acatalepsy_logs | ( the sickness: phase two )

( the sickness: phase two )

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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?

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[Prompto has simple priorities. And Connor has such limited life experiences. Case in point—]

I’ve never had a selfie taken before. I wouldn’t be against the experience, if that’s what you want to do, though.

[He does know what a selfie is, at least. It’s harmless enough, so he’s along for the ride, maybe unsurprisingly.]

[ Prompto lights up, not only at Connor's agreement with the suggestion, but also at the fact that he gets to be a part of Connor's first selfie experience. This is the kind of moment that photographers dream of...

So he claps his hands together, increasing his pace as they descend through a patch of overgrown radishes. ]

Oh man, you are in for a treat, my friend! Once you get on your selfie game, you never go back!

[Through the radishes they go! Connor's step is light, though quickened just enough to keep right behind Prompto.]

And are you an avid taker of selfies where you're from?

[A legitimate question, given his enthusiasm! But Connor reaches out, suddenly, to grab lightly at Prompto's shoulder before he stumbles over another radish in the way.]

-ah, careful.

Am I an avid selfie-taker? Con, you're lookin' at the — oh, thanks!

[ He cautiously toes his way around the overlarge radish, scrunching up his nose. As much as he likes most fruits and veggies, radishes have never been up there for him. Weird textures, man... ]

— Anyway, you bet I am! I was kinda...on a road trip? A really...really long road trip. So, naturally, someone had to take pictures...selfies included.

[ His photography wasn't the reason Noctis had brought him along, but it wound up being more essential to their quest than he would have thought. ]

A record of your road trip, then?

[Moments caught on film -- digitally, he assumes. Curious, and now trailing beside Prompto since the latter has avoided an unfortunate radish tumble, he looks at him imploringly.]

Do you happen to have these with you now?

[By some will of magic or what-have-you, did he get to keep some form of these pictures? Connor is ever wondering about other worlds, and what better way to get an idea of what Prompto's was like than by via photograph?]

Does a chocobo say kweeeeh? [ ... ] Of course I do, dude!

[ And, because he's Prompto, he even has a few on him at the moment, aside from the hundreds piled up on his camera's memory. He reaches into the front pocket of his vest, withdrawing a handful of photographs which he promptly hands over to Connor. Within the pictures, Connor will find all manner of unique topography and architecture, from Altissia to Cape Caem to the Disc of Cauthess, as well as a host of monsters and daemons that populate Eos's landscape. However, no theme will he find more consistent than the four individuals that appear in nearly every picture.

Evidently, for him, this trip was about the people. ]

Check it! Pretty cool, huh? [ His tone sobers a degree. ] Makes it...easier to ward off the homesickness, anyway.

[Connor has no idea if a chocobo goes kweh. However, he does recognize the word — a large bird, he remembers, given Arenvald’s explanation — and his eyes widen in surprise accordingly.

But he’s presented with an array of colorful photographs moments later, and the question is shelved temporarily. Sights that are far beyond his imagining, creatures that look strange in physiology, and a few that appear more aggressive, photographed in dark lightning, he notes. Most prominent are photos or Prompto himself and his friends, in various locations, sporting various poses. He recognizes the face of one—]

Oh, it’s Noctis. I’ll need to tell him that you’ve shown me pictures from his world when I see him next.

[As he continues to shuffle through the photos, LED flickering as he commits each to memory—]

Is there one of a chocobo?

Oh, you know Noct? He's my best bud! Gladio and Iggy are hangin' around the Circle, too.

[ At least, at the time of this thread. There's no missing the warmth in Prompto's voice given the opportunity to talk about his friends. He would go on about them for ages, but Connor directs him to another path, and one that he is perhaps equally eager to expound upon. ]

You bet I do! Hang on -

[ Taking the photographs back for a moment, Prompto begins to sort through them, before handing them back with a picture of a chocobo right on top. ]

There! Isn't she just the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?!

[ There is only one answer here. ]

Yes. I met him on Struxta, and aided him while he was sick -- he had been chasing after a hallucination at the time.

[A memory that almost makes him frown, if not for the fact that this sickness was lifting, and therefore there was less to be worried about as the days passed. Besides, this thought is thoroughly derailed the moment Prompto hands him a picture of a chocobo and-

Oh.

After his discussion with Arenvald, Connor had drew up a faint mental image of what to expect in his head. A large bird, basically, maybe similar in form to an ostrich. But taking the photo and looking over it closely, his LED flickers brightly. The chocobo is actually larger than he imagined, with fluffier feathers, and a face that can only be described as

(cute)

endearing.]

She's very impressive. [Connor's smile widens at the picture; he's an animal person at heart, even if he doesn't realize it.] Is she yours?

[ Embrace it, Connor. Admit it's cute!! But his reaction is good enough for Prompto, even if he is not fully fawning. It's okay. Connor just doesn't truly understand the majesty of meeting a chocobo in person. it's not his fault! ]

Isn't she, though? I wish she was mine! Fondest dreams, dude. [ He sighs wistfully. ] Nah, we just rented 'em from the Chocobo Post when we needed 'em. Pretty handy when driving just won't cut it!

[ And because he has no sense of self-preservation: ]

If you wanna see one, Alisaie can turn into one! She doesn't look quite like this one when she does it, but it's as close as you can get here.

[Unbeknownst to furthering Prompto’s fortunate demise, Connor appears to perk up again at this newly divulged information.]

Really?

[He looks at him pointedly, curiously.]

Do you think she’d mind it?

[ ...That question causes a bit more self-reflection. ]

Uhhh...n-no! [ DUBIOUS ] Not if you give her some cookies or something in exchange. She really likes cookies.

[ He lowers his voice for those few last words. ]

I keep hopin' we'll visit a world that has 'em, but so far, no luck! Guess the lizards of El Minha were kiiinda along the same lines...

[ Except, you know. Lizards. ]

[He looks at Prompto, assessing for a moment as they walk.]

Are you hoping to impress her with cookies?

[Point blank and curious.]

[ Well.

Strictly speaking, that's not inaccurate....but he blusters anyway, his cheeks flushing red. ]

N-no! I-I mean, I already tried that. She did eat a bunch of 'em...but feel free to use that hot tip, dude. [ ... ] Unless you're gonna use it to ask her out, or somethin'.

[ That's his play! ...If he ever comes up with a play, anyway. ]

[Prompto seems to continue to wear his heart on his sleeve. Even if Connor wasn’t a detective android, he’d have to be blind to miss that blush.

No grand mystery here to solve.]

No. I don’t have much of an interest in... dating, I guess you could say, given what I am.

[Womp.]

So you have a romantic interest in her?

[So blunt. So very Connor, who sees no need to be subtle about something as harmless as this?]

[ Wow, androids can find love, too!!! But Prompto will get back to that in a minute. He's a tad too preoccupied at the moment after being so thoroughly called out like that. Is it that obvious? (It is that obvious.) His blush amplifies, his face dyed an impressive, vibrant red, and he stumbles — but not because he almost tripped over any oversized vegetation. ]

I-I-I mean...s-sure! Sh-she's a real catch...she's somethin' else.

[ A smile breaks through for a moment. If nothing else, it's still easy to talk about how great she is. But soon enough, his nerves return in full force. ]

B-but you can't tell her I said that! She...can't know.

[ He doesn't know if, like, crush discretion is a part of Connor's programming so better to be Extra Sure this is clear. ]

[Connor is programmed with inherent knowledge about humans and why they act the way they do (though that’s quite different from experience itself), and so the amplified blushing and the sudden emergence of the young man’s two left feet aren’t all that surprising.

The fondness, a smile, that slips between the moment is more telling than anything, and Connor — taking his request into account — can’t help but grin slightly in his direction.]

If you’re embarrassed, don’t be. I’m not going to make fun of you for it — in fact, it’s nice to see these sort of connections forming between members of the Circle. Every kind strengthens the bond between us, and therefore, our effectiveness as a group.

[Connor sounds like he stepped out of a Fire Emblem game with a line like that, but from an objective standpoint, it’s true.]

I won’t say anything to her. But maybe you should consider telling her instead?

[ It's somehow even more embarrassing to think about his infatuation with Alisaie as some kind of boon to the group at large, but Connor is right — their bonds are important, particularly if they want to grow more effective as a cohesive unit. He'll...try to remember that next time he brushes pinkies with her and chokes and dies.

See him also try to not choke and die when Connor offers that suggestion. He coughs, covering his mouth with his hand, before trying to play it off like that was completely unrelated. Nothing to see here, folks, please disperse. ]

Sure! Sure. Sure. [ Sure. ] I could...consider that.

[ That's...really all he has to say about that. Suffice it to say, he's lacking in confidence. ]

[Well, Connor's logic is sometimes applied in strange ways. It's easier for him to provide some kind of obvious outward advantage, other than just say, 'Oh I'm very happy for you' because that's not very android-like. Easier to make these declarations if they're paradoxically couched in some kind of cold, easily obtained logic.

Regardless. It appears his suggestion is met with more embarrassment. Don't die, Prompto.]

Only consider, though?

[The most gentle, Connor-like way of calling him out.]

[ It may be gentle and Connor-like, but it's still a call-out and Prompto knows it!!! If only it were that easy...

And, well. Maybe for some people, it is that easy, but Prompto tends to overcomplicate these things. For all his feelings for Alisaie come naturally and effortlessly, actually doing something about them is another matter entirely. ]

Y-yeah! I mean, y'know...don't wanna ruin the friendship by getting all...schmoopy and makin' things weird. Believe me — it's better for everyone this way.

[ Let him pine, gosh! ]

[Maybe this is the part that he finds strangest about humanity. There’s a chance of a positive result, resulting in happiness between the both of them — or so he would assume. But Prompto doesn’t wish to take that route. Maybe is too nervous, which Connor can understand but not really relate to.

To be fair, he can’t really relate to much of this.]

But what if she’s agreeable to it?

[ Would that he possessed Connor's logic, but Prompto has always been emotionally drawn and driven and the idea of telling a girl how he feels about her is absolutely petrifying. Not only because he's afraid of rejection, but because he's afraid of the opposite, too. What if he asks her out, and she says yes? Rion had told him he would make a good boyfriend, but it's still...it's just...

His self-doubt is still his constant companion in just about everything. ]

But...what if she's not? I could totally blow the whole friendship, dude! And I...care about her too much to risk what I've got with her now.

[ But not to leave things on such a down note, he shrugs a shoulder. ]

Heh, it's all good though. Always a bridesmaid! ...Er, groomsman? N-never mind.

["Always a bridesmaid." Sounds a little like resignation to Connor, though he's cognizant enough to not say this out loud. In the end, the decision is Prompto's, though he wonders why he's so quick to dismiss the notion -- to not even give it the faintest consideration. Not even to humor himself, which is something Connor would expect from most.]

Do you think she'd disregard your friendship so easily?

[He's heard tell of humans making relationships awkward due to rejected romantic advances, and he does see how that makes sense. But each case was different, each individual a variable that made it hard to delegate this to inevitability.]

[ Would she?

He's asked himself this question before, of course. He's thought about all of this a lot before, of course, and in the back of his mind, he can just picture the way Alisaie would respond if she knew he thought she might reject his friendship if he told her the true nature of his feelings for her. She would give him hell for it, and stand by what she's said before, that he is important to her.

But that thought is in the back of his mind for a reason, because it is tucked away behind so many layers of doubt and fear that he scarcely considers it. He has every reason for why Alisaie might walk away from him if he confessed. They're not necessarily rational reasons, but they are not so easy to walk away from, even now, in the initial throes of his path to self-acceptance.

A noncommittal noise slips out of him, his gaze dropping to the ground. ]

...Guess not. Still, I, uh...I dunno if that's a risk I wanna take.

[ He barely feels like he has enough to offer her as is. Why risk it when things are fine the way they are? It's fine. He's fine. ]

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( the sickness: phase two )

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