+++ 奇跡国 - Miracle Country +++

[For some people, a good walk or day spent practicing their various skills is enough to feel energized after the time spent stuck inside. For others, their particular set of skills need a bit more flair to truly feel like they're being put to test. Or maybe it's just fun to do it this way. In any case, as counter-productive as it might feel to fight magic with magic, tonight some of the local magicians are taking the chance to practice in their own style.

At first it might not seem that this is the case; the pavillion in the main park, the sakura tree, and most of the surrounding areas are decorated with what looks like simply things for a party of sorts. There're colorful lights and lanterns set up all over, some snacks, plenty of drinks brought over from the bar, even its piano that's been moved nearby for the occasion.



But if you get close and try to join the celebrations, you might feel something's off about it. It isn't just the loud music that seems to be playing out of nowhere (the aforementioned piano aside), it's that the color-changing lights seem to glow with a warmth that's infectious, so staying nearby makes you feel happier, more relaxed the longer you stay there, like the whole place is inviting you to let loose and have fun.

... Or to act like an idiot, there's that too. But that might be the fault of the many drinks available, should you choose to grab some of them, right? Except perhaps even those who aren't anywhere near this party will feel like acting out in some way. Louder, dumber, sillier, bolder... At least they won't be the only ones behaving like this.]

[[What it says, + the small inhibitions loss event replay! Use the log as you'd like.]]

[Tired of being locked up, of feeling sick, or helpless? It’s been a long few days – maybe you’re still feeling sick, maybe you’re still feeling cold, maybe you’re just starting to feel helpless. Will this snow ever end? Well, don't despair for much longer! Because it’s nearly at an end.

Today the skies clear out, the sun shining brighter than before. The islands are slowly returning to normal and the snow? The snow’s melting – fueled on by the sun’s rays, yes, but also by magic – that same magic that brought this snow in the first place.

It's still rather cold for the time of the year, of course, that lingering chill in the air despite the sun. It’s almost like a day in autumn, where you can see your breath and need a coat to keep warm. Be careful, too, since there'll still be some snow remaining here and there for a few more days – be sure you don’t slip on the slush. But for now, at least, people can go outside without much trouble. A good time to stretch your legs, to check on your usual workplaces, to refill supplies, and so on. It’s been a few days of being cooped up – you must be eager for that fresh air!



To make things more pleasant given the lingering cold weather, there'll be colorful carts ran by the usyagi found all over the different islands, giving out tea, coffee and hot cocoa to anyone who'd like some. It’s the least they can do, right?]

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[Dealing with the on-and-off blizzard for these past days must've been difficult, even with the times when the weather cleared out for a while and navigating the islands became possible... Hopefully you took advantage of those moments, because rather than things getting easier, it's about to get a lot worse.

It isn't only that there's been an avalanche of sorts overnight - how, given the lack of mountains around, is a mystery, but what else would you call the sudden heaps of snow currently piled up all over the housing area, drowning the individual domes so that they're barely even visible anymore?

It isn't just the fact that the power, or magic keeping things working, has been going out for hours on end, leaving the underground areas pitch-black - much more so given that the sun seems to refuse to come out, making the overall atmosphere one of dull grays at best, complete darkness at worse.

Or even that the creatures which could be found outside seem even more restless, making venturing outside for those who manage a way out of the tunnels (or who are unfortunate enough to arrive in the middle of this) even more dangerous.

No, it will surely feel like something's actively working against the people currently in the world, when several of them suddenly fall ill. With the sudden cold and bad conditions, one might be expecting possible colds and such things, but surely getting so ill so quickly isn't normal. Nor is it to be unresponsive to medication, for those who are unlucky enough to end up that way. Hopefully those left standing and able to work will be enough to handle things until it all ends...]

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[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.]

[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.]


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

Happy CLAMP Day!]