared a' any of you.

[And then he proceeds punching at the air again. Looks like he's more bark than actual bite... But he pauses when the Welcome Center ladies start talking again. All at once. ]

...The hell you talkin' 'bout? I ain't pickin' up nothin' you sayin' if you keep talkin' like that. I said slow down, yo!

[There is one thing he hears clearly though. But his brows knit together upon hearing it.]

I don't care 'bout no Chad or his shiverin' pussies none, either! [Yeeeeep.]

[what's up Kiseki, apparently information gathering is the only thing Ian will ever use this journal for]

Good morning, Miracle Country~ [Just like last time, Ian opens up with a kiss blown to the journal. For anyone particularly skilled in empathy or identifying someone wearing a fake smile, it might be rather obvious that his heart isn't really in this.]

I don't think I really need to say anything about the situation with those monsters, but I hope that everyone has made it through safely. I'm a bit late in saying this, but... If ever something happens where you need a hand, please feel free to contact me, or any of the other Kyoryugers. It's a bit hard for us to get around here without our usual transport [by which he means two dinosaur mechas that combine to become a motorcycle], but wherever you are, we'll come to you as fast as we can.

[Yeah he feels more than a little bit bad that so many people were successfully attacked by those monsters. Not that there was a whole lot he could have done about it, but... Well. It's not the first time he's failed in his desire to protect, and on this date in particular the failure stings just a bit more - the fact that these monsters are thieves is just really the salt on the wound.]

In the meantime... Just how many are there that have had something taken away by those monsters? I know it might be a bit much to ask for some who have been affected, but knowing our statistics in this could help us be better prepared for anything that happens in the future. If you were attacked, or if they managed to take something from you, it would help if you could let me know.

[There's a little bit of a wave, as if he's just casually saying goodbye at the end of a video call. It's really the best way for him to think of these journals, like they're a Kiseki-wide Skype call.] Take care, everyone.