( the sickness: phase two )

[acatamods]

I ▫ main IV ▫ premise       XI ▫ applications XIV ▫ activity II ▫ logs V ▫ rules VII ▫ bestiary   IX ▫ canon updates XII ▫ taken XV ▫ drop/hiatus III ▫ ooc VI ▫ faq VIII ▫ setting   X ▫ mods XIII ▫ reserves XVI ▫ players the sickness ends. the temple. The Temple, shortly after Astoria's burst of energy, is in a constant state of growth. Trees are bursting into existence from seeds in mere seconds, flowers are growing wherever magic lands . . . and the Temple is abruptly a-buzz with energy, magic crackling throughout the air. You may find a tree in your house, or flowers suddenly growing along the walls, or plants wiggling their way through the stone walls of the buildings of the Temple. All of a sudden, the place looks very overgrown. The Forest of the Fey seems to be responding in kind, too. Sprites are exceptionally active, darting out of the Forest and into the Temple with increasingly regularity, playing basic little tricks on the members of the Circle they can find. Flower crowns are made at an alarming rate, and there might be a few fruit-food fights that break out with the sudden abundance of peaches and apples that appear on the grounds. Learn how to duck! With the magic comes the sudden fluctuation of energy: canon powers flicker on and off, as do the powers granted by Astoria. You feel more like yourself, you suddenly have access to energies you did not have previously in the Temple However, it's a double-edged sword -- it is not constant, and it may be more trouble than its worth. And, remember: the Sickness is not fading immediately. If you make it to Stage 3, then you're stuck with sensory deprivation for at least another week or two. Sorry, friends. lake dona. Lake Dona is a massive body of water, stretching outward for so far that it almost seems like an ocean until you see that the water is fresh. It is surrounded by long, leafy trees that dip into the water and has a variety of ancient ruins scattered around it -- weathered stones set into circles at seemingly even intervals, old buildings that seem to mirror the Temple in construct. In addition to the ruins, there are a network of caverns tucked along the water’s edge, just underneath the surface on the western side of Lake Dona, that appear to go underground into murky darkness. The actual entrance to these caverns seem to be underwater, seemingly guarded by merfolk, but poking around may seem to be more trouble than its worth. There is plenty of wildlife to be found within the lake itself, ranging from freshwater mermaids who would rather you stay the hell out of their backyard to a rather large and suspiciously friendly plesiosaurus-like creature (some would say that she prefers to be called Nessie) that seems intent on checking out who you are. The lake teems with odd-looking fish, most of which seem to be okay to eat, and plenty of plant life! But who knows what lurks in the depths below . . . that giant sea-monster looking thing has to be eating something. PROMPT IDEAS: Here are some prompt ideas for this new area! However, don't feel limited to such ideas! Feel free to fish, to explore, to swim, to poke around . . . it's always possible Astoria may check in on your character, too, once she is feeling better! ;) 1.) The Great Pumpkin The overgrowth of plants have caused a massive growth spurt in a lot of the trees, including the fruit trees that sprinkle themselves throughout the Temple. However, the fruit themselves seems to be growing at a rather . . . alarming rate, resulting in a few pumpkin-looking squash growing to the size of small boulders in the fields. Hope you have a lot of spare time on your hands to make a hell of a lot of Temple-pie, because these squash aren't going anywhere anytime soon. 2.) Food Fight!: Those damn sprites are at it again, and are collecting fruit off the ground and throwing it at people. Fight back, organize, and conquer! Or not. It's probably better to just not. 3.) Part Of Your World: The mermaids within Lake Dona are a suspicious lot, and they don't take kindly to strangers stomping through their territory. However, they are receptive to music, so if you are so musically inclined, they will definitely be more inclined to be a little more playful than territorial. If you aren't? Have fun getting tossed into the lake head-first by a bunch of pissed off mermaids who want you to get the hell of their lawn. They don't take kindly to your type around here. 4.) Nessie: Within Lake Dona is a massive plesiosaurus-type creature which seems to be . . . oddly friendly? It seems to pop up at the most inconvenient of times. Are you sitting on the edge of the lake enjoying the water? Enjoy a massive ass dinosaur sticking its impressively long neck out of the lake to check you out and also scare the bejesus out of you. That being said, Nessie is an extraordinarily friendly being, and will even give you laps around the lake if you ask nicely! 5.) Caverns: The caverns within the lake are dark, deep, and menacing The merfolk inform you that you cannot go there -- no one can, but the merfolk sure seem to be keeping a careful eye out on it. Testing the boundaries indicates a weird magical field around the entrance of the cave, that works like a bit of a forcefield. Weird, right?

Comments

ryuji sakamoto (persona 5)

[ryuji]

1. pumpkin chunkin

[This sure is a metric shit ton of pumpkins just laying around, and Ryuji's pretty cool with the whole Halloween theme that it's supposed to bring, but there comes a time in every person's life that they need to see how far they can throw a squash. Sure, listen, you can bake them into pies, can roast the seeds (which he will ABSOLUTELY DO), or carve them into all sorts of things, but there's something insanely gratifying about tossing one as high as humanly possible, all to come crashing down.

And maybe he's just a kid at heart who didn't have the suburban experience of going door to door trick or treating, tp'ing houses, and smashin' pumpkins, but there's a lot of lost ground to cover. He calls you out, text or otherwise through passing by in the temple after he's made his decision and invites you out to the nearby patches that seemingly have been overstimulated into... some ungodly genetic mutation.

He looks down at the orange boulder before him, and then back up towards you.]

Uh... okay, so maybe it's not as heavy as it looks?

2. monster mash

[Nessie is quite possible the coolest thing Ryuji has ever seen in his entire life.

No, it's definitely the coolest thing he's ever seen.

The second he laid eyes on that majestic waterbeast, he found himself coming to the lake to jog the perimeter of it every single morning thereafter. Sometimes, he catches an early morning glimpse of Nessie, and he stops to take account of the experience. And he won't shut up about the thing either, so if you're in regular contact with him, expect to have your phone blown up with Loch Ness monster sightings and cryptic texts about cryptids. He wants to see if he can meet the dude behind the shadows in the water, but he hasn't had much success.

Today is the day. He's going to do it. He's going to shake hands with Nessie and see what this thing's all about. Waiting by the lakeside, he's asked you to come with him today, because he has an idea. Not a great idea, but an idea, nonetheless, as he tries mimicking whale sounds from the across the distance to get his attention.]

Heeeellooooooooo giaaaaaaaaant waaaaaaaaater thiiiiing.

[Someone stop him.]

3. mermaids and pirates

[And maybe, at some point, he's decided to go for a swim to cut the routine of his morning run short. He's all for it at first, considering he's never actually seen a mermaid in the wild, and has no idea of their existence in general. Ryuji makes it about a quarter of the way in before he realizes the thing is a lot larger than he had originally thought it was. This was going to have to be something he built himself up to. He didn't start running 10k's from the gate, so this has to be similar, right?

Except the way he stops and wades water, and swears he can feel something tickling at his feet. That's... definitely new? Probably some sort of fish under the depths below him, until he sees a larger shadow. NESSIE?

No, wait, that's definitely not the friendly neighborhood mythological beast he was hoping for, as something wraps around his ankle and he gets dragged under. He screams in surprise, only a small clap of sound before it's occluded by bubbles brightly churning and emanating from his mouth. Ryuji gets a good look at what's done it to him and realizes.

It's a mermaid.

And holy shit, it's beautiful. And trying to kill him? It's trying to kill him. He kicks his feet and feels the chill of a hand slide down his shin as he starts darting for the shoreline again. Panting through his swim strokes, he eventually makes it, arms spread wide and open towards the sky. His chest moves up and down as he tries to make sense of what just happened.]

I think... [A small pant.] I think I'm in love.

4. trick or treat!

[a wildcard option! he'll go exploring towards the cavern if provoked, engage in a food fight, or otherwise try to hack various flora trying to make its new home in the temple... or... his technicolored room. either way, i'm down to play anything! hit me up on plurk @ centerfold if you want to talk more!

3

[beyondthegreen]

[This white-haired girl staring down at him looks pretty sceptical. And honestly, probably saw the last part of that whole almost-drowning thing.]

Do people usually fall in love after someone tries to kill them?

apologies! was on vacation all last week

[ryuji]

[She's definitely!!! not wrong about any of this, actually. But then again, Ryuji is very much in the camp of tough love, and those mermaids... yeah, he's practically drowning in his feelings at the moment.]

Uhh... I mean. Did you see... what they look like?

[Did Ryuji even really get a good look? He should probably get some better taste and maybe fall for someone who's a part of his world.]

2

[flyingsolos]

[ Rion is here because Rion will roll with pretty much anything, and also because this seems exactly like something Kou's buddy Ryouta would do. It's almost nostalgic.

But she's going to have to speak up sooner or later. ]

I don't really think it's gonna show if you're howling at it.

[ryuji]

[Wow!!! Okay, he wasn't howling at it... he was---

wait, this is going to have to be said out loud.]

I was just trying to use the romantic, sultry and soothing sounds of their native voices to lure it out, jeez.

[He tries to swallow a smile. Listen, he knows he's not going to curry favor with the loch beast like this, but whatever. It's fun. The dude will probably pop its head out eventually just to tell Ryuji to shut the hell up.]

... I don't see you havin' any better ideas.

[flyingsolos]

Well, if you're already trying to seduce it--

[ She's also trying not to smile, but failing miserably. ]

Why not properly serenade it instead? I bet it likes a good tune.

1

[moonlightbeast]

[Atsushi looks to the giant pumpkin, and then back to Ryuji.]

Well I mean. They DO float.

[Something something density in water but Atsushi doesn't remember the exact science for it.]

If we work together I bet we can lift it.

the latest tag ever, please forgive! was vacationing :(

[ryuji]

[Pumpkins float?

He just stares at Atsushi, unsure of himself and then, unsure of the science behind pumpkins and why they have less density than water. More density? Shit, put a lab coat on the both of them and watch them go, because this is going to be a wild Bill Nye the Science Dude experiment.]

So.... we're gonna James and the Giant Peach this bad boy is what you're sayin'.

[A smile forms smack dab against his features. Hell yes.]

I'm in. You got good pushin' muscles?

1 - since we didn't do a sick log

[formleg]

[There was too much pumpkin. Hunk never thought he could think such a thing, but here they were. He has also been thinking of the numerous dishes he could make: pies, rolls, bread, soups, and of course roasted seeds. But there was going to have to be a limit.

So when one of the other Circle members, Ryuji, had tapped him to join him in the pumpkin field for a different kind of recreation. When he sees the overly large pumpkin he lets out a low whistle.]

These are some monstrous pumpkins.

[He tilts his head thoughtfully. He's an engineer. Surely he could figure something out.]

Unlikely...but we could possibly build something to launch it, like a catapult. Oh! Or we could hollow it out, take out all the guts and stuff, and then it should be much lighter.

i'm sorry this is so late! i was out of town the last week and half or so and boy do i love hunk

[ryuji]

[There aren't a whole lot of things Ryuji knows about pumpkins and their various culinary uses outside of how freaking amazing pumpkin seeds are, but if Hunk has an inkling of what to do with these mutants, then Ryuji can't complain too much. He thought he was doing the environment a favor by smashing them to pieces and smithereens, but as it turns out, it would've taken a Hunkulean effort to get anywhere with any of these.

Ryuji looks around, maybe they could do jack-o-lanterns?]

Aw, but obliterating the pieces is the best part...

[He's only slightly sad, slightly peeved that he couldn't do what he set off to do.... except... when he sees it.

The mother of all pumpkins.

The biggest bertha of berthas to have ever vine ripened. Ryuji's eyes go wide.]

Uhh...

[He pokes Hunk's shoulder and then off in the distance. That thing is probably big enough to make a small boat out of.]

no prob

[formleg]

[He'll definitely call Ryuji up when he has some seeds made...and maybe some other snacks too. Don't be surprised if the kitchen stays stocked for the foreseeable future. He's so caught up in the pumpkin in front of him, that he doesn't realize Ryuji is trying to get his attention.]

Huh? What?

[He turns and his eyes nearly bug out. The pumpkin in the distance is somehow EVEN BIGGER than the ones they are examining now.]

Woah! That's not a pumpkin=-that's a pumpcar! Seriously, what is IN this field?!

[He kicks at the dirt as if that will provide an answer.]

2

[paladorable]

[ Arenvald is not privy to Ryuji’s plan – they don’t even know each other – he’s just here because, honest to gods, he thought someone was dying or something. Being not too far from the lake, he immediately comes running to find the source of that anguished noise and it is… some guy, yelling at the lake. ]

What… what are you doing?

[ Are you okay???? ]

IM SO LATE...

[ryuji]

[Ryuji's not dead. Not sick, either! Shit, at least he wasn't coughing his brains up or keeled over for the past few weeks. Arenvald coming in to check on the scene startles him a little bit, though, and he jumps forward a half step.

Jeez, man, give a whaling voice a little bit of notice before you interrupt his ancient mating mimicry.]

U-uh...! Hey.

[He puts his hands in his pockets.]

Just tryin' to talk to old Nessie out there. You met 'em yet?

IT'S OKAY BB

[paladorable]

The creature in the lake, you mean?

[ Alisaie had nicknamed it “Margaret”, considering the Loch Ness Monster is not exactly a thing where they come from. ]

Aye. A friend of mine seems to have befriended it, though I’ve no idea how.

[ Probably not by doing whatever Ryuji is doing tho! ]

3

[purrtagonist]

[jesus fucking christ talk about giving a guy a hEART ATTACK]

[it's a good thing Akira's feeling a whole lot better, with only some minor numbness still lingering in his fingertips. it means he can bolt towards where his best friend lies prone in the sand without getting winded. HE SAW, THAT BUDDY. . .]

[some of his initial panic fades when he realizes Ryuji is still breathing, and he lets out a sharp breath of relief. and then he crouches down next to the downed Skull, waves a hand in front of his face, and mumbles flatly]

I think you should love yourself more.

Way more.

A whole lot more.

[ryuji]

[He's okay! He's okay. Probably?

What's a little siren call going to do to Ryuji? If only Astoria-chan had given him some cool underwater breathing apparatus (CUBA, if you ask him), then he would've been perfectly fine. Could've spent some time down there to meet the new in-laws.

Except that?

That right there is a HORRIBLE GODDAMN IDEA.

He winces at Akira's suggestion, and then notices something seriously chafing his thighs and....


carefully, gracefully just... shoves his hand down his pants right in front of him. And what comes back up is a nice, long piece of seaweed. Which, of course, is flung backwards. Aimed at Akira, but forgive him for missing on account of nearly dying.]

You know CPR, right?

[RYUJI...]

[purrtagonist]

[oh my god]

[it doesn't take much for Akira to dodge the seaweed-- he leans to the side and watches as it flies past him and lands in a wet heap on the sand. not once does he tear his gaze away from Ryuji, though his expression turns unreadable as his glasses flash opaque]

CPR is like making out, right? I definitely know how to do that.

[. . . . . AKIRA. . . .]

1

[punshots]

Nothin' these guns can't handle! Juuuuust watch 'n' learn —

[ No matter how good his intentions may be, Prompto...is not a large person. It's unlikely he could even wrap his arms around this gourdy monstrosity. Even so, he's just gonna...squat down, wiggling his fingers, his tongue between his teeth, before he hollers and throws all of his weight against the pumpkin. Eyes closed, head first, can't lose!!!

...It goes nowhere.

Anyway, he's just going to pretend like that didn't happen, straightening up and dusting off his gloved palms. ]

Oooon second thought — y'know, why don't you go first? I'll be the, uh — documentarian! Go for it, dude!

[ He's already pulling out his camera. ]

slides in here with a cup of starbucks and apologizes profusely

[ryuji]

[Oh hell no, Prompto. Ryuji absolutely saw that entire display. All of it. From the triumphant look in his eyes, to the first attempt to move it, to the way it didn't even budge an inch under the shove. It's kind of endearing in a weird way? He doesn't know how to tell him that though, since it just comes out as a sort of muffed up chuckle.]

Aw, c'mon, there's gotta be one here that you can wreck.

[Ryuji thinks he's also nice and swole, and perfect for this entire endeavor, and as he rounds about the same pumpkin to show his fellow featherbrained friend here, he wraps his arms around in the same manner and---





Yeah, no.

Even with constant weight training, that baby isn't going anywhere.]

AW, C'MON MAN, YOU'RE MAKIN' ME LOOK BAD IN FRONT OF PROMPTO.

[As he proceeds to give the dumb thing a kick.

And immediately regrets that, too.]

i'll let you off the hook this time for some sbux

[punshots]

[ For what it's worth, Prompto entirely expects Ryuji to be able to heft up that pumpkin like it's nothing. He even has his camera ready to roll! Which he still uses. He gets a pretty good shot of Ryuji kicking the pumpkin that really nicely captures the moment he realized it was a bad idea. ]

Dude! Is your foot okay?!

[ While he snaps one more picture. But okay — back to the problem at hand! Or...at foot. ]

Look, maybe we're going about this the wrong way. What if we try and...I dunno, build some kind of lever, or somethin'?

[ They could really get these pumpkins soaring then! ]

3

[spellweave]

[Alphinaud doesn't arrive in time to witness his near death experience. Instead by the time he spots him soaked and panting on the lake's shore the mermaids have fled. Nessie has also arrived to investigate which mostly involves staring at Ryuji from a distance. But she is the only other one here besides him.

He catches his peculiar words as he draws closer and pauses. Hmm........]

While I am certain our new plesiosaurus friend would be most flattered you may want to reconsider.

[He doesn't actually think Nessie is what Ryuji meant but without any context otherwise... here we are.]

[ryuji]

[Listen, Alphie. He loves Nessie a whole lot, too. In fact, they've just basically become friends and although it's been a tenuous start of Ryuji whale calling to her, he'd like to think he's on good terms.

Just not, like, those types of good terms.

But all of that evades his sense of what the hell he was getting at as Alphinaud comes into vision, partially blocking the sun's view from his gaze. Hey, he's grateful for the shade, man, you're the best.]

Plesio-what?

[Is that another name for mermaids????]

1

[cakebuffet]

[Far be it from Ann to resist an invitation from Ryuji, although she's not quite sure what he expects them to do out in the fields— though when she sees the size of the pumpkins that have sprouted, she has a few vague ideas, and most of them are entertainingly messy.

She raises an eyebrow at him as she folds her arms, her smile quirking to one side.]

C'mon, you're an athlete. You can totally lift that.

[Show her what you got, Skull!]

[ryuji]

[Is this really a chance to show off to Ann? He's waited for this moment for what feels like years, and her goading him into his is exactly the type of adrenaline rush that he needs to walk up to that thing and spit in his hands (gross?).]

Damn straight! I'm gonna hurl this thing a whole soccer field!

[And in all his bravado and machismo, he bends to his knees and lifts straight up. The pumpkin easily glides upward in his hands, his muscles ripped and toned and practically sparkling in the soft light of day as a single bead of sweat trickles down his face, letting Ann know that although it was a struggle, he totally did it. He totally

[ryuji]

... totally actually whiffed the entire fucking thing, and he realizes what a daydream he was stuck in, right before he tries to pull upward and lands his ass straight into the mud below, kicking up dirt in almost every single direction his feet had slid against.

Ow, shit!

This was so not cool.]

A...ughh.... I think I cracked my ass.

[He definitely showed her!!!]