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

[afterthemoon]

What?

[He looks back at Lea's voice only to see...

Well...

Exactly what Lea described. He manages to dodge it when it lunges for him, but makes it pretty mad, because it's apparently out for blood, or something.]

What nonsense is this?

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea hurried up and- being otherwise weaponless- clobbered the plant with his heavy History of Wizardry textbook.]

Knew this had to be good for something...

[The plant didn't seem too damaged by the attack, but it was successfully distracted from attacking Isa... by turning its stabby wrath on Lea instead.]

I'd heard there was some crazy plant mugging people on the back paths. Guess we found it.

[Lea dodged an attempt by the plant to stab him.]

Uh... any ideas how we take care of this without proper weapons?

[afterthemoon]

We should probably try to disarm it. It's a plant. Without that knife it'll likely just be a pest.

[Easier said than done, of course.]

We need to wear it down.

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea nodded.]

How'd it even get a knife anyway?

[Lea deflected a glancing blow from the knife with his textbook, dodging to one side and aiming a swift kick at the bottom of the plant's pitcher-shaped body.]

And seriously, you're a plant! What are you even going to do with all the stuff you've been stealing, huh?

[Yes, Lea is yelling at a plant. Clever distraction, or just typical lea? You decide.]

[afterthemoon]

You're yelling at a plant...

[That kick did seem to set the plant off kilter.]

...Lea, I think you're on to something!

[hotheadwarmheart]

I know! I figure that if it's smart enough to use weapons maybe it's smart enough to understand how stupid what it's doing is too!

[Lea noticed that the kick seemed to have an effect, the plant's next swipe with the knife being significantly sloppier and easier to dodge.]

I think you're right... I'll distract it, you give it another good kick! If we disorient it enough, maybe it'll drop the knife.

[afterthemoon]

I think you're giving it too much credit.

[Still, Lea's plan sounds like it could work.]

Keep that book ready just in case it needs a good whack afterwards.

[Well, distract away, Lea.]

[hotheadwarmheart]

Maybe. Who knows in this place, though?

[Lea nods, keeping a grip on the book. Though now that it comes down to it, how do you distract a plant? He tries the first thing that comes to mind.]

Hey, fertilizer breath! Your mama was pollinated by really low class bees!

[afterthemoon]

[Are you trying to distract the plant, or Isa? Because that insult throws Isa off enough that he hesitates instead of attacking the plant like he planned.]

That's your distraction?

[In the time it takes for Isa to question it, the plant turns it's attention back on him, and lunges for an attack-- and Isa manages to kick it away.

So much for the plan but at least something resembling it happened.]

[hotheadwarmheart]

Hey, do you know a more reliable way to distract a plant?

[But whatever; it seemed to work, even if not quite how he planned it. Isa's kick connected, and the plant began wobbling on the vine-like appendages it used to move around, it's attempts at stabbing now more flailing than anything else.]

And one more oughta do it...!

[Lea aimed a final kick at the plant's main body, and down it went, vines squirming in an awkward, dazed fashion, the previously tightly held knife no longer in so strong a grip. Lea moved to hold the plant down with his hands and one knee; he didn't know how quickly plant creatures recovered, and wasn't about to take chances.]

Now, get the knife while it's down.

[afterthemoon]

[Isa wrenches the knife from the plant as it struggles from under Lea's grip.]

I'll be taking that.

[Upon being disarmed, the plant flails about, like a toddler throwing a tantrum at being told "no"]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea held the squirming plant firmly to the ground.]

Didn't your mom ever teach you not to play with knives? Now, you better be a good little plant and stop attacking people, unless you want to get turned into tomorrow's tossed salad. Understand?

[afterthemoon]

[This was absurd.

The squirming plant, Lea's excuses for one liners.

So absurd that the normally stonefaced, stoic Isa couldn't help himself and burst out laughing. Real, genuine laughter for the first time in who knows how many years.]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[The sound of laughter, both familiar and not, startled Lea enough that the plant was able to squirm free from his hold. But even as Lea fell back on his butt and the plant escaped into the bushes, all his attention was focused on the one doing the laughing.]

Isa, you... you're actually laughing?

[It was so good to hear again... but it hurt a little too. Though even then it was a good kind of hurt.]

[afterthemoon]

Well...

[Of course Isa understood the significance of Lea's reaction. It was freeing, being able to laugh for real. But Lea drawing attention to it also made Isa feel incredibly self conscious about it, like it was making him aware at just how raw his emotions felt, even the good ones.]

That was the stupidest display I've ever seen, it would be impossible not to laugh at it.

[So it was easier to just make a snarky quip back, than face that raw vulnerability right away.]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea chuckled a bit awkwardly.]

Well, when you've got crazed, knife wielding plants running around, things are bound to get weird.

[Lea got up, dusted himself off, and retrieved his textbook from where he'd dropped it before speaking again, giving both of them a moment to gather themselves.]

It's just... I don't think I've ever heard you laugh before. Not as an adult, I mean.

[afterthemoon]

[A smile tugs at Isa's mouth, even if there was something about that statement that made him feel melancholy.]

I guess there's a first time for everything... though, I can't imagine it's that different from when we were children.

[Aside from his voice being naturally deeper, it's really not...]

[hotheadwarmheart]

It's not, really, aside from being a bit deeper. It's just...

[He smiled, though like Isa, there was a hint of sadness to it too.]

For a long time, I didn't think I'd ever get to hear it again. It's just... good to hear, you know?

[afterthemoon]

You're a sap, Lea.

[He chuckles softly. That this man ever managed to play the role of a heartless assassin seems so wrong in hindsight. So remarkably unfitting, like trying to shove a square peg into a round hole.]

And I know, it's good to have a reason laugh again.

[Real ones, not fake ones for intimidation sake.]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea chuckled again, less awkwardly this time.]

Heh, guilty. Just don't spread it around, OK? It'd ruin my image.

[Actually lacking a heart at the time had made it considerably easier. But it was telling that the moment his heart started to truly return, he'd found himself unable to do it any more. Not that he hadn't tried for awhile, because not playing his role would have been dangerous in the Organization, but... once he'd returned from Castle Oblivion, he was never again able to be the man who'd shocked and horrified Sora with his callous execution of Vexen.

A fact that he was very much glad of now.]

And yeah, it is. So I'll be sure and do more stupid stuff like that in the future so we both have more of them!

[afterthemoon]

[A fact they're both glad of, honestly.]

I won't, besides, it's not like I'd have to. Anyone who's met you for more than three minutes knows already.

[He's not gonna dignify that second part with a response, but the unimpressed look on his face, one that he often wore as a kid, say all that needs to be said.

And by the way, Isa's still holding that knife... which turns out to be one of those that fold back into the handle, so he pockets it.]

[hotheadwarmheart]

Hey, I'll have you know that I've gotten pretty good at playing the tough guy when I want to.

[One skill his time in the Organization had given him, a rather impressive ability to project an intimidating presence when necessary. Of course, this worked best with those who didn't know him well.]

Anyway, looks like you got a free knife out of this whole mess at least, so you came off better than most.

[pause]

Come to think of it, I wonder what that plant actually did with all the stuff it stole off of people? I mean, it's gotta be someplace around here; that plant might be surprisingly mobile, but given what I've heard it's pretty much confined to this general area of the campus. Now that the plant is disarmed, think we oughtta try and find the stuff so we can return it?

[afterthemoon]

Maybe so, but your true colors will show themselves eventually.

[So he still wasn't wrong, anyone who knew Lea well enough knew he was a sap]

...

Did it actually steal anything? I find that hard to believe

[Yet another thing to add to the list of absurdities]

[hotheadwarmheart]

Well, I know there was one girl in my class who said a plant stole her Law textbook. And I've overheard a bunch of others talking in the cafeteria about having small stuff stolen by plants on the back paths; hair clips, bracelets, potion bottles, and things like that. Could be that some of them are just making excuses for lost homework and stuff, but I figured with that many people talking about it, there likely was something to it.

I was actually planning to look into it later on my own, but I figure since we're both here...

[He shrugs.]

[afterthemoon]

I guess we may as well look, then.

[They didn't have anything better to do...

There's a lull in the conversation, when Isa speaks up again.]

Lea, does this happen often?