April Event and Intro Log

[magicademymods]

April Event and Intro Log Plants Off The Path Green grass and radiant flower gardens bracket all the major walks on campus, and fragrant scents fill the air all around. Note the key words "major walks" there. Move off the common paths and onto 'shortcuts' or less frequented areas of the vast campus and things are quite different. Here, the plants grow just as experience with this chaotic and often dangerous school would lead you to expect. Broad-leafed stalks stretch upwards, petals unfolding to reveal long jets of fire instead of a sensible stamen. Bushes have large toothy mouths, and viciously swallow anyone who comes near (though they are still just bushes, and the victims end up on the their other side just a few scratches worse for wear). A tree grows quills instead of needles; another sprouts paper airplanes instead of leaves. An extremely aggressive pitcher-plant wanders the pathways, mugging students at knifepoint. It's a jungle out there. Bullies, Of Course Surely a Magicademy, with many students already adults and with such an emphasis on learning and control, wouldn't have those who used their magic for such petty ends as making others suffer? Uh-huh. A pack of bullies with more spell experience than wisdom has banded together to take delight in the suffering of others. They overtly pick on the small, the meek, and those with less magical skill; they torment the larger, the bold, and the powerful in secret. Worse, they are the clever sorts of bullies, who go out of their way not to get caught and not to do anything that can't be played off or explained away. Maybe you attracted their attention by looking weak enough to pick on. Or strong enough to need to be taken down a notch. Or weird enough that you were the Other and thus lesser. Or pretty/handsome enough that you needed to look less attractive so they would look more so. They are pretty good at justifying picking on anyone, really. Are they pestering you by magical tripping or property destruction? Playing keep-away with your class books? Better be careful how you respond; their fathers might hear about it. Wind At The Docks (aka The Prompt Where You Don't Get Mugged) The winds of spring bring something of a dark pastime to Anastara -- dockwatching. Aware that a sudden blast of air can rip across the island at a moment's notice, crowds gather at the docks with the air of those expecting spectacle. All too often, they are rewarded -- in the wake of a sudden wind, airships list violently, or bump into each other, or desperately pull sails and power up their flotation cores to avoid a worse collision. Curses fly through the air, and sometimes even spells. With luck, the audience might even see a pair of vessels engage in an all-out air duel, as two captains driven by pride or vengeance refuse to back down. Now, to their credit, the assembled people aren't heartless. If a ship truly looks to be in trouble, or if it's smashed to the ground or into a dock, the people of Anastara don't hesitate to help those on board to safety or ensure that they don't go down with their ship. But mostly it's watching the chaos. It IS quite a show... 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 Glyph designed to detect any influence of the magic on you. Painted on your arm, it will shine with a bright light when a Sundering effect attempts to influence you. They explain that they believe the Sundered are still subject to either the spell that brought them here or new ones, because they have detected remnants of Sundering magic in the wake of students who have mysteriously disappeared. They ask only that you report back when it lights up. Problem: when the Glyph erupts, either because of the Glyph itself or the spell it has detected... those who bear it find themselves no longer where they started. Perhaps they find themselves in a classroom late at night. Or the wrong dormitory. Or in the Great Hall in their nightshirt. Or for the utterly lowbrow amongst you, a restroom occupied by the wrong gender. Whatever the case: sorry. 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 some sort of regain this month!)

Comments

[blue_ice]

Heh. So you're doing this to protect us? But you realize we still have to worry about you, right?

[He relaxes some with Yugi holding his hand. It's nice...and slowly the awkward edge is being taken off the situation.]

Not that I don't appreciate it...heh. Especially at this moment.

[Yup. This is...surprisingly nice. There's a soft look around his eyes by now.]

[puzzlers]

Heh, guilty. But I don't want either of you coming to harm's way. Especially if there's something I can do to try to prevent it. [ though he's not sure he's going to be able to convince either not to get involved. that's kind of what they do best. not to mention the researchers probably want as many test subjects as they can get. sobs. ]

[ his face burns at that comment. ] Agreed. This wasn't so bad. [ he's going to take a quick look around the room and then give kaiba a kiss. ] So you were getting ready for bed? Isn't it a little early? [ he's one to talk! he was doing the same. ]

[blue_ice]

[ He smiles into the kiss, keeping an arm loosely curled around Yugi. All in all, aside from the slight stinging on his rib cage, this wasn't a bad surprise.

He looks a little sheepish now. ]

You know that I don't sleep easily. Your powder helped---and so did Atem's tea, and a few stranger suggestions. But the process takes a while, so it's best if I start early.

[puzzlers]

I didn't hurt you, did I, ... [ he sits back as best he can, which is a bit hard now that kaiba's got his arms looped around him, his eyes dropping to his chest. ] I'm sorry. [ it might not have been his fault, but that didn't mean he didn't feel bad. ]

Mm... makes sense... [ he scoots closer again, framing kaiba's face with his hands. ] But maybe I can help in another way. [ he gives him another kiss. ]

[blue_ice]

It takes more than your weight to knock me out, Yugi.

[ But just so Yugi will stop worrying, he unbuttons his shirt again and skims his fingers over his chest. There's one little red mark off to the side where an elbow hit him, but he's fine.

He's fixed a button or two and is about to say he's fine when Yugi silences him with a kiss. He closes his eyes and smiles into it. ]

And how's that?

[puzzlers]

... [ he's about to protest, especially since he'd just dropped in on him, but kaiba silences him by unbutton his shirt and showing him that there's no harm & no foul. well, with the exception of the small mark he's sporting off to the side. ] Here, [ he leans down to lay a kiss to it. ] all better. [ he sits back up, giving kaiba a lopsided smile. ]

So what were you going to read, hm? Maybe we can read... together...? I mean, I'm in no rush to get back and maybe I can help you relax a little or, uhm, something.

[blue_ice]

[ What...? Kaiba can feel his heart pounding in his ears when Yugi draws close. The soft brush of lips over his chest has him turning pink, and he hopes against hope that the low light hides that a little. ]

I was reading a novel. I don't typically waste time on fiction, but I hoped that the legends would tell us more about the surrounding culture.

[ It's a dragon book, because of course it is. He shows Yugi the cover as he settles in comfortably, giving Yugi a spot to curl up against him. ]

As as the shadows begin to fall...

[ He relaxes a little as he reads, one hand on the book and the other curled around Yugi's shoulder. Eventually, he starts to lag a little, the book tipping from his fingers ]

...ah. Whoops.

[puzzlers]

[ yugi snickers, because he's turned the tables on kaiba, who thought that he had gotten the upper hand from that little stunt. he can feel his heart pounding, which excites him, but he manages to keep that in check as kaiba explains what he was reading. ] Oooh. That actually sounds really interesting, to look into, I mean, since this is a magical school, fiction might not actually be fiction.

[ he settles in, listening to kaiba as he reads, though when his words start to slow yugi reaches for the book. ] Here, let me. [ he moves it into his lap and continues from where kaiba left off, hoping he'll eventually be lulled to sleep. he doesn't plan on sticking around, because he doesn't want to get caught by kaiba's housemates and their relationship is still new, but he hopes this plan doesn't backfire on him. ]

[blue_ice]

[ Much to his surprise, Kaiba finds the sound of Yugi's voice and the warmth of his closeness comforting. So comforting, in fact, that he slips down imperceptibly slowly until his head's half on a pillow, half on Yugi's lap.

He smiles, one of his hands curling against Yugi's leg. ]

You're really good at this. Could listen to you all night long...

[puzzlers]

[ he has to move the book a bit, so he doesn't hit kaiba in the head with it on accident, but when he does he can't help but to smile down at him. he turns the page, laying his other hand to kaiba's head and idly gliding his fingers through his hair. ] I can stay until you fall asleep. [ yugi resumes reading, glad that this seems to be helping kaiba. he hates that he's still having trouble sleeping, because he knows from experience just how bad it can be. ]

[blue_ice]

Please?

[ It's probably strange to hear him so vulnerable, but there's no one Kaiba trusts more. He makes a pleased little rumbling noise when Yugi strokes his hair, but he doesn't seem to consciously realize it.

It's not long before he drifts off, breaths deep and even. There's a little subconscious smile playing on his lips.

You're the best, Yugi. ]

[puzzlers]

[ fff. ]

[ and he said please. yugi is going to commit this moment to memory, because it's got to be one of the sweetest things he's ever seen. don't worry though, kaiba, because your secret is safe with him. his hand eventually moves from his head to his back and yugi rubs in slow, soothing circles as kaiba drifts off. he reads a bit more of the book, because he doesn't want to immediately move and wake kaiba, but eventually he's got to make a decision. ]

[ should he stay or should he go? he frowns, wonder if, perhaps, it's too soon to start doing this sort of thing, so he reluctantly starts trying to move out from underneath kaiba. ]

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba may have been lulled into a peaceful slumber, but he still subconsciously detects the loss of warmth. He rolls over, flinging a loose arm over him and pressing closer. Whoops.

It's still possible to escape, of course. He's just remarkably clingy. ]

[puzzlers]

...! K- Kaiba? [ he can't tell he's not awake until he looks back down at him. fff. he should stay here. he shouldn't really even be here!, but maybe just one night wouldn't be so bad. kaiba will finally be getting a good night's rest, so... he'll stay against his better judgement. he sinks back into the bed and drapes an arm over kaiba, his eyes returning to the book as he continues to read, though he'll eventually drift off, himself. ]

[blue_ice]

[Honestly, this is the best Kaiba has slept since he arrived here. He wasn't a heavy sleeper back in Domino either, so...it's the best in a while. He feels strangely refreshed when he wakes up the next morning, though it takes the gentle weight draped over his stomach to realize why.

He hurriedly flicks his wand to draw the curtain around his bed the rest of the way shut, then softly brushes over his sleeping boyfriend's forehead. ]

Morning, Yugi.

[puzzlers]

[ he's still snoozing when kaiba rouses, but it doesn't take him long to wake, especially not when he hears his name being called. he blinks, rubbing at his eyes with one hand as he tips his head back, since it'd be previously buried in his boyfriend's chest. ] Kaiba? [ he seems confused, because, wait, o- oh no he fell asleep!!! ] M- Morning Kaiba. [ he reaches to tug the blankets over his head. ] I'm sorry. I hadn't meant to stay over. I'd planned on leaving, but... [ the best laid plans of mice and men~ ] Did you, ah, s- sleep well?

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba can't resist ruffling Yugi's hair. Oh, he's adorable. ]

It's fine. I'm sure we'll manage. My housemates aren't really the inquisitive type.

And I slept...better than I have in a long time, actually.

[ It makes him turn slightly pink to admit that. ]

It's fairly quiet now. We can get you out of here if we hurry.

[puzzlers]

I'm glad and- [ whatever he'd been about to doesn't see the light of day, because he feels his face brighten with color when kaiba says that it'd been one of the best sleeps he's had in a long time. he smiles, cupping his cheeks and giving him a kiss. ] Alright. Sneaking back into my dorm might be harder than sneaking out of yours anyway.

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba kisses him greedily. Parting is always tough, but this is a great way to start another day. He throws a robe on over his pajamas and moves to the top of the stairs, looking this way and that. ]

Looks clear from here. Come on.

[ But he has no qualms about shoving Yugi under his robes if anyone gets too close. Hopefully it won't come to that. ]

[puzzlers]

[ he knows the dorm well enough, since he's got a few friends ( his boyfriend included ) in it, so he's careful as they head down to the front. when he thinks he hears someone coming he moves behind kaiba. it's easy to hide when you're so small. ]