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 Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 7:41 am
It starts off quietly at first. A single, tinkling sound that starts at the back of mind. You think it’s nothing. Ringing in the ears isn’t anything new. But soon enough it rings and rings and rings, to the point where you simply know it’s something more than simple tinnitus. It grows so loudly, developing into a sound beyond the confines of your home.
A mighty urge overtakes you, forcing you out of wherever you are and filling you with a desperate need to locate that awful ringing.
For some, it feels like you walk for hours and hours, for others, mere moments, but either way, you find yourself before a shimmering, frosted archway blocking your path into what seems to be the woods.It seems almost like fogged glass fills it, but you can clearly feel a breeze through it, and when you push your hand through, it gives no resistance.
You choose to...
[b]Walk through the arch[/b]
Walk around the arch
Turn around to leave Option 1: As you brave your way through the arch, a blinding light catches your eye, and you squeeze them shut for just a moment.
When you open them once again, your skin is shimmering, touched by frost and glistening with what rings in your mind as ‘winter’s blessing’ You feel neither warm or cold, a perfect balance of temperature touches you, where you cannot tell where the air ends and your skin begins. It’s strange and unsettling, but you do not feel unsafe.
A pair of voices ring out at the same time within your head. “You’re just in time, Welcome!” Though you look around, you find no one. Rhona was closing up for the night. It was mid-January and frigid, so she had sent her staff home early to avoid the splintering cold as best as possible and lingered on herself, counting inventory and balancing registers. Though it hadn't been busy, Rhona noticed a slight ringing in her ears. Strange. It had been fairly quiet that day, no reason for that. And then the ringing grew and grew, louder and louder like a siren. Instead of familiar irritation, however, Rhona felt a different and yet no less familiar sensation. She was being called somewhere. Lavender's gunna kill me, she thought helplessly as she followed that distant call. Like a cord pulling her directly where she needed to be, or like she had been set on a rail with no way to divert, Rhona moved of someone else's accord out the back of her Market and into the back gardens. Beds and pots had been put to bed for the winter and had been blanketed by snow and hay beneath that. Perennials slumbered while fallow soil waited for new seeds. And at the back was an addition she had not made. A beautiful arch, almost elven in its construction, stood at the back of her garden. curious, but not unwelcome. She glided towards the structure and pressed a hand to the cool, frosted glass. As though she had done this a million times... Light. Brighter than she had ever seen before. Rhona shut her eyes for a moment before the light faded and she was able to see again. The first thing she saw was herself. Or rather, her arms. They shimmered as though frosted, though she felt perfectly warm. Winter's Blessing...
"You're just in time, welcome!""Oh... um... thank you," Rhona answered to no one.
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Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 7:47 am
No matter how you arrived there, you see a path before you cleared of snow and made of crystalline bricks, all paved out neat and tidy. Along the path are bright lanterns, alternating with cool blue and warm red colors. Between each lantern is a garland of icy white and fiery orange ranunculus flowers, draping downward but still just barely out of reach.
You’re sensing a pattern here, but you only have a moment to focus on it before a building begins to glow in the distance. A more focused look reveals what seems to be a cathedral, glowing with an unnatural light. Even from here you can see its massive stained glass windows with images of a dancing flames, icicles dangling off a wintery landscape, and a single star between them surround an intricate gate, covered in those same ranunculus blooms.
And again, the bells ring. Loud and clear and echoing throughout the iced woods that surrounds you and your path.
Whether or not you are soaked, melting, or feeling quite comfortable, you have a choice.
You choose to...
[b]Head towards the cathedral[/b]
Head back through the arch
Wander off the Pathway to explore the area further. Option 1: Despite the ominous feeling of being in this strange place, you do not feel unwelcome… And despite that your entrance may not have been so peaceful, you head forward. If you were hot or cold earlier, you began to even out to that same, blissful balance between the air and your skin.
Every step seems to be in time with a bell chime, and somewhere along the line you look down to find that your clothing has changed. Powered or no, your outfit reflects something far more formal, and in your grasp you find a small coin: an invitation token. It appears out of nowhere, but you feel very comfortable with your new appearance. It feels… Natural.
Right.
Simply made for you. A pleased sound could be heard from the woods around you as you go about your way. It would seem, Rhona noted as she extended her attention from herself to her surroundings, that she looked perfectly fitting for her surroundings. Crystal bricks lay neatly beneath her feet. Beautiful lanterns, fashioned much like the archway she'd arrived through, lined the path with blue and red lanterns. Beautiful garlands hung cheerfully between them. And in the distance a gleaming, gorgeous cathedral. Just like before, Rhona felt like she was on a rail, heading inexplicably for the cathedral in the distance. Bells returned with each step and Rhona felt herself growing more and more fond of this place. There was nothing forboding looming in the distance. Nothing strange and frightening threatening her. No fights. No chasing. Nothing but splendor. And she began to reflect that. Her dark layered skirts shifted in hue, turning to icy blues and whites. Her boots turned to crystal. The blouse shifted from black to white, lace covering all exposed skin. And something in the distance approved as much as she did. She flipped the coin which she suddenly found in her hand happily and picked up her pace. She didn't want to be late.
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Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 8:11 am
The closer you get to the looming cathedral, the heavier the flowers’ scent becomes. The garlands soon become wreaths, then become rows and rows of woven treillage, finally meeting at a point right before a pair of great mahogany doors.
In front of these massive doors stands a man draped in red and blue robes, embroidered with fine golden trim. The most striking thing about him is his hat, rising nearly a foot off his head and covered in jewels that you aren’t quite sure are real. It is magnificent, nonetheless.
Nothing seems out of the ordinary, simply a man with a long list that runs onto the floor. Nothing out of the ordinary at all, except there feels to be something magical about him. If you are powered, you feel the energy from him, though it is neither Chaos nor Order. He is simply there and feels powerful.
Eventually, he looks away from his list, and looks down at you over a pair of frameless glasses.
“Hmm… Are you here for the flames, or the ice?” His voice is monotone, as if he’s asked this time and time again, and the longer you wait, the more annoyed he seems to become.
After careful consideration, you answer that you’re here for…
The Flames
[b]The Ice[/b]
That Funny hat of his. You demand he hand it over. Option 2: He nods, scratching something on his list, before offering you a ranunculus bloom, the colors of an autumn sunset, the edges of it seemingly scorched by flames. You take it, and immediately your hands feel as if they are being burned by fire. The touch of it feels hotter and hotter, and yet you do not burn, your flesh does not sear, and you cannot drop it.. The man seems unconcerned, and ushers you inside those doors.
It’s clear that to the right are a bunch of other shadowy figures, all with the same reddish flower as you. The guests here seem to not mind your presence, and there’s a seat right at the end of the last row for you. You take your seat, then the burning sensation in your hands dull down into the cool feeling of being doused in water.
Those bells begin to ring again, and soon enough, all heads turn towards the doors behind you. The cathedral is even more beautiful up close. And so did the flowers. And so did the surrounding land. And the closer Rhona got, the faster she walked. Anticipation for something rose in her chest. Something warm and familiar and strange all at once. She wanted to laugh and cry and sing and dance. so instead she ran. She ran down the road, her icy skirts billowing and swirling around her like a storm. She reached the man at the door with breathless joy and answered him easily, "The Ice." She accepted the bloom gratefully but quickly regretted it. The flower heated up quickly in her hands, searing her flesh, though she could see no burns. She would have cried out, but it seemed somehow... inappropriate. Especially once she was inside the cathedral and taking her seat. Just as the pain became what she thought was unbearable, however, it faded. And just in time too, Rhona thought. The wedding is able to begin.
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Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 8:41 am
When the bells began to ring before, it was short and brief, loud enough to echo throughout the land as a sign and a summoned. Now they ring lightly, a happy cheery sound that announced the coming of the couple.
Somehow you now know exactly why you are here. It pops into your mind like you’ve known this for months that you had an invite. The joining of the fire and the ice, the marriage of two spirits who had been fluttering around with their romance and their teasing for nearly a millennium. A story long told about how dearly they loved one another but could never be with one another.
They were far too different, too likely to hurt one another.
And yet through everything they made their love work, and decided to share that love with all who could hear their sweet summons with a bell ring.
The Flower you once held suddenly rises from your cupped hands and joins all the others that reach high above your heads, joining in a dance of swirls and dips before coming together in a single giant flower, then bursts into a rain of petals.
The moment the petals rain down upon the guest, the doors come open, and two bright lights, one a bluish white, another an orangish red, float in slowly.
They dance around one another, entranced, as if any other glimmer or soul in the room never existed.
And you feel that.
You feel the love and the warmth and sweetness all wrapped up into one. No matter who you are, what side of the War you find yourself on, in this moment, a pure, kind, and genuine happiness comes over you.
Eventually the light comes to the front of this cathedral, twisting around until two beings come forth from the light.
Draped in beautiful robes and gleaming gems, they come forth, speaking in a language that no one can really understand, not even the other guests.
One thing is for certain though, they are happy. And you can feel that as well. Even the Officiator who allowed you in can be seen smiling and enjoying the playful words between the couple.
And you…
You can’t help but feel moved.
You…
[b]Enjoy the wedding and scoop up more flower petals, adding them to endless shower of them.[/b]
Cross your arms and wait. No amount of good feelings will make up for forcing you to be here and sit through this.
Focus on the nearest exit. The moment it’s over, you’re outta here. Option 1: The wedding is beautiful. Every moment is glorious and you dance and sing and enjoy every single moment of it.
After the Officiant says that they are wed, the two beautiful beings snap their fingers. All the guests stand up, and the pews disappear, only to reveal beautifully decorated tables, and a giant feast on a table that stretches all the way to the door.
And you, decide to indulge.
The food is glorious, the dancing, singing, merriment, all of it is a spectacular display that your imagination could hardly come up with on your own. Whatever tales that tell you not to give into such suspicious activities escapes you, and you allow yourself to be swept away by everything.
But as with all good times, it must end. The party winds down after hours and hours of entertainment, and the couple finally says their goodbyes to all of their guests. They approach you specifically, and bow, thanking you for coming, and send you on your way.
You walk in a daze back down the cleared pathway where, right over the horizon, you see the sun begin to rise. And there it is, the arch once again, glowing before you. Bells again, but softer this time. A smile broke out across Rhona's face as visions sped across her memory. A romance. No. An inevitability. Opposing forces inexplicably drawn to one another. Complimenting one another. Fire and ice. Searing hot war intertwined with calm, frigid peace. Screaming and hissing all at once. The more the feeling and memory grew in Rhona's mind, the more familiar it became. But not, she suspected, in the way it was intended. Two beings forever woven together. Red hair, wild curls, bright eyes. Black streaked with blue. Two-toned eyes. Slender limbs. Pain and joy and laughter and sorrow all bound into one. Apologies and black eyes. Promises with sunrises. Everything that was wonderful and terrible all at once. This time Rhona did cry out, but not for pain. Not for joy either. There didn't seem to be a word big enough for what was swelling in her breast. There was so much more inside her now. The flower rose from her hands and joined the spectacle above her. Two beings entered the room and began... flirting. Rhona sobbed openly with as much force as she was laughing. How many times had she used that cadence with Lavender? And how many times had Lavender looked at her like that? Was she crying more or laughing? Was she dancing or was she doubled over with longing? What emotion was overtaking her? Or was it shifting with each moment? A moment later she was seated at a table feasting with the other guests. And then she was dancing with them. All the while she was giving birth to something beautiful and blinding in her chest. A sun was bursting to life around her heart. Something warm and sweet and true. Words leaped to her lips as she tried to explain it to guests who did not understand her but nodded politely anyway. Finally, breathless and admittedly exhausted, she turned to the newly weds. "No... no thank you." Drifting on clouds and unspeakable love, Rhona passed back through the arch, pulled by another inexplicable cord. This time, however, she knew exactly what was on the other end.
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Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2020 8:51 am
When all is said and done, you find yourself at that very same arch you first came through.
No matter how you feel towards the end, you know that the night is over, and that it was finally time to leave (or you were finally allowed to leave).
The moment you pass through the arch again, you feel yourself start to fall. You are surrounded completely by an endless blizzard, the same you may have encountered had you wandered off the pathway earlier. Only this time, there are no ribbons to save you.
You black out, and when you next open your eyes, you’re near where you first arrived in the park, face down in the snow.
Your body aches as you drag yourself up, a hard night of partying (or not) has taken its toll, but as you head back home, you learn that no time has passed at all.
Whether or not this was real, or a strange hallucination caused by stress from just living in this city, you do not know… But you head home all the same, exhausted and pondering just what was it that you saw.
When you wake up the next morning, you find something on or near you that most certainly wasn’t there when you went to bed. Falling. Rhona was falling. But she wasn't afraid. Instead she closed her eyes and gave in, trusting whatever had allowed her to visit to bring her back home safely. And after some blistering cold and admittedly nasty blizzards, she lost everything. Like falling asleep. When she woke up, she was leaning against one of the beds. Darkness had long since taken over and she was certain Lavender was worried. Lavender. Rhona jumped up, groaning at the aches in her body, and ran inside. Everything from before bubbled to her chest and whether it had been real or not, it was just as intense. And the next morning, a small trinket in her hand made Rhona wonder if it hadn't all really happened.
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