catch-all open log!

[rebells]

Who: Anyone and everyone!
Where: On the beach, and various other places throughout the hub island
When: Day 80, and the next couple days after
Open/Closed: open log for hub shenanigans!

[This evening, someone has placed an old, rusted-over camp stove on the beach near the coven's row of huts--anyone examining it in detail will see that it's not operational at the moment, but that could potentially be changed, couldn't it? If someone was handy with mechanical things . . . .

Next to it is a crate (which, from the weight of it is empty) and pinned to that crate is a sheet of paper with a map on it, something like a much cruder, black-and-white version of this:



with the following key:

1 - crags. Contain snakes which may be poisonous. Watch out.
2 - ocean, going about one mile out from the coast.
3 - lagoon. Contains thick reeds (could be woven or shaped into tools) and frogs (edibility uncertain).
4 - abandoned campsite.
5 - orchard. Currently, trees are diseased and bare. Plant healer needed.
6 - abandoned house. A family used to live here, from the looks of it. Still contains some useful supplies.

And there should be a 7 north of base camp with the notation "graveyard. Graves unused." but the player forgot and is too lazy to go back and fix it right now. Observant individuals will note that the map looks like a more detailed version of one hanging on the door to a certain coven member's cabin, one that has a note on the bottom: "Have information? Ask for Jay."

Other than that, it's a quiet night on the hub island. We've been here for a couple days; maybe you're getting restless? Want to check out that ocean, or lagoon, or even those crags? Maybe just go door-to-door in the beach huts? Maybe you're sick of shrimp and looking for other things to eat . . . hopefully someone's got a fire going tonight, and thought to kill a boar . . . .

What are you doing tonight?]


((here or here for place descriptions))

Comments

[talim]

Someone... else... ?

[ jude sqints. he really, really doesn't get it. at all. ]

No, there's... Alvin is Alvin. I have plenty of close friends, but there's no replacement.

[ jude you're digging yourself yet another hole here. ]

[secrowtary]

[ This answer must be satisfying enough for Hibiki because he lets poor Jude off the hook and gives him a sly smile. ]

I understand.

[ He might not be good at this whole interpersonal relationships thing, but even Hibiki has a few people who are irreplaceable. ]

Just make sure that Elle won't see.

[talim]

[ ????? ]

Hibiki, I have no idea what you're getting at here, but last I checked I don't think I have anything to hide from Elle...

[secrowtary]

So you haven't gotten that far yet. Maybe it's for the best.

[ Wow, Hibiki. Since when holding hands with someone gives you the title of a Relationships Expert??? ]

By the way, what do you think of Akira?

1/2

[talim]

That far...

[ jude shakes his head. ]

I don't think I'll ever quite understand you.

2/2

[talim]

He didn't blush when I called him Akki.

[ jude frowns, but he doesn't mean it. there's a pause as he thinks over how to respond. ]

... but he's a good guy. I'd like to think we can be friends. You two are a good fit, that's for sure.

[secrowtary]

Maybe Alvin will help you with that. Or maybe someone else beats him to it.

[ Heh. ]

He didn't? [ There goes his evil plan on making Akira blush by proxy. ] Interesting. Maybe he's already resistant to Akki...

[ Wait, did he really say that out loud. Yeah. Uh. This is awkward. And what Jude has just said about the two of them being a good fit isn't helping.

There's a long pause on Hibiki's side as he anxiously fixes his collar. ]

... Do you really think so?

[talim]

[ if anything, jude is just relieved to change the subject and get the focus off him. ]

I really do. It seems like you guys just really gel together. Same twisted sense of humor and everything.

[ that wasn't an insult. really. ]

It's hard to explain, but... I can just tell, you know? I'm sure you guys make each other really happy, and that's all that matters, right?

[secrowtary]

[ Don't worry Jude, Hibiki will pick up that subject again soon enough. ]

Same twisted sense of humor, you say... [ He raises his eyebrows. Well. It might be true, all things considered. ]

Don't go saying things like that so casually.

[ Making each other happy and all that. Instead of going for a cheek pinch, Hibiki takes a deep sigh, looking at his feet. It's another pause and it's clear that he's meaning to say something, but it takes him a long while to actually start talking. ]

I'm...worried that I might ruin it one day.

[ Not just his relationship with Akira, but with everyone basically. ]

[talim]

[ jude's smile quickly fades, eyebrows knit in concern. ]

Why would you think that? It's clear to me that Akira cares about you, and he doesn't seem the type to turn his back on the people he cares about.

[ all the teasing aside, they did have a little bit of a heart to heart. jude can tell. ]

[secrowtary]

[ Hibiki should've known that this statement will only result in more questions from Jude—which is fair, to be honest, but he's not even sure where to start right now. ]

Even if...I did something terrible in the past and I haven't told him yet?

[ Terrible. To say the least. He doesn't even realize when he starts tugging a strand of his hair, a bit anxious about the possible answer. ]

[talim]

[ jude has never seen hibiki like this. so... so vulnerable. his heart aches a little, but at the same time, he's grateful hibiki is opening up to him.

all he wants to do is help, and if he can't, then at the very least he hopes he can be a shoulder to lean on. ]

Even then.

[ jude reflects on what haru confessed to during their date. about their double life, their codenames, the metaverse, stealing hearts... ]

Everyone has their secrets. And whatever you did... no matter how terrible, you said it yourself. It was in the past. What matters more than anything is the present you, the Hibiki standing right in front of me. The Hibiki who just crawled in through my window.

Your past actions, past mistakes... they don't define you as a person. And if anyone will understand, it's Akira. You just have to put your faith in him.

[secrowtary]

[ Hibiki's eyes open wide as Jude continues. It's not like he's revealing a shocking truth, in fact, it probably should have been obvious to Hibiki. Yet, it didn't cross his mind even once, for some reason. Perhaps it's because he's not entirely sure that the past him and the present him aren't that much different from each other.

But there'll be another time to let Jude know about that. For now, he can't help smiling softly. ]

Are you really sixteen? You're more mature than some adults I know. Myself...included.

[ Have an affectionate cheek pinch. You deserve it, Jude. Even if it may hurt a little. ]

[talim]

[ jude scratches a sudden itch at the back of his neck and laughs, cheeks dusted pink. ]

So I've been told. More than once.

[ multiple times. by multiple people. it still manages to fluster him, because that's all he wants to be: an adult. ]

H-Hey... ! There are better ways to thank me than—

[ jude squirms, scrunching his eyes closed and turning his head away to avoid further cheek pinching. he ends up laughing, though. it doesn't hurt, not really. he can tell there's affection behind it, although hibiki sure has an odd way of showing it. ]

[secrowtary]

[ Jude, being an adult is overrated. Just be yourself!!! ]

What are those better ways you're speaking of, hm?

[ It might be a trick question. Or maybe not just might, it is a trick question. But Hibiki's not letting go of his cheeks yet. ]

[talim]

Literally anything—

[ jude doubles over and collapses into giggles. it's starting to tickle. for someone who's supposed to be as mature as an adult, he sure is laughing a lot. ]

—but this!

[secrowtary]

[ People usually freeze too scared to say a word when Hibiki appears, so this is a welcomed, pleasant change. ]

Does finding and telling Alvin that he's irreplaceable also count? Unless you've told him that already.

[ Jude can't keep silent about these things, he already knows as much. ]

[talim]

Wh... Why are you teasing me about Alvin so much... !

[secrowtary]

So you haven't told him yet.

[ That's the only logical conclusion, clearly. ]

[talim]

Told him what? That he's my friend? Of course I've told him that.

[ for someone with such a big brain, his people skills might still need some work... ]

[secrowtary]

You completely missed the irreplaceable part, Jude.

[ Cheek pinch evolves into a nose pinch, it's a whole new type of affection coming from Hibiki, apparently. ]

[talim]

[ jude tries to glare at him, but it doesn't really work when hibiki is assaulting him. ]

All my friends are irreplaceable. Even you.

keywords, just...keywords

[secrowtary]

[ The glare isn't as effective as it should be, it's probably because of the pinch. But, at least, Hibiki's letting go of Jude's nose after a moment. ]

Even me. [ His gaze flicks away. ] I feel special.

[ He means it, but the deadpan might not be helping his case this time. ]

perfect

[talim]

Is that sarcasm?

[ no, the deadpan is not helping. ]

Because... I really do mean it. I'm glad we're friends, Hibiki.

[secrowtary]

No, I...

[ Uh, feelings. They're hard. And they're all over his poor heart, ready to take over. ]

I'm glad, too. I suppose. Yes. It might be surprising but I haven't...too many friends before.

[ More like, none at all. Unbelievable. ]