March Event and Intro Log

[magicademymods]

March Event and Intro Log Golem On The Loose The rain never stops. Water and mud track all over campus. Diligent cleaning golems stomp about, mopping and scrubbing and polishing and then going back to do it all over again, and again, and again... One of them seems to have had it. The renegade golem bursts into Kedrigan Hall -- interrupting classes and disrupting labwork to furiously seize students and scrub every last scrap of mud and dirt off of them. All the halls have been locked off with "Under Cleaning" signs, and anyone who enters them meets with the golem's wrath, as it violently plays a pre-recorded message about not interfering with groundskeeping and deploys a giant claw-like tool to grab the interloper and put them back on unforbidden ground. The professors, who are after all completely immune to the golem's attention by its very design, seem to think this is a good learning opportunity for students. Is it? Horrible Spell Doom? "Are you sure you're ready for the test on Advanced Gaseous Discovery?" one upperclassman asks the other. "Of course I'm sure," the second says confidently. Whipping out a wand from a holster on her belt, she sweeps her wand through the air gracefully, pronouncing several Osmarian sigils as she draws them. Probably. "See, that's a blue cloud--" Said blue cloud, which puffs into being as the last syllable left her lips, abruptly doubls in size. Then it doubles in size again. And again. The upperclassmen, who have been in Diatu for several years and know exactly what this sort of thing means, don't hesitate. Not even stopping to share a glance between them, they run like crazy, leaving the growing cloud behind just as classes let out and students begin to enter the halls. But... surely it doesn't have any weird and wacky side effects, right? The Bala-inlota Parade (aka The Non-Horrible Prompt) To celebrate the start of the Bala-inlota season, Anastara spares no expense. The great parade and associated festival stretches the whole weekend, and the whole city puts on their colors and turns out for the fun. Enterprising vendors sell food, drinks, and souvenirs ranging from small and crude figurines to magical constructs that shine field displays onto flat surfaces so you can watch the action up-close! (Good luck affording that, students.) Practically any sort of entertainment you could want appears on the streets and canals of Anastara, and food and drink flow freely. Research On the Sundered With the arrival of the Sundered come those wizards engaged in research on their presence here, now set to investigate what brought them here and how to get them home. All newly-arrived Sundered students are asked to meet with representatives of the research team, to introduce themselves and relate what they will of their homes. In addition, the team requests samples of blood, hair, and skin -- carefully magically collected, and the researchers will sign in the presence of the Sundered a Glyphed contract that forbids them from using the samples for a purpose they know will be harmful. (They quite understand your reasons to be suspicious of this collection! And they will not compel anyone who refuses even given these conditions.) This month, the team has developed a Sundering spell that they warn is crude and unpolished, because the Curriculum is so unpracticed. They hope it will connect to your home worlds and establish a magical link they can build off of to open further passages. No promises! And to those who do undergo this spellwork... it has a certain side effect of confusion, as brief images from your home world flicker across your vision for a few hours afterwards. Wonders Await Diatu Magicademy is open to you in all its glory. Have fun!

A Special Note

If you thread out one or more scenes based on the confusion from "Research on the Sundered", respond to the comment on this post with a link to that thread. The results of this will be revealed next month! (It is, we're afraid, not a regain, lest your participation be based solely on that hope!)

Comments

[puzzlers]

Hang on. [ he reaches into his pocket and throws the dice of his familiar, so he can hear that he and kaiba are friends too. ] We have a witness. [ he chuckles as peregrin ( dragon head, phoenix body, and snake tail ) seems just as enthused by the news. ] But in all seriousness I'm glad, Kaiba. [ he smiles like a dope. ] I've been waiting to hear you say that for a long time.

[blue_ice]

[ Of course. Kaiba smirks fondly at the 'witness' (that is still one cool familiar, he can admit), and as he looks at Yugi's smiling face, he feels a weight lift in his chest.

Too much mushiness for one day, but he'll live. ]

Well, here I am. Heh. You finally broke me, Yugi.

[puzzlers]

Kaiba! don't say it like that. [ he pouts up at him, but takes a step back and toward the bench, because he needs to sit. he's starting to feel a bit funny again, but maybe that's just because he's so happy that kaiba's finally conceded to his friendship. ] I don't want to break you. I still like you for you. I just... it'd be nice to have somebody back home who... [ knew what he was going through with the subject that must not be talked about. ] And you're a great duelist besides. If I want to get better, then I've got to play the best, y'know?

[blue_ice]

[ He'll join him on the bench, watching over him like a protective friend should. ]

Yes, you do. I'm not letting up on you. Ever.

Especially since we'll be spending more time together when we get there. I need my best developer in top shape.

[puzzlers]

I wouldn't expect anything less. [ he looks down into his lap. ] I might have to start working on something here. I don't see why I should try to corner the market here, there, anywhere. [ he chuckles. ] Magic could make it infinitely easier besides. Not to mention all the new and exciting possibilities. [ he rubs at his face. ] I wonder how long these effects are going to last. [ he's not used to this!!! ] I hope that was all cleaned up and taken care of too...

[blue_ice]

Forgive me if I'm not feeling reckless enough to go back and investigate.

[He snorts and relaxes back against the bench, looking sideways at Yugi.]

It's usually not longer than a day. But...wow. I can't imagine how bizarre that must feel.

[puzzlers]

...huh, oh-! N- No. I didn't mean I wanted you to go and check or anything. I was really just talking aloud to myself. I wouldn't let you go anyway. [ fumbles with his hands in his lap. at least his robes conceal some of the more embarrassing parts of the change. ] Mm, it's, uh, y- yeah, that's probably the perfect word for it; bizarre.

[ looks at kaiba out of the corner of his eye. ] Maybe I should go back to my dorm... [ looks aside and talks a bit softer, though kaiba can still probably hear what he's saying, ] before I say something stupid that I regret.

[blue_ice]

[ He glances at Yugi one more time. Did he hear right? Maybe he should just... ]

I could walk you back? And as your friend, fight off any unwanted suitors?

[ He says it dryly, quirking a brow. ]

[puzzlers]

[ hear what? he didn't hear a thing! ]

You've already done plenty for me, Kaiba. This is, what, the second time I've wasted some of your time, because I've gotten myself into some trouble. I appreciate it though and- [ that gets a laugh out of him. ] you'll be fighting off nobody, Kaiba, trust me.

[blue_ice]

I'm still not as sure as you about that.

[ He won't call you cute again, Yugi, but it's clear in his eyes. ]

And aren't you the one who's always saying time spent with friends is never wasted?

[puzzlers]

If anybody's going to be beating people off with a broom it's you, Kaiba. I can only imagine how many people were throwing themselves at your feet back home.

[ that's precisely the problem! and part of the reason he's refusing to make eye contact. ]

Ok, maybe I used the wrong word, because you're right. I just kind of... feel bad that I'm taking up so much of your time. I'm sure you have other things you'd rather be doing and it's my fault I keep getting into trouble. [ shakes his head. ] But thank you, Kaiba, I really appreciate everything you've done for me already. [ finally looks at him and smiles. ]

[blue_ice]

Most people have enough sense not to try.

[It's more that he never noticed, as preoccupied as he was with dueling and the company.]

Look. Just. Try to be a little more careful, but I know by now that trouble always follows us.

And I'll inevitably be there to help you out of it.

[He smiles back. This...is kind of nice, actually.]

[puzzlers]

I... guess... [ ok, so maybe kaiba didn't come off as the most personable of people, but yugi still thinks there are plenty of people that would throw themselves at him without so much as a second thought. ]

It's not like I meant for this to happen. [ he tries to defend himself. ] I was just leaving class when I got a face full of cloud... but [ he looks aside. ] I'll try. [ he's not sure how well that's going to go though. ]

I'll do the same for you, Kaiba, should you ever come to harm's way. That's what friends do besides! [ smiles up at him! ]

[blue_ice]

I know. This school is ridiculous. Which means we have to be twice as cautious. But we'll work through it.

[ He gives Yugi an unmistakably fond look. Weirdness aside...this really isn't so bad. ]

Thanks. But I really hope it won't come to that.

[ It will, and far sooner than he'd like. ]

Do you still want to head back? I can use this to look ahead and ensure we won't run into anything else.

[ He holds the little mirror up proudly. The cover has a coiled dragon on it. ]

[puzzlers]

I'm not worried. [ he really wasn't. it didn't matter what sort of craziness they encountered, because yugi knew they would always come out on top. ]

I hope it doesn't either, but I just wanted you to know that I'll be there for you too. [ yugi looks down at himself and shakes his head. ] No, it's fine. I think my surprise has come and gone. [ though this is still really weird. ]

I don't think the changes are, uh, that noticeable thanks to my robes. W- Well, my voice aside. [ though his features have gotten significantly softer and his hair a bit longer. he just can't see all that, because he'd been too busy freaking out earlier. ]

[blue_ice]

And your hair. It's grown a tail.

[ He's not quite bold enough to touch it, but he does hold the mirror if Yugi wants to turn his head slightly and look.]

[puzzlers]

[ a tail?! he starts freaking out, because he can't turn into a girl and an animal, but then kaiba holds our the mirror and he catches the extension that's grown out of his already crazy hair. ] Wonderful... [ he sighs, slouching in his seat. ] So I guess the changes are more obvious than I originally thought, huh?

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba has a thought. He opens his mouth, closes it, and then...hmm. ]

It's not so noticeable if you can hide it. All you need to do is tie it back. Do you have a tie?

[ He digs for one in his pockets, but doesn't usually carry such a thing. Might have to go with Plan B. ]

[puzzlers]

No. I don't usually need those kinds of things [ he makes a motion over his head. ] for obvious reasons. [ tying his hair back usually isn't a thing he's capable of doing. ]

Maybe I can just drape a book over the back of my head. [ he gives an awkward laugh as he reaches back to tug on the extension. ]

[blue_ice]

Fine. We don't need a tie. I'll keep it still another way.

[ He lifts a hand and gestures for Yugi to let him at it. He's not going to say it, because it sounds ridiculous. But it's the quickest solution short of chopping it off, and he doesn't think bringing a knife is the best idea right now.

If allowed, he'll...start braiding. It's not the most artistic braid, but he's trying not to hurt him while getting it over with quickly. ]

[puzzlers]

How? [ he's half expecting kaiba to suggest chopping it off, because his mind had wandered to and from the suggestion a couple of times already. he'll just endure the embarrassment if that's the only option he's left with. ]

...? [ he quirks a brow, but wordlessly obliges and turns around for kaiba. he bristles when he takes it in hand, but only because this is just so weird and surreal. he doesn't move his head although he wants to, but it's not hard to tell that kaiba is braiding it. ] How do you know how to do that anyway? [ he can't help but ask. ] A- And thanks. [ his face is turning fifty shades of pink as kaiba words and he hopes that, by the end of it, he's able to will the color away, because he'd rather not die of embarrassment today. ]

[blue_ice]

When you work with as many wires as I do, sometimes you need to keep them organized. Braiding's not ideal, but it works when I'm without clips.

[ He finishes in the interest of not prolonging the awkwardness, loosely ties the end, and tucks it under Yugi's robe collar. ]

It should stay out of the way.

[puzzlers]

[ that makes sense. kaiba was nothing if not organized, so he shouldn't have expected anything less. still, yugi doubts that he had expected to put his braiding technique to use on hair, especially that of his rival. ] ... [ even though kaiba is rushing it still feels like it takes forever and a day, though yugi doesn't complain. he's really just interested in sparing kaiba, who didn't have to get tangled up in the mess he'd made for himself. ]

T- Thanks Kaiba. [ he doesn't turn back to him immediately, because he can tell his cheeks are still heated. ] I really don't know how to thank you for everything you've done for me. You're really something special, Kaiba, though... you already knew that, right? [ he chuckles, though it tapers as he starts chewing on his lip. ] I think I might stay here for a bit. I have some reading to do and... and this is far away from the classrooms where I don't think I'll be bothered, which is good.

[blue_ice]

I did, but my ego appreciates it all the same.

[ He's not entirely unaffected by this new closeness with Yugi. It had been...almost nice, and he was cute. He can't keep the fondness off his face anymore. ]

All right. I'll meet up with you later?

[ They probably need some space right now, but he will make sure the spell wears off. ]

[puzzlers]

[ lucky[?] for kaiba, yugi isn't looking at him at the moment, so the look goes unnoticed. ] Y- Yeah, sure, I'll be here. Well, maybe not here, but definitely around. Thanks again, Kaiba, and we'll talk later.