Hijinks Mingle

[potentite]

Who: Everyone!
Where: Anywhere around the hub!
When: Days 103-105
Open/Closed: Open mingle!
Notes: See this post for details on the moon prompt and this one for the telepathy/dream/spirit prompts!



[A | Flower Gleam and Glow]
[The nearby moon is still passing close to the hub island, meaning the effects are still in play. Perhaps now is the time to stop and smell the large lit up sparkling moonflowers that have bloomed? Or be annoyed by the mosquito-like insects that came with them.

Alternatively, the deer seem to draw some sort of energy from the moon's light. Given their size, at least their sudden aggression and proximity to the base camp isn't the worst thing in the world but a kick would still break a rib or other bone so be careful! Possibly help each other deal with these cute but troublesome fauna.]



[B | Eavesdropping]
[For some reason, the telepathy will suddenly get rather wonky. Characters won't know why it's happening, though of course no doubt there will be ponderings, but it means characters won't be in control of their ability to broadcast — or more specifically, not broadcast — their thoughts. Time to find out secrets of an embarrassing nature. Or maybe something sadder is going on in your character's head.

If this wasn't bad enough, the area around the signet might experience burning or tingling. Just try to keep a lid on your brain for the day and distract yourself from any annoying pain.]



[C | Talking In Your Sleep]
[Or maybe your character just doesn't have the most interesting thoughts. Maybe they're busy thinking about pie instead of their upsetting childhood. That's fair. Pie is great.

But surely sometimes it haunts their dreams. With the telepathy running amuck, it's no wonder dreams and nightmares are leaking through, too. Of course, it doesn't have to be an accident. Feel free to grab a friend and share a fanciful dreamscape together on purpose! But for those nuts that are tougher to crack, accidents can and will happen.]



[D | Who You Gonna Call]
[Last but not least, as Friday rolls around, there seems to be something odd going on with the island. If your character is inclined towards the spiritual or supernatural, they'll no doubt notice the strange heavy thickness hanging around. There are whispers in the air and all of new energy just feels solemn. Might be good to give people a heads up and keep an eye on it.]

Comments

[splinten]

[Very, and also kind of hard to move.]

Swim up for air.

[It's the only thing he can do. They glitch again, unpleasant.]

Either you're going to have to let me go or tote me up there, bro.

[splinten]

[He reflexively puts her hand on her and pulls her back from the drop, like a brave knight on the defence or like a mom stopping their kid from crossing the road when a car is coming. He follows its descent, uneasy. It doesn't feel like it's him. At least, he thinks it isn't.]

Is this from you?

[potentite]

Your telepathy just informed your face!

[splinten]

[Jake has a nice face—NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE]

You're acting immature and petulant because you're upset that you let thoughts slip.

[he says, hiding under a bed]

[potentite]

[Oh. Flush, warm affection answers.]

You just did too! You like my face.

[potentite]

Oh, thank you. I like to think I am? [She's a little girl, so berating himself seems like it would be too cruel to her.] But well, a nice kid like you with such smile like sunshine would make this flower bloom like nobody's business.

[She seemed so sad before. Even now, it feels subdued. He wants to help.]

[splinten]

I'm not being petulant about it.

[MONOTONE. CONFIDENT.

UNDER A BED]

[potentite]

You're holed up under the bed like the sirens started blaring.

[splinten]

I'd apologize for trying to give you privacy. Fortunately, good manners don't need any apology.

[potentite]

You were hiding.

[splinten]

I am not.

[But to prove it to Jake, he rolls out from under the bed, and faces him standing up.

A little flush.]

I don't have a damn thing to be ashamed of.

[potentite]

[Oh. Jake stares at him, eyes transfixed on his face, on his blush.

Beautiful so beautiful kiss and touch—]

You... really?

[splinten]

[Oh god it makes him warm and redder and—]

Really.

[His mind bridges the space between their mouths but his body doesn't, stubbornly still and insistent. This isn't how this is going to happen. this has to work. Dirk will make this work. He will take every ugly, splintered part of himself and force it to become good and worthy because Jake English deserves to be happy, and Dirk is too selfish not to want to be part of his happiness.

Not all of those thoughts escape telepathy.]

[potentite]

[Enough gets through that Jake freezes, sucks in a breath, but his eyes don't look away.]

I— Um. Okay. I—I'm not ashamed, I just—

[They have to do this right. He wants this to work. He needs it to work. And if he fucks up again, if he hurts Dirk again—]

Fuck. I'm thinking again, huh?

[splinten]

Was I?

[He's pretty sure he was.

The lingering uncertainty over what to do. He swallows.]

I'll stick this through as long as you want me around. That declaration does not include a clause about fuck-ups or injuries. It is a blanket contract with no caveats or exceptions.

[Even back then, he could never really have been through with Jake.]

[potentite]

[Jake's fingers curl against the bedsheet.]

That sounds frightfully unconditional, don't you think?

[splinten]

I'm a sort of terrifyingly unconditional kind of person when it comes to the people who matter to me.

[potentite]

I know. [It's soft, a slight frown on his lips.] I like it. But...

[But Dirk deserves better than accepting anything just because it comes from someone he cares for.]

[splinten]

[Dirk can't reply to those unspoken thoughts. He doesn't know what to say to that. He knows what he thinks.

No, I don't.]

[potentite]

[It's hard to miss. He doesn't need telepathy malfunctions for it.]

Hey. [Sitting up, Jake pats the spot on the bed next to him.] Come here.

[splinten]

[It's a strange vulnerable terror that runs through him. There's something about Jake that it's impossible not to see. The goodness in him. The kindness. And he knows the kindness is meant for him, that Jake wants to help him. Be good to him.

And he's scared, because he doesn't deserve that kindness. Just like he doesn't deserve more than what those he loves will give him. He doesn't deserve this.

But Jake is being brave. Jake, who has had his self-confident slammed down to zero, is trying to help him despite everything that terrifies him. Jake deserves Dirk meeting him half way.

Slow to start at first, but then faster, Dirk moves over, sits down. He draws his hands together and he looks down at his knees. His shades don't hide it well. But he's trying.]

[potentite]

[A moment of fear, Jake worrying his bottom lip, fingers curling. He wants to put his hand over Dirk's own. He wants to comfort him more than this.]

Why... do you think that?

[splinten]

That sounds like it.

[Look he doesn't know sayings either.]

I destroy the flower if I fuck up, but no pressure.

[he doesn't want to destroy the flower jade he doesn't want to be a Destroyer Despite this, he makes a go!

But he's too cautious so he just destroys some of the dirt in a circle around it. Congrats, Dirk.]

[splinten]

[There's a pause.] It's difficult to explain. You are basically the kindest person I know. You'd rather think badly of yourself than of someone else.

It's unfortunate, because you underestimate what you're capable of, both in terms of skill and intelligence and also in terms of your goodness, morally speaking.

[potentite]

[It startles him enough that his telepathy shorts again — no no wrong i'm not — but he tries to keep himself vocally on track.]

I— What does that have to do with why you think that way?