asgardchrysalis | AUGUST INTRO LOG: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

AUGUST INTRO LOG: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

Who: EVERYONE
What: the August intro log and first god house competition, More Than Meets the Eye
When: August 8
Where: Gladsheim Palace for breakfast, around Asgard for the game/curse
Rating: PG-13; please take anything higher than this to a private log!

morning: a warm invitation

Everyone wakes up to a friendly invitation to breakfast at the castle with the gods. For most of you, this comes as a message on your bracelet, reading:

Join us at the castle today to welcome some new Wanderers into our midst. Breakfast will be served and a lively game will be available to all of our guests, both new and old.

New Wanderers are curious on their own, and this is the first there's ever been mention of a game. Perhaps it's enough for you to make the trek to the castle, to see what all the fuss is about, or maybe even to see if there's someone you know. Perhaps you want to learn more about the game, or maybe you just want the food.

For our new guests, this comes as a bit more of a surprise. Wherever you were before in your world, without even realizing it, you wake up in a strange new place. No time or space inbetween, just an awareness of There and then Here. A matronly figure tries to explain your circumstances with a sympathetic smile, but ultimately invites you meet them all for yourselves: the Gods of Asgard, and the Wanderers that arrived before you.

The sight that greets you on the castle grounds is a rather festive one, regardless of where you're coming from. Colorful streamers and flags are draped above large tables with room for several guests. Natives bustle about, cheerfully offering food and drinks to anyone that wants some. Everyone is welcomed to mingle and greet the new Wanderers on this bright summer morning.

the game: a friendly competition

Among the brightly decorated tables are ones highlighted in a specific color for a specific god house, and most of the gods themselves can be found sitting behind it with a few of their district's natives. They are here to welcome the new Wanderers into Asgard - but they're also here to explain the rules of today's game. There are coins hidden throughout the city and disguised as mundane items, and the god house that returns the most of their coins will win an upgrade to their god housing! No hints will be given, but the natives are excited to help facilitate the activity and happily invite you to wander through their districts to find what you can.

But you don't have to know about the rules to be playing the game! The coins are already hidden throughout the city, and no one knows what they are until they've been picked up. Whether you're banding together with friends to find as many coins as you can or blindly stumbling over an unpleasant surprise, the game and the curse are in full swing!

evening: a fair prize

At sundown, all of the coins in the city disappear at once, whether they're in your pocket or still disguised as a bowl. Points will be tallied and a winner will be announced (OOCly, on August 17) - but Asgardians are keen to celebrate regardless of who wins a rather inconsequential game. The same colorful display of tables and chairs is still spread across the castle grounds, although now they twinkle with fairy lights haphazardly blinking throughout the air. Snacks and drinks are made available, as well as more dinner-shaped meals for those that request it. Mostly the natives simply want to bask in the strangeness of these Wanderers from other worlds for a moment longer - but they're also eagerly listening to any stories from the day's mischievous game. Relax, enjoy yourself, or again, just stock up on some freely served food. Whatever suits your needs today. Welcome to Asgard, dear Wanderers.

[ OOC NOTE: This is the intro log for August, as well as our first god house competition/curse: More Than Meets the Eye. You are free to play with the curse prompts and searching the city in any way you want! If you would like to submit a map to earn points for your god house, please check out the rules to learn what to do. We will accept maps until August 17, at which point a winner will be announced and members of that god house will be allowed to vote for an upgrade to their god housing. As always, please let us know if you have any questions or need any help on the mod contact page. Enjoy, friends! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Although Manly Pride is definitely not a problem from which Naminé suffers, she still has a visible reluctance about the whole thing. Though they've spoken very little, Chizuru's always given Naminé the impression that she's someone who tries very hard to be accommodating. The kindness is both a comfort to Naminé and yet only adds to her hesitation about imposing upon the other girl at all.

The blonde's inclination to protest is obvious on her features, but she holds her tongue as Chizuru insists. In the end it's Naminé's logic that prevails; after all, if they're stuck together for the moment anyway, perhaps the best thing she can do is save Chizuru the trouble of arguing about it and give in. So although Naminé falters, presently she tucks her chin and offers a quiet, only slightly belated, ]

… Okay. I suppose - that way we'll both be more comfortable.

[ For however long this lasts. It's funny, but holding onto Chizuru's hand and allowing her to lead like this, Naminé looks younger than she already is. She's such a tiny thing to begin with, and soaking wet her slimness is made even more pronounced. The girl will follow slightly behind once Chizuru starts to walk, a bit like an oddly less than exuberant puppy on a short leash. Quieter, ]

I'll try to think of some way to make it up to you.

[ Chizuru doesn't say anything, instead just opting to give the girl the most reassuring smile she can muster while silently staring to lead her, trying to guess where she might most easily find something to help the other girl dry off with nearby.

And while Naminé might feel like she's imposing on her, Chizuru actually finds it rather nice to walk like this. Surprisingly so. After all, she doesn't know Naminé all that well, but from the time they did talk before and now, she seems like such a sweet young girl that Chizuru can't help but want to care for the other. A little like motherly instinct when it comes to children. Or maybe this is what it'd feel like to have a younger sibling. (One that Chizuru would actually remember this time, anyway.)

It's only when that second part comes that she does feel the need to speak up. Naminé seems a little like a poor soaked tiny puppy, especially when she says things like that, and Chizuru would like to do nothing more to make sure the other girl doesn't feel like she's a burden. ]

Hmm..

[ But she knows just saying it's fine and that Naminé doesn't have to do anything probably won't help. It wouldn't help if their places were switched and Chizuru was the one who felt like she was imposing, after all. She understands the feeling very well. So she instead opts to say something that will - hopefully - be more helpful. ]

In that case.. Do you like sweet things? If you find something yummy, then we could eat that together sometime. I think that'd be nice to do in return. [ If she's not actually going to really ask the other girl for anything, she might as well just make it an opportunity to get to know Naminé even better and spend some more time with her. ]

[ After the most recent coin incident, Naminé isn't entirely sure she trusts her own ability to find something real to make use of. Chizuru's able to lead her, therefore, without much reluctance on Naminé's part save for the potential inconveniencing involved. This time, at least, when the other girl smiles at her, Naminé manages one in return, albeit a small and uncertain one.

And though she's lagging slightly behind for a bit, the other girl's thoughtful hum prompts the blonde to edge a little farther forward, so as to get a more accurate read on Chizuru's face - although slightly sidelong. Naminé's reaction to the question, however, is pretty clear. She echoes the word 'sweet?' at first, clearly thinking it rather out of the blue. But presently she realizes the intent behind the inquiry, and her own expression grows contemplative. ]

I like fruit, [ she says after a moment, although it sounds like it could use a question mark at the end. ] But I've never had any real sweets. Not-- candy, or anything like that.

[ But - ah. A little flutter of her eyelids into greater openness indicates an epiphany, and the, 'oh,' punctuating it would make that clear even without the change in her features. ]

My friends-- [ Her voice catches on the word for a second, as if she has to mentally double-check whether or not it's the right one. She's a bit slower about it when she moves on to, ] … Friends and I were hoping we might be able to find out some way to make ice cream soon. I don't know if we'll have any luck, but if we do... would that work?

Oh..!

[ Her eyes widen a little in surprise. For a second Chizuru had to think about why what the girl said sounded so familiar, but now she's got it. ]

I think I actually remember seeing someone talk about it.. Was that one of your friends? [ At least it's good to hear Naminé has friends here. The poor girl seems so shy.. It'd break Chizuru's heart to even imagine her being here all on her own.

She smiles. ] I had actually never heard of ice cream before, but it sounds really interesting. I'd love to share some with you if you can manage to get it here.

[ Naminé's brows go up slightly as she tries to gauge the cause for Chizuru's surprise. It becomes clear quickly enough, and Naminé begins to nod her head instinctively at the question before that 'f' word catches her in the middle of it. Still, her mouth cooperates in its place despite the momentary awkward pause, and she sounds almost relieved to be able to admit, ]

Yes. At least - I think it must have been him. I haven't seen anyone else talking about ice cream on the network yet.

[ Some part of her feels the urge to explain that she uses that word, that title because Sora does, even if she's always been a bit nervous about calling someone a friend so freely - but that'd be silly. Chizuru doesn't need to know all the details, and so Naminé restrains herself. It isn't hard in the face of that last bit, which has the blonde blinking at her companion. ]

You hadn't? … Well, I suppose that makes sense. Not even all of the worlds where we come from have ice cream.

[ And this one certainly doesn't, which is why it came up in the first place. Belatedly Naminé seems to realize her suggestion has met with agreement, and she straightens a little. ]

In that case - I'll be sure to let you know if we can get it to work. [ Which is a nice thought; probably one Naminé's too practical to leave by itself. So, ] And if we don't, then-- you and I can try something else.

[ Speaking of which, it only just then occurs to Naminé that, ]

I... didn't ask you what kind of sweets you liked, did I?

[ It was just implied that there might be some kind Chizuru would find palatable, since the whole thing was her suggestion. ]

[ Chizuru nods at the suggestion. ]

That sounds good. Even if the ice cream doesn't work out, I'm sure there'll be something else we can try together. [ She really is kind of excited about the ice cream, since it sounds unlike anything she's ever had, but.. hey, Chizuru can live with having something else to eat too. It's more about spending some time together than the precise type of food they'd be having, after all.

And hey, if all this talk about sweets right now is distracting Naminé from her wet clothes situation, then Chizuru will gladly talk about it a little more. ]

As for me, hmm..

[ She grows quiet for a moment, considering it. ]

I like dango. I used to eat it whenever I could back home. [ She was leaning towards just saying "a lot", but her recent circumstances before ending up here didn't exactly give her much opportunity to do so.. ] It seems like that's one of those things they don't have here either though.

Sure, [ Naminé agrees, mostly to the idea that they can certainly find something that qualifies as a sweet to fulfill this arrangement of theirs. Her agreement to the general plan itself is already implied, after all.

And it's true, the blonde is more interested in the conversation than fretting over her situation, although her free arm does unconsciously come across to hold her midsection, as if to keep in the warmth. The chill of being damp is starting to catch up with her, despite the relatively favorable weather. Patient, she waits for Chizuru's response with a mild sort of curiosity on her features. ]

There are a lot of things they don't seem to have here, [ Naminé says sympathetically, once the answer has come. ] Even more than I thought there were. With how many other worlds are out there, I guess it's no surprise.

[ Unfortunate all the same, though. After a beat, she appears to think of something. ]

Do you know how to make it? Dango, that is.

[ Chizuru really agrees with that statement. This place is so different from her own world, yet there are worlds she has heard people discuss here that are yet different from this one. Like people living out in space, an idea that's beyond wild to Chizuru.

Before she can mention anything about that though, the question catches her by surprise. Still, it doesn't take too long to answer. ]

I've never tried it before. [ The Shinsengumi men weren't exactly the types to eat dango, after all, let alone once things got more serious.. ] But I think I know how to, it's not that hard. You mostly need sugar and rice..

[ And Chizuru is pretty good at cooking to begin with. ]

[ Even Naminé, who's got far more experience with the variety of worlds out there, has had a very interesting time discovering just how limited her own range has actually been. ]

Maybe you can figure it out, then...!

[ Which she means to be encouraging, although after a second she falters, as if concerned it might have sounded some other way. ]

If-- you want to, that is.

[ She wasn't suggesting it for her own sake. ]

Oh..

[ She lets out a small breath, almost a little like a laugh, and then she smiles warmly at the girl. ]

I want to. [ Chizuru tries to make it sound as reassuring as she can. Something about the way Naminé said that with some resolution and then faltered really reminds Chizuru of herself - especially when she was younger.

(She still does it sometimes nowadays, really.)

But that thought just makes her more determined to show her that it's alright. ]

Especially since I want to let you try it. Does that sound good?

[ Chizuru's smile is kind enough that despite Naminé's hesitations, she begins to smile back without even being fully conscious of it. The curve to the blonde's mouth doesn't fully take root, however, until the other girl assures her; then it looks a bit relieved, and she nods. ]

Then-- good luck.

[ Quiet, non-interjecting. Naminé startles slightly when Chizuru makes that suggestion, but by now the Nobody's beginning to understand she probably ought to expect such courtesy from the other girl. ]

I... yes. [ Her voice sounds questioning and her lips purse, eyelids fluttering in a small blink; it's a funny look, but she's holding in her, 'Are you sure?' Certainly Chizuru wouldn't have offered if she weren't. Echoing, ] That sounds good.

[ Once she's collected herself slightly, she adds, ] I'd try to help if I could, but I don't know the first thing about cooking.

[ Other than that it exists and involves food, pretty much. ]

[ No judging here for the lack of cooking skill! Especially since Chizuru is well aware at this point that people come from very, very different worlds, and surely it's not as natural for girls to be the ones cooking in all worlds as it is in her world.

Still.. ]

Are you interested in learning how to cook? [ They have plenty of time in this place, after all. And if Naminé has nothing better to do, she might as well pick up a helpful skill. ] Ah, I'm not saying I'm necessarily the best teacher or anything.. But if you want to learn, then I wouldn't mind teaching you what I know.

[ Naminé has the good excuse of not ever really having been provided with the time or the opportunity to so much as regularly access a kitchen prior to coming to Asgard. But a lot of things have changed for her lately, and the more that they do the more she begins to feel some measure of obligation to make the most of it all. For the moment, however, she looks very mildly perplexed by the question. ]

I've never thought about it before.

[ There are a lot of long-term things she's never thought much about. It's hard to worry about what you'll be when you grow up when you're stuck trying to make sure you grow up at all. ]

I... suppose it might be a good idea to learn. [ Hesitant though she seems, she actually does enjoy the notion, now that she's thinking about it. ] … Yes, I think I would like to do it. If you're willing to help, I'm sure you'd be able to teach me a lot that I don't know.

[ No matter how uncertain Naminé is about infringing further on Chizuru's generosity. ]

[ She patiently waits while the other seems to figure out her thoughts through her progressing answers. Chizuru isn't even surprised that it takes the girl a bit to arrive at a definite answer - Naminé just seems to be thoughtful like that. ]

Of course I'm willing to help as long as you want to learn! [ She smiles, seemingly pleased that Naminé ended up agreeing. She wasn't sure if the girl would be interested, but now Chizuru is glad that she is. ] Some people just see it as a chore, but I actually think it's kind of fun to do. Especially with company.

[ Hence why the idea of cooking lessons seems fun to her. ]

And it's also a nice skill to have for when you ever want to do something nice for someone else. Cooking a meal can mean a lot.

[ It's all too true that the blonde tends to take her time working through her thoughts. Carelessness is not her way; taking caution has been an important part of her life from the beginning, whether for her sake or for the sake of those around her. ]

Well, if you think it'll be fun - I hope it is. For both of us.

[ She spends the next few seconds letting the notion sink in, appreciative of the relatively novel opportunity to plan for the future. A small 'oh' passes Naminé's lips at that last portion of Chizuru's words, shaking the blonde from her thoughts. ]

That's true. I could help everyone that way...! [ Being as the 'everyone' in question is mostly a bunch of teenagers, and goodness knows they're probably not very conscious about their diets. ] I think some of them might need it more than others. And-- it might help with the ice cream, too.

[ Or at least with the requisite mechanics of cooking in general. ]

See, maybe you'll end up solving the ice cream mystery for all of them.

[ Her smile grows a little warmer at that. It's just cute to see teenagers being teenagers together! Chizuru has never really had the ability to participate in any of that herself when she was Naminé's age (or, well.. you know, physical age), so it's kind of like she's still able to see a bit of it through them. ]

Your friends will be so impressed with you! [ As they should be, anyway, in Chizuru's opinion! Naminé is such a sweet girl, who wouldn't be impressed by her? ]

[ The way the girl reacts, it isn't hard to tell she's terribly unused to receiving encouragement. Optimism may not be one of her talents, but that might only make her appreciation for it greater. She falters noticeably, cheeks beginning to color, and it's all she can do not to stutter in her, ]

Maybe...!

[ It's meant more for that first suggestion than the second one, but it probably applies to both. Naminé may not believe it outright, yet she's learned by now to let a happy thought be what it is, rather than trying to dampen it with reality. ]

Even if they aren't - it's enough to be able to do something for them anyway. I... owe them that much.

That's a very sweet thought. [ That just being able to do something for someone else is nice. It's a thought Chizuru herself very much understands. After all, it's what she herself clung to desperately when she first got to know and live with the Shinsengumi.

It seems Chizuru has lead them back to the starting area, where a lot of natives are still busy trying to take care of the new people. It's the most likely place anyone would have something to dry people off with, and when Chizuru asks one of the natives bustling about for a towel, they immediately nod and go to fetch one.

In the meantime she turns back to Naminé. ]

Have your friends done a lot for you..? [ Really, she's mostly asking to assess whether or not the girl genuinely owes them something or if she just imposed that feeling upon herself. She seems so shy and unused to all these social interactions that Chizuru can't be sure. ]

[ It's one of those principles Naminé has had no choice but to live by; that doing something for someone else's sake is all the incentive you need. To hear it called sweet, though, brings a hint of color to her cheeks. Voice quieting in her bashfulness, ]

It's only the truth.

[ Helping them is worthwhile all on its own. As the two girls come toward the place where the event began, Naminé lingers next to Chizuru with a subtle yet palpable sort of carefulness, as though she might step behind the other girl for cover at a moment's notice. The blonde doesn't, of course, because those days are long gone, but she hasn't spent quite enough time speaking to strangers to be entirely comfortable with it. Her eyes follow the native as they depart, only to shift toward Chizuru as she speaks. ]

They... [ Her answer comes to mind immediately; it's only shaping it into the proper words which makes her pause. ] … Have, yes. I owe my life to one of them. And another one, I-- have a lot to make up to her.

[ It sounds like somber business if her tone is any indication, but there's a matter-of-fact-ness, too. ]

[ Judging by her tone, it really does sound like something serious. And probably something unpleasant, judging by the fact that she owes her life to one of them. Chizuru honestly can't help but be curious what must have happened to Naminé that she'd have to say these things at such a young age.. but she's not the type to pry, no matter how curious she is. It'd be rude. Not to mention that she doesn't want the other to have to talk about sad things.

So instead.. ]

I'm sure you will be able to do it. You seem so kind with everything you say.. I'm sure your friends already appreciate just having you by their side. [ Chizuru already likes talking to the girl, after all, and she doesn't even know her all that well yet. ] There were people I owed a lot to back home as well, and in the process of trying to repay them I really found out how much it can mean to just be by someone's side.

[ There are an awful lot of implications to be sure, and none of them very nice. Naminé is already braced to answer the questions she assumes Chizuru might very well have, and yet - the blonde seems confused when they don't come. Her lips part faintly, then press together again, and despite herself they begin to curl bashfully at the unexpected assurances. (Yes, Naminé likes this outcome better, she thinks.) ]

I... [ The compliment itself stills her words in her throat; she can only get by responding instead with, ] … hope that they do.

[ Because it would be awful, wouldn't it, if they didn't want Naminé with them? As unable as she is to have full confidence in her own welcomeness, she'd like to at least think that her presence is a benefit to them, rather than a burden. Rather than lingering on that, however, she seems to grow curious at Chizuru's description of her own life. Perhaps paying back in kind, Naminé doesn't ask about that debt, but, ]

Did you... become close with them?

[ That question, at least, she feels compelled to ask. Her tone is almost-- hopeful, in an odd sort of way. ]

Yes.

[ She answers easily, barely even seeming like she has to think about it. Chizuru is rather glad that it's the honest answer too - she'd hate to give any other reason when Naminé sounds so hopeful when she asks it.

Sure, things in Chizuru's world.. didn't exactly end up great. But at least this aspect of it is true, and hopefully she can reassure the girl with it that things might end up for Naminé. ]

They became my precious friends. [ And now they're dead, but.. ssh. That's not appropriate discussion material in front of a girl who already seems so vulnerable as Naminé. ]

Actually.. [ She laughs softly. ] One of them ended up being the man I love.

[ The blonde sucks in a little breath, surprised by the immediacy of the response. But it's a pleasant surprise, to be sure, and her smile comes nearly as quickly. Her should sink with it, as if relaxing. ]

How lucky...!

[ It's not herself she's thinking of when she's glad to hear of what went well for Chizuru. Her own future may well turn out as nicely, but it's worthwhile enough to her to hear of someone else's successes, even without the whole story. That doesn't quite compare, however, to the soft, subtle sort of awe in her expression at the last bit. ]

So there's someone very special to you. [ Naturally, once she's wrapped her head around that-- ] Does he know that he's the one you love?

[ It doesn't occur to her right away to wonder if that's prying; her curiosity's gotten the better of her, considering how rarely she's spoken to someone who actually has that sort of relationship. It's been far less common in her own life than in most people's; she doesn't even have parents, after all. ]

[ Judging by how easily Chizuru speaks on, it seems that she doesn't mind the other's prying in the slightest. If anything, she almost seems a little giddy. Chizuru has never had anyone to really talk with this about before, after all - she couldn't even imagine discussing it with one of the other Shinsengumi men. ]

I think-- no, I know he does. And I think he feels the same way about me too.

[ Her voice slows down a little at that last part though, remembering their last conversation. Even now the words still echo in her head - "I can't make you happy."

Something about her smile turns a bit more melancholic, but Chizuru keeps smiling all the same, if not just since she doesn't want to suddenly seem sad about this in front of the girl when she's actually trying to make her feel more hopeful. ]

He's just.. still trying to figure out how to deal with those feelings.

[ Chizuru's willingness precludes Naminé from considering that she might have overstepped, and she listens with rapt attention to the answer, expression growing thoughtful. There are very few things that slip by her, even small cues, and she doesn't miss the change in the other girl's voice or in her smile.

Lips flattening together, Naminé's head tilts a minute number of degrees. Now she hesitates to ask more, and yet feels oddly compelled to. Clearly there's some manner of complication going on with this relationship, and even in a few sentences Naminé can tell as much. Concern doesn't quite make it onto her features, but it lurks somewhere nearby them all the same. ]

Is he someone who usually has trouble with his feelings?

[ Because that would be understandable enough; no matter her lack of real world experience, Naminé knows hearts well. Some of them are... more open than others. ]

AUGUST INTRO LOG: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

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