( intro log # 1 )

[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 temple of beginnings. we're all a little mad here. Needless to say, the Circle has been out of sorts as of late. Fortunately, the weather has stabilized — residents will find that they are no longer plagued with snowstorms or heat waves. However, it appears that the flora and fauna have...come to life. Vines may wind around your feet and legs, entrapping you in a vice-like grip. They will eventually let go, but it seems like you need to speak nicely to them first. Bizarre, but it'll get the job done. Mushrooms have also sprouted and now sing at you when you pass by — they aren’t particularly good singers either. Trees extend their branches to poke at you from behind, but when you turn around you’ll find that no one is there. ...And worst of all, the flowers seem to be especially privy to your thoughts; when you’re close, they’ll blab out whatever is on your mind at the moment and will only be silenced once they are picked. Best of luck surviving in this more, er, animated environment! Perhaps even plant-life can be reasoned with…? Or destroyed. That’s always an option, isn’t it? oh my god they were roommates. It isn’t a proper welcome until you’ve picked out your room! In the hallways, you may find a table or two offering cookies and tea as you survey your newfound surroundings. They seem to be left by invisible people . . . weird? The Unseen Servants seem to be playing a bit more nicely from your arrival, and seem to be apologizing for their antics with sweets! (These cookies, neverfear, are not magically cursed. They are just normal cookies.) These rooms are a bit magical, you see — should you decide to room with another person (or multiple people), you’ll find that the room itself will accommodate your needs and expand accordingly. They look the same for the most part, so some might say that it would be wise to make your decision based on what your neighbors are like. Say hello or potentially someone else’s room by accident; it’s a bit of a Russian roulette. Regardless, it seems that this is your new home in sense of the word. Make the most of it! wildcard. The Temple is a pretty big place! The Forest of the Fey stretches on endlessly, Lake Dona (and the resident Nessie) is free to explore, and there are plenty of creatures who are curiously inspecting the new arrivals. The wyverns seem to be particularly precocious today, given the singing mushrooms, the psychic flowers, and the new people checking into new rooms! They are relatively harmless (as are most of the creatures in the Temple), but can be pretty annoying . . . especially if you have something resembling a snack in your hand. At any rate, free to explore the rest of the Temple, the Forest, or the Lake at your leisure! Unless otherwise designated in the bestiary, everything is free to play/free to explore. :)

Comments

[valuedstrength]

[Of course it's this guy. Steve doesn't bother containing a sigh even if it just serves to make the plant hang on tighter. Lovely.] Uh-huh. Must be nice to play the dashing hero again.

[nifties]

You think I'm dashing? Now, I really think I might be dreaming.

[ he pinches himself and gasps out an 'ow.' what, it was worth checking! ]

I'm a Taurus by the way. [ he winks at steve before turning his head to address the vines directly: ] My loves, would you mind letting up on our dear captain, just a tad? He does need to breathe, my darlings.

[ steve will suddenly find it much easier to breathe. yep, he could get used to this hero business. ]

[valuedstrength]

I have no idea what that means without Google. [He's just pointing that out there!!! Steve looks put out until the second John gets some results. Breathing gets a whole lot easier. Steve doesn't hesitate to share his gratitude. He can put up with just about anything. Not being able to breathe isn't even particularly new thing! He spent twenty something years doing that. That doesn't mean he enjoys it.] Thanks.

[nifties]

[ sorry steve he knows how this magic shit works. ]

Fair play. I'll just say we're compatible then and you won't know the difference. [ look at this charming smile. you have to trust him!! john starts working through the thicket to get in a bit closer. sighs steve you're so tall. ] I'm just gonna... help you out here...

[ he wraps his hand around steve's bicep like this somehow helps anything. spoilers: it doesn't, he's just really wanted to do that since the second he saw him. ]

There, now that I've collected my fee. [ he starts gently tugging at the vines, saying things like Oh pardon me, lovely and Just let up a bit, precious until steve can step out of his own accord. ]

[valuedstrength]

Nice to know where your priorities are when I need a magical rescue. [He is not giving into that charm!!! Especially since he's getting a feel like literally everyone does at some point. Steve can't grumble for long. Thanks to John he is getting free slowly but, surely. Soon he stands and moves to rub feeling back into his limbs.]

My hero. [Flat as a board since he hates this damsel business!! At least he isn't insulting John by saying he had it covered. He really did not.]

[nifties]

Oh, come on. He wasn't in any actual danger, was he, ladies? [ the vines seem to sway almost like they're answering him and john leans in close to speak near steve's ear though he's let go of him, at least. and the talking low does have a purpose once the man hears him out. ] They just like to be told they're pretty now and then. Don't we all?

[ he'll step out of steve's space harmlessly and start leading their way back to safety. ]

You might want to be careful slinging that word around. I could accidentally banish you to Hell or imbue you with 47 wayward souls, just as... random examples.

[valuedstrength]

[Steve can be forgiven for giving him a funny look even if he is escorting him to safety. It's a little unsettling!!!] .... I can't tell if you're messing with me or not.

[nifties]

About being called 'pretty?' [ his tone is sweet, but his eyes are wan. it's the first time he's been wholly serious around steve to date, really, so of course he's immediately covering for it by pulling the unlit cigarette from behind his ear. he fiddles with it a second before putting it back. not like he's got his fancy fire fingers anymore anyway. ] Well, I don't mind dashing either.

[valuedstrength]

Not what I meant. [Steve points out. He doesn't force the issue. It's very much not worth it.] I'll keep those in mind if we do this again.

[Clearly they're making a habit out of this.]

[nifties]

[ his smile grows a little, but it's almost sharky. there's nothing behind it. ]

Maybe you could save me next time, just to keep things interesting.

[valuedstrength]

[Steve smiles with one side of his mouth in response.] Interesting for who? Saving guys was my day job back home. I'm liking being on the other end of things. It's downright peaceful.

[nifties]

[ that gets a chuckle. ] No rest for the wicked, then. I see how it is.

[valuedstrength]

[Steve laughs with him.] I mean you could leave me to my fate next time. I'd have to take back the dashing comment.

[nifties]

[ john regards him for a moment, still far soberer than usual. ]

I don't like to spread this around, but... it's not really in me to leave a damsel in distress.

[valuedstrength]

I'll keep that to myself. [He promises. Steve smile doesn't fade, but he does glance at his feet before the next admission.] I thought so after Peggy. I wasn't physically in any danger, but you still stepped in. I really did appreciate it even if I was short with you.

[nifties]

Peggy, right. Your lady-love.

[ he says it fondly rather than as if peggy is any sort of threat to him. though the truth is... he casts a glance over to steve and shakes his head. the truth is: he really doesn't want to analyze what's happening here. ]

You're lucky you're cute, that's all I've got to say.

[valuedstrength]

That's her. [Steve says it with love. He always will love her even when she can't remember he's alive and married someone else. He snorts at the rest, taking it as a joke.] Thanks? I'll have to thank Ma for that one. I look like her.

[nifties]

[ UGH stop. that's so endearing. john frowns deeply at his shoes. ]

Nightmare loops are, sadly, part of my expertise. As are handsy vines.

[valuedstrength]

[That gives Steve the opening he needs to ask something he's been wondering about.] How did you get into that line of work? Is that normal where you come from?

[nifties]

[ normal. he fixes steve with a look. ]

Normal for me, mate. Don't much keep up with what's normal for the world, but I'm betting they still haven't caught up. Most people stick to what's easy, what they can digest. Nasties lurkin' in the shadows to snatch their souls don't exactly track.

[ he thinks about it though with anyone else he might dismiss this line of questioning. steve is just so... earnest. it's as annoying as it is attractive, really. annoyingly attractive, even. ]

I guess when I was a kid, I did it for power. To feel like a big man. But the more things I saw, the worse things got... I just wanted to help. My trouble is I never do know when to stay out - helping isn't always acting.

[ sometimes it's inaction. something john is obviously not very good at. they pass by some flowers and they whisper amongst themselves about astra, about how if he just stayed out she would still be alive... and he wouldn't be damned to hell. john hangs his head, heels of his hands pressed against his eyes. Maybe I will waste that smoke, says another as he turns his tired gaze back up on steve. he laughs, a deeply self-deprecating sound. ]

Bollocks.