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Tabula Rasa Mods ([personal profile] tabularasa_mods) wrote in [community profile] tabularasa_rp2020-08-17 10:08 pm

002 - Growing Pains

Growing Pains State of the World Locations Bestiary
OOC Comments
A Light In The Darkness
Light seems to have been especially tricky for the world to comprehend, but it finally, finally seems to have figured things out. Light comes from more than just the sky, and now signs and lamps that were once dark have begun to glow brightly. From the Wall Market's dazzling exhibition of color to the dimmed street lamps of the City of Tears, the whole world has been made bright and lively once more without losing the comfort and tranquility that darkness brings. Even the broken screens of the Hammerlocke Stadium give off a pleasant glow, and the world doesn't seem to care that some lights need electricity to stay on - lights are simply lights, as far as the world seems concerned.

Unfortunately, these new lights are a little too simple. Without any need for a power source, there's no way to turn the lights off - if something is deemed a light source, it will always function as a light source. The only way to stop it is to destroy the object beyond recognition, but that might not be the most practical solution. Covering up the lights is the next best thing, but it's a task that's easier with some sources than others. At least no one needs to sleep yet.

Difficulties aside, now seems like the perfect time to start exploring all those new corners of the world that were previously too dark to navigate. Fire is an easy, safe and portable light source that anyone can use, and it even puts itself out after awhile. Just be careful not to get stuck in the dark by a stray breeze.

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Who's Hungry?
Animals need to eat. People need to eat. These are simple facts that people lost in the strange, changing landscape all seem to be well aware of, yet appear to not apply to this world. That is not to say that people can’t eat or drink, for many people do, but there is no actual need. Eating provides nothing but the knowledge that one has eaten, and anyone might go without food entirely. Lately, some might have found eating has become more satisfying and fulfilling an act, as though food is providing them with a vaguely-defined something they didn’t get before. It doesn’t seem to mean much in the grand scheme of things, but perhaps it allows them some sense of normality.

When hunger sets in, it’s sudden. Every person, whether or not they ever needed to eat in their homeland, is hit with a powerful, overwhelming sense of hunger, to the point it feels that if they do not eat they will soon starve. Those who have never eaten in all their time here might easily find themselves so hungry they can barely even move, and have little choice but to eat. Fortunately, food is plentiful. If it can be put in the mouth, chewed and swallowed, it is food, and thus will give a person temporary relief from their hunger. What goes in does not appear to come out, instead simply becoming part of that person and revitalizing them. How long it takes to feel hungry again seems entirely random, and each time there is no lead up - someone is either fine, or they are starving, without any in-between.

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Starving Mad Beasts
When people suddenly remember hunger, so too do the animals of the world. For some creatures this isn't an issue - the tall-necked beasts continue to graze on the treetops like they always have, and the smaller creatures seem content with snacking on whatever small scraps they can find. Not all creatures are so easily satisfied, however, and the more aggressive ones have turned to attacking other species for food.

The vicious water dragons are quick to clamp their mouths on anything within reach... but, lacking teeth, this doesn't amount to much. Still, they're as persistent as ever, and in a way their inability to viciously devour their prey only makes them more dangerous. These beasts are starving, and for all their skill in chasing down prey they can do little to actually eat their catch, which means they're constantly on the hunt and out to get anything that moves. Perhaps it might even be a good idea to help them out, if feeding the fish might make them a little less aggressive.

The machines are far better equipped for hunting, and all the more dangerous now that they're hungry enough to take a bite out of someone. Death is not a concept the world understands, so it's not like they're doing any permanent harm, but it's still a bit unnerving to see animals limping by with bite-sized chunks taken out of them. They haven't had a taste of people yet, but it doesn't seem like it'll be long before they try.

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Mushroom Hunting
Mushrooms are a new sight within the world, and a perfect snack to satisfy that sudden debilitating hunger! Harvesting them can be a bit of a problem, however. For one, they are massive, and the task of cutting one down and breaking it into edible chunks is made much easier with a group of people than one person working alone. Finding the mushrooms in their dark habitats may also be difficult... although, it is much easier to spot a mushroom the size of an entire person compared to something much smaller.

The real problem with mushroom hunting is where they can grow, which is nearly anywhere indoors. Though light now comes from other sources besides the sky, there are still buildings with dark corners that might suddenly acquire a giant mushroom or two (or three, or four) if left alone. And if those mushrooms are allowed to remain, they may just continue to grow, and grow, and grow...

So, if you don't want giant mushrooms bursting through your roof, it might be a good idea to keep an eye out for them before that happens.
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gardenerofavalon: (not looking)

Merlin | Fate/Grand Order | Open

[personal profile] gardenerofavalon 2020-08-21 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
[1. Makeshift Lantern]

Not long after the various lights suddenly start, well, doing exactly what it says on the tin, if one happens to spot Merlin while in the caves under Mount Silver, or otherwise investigating somewhere indoors and dark, they'll be treated to an interesting sight. Specifically, the top of his staff appears to be glowing!

It's not magic or anything though, he just grabbed a handful of lights he figured wouldn't be missed from Wall Market and tied them to his staff. It probably looks a bit silly up close, but hey, at least it works?


[2. So this is what dying feels like...]

Merlin had most definitely not bothered to eat since arriving here. Not because he was taking advantage of the situation, but because normally, he wouldn't need to anyway. Not as long as there were humans around whose dreams and emotions he could feed off of!

Unfortunately, that's still not an option here either, and this world is playing entirely by its own rules, anyway. Which is why, suddenly hit by the hunger to end all hungers, he's just sprawled out on the ground where he'd been walking through the edge of the woods at the time, both too weak and too miserable to attempt to move just now. That cabbit-bird that's always following him around and pouncing on his hair is nearby, prodding at him and making a confused sound as it tries to figure out what this new game is.

"No, no, it's no use..." He starts to lift a hand to wave the critter away, but quickly gives up on it.

But don't worry, he'll surely be fine once he gets bored of wallowing in self-pity.


[Wildcard/Notes]

Have another idea? Feel free to tag away or hit me up in PM or Discord (AC#7235) to chat! As a note regarding formats, I stick to prose to stay in practice for writing, but matching isn't required.
pinwheels: (047)

2; lemme know if you need anything changed!

[personal profile] pinwheels 2020-08-23 01:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Rinoa's taking a walk of her own, Felix bounding along at her feet, when she comes across the man sprawled out on the strange, purple grass. Seeing one of its own kind in confusion makes her companion make a worried sound of his own, and the girl moves to kneel beside him, a frown creasing her brows as she reaches out, lying a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey... are you okay?"

He's probably hungry, she realizes - she remembers all too well how hard the first pang struck her, some unspecific amount of time earlier, how bad the second one was that followed, even though it seemed like she'd only just eaten. Since then, she's taken to carrying around a few small pieces of food with her, not just for her but for Felix too, who seems to have the same problem she does - the same problem it seems like this man now has.

There's a small pouch tied to the leather strap that holds her weapon in place on her left arm; she removes it now to take a small piece of mushroom from it, tapping his shoulder again before she holds it out in front of his mouth.

"Are you hungry? You should eat this... it's not much, but it's filling, okay?" She turns her head to Felix and his twin, adding: "I have some for your friend, too."
gardenerofavalon: (oh well...)

Looks good to me!

[personal profile] gardenerofavalon 2020-08-23 07:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Merlin glances over when he hears someone approach, though he otherwise doesn't move from his spot.

"Ahh, it's terrible, I don't know if I can go on...!"

Is he hamming it up to play for pity? He totally is. He could very well get up and fend for himself if he truly wanted to, after all.

Still... a pretty girl offering to hand feed him? Who is he to refuse!

"Well, surely it wouldn't hurt to give it a try..." Normally he doesn't need to eat, at least, not in this manner, but that's a whole other matter. Though he better get on with it quickly, because his critter companion has apparently taken to swatting at him impatiently now in its demands for attention.
pinwheels: (022)

[personal profile] pinwheels 2020-08-24 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Rinoa can't help but to hide a laugh behind her hand, her eyes bright as she watches the young man totally ham up the severity of his situation. He's obviously not that bad, she thinks, if he can act this way. For a moment she thinks about just rolling her eyes and leaving him with the morsel of food, but his companion seems distressed enough that she'd rather stay and help.

(Also, it's kind of amusing, to meet someone who's so vastly different to everyone she's come across in this place so far.)

"No, it won't hurt," she reassures him, voice gentle, but certainly tinted with her amusement. "Felix and I ate this too, and we're fine." She holds it a little closer to his mouth. "Open up, okay? Your friend's worried."
gardenerofavalon: (oh well...)

[personal profile] gardenerofavalon 2020-08-24 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
He's probably going to get himself smacked later, whenever she finds out who and what he is and that he's much, much older than he looks, but eh. Worth it.

"That one's just pretending to be starved for attention," Merlin mutters, calling the kettle black. That obligatory remark out of the way though, he obediently opens his mouth as instructed.
pinwheels: (030)

[personal profile] pinwheels 2020-08-25 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
The amusement in her smile curves it up more broadly, a shake of her head as she pushes the bite of mushroom between his parted lips. Once he's chewed it, she'll offer him another, if he needs it. "Pretending to be starved for attention? I guess you'd know what that looks like, right?"

Her tone's not mean or angry, just tinged with that same gentle amusement that he'll see in her face once he gets a proper look at it, the same face that she turns back towards the creature swatting at his head.

"Maybe you're not starving, but you're probably hungry too, right?" She holds out a bite of the mushroom for the creature too, offering Felix a stern look so that he doesn't try to swipe it in his twin's stead.
gardenerofavalon: (individuals don't really matter)

[personal profile] gardenerofavalon 2020-08-25 04:59 am (UTC)(link)
Well, she's right in that it's edible. And eating it apparently does relieve the inexplicable hunger pangs. Certainly enough that he can more thoroughly appreciate the situation while it lasts.

"I'm sure I don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about," he says loftily. And he is feeling much better already, though of course he'll still try to milk the situation for all it's worth while he can get away with it.

The critter initially shies away a bit--it's not really used to most people other than Merlin, given Merlin's hermit-y habits--but curiosity and/or hunger soon gets the better of it. Which is to say, it steps forward cautiously, then abrutly grabs the morsel from her hand before scurrying a short distance away to devour it.
pinwheels: (063)

[personal profile] pinwheels 2020-08-30 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
She doesn't argue with him, even if there's a sort of if you say so quality to the roll of her eyes. She smiles again though when the creature takes the morsel from her and scurries away, Felix following it to offer it a friendly head-butt. Rinoa, in the meantime, reaches into the pouch to take another piece of mushroom, offering it to the man still sprawled on the ground.

"Here, take another one. I have plenty to go around. Even if it stopped the hunger for now, it'll come back, you know? Food's... kinda weird, here."

That's putting it mildly. Everything's kinda weird in this place, from the sky to Felix and his fellow monsters to her missing magic to the strange man in front of her.
gardenerofavalon: (individuals don't really matter)

[personal profile] gardenerofavalon 2020-08-30 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
What's this? A friend who's not one of the weird big people? Well, first the little creature is going to gulp down the food, because mine, but once that's done it'll return the friendly greeting.

"Ah, how kind of you! I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come along."

Probably moped for a bit, then found something to eat himself when he got tired of that, really.
pinwheels: (043)

[personal profile] pinwheels 2020-08-30 07:21 am (UTC)(link)
This time, she laughs more openly, a shake of her head as she reaches out a hand to him, trying to inspire him to sit up. Lying flat on the ground like that can't exactly be comfortable, right?

"You would've been fine, I promise! Felix and I had to find food for ourselves while we were hungry... it wasn't fun, but we made it work, you know?"

With her companion introduced - and doing a good job of introducing himself to the young man's friend too - it's probably a good idea to tell him her name, too.

"I'm Rinoa, by the way."
gardenerofavalon: (individuals don't really matter)

[personal profile] gardenerofavalon 2020-08-31 05:26 am (UTC)(link)
Well, it's not too uncomfortable, but it's not ideal, no. Granted, he doesn't exactly need assistance getting up, either, but he's not exactly going to decline the hand so kindly offered.

"Which is why you've taken to carrying extra now, I presume?"

That much is pretty obvious, but this gives him a chance to compliment her on her forethought. Ladies like that sort of thing, right?

"I am Merlin."
pinwheels: (068)

[personal profile] pinwheels 2020-09-06 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
Rinoa smiles at him as she helps him sit, only then disengaging her hand, nodding in response to the question. Yes, it's obvious perhaps, but there's still more about it that he needs to know, so...

"Mm. Especially because time is so weird here. It's probably a good time to keep some with you, too. Especially if you have a friend following you!"

And then her hand goes out again, offering a shake even though she only just pulled it back. "It's nice to meet you, Merlin!"
gardenerofavalon: (individuals don't really matter)

[personal profile] gardenerofavalon 2020-09-06 08:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"More like an annoyance."

Not that he's ever bothered to do anything to seriously discourage the small creature, but that's beside the point.

"The pleasure's all mine, I'm sure."
pinwheels: (012)

[personal profile] pinwheels 2020-09-12 03:39 pm (UTC)(link)
She laughs at that.

"How can you find them annoying? They have a lot of love to give, you know? This one's Felix, and so far we take care of each other."

At the sound of his name, the animal chirps, a cheerful sound in their direction.

"Anyway, if he's going to follow you around, you should call him something, right? And make sure to have enough food for both of you."
gardenerofavalon: (individuals don't really matter)

[personal profile] gardenerofavalon 2020-09-13 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
"Evidently you haven't seen this one in action," Merlin replies dryly. Which, speaking of, the little fellow appears to have decided to start stalking slowly towards Merlin, apparently after is long hair. The mage himself ignores it.

"And I imagine that one can fend for itself just fine, if it wanted."
pinwheels: (021)

[personal profile] pinwheels 2020-09-19 02:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Rinoa shakes her head, not sure if she should be amused or bothered by how determined he is to ignore the creature that clearly wants his attention. "I'm sure he could fend for himself," she agrees - after all, she's seen Felix angry and she has no reason to think any of his friends would behave differently - "but if he likes you, is there a reason you'd rather be alone?"

There's a pause, and then the girl's hands find her hips, a huff of amusement on her breath. "Oh, no. Don't tell me you're another one of those guys who's determined not to need anyone else..."

He doesn't really seem like the type, not with the dramatics earlier, but then maybe he'll tell her the real reason if that's not the case.
gardenerofavalon: (individuals don't really matter)

[personal profile] gardenerofavalon 2020-09-19 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, the little fellow doesn't seem to be terribly bothered by the arrangement, so probably amused. Especially since for all Merlin ignores the critter, he makes no move to actually try to shoo or chase it away. Or not unless it starts actually pulling and chewing on his hair or something, but right at the moment that's not an issue.

"Oh no, having others around to help out is much better than doing it all myself!" He might be a bit more convincing if he put more feeling into it, but he still manages at least some bit of cheerfulness. "But, well, some people just are a little hard to get along with, hmm?"

He means himself. He doesn't get along with people well.
pinwheels: (049)

[personal profile] pinwheels 2020-09-20 11:49 am (UTC)(link)
Rinoa raises her eyebrows at that. The implication of what he's saying is clear, and it's not entirely a surprise, given how melodramatic he was being before. But there's still something kind of sad about it, right? In Rinoa's mind, anyone can get along with anyone, if they're willing to put the effort into trying.

Then again, if the lack of conviction is anything by which to judge, maybe the problem isn't the effort others put into him?

Even so, it's not in her nature not to try.

"You know, I think I have to disagree. I get along with most people I meet... Even the ones other people say are difficult."
gardenerofavalon: (individuals don't really matter)

[personal profile] gardenerofavalon 2020-09-20 09:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Merlin finds relating to people... difficult, to say the least. But he also dislikes talking about that, partly because of that very difficulty. It's much easier to act friendly and a bit silly while still keeping people at arm's length, if that.

"Oh? You must be quite the easygoing individual, then, not to mention fortunate."
pinwheels: (021)

[personal profile] pinwheels 2020-09-24 11:15 am (UTC)(link)
Easygoing... maybe. Fortunate... maybe that too. But the truth is...

"Actually, I think it's just that I'm stubborn," she admits, a playful smile pulling at the corners of her lips. "If there's someone I want to talk to, I'll find a way to make it happen, no matter what!"

Even if it means pretending to hypnotize them into liking her.

"Is that weird?"
gardenerofavalon: (wanna spend the night with me?)

[personal profile] gardenerofavalon 2020-09-25 05:36 am (UTC)(link)
"No more than anyone else!"

He actually means that. He's known and observed a lot of people, 'weird' is far more common than 'normal', in his experience.

"Though you could also just have yet to meet someone more stubborn than yourself, I suppose."
pinwheels: (024)

[personal profile] pinwheels 2020-09-27 08:16 am (UTC)(link)
Rinoa laughs at that. He's right - it's entirely possible that she just hasn't met someone who happens to be more stubborn than she is. She hasn't thought of it that way before, but...

"So would you guess you're more or less stubborn than I am, Merlin?" That playful, flirty tone is still in her voice, her eyes bright and warm.
gardenerofavalon: (individuals don't really matter)

[personal profile] gardenerofavalon 2020-09-29 06:31 am (UTC)(link)
"Who knows?" Merlin says with a shrug. And perhaps just a hint of a sly look.

He is over a thousand years old, after all, he's had a lot of time to learn to be stubborn if he wants to.
pinwheels: (Default)

[personal profile] pinwheels 2020-10-04 07:00 am (UTC)(link)
Rinoa laughs again. He doesn't not know, she thinks - he's just refusing to tell her. And isn't that stubborn on its own?

"I guess now I have a mission to find out or something, right?" It's said with an amused smile. He's an interesting guy, this Merlin. Perhaps she'll be able to make a new friend out of it, too.
gardenerofavalon: (Default)

[personal profile] gardenerofavalon 2020-10-04 07:34 am (UTC)(link)
Hopefully she's up for quite the challenge, as Merlin's spent a long, long time indeed avoiding getting close to most people. And naturally has trouble truly relating in the first place, to boot.

"Do you, now? Then I wish you l--"

Remember how that cabbit-bird was sneaking and stalking around Merlin earlier? After spending some time pouncing and batting at his hair and robes, it suddenly leaps up and, grabbing a large bunch of hair in its beak, clamps down and yanks.

"Cath Palug II, you cut that out right now!!" Merlin whirls around at the critter, which promptly zooms away. Then stops once safely out of reach to turn around and hunker down, watching, clearly enjoying this 'game' it's playing.

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