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

[ The girl startled as Terezi began to laugh, and yet soon enough Naminé found herself giggling along, softly but audibly. It was hard not to laugh in the face of such mirth, at such mirth; even not knowing what had Terezi in such a fit, it was funny for Naminé just to watch her. ]

Stories? [ she inquired, calming enough to contain her amusement. Hearing that, though - there were implications, weren't there? ] Do I want to know what kind they'd be?

[ Despite her momentary good humor, it didn't take long for her to calm, or perhaps to go a step beyond that at the troll's description. Breathing out a quiet sigh of her own, she bowed her head slightly toward the path before them. ]

… Mm. Like us coming here. [ Their presence was still a relatively recent development, after all. ] Maybe it's all part of the same thing - the same change.

[ Or the same beginning? It was odd to think about, considering how much longer all of their own worlds seemed to have been around. ]

Oh, probably none that make me look good. [Another laugh and she grinned at Naminé impishly.] But I'd do the same right back at him, ehe. That's part o the fun of being friends as many sweeps as we've been, right? You get all the dirt and the goodies on your friends don'tcha?

Yeah, I think we're all kind of tied up in it. It's sort of all the same thing, the same change, and we're just the latest part of it. Least, that makes sense to me one way or another.

[ Despite being damp and a bit on the tired side, Naminé's mouth stayed curled, rising higher at Terezi's grin. Warmly, ]

Yeah - I guess you do.

[ Somehow there was a certain amount of surety in it; though she'd never had friends before herself, she knew a thing or two secondhand about the nature of lifelong friendships. After all, Sora had known his best friends for a long time, almost longer than Naminé could properly wrap her mind around, considering the short duration of her own life so far. Amused, ]

Well, now I know just who to ask if I want the 'dirt' on you.

[ The blonde hummed her agreement, a little less somber than before as she allowed their mutual observations to sink in. ]

I'm curious, I think, to see what will happen next. If it really is all one thing, I doubt it's going to stop any time soon, and certainly not all at once.

[ Although after that dragon fiasco, 'curious' was about the nicest word she could manage for it. 'Concerned' didn't have the same ring to it. ]

Hehe that you do, that you do.

[Really? She actually didn't mind the idea of Naminé getting the 'dirt' on her from Dave. He'd put it in a way that was a better construction even if he'd likely mess with her in the process. She grinned away and chuckled to herself.]

I'm a little curious too. I mean, we have long quiet periods after all. It's bound to pick up a little, though glob knows when and how. But I'd like to think I'm good at rolling with the punches.

It's nice not having to worry all of the time.

[ She mused it aloud in an agreeable sort of tone, although there was a subtle undercurrent of a relief that suggested she spoke from personal experience. Considering how often her life was at risk in the previous portion of her existence, perhaps it was understandable. In any case, ]

Although maybe we should be. There never seems to be any warning - at least, not one that we're aware of.

[ And the gods have seemed surprised enough in their own way. Giving Terezi a sidelong smile, ]

But I'd like to think so too. If even half of what you've described to me about your worlds was like you've said it was, I'm not sure you'd have survived as long as you did if you couldn't.

[ Which was a figure of speech, really; Naminé hadn't got any reason to think the troll was being dishonest about all of those goings on. Perking slightly as she recognized a nearby landmark, Naminé let out a little, 'oh.' ]

We're almost there...!

We could work on some sort of early warning system, but I'm not quite sure how much warning we could really get, and it'd depend on the threat wouldn't it? [She snickered a little bit.] I'm not too worried about what they throw at me, though. Like you said, I've weathered a lot of crud in my time. What's one more giant monster boss?

[She grunted to herself while Sigyn's house came more or less into view of at least one of them.]

Hehe, good. Wanna get a little dried off. I don't mind being your rescuer but staying soaked's no fun is it?

[ The building certainly reached Naminé's eyes, anyway, especially because she knew precisely where to look from where they were. Her gaze stayed focused on it as they approached, but she listened carefully to Terezi's words all the same. ]

Yeah. And the kind of threats that have come here already - I'm not sure there is a way to predict them accurately. Not while so many of us are without our powers, at least.

[ Because really, given the different kinds of worlds out there, she supposed there was always a chance someone would have the capacity to know about that sort of thing in advance. It was a moot point anyway; no powers, no early warning, unless science could fill in the gap. Turning to regard Terezi, ]

No - it isn't. I knew walking around in wet clothes wasn't a good idea, but I don't think I've ever been as sure why as I am now.

[ Her dress kept sticking in uncomfortable positions, not to mention the general discomfort. As they approached the front door, Naminé seemed to have an epiphany. One that should have been obvious, but an epiphany nonetheless. ]

Oh, but-- since we'll be at my house, doesn't that mean I'll have to find you something to wear...?

[ If Terezi wanted to be free of damp clothes entirely, that was. ]

There's the tricks that they gave us, but what's smelling lies going to do for this sort of thing? Not a whole heckuva lot if you ask me. We'll have to figure something out, and maybe the tricks will get better with time?

[They were standing there at the door when what Naminé said hit her and she blinked. Wait. No, she was right. She'd have to get into something else wouldn't she? But Naminé's aesthetic was really different from her own, wasn't it? Uh... and then she'd be wearing and ...

...her cheeks colored a little and she laughed off-handedy.] Ehehehe, you've got extras and spares I hope? I don't think we're that different in height.

Tricks? -- Oh, you mean our magic?

[ Or the gods' magic, anyway. Brows raising curiously, ]

Is that what they gave you? Smelling lies?

[ Which she asked entirely for reasons of genuine interest, rather than because she had any lies to be sniffed out. It didn't suit her to be dishonest, not outright, and she had no desire whatsoever to speak untruths. With her hand already on the doorknob she paused at Terezi's question, thinking a moment. ]

A few, yes. I can't wear the same dress every day.

[ But the majority of her wardrobe, it sounded like based on the implications contained within that statement, probably involved skirts. She held the door open for Terezi, only then looking back to study her reaction. ]

I'm sure one of them will fit you. I-- hope you don't mind, but I don't think they'll be anything like what you usually wear.

[Terezi's head bobbed quickly. She never really bothered to sniff for lies with Naminé, having figured that she wasn't really the sort to lie. It just seemed way too out of character for her.]

Yeah, my nose isn't quite what it was at home, but it can still sniff out all kinds of things I'm hoping. [She giggled.] And I didn't think you actually did, but you like your whites don't you?

I... no, no I don't mind. It'll be fine. I mean, it's only for a little bit right? [And sharing clothes sounded sort of fun in its own way.]

[ Terezi's assessment was correct; despite always having plenty worth hiding, Naminé never wished to prevaricate. Did she say everything that crossed her mind? No, of course not - but what she did say was consistently true. ]

You could smell them back home, too? [ Or at least she had to wonder if that was what that meant, anyhow. Flushing slightly at the accusation, ] They're-- what I'm used to.

[ Seeing white, wearing white. At this point it was force of habit. In any case, Naminé nodded, hoping her voice was encouraging when she agreed, ]

Yes - only for a little while.

[ She kept the door held open for as long as Terezi needed to step inside, then carefully shut it. ]

My room is upstairs.

No, not exactly. I could smell lots of things about a person, and I could 'see' with my nostrils, but I couldn't actually ferret out lies in someone, so I'm pretty sure that's the version of trick that they gave me.

[She followed in, dripping all over Sigynhaus' floor in the process. Tilting he head, she grinned over at Naminé and shrugged, a bit of amusement apparent in her demeanor.]

See, and that's why I call you 'nilla sometimes. It's cause you've always got a creamy white thing going. Lead the way to the dresses!

Huh. It's still so amazing, all the things your nose can do.

[ Naminé, despite having made somewhat more of an effort to dry herself off the best she could long before they got here, wasn't immune to the occasional dripping on the nice cabin floor. It was because of one of those drops landing on her foot that she paused, glanced down, turned to look at Terezi-- and despite being distracted by the words of her moirail it still caused Naminé to re-evaluate things slightly. ]

Well - I can't say that you're wrong. But before the dresses-- wait here for a second?

[ She didn't wait herself more than a moment, considering her lack of desire to have to explain to Daenerys why the floor was warping in one particular spot. Naminé disappeared into the bathroom briefly, returned with towels, and held one out for Terezi to take. (Hopefully. Maybe she ought to have just bumped her with it, to be sure she knew it was there.) ]

Here.

My nose IS impressive isn't it? [She grinned with a bit of pride. and when Naminé spoke up, she cocked her head, nodding and waiting there. By the time that she returned, there was a small puddle there, and the troll was trying not to shiver too openly. Seriously, it wasn't that cold and she wasn't some cold blooded sea dweller, but she'd been standing there pretending for a while.

Oooh, wait, a towel! She beamed.]

Hey, thanks! Probably a good idea not to flood your bedroom right?

[And saying that, she started to finally dry off pretty furiously.]

[ Naminé, able to hear that pride, couldn't help a confirming little, 'it is,' with a hint of approval. Riku and a few others had some talented noses of their own, but they certainly didn't seem capable of filling in for sight, or doing any number of the things Terezi's could manage. (They might, however, have had her beat on range.)

And though Naminé eyes found the puddle her moirail was leaving almost immediately once she returned, a second later the blonde caught a hint of the shivering instead, and that was all the distraction she needed not to fret about the floor. She handed over the towel gladly, smiling back instinctively. ]

Of course, [ was her 'you're welcome', upon which she set to drying off as well, although perhaps with less gusto. With the ghost of a laugh, ] I'd prefer it if you didn't. I do have to share it, after all.

[ In addition to the rest of the house. As she was wringing her hair with the towel, her eyes fell again to the puddle. Multitasking was not something she was called upon to do very often before Asgard, but now - it was less awkward than it might otherwise have been to pluck a dishrag off of the nearest countertop and drop it to the floor. Pressing her foot onto it, she nudged it toward Terezi's puddle, warning a soft, ]

Careful.

[ If the troll was dry enough not to flood the place anymore - then there was no need to leave her standing in a puddle any longer than she had to, right? ]

You hare your hives? [There was a bit of surprise there. This was her first time in here.] We have small ones ourselves, but we only share the bathrooms and kitchen.

[She was busy, toweling off and trying to dry herself as best she could. At the least, the puddle wasn't growing worse at this point, so she could follow along, taking a few measured steps to not slip until she was on dry floor again.]

What floor are you on? Who's your roomie?

Oh-- yes...! I didn't mention that, did I?

[ Or at least not outright - 'roommate' could mean a lot of things. Naminé had the decency to look mildly self-conscious about the oversight, nodding thoughtfully as Terezi described her own situation. Once the troll was enough out of the way, Naminé paused in drying herself off to do the same to the floor, moving the rag around over the puddle to soak it up. ]

You're lucky, then. I didn't realize some of the houses don't make everyone share...!

[ Not that she actually minded her own situation, really. ]

The bedroom is on the second floor. For us, it's supposed to be four people to a cabin, and we all sleep in the same room. There used to be more of us in this one, but now it's just Daenerys and I.

[ Floor about as dry as it was going to get, she bent to pluck the rag up and set it back where she found it, the larger towel still wrapped around the bottom part of her hair. ]

Well, I would hope you at least get bigger rooms than we do. Our hives are really small. [Think capsule motel. She was a little fitful over the roomate thing because it could mean a lot, but it was assigned, so she wasn't going to fret that much...]

Dan... oh, you mean the lady that was running things at the war council? And four in a cabin? Ah, ok. That makes sense.

[She followed along with her as they were staring towards the cabin, taking it in for a moment. Four rooms? That sounded... well, it was ok if the people in there were ok.]

Small?

[ Her head tilted curiously, still angled toward Terezi as the rest of her turned to face toward the ladder. Naminé paused a moment to set down her towel now that she'd dried off; the kitchen and bathroom were on the first floor of the cabin they were in, after all, so there wouldn't really be anywhere to put it in the upstairs bedroom. ]

Yes, that's her. [ Leading the way toward the ladder, Naminé was wholly unaware that Terezi might find any of it worth fretting over - unless of course there were a particularly unpleasant roommate in the mix. (Truthfully the blonde was very glad not to have a certain knife-wielding fellow in the same House as her.) Stepping over to the pathway up, the girl placed a hand on one of the rungs. ] She and I don't spend very much time together, but she's always been kind to me when we have.

She seems very pleasant. Very formal. Very royal. The times I've met her, that kind of feels like what she was all about. It was like she'd grown out of her young girl phase pretty early and thoroughly.

[She actually missed feferi when she talked to Dany. Fef was royal, but still pretty easy going, all things considered. Following along with Naminé, she made her way up the path, looking around curiously. The place was actually kind of nice.]

Who else lives around here?

[ Naminé looked to be considering Terezi's assessment as she stepped off of the ladder and moved to the side, out of the troll's way so that she could comfortably ascend as well. As promised there was a bedroom up here, four beds and all. Two of them looked unused, but it was a cozy enough space. The one belonging to Naminé was probably obvious; pictures were scattered around it, sketch after sketch taking up space in neat but numerous groupings. ]

That's a good way to describe her. She does seem very... practical.

[ Mature, perhaps, would be the word, if Naminé were one to think it. She'd done her own growing up too soon, however, and rarely gave any consideration to that kind of definition. Snapping out of her thoughts, she turned once she saw Terezi was safely up the ladder to go and seek out some of her own dresses. They were stored neatly, and though there was not a large number of them Naminé, began to sort through them carefully, considering each one. ]

Mm... not very many people do, these days. I think it's only an older man and a young woman, now. I see them sometimes, but...

[ Naminé wasn't exactly very aggressive about introducing herself. ]

[She flopped down next to Naminé's bed and settled in there, grinning up at her and nodding. Yeah, Dany always seemed to be very hyper focused, laser focused on whatever task was in front of her, and extremely practical and cool at all times. She sort of screamed the 'royal' thing with her every motion. It even felt a little 'forced,' but like a mask, but one always worn so much that you got used to it. But she wasn't going to question it. not her business.]

Yeah, I'm... sort of the same way. Turgon's in mine, and we chat once in a while, but I couldn't tell you any of the others personally. Usually too busy with my own antics.

More fun to meet people out of the houses if you ask me.

[ The blonde cast a look over her shoulder to see Terezi settled, smiling back with a more gentle curve of her mouth. They were of the same mind about Daenerys; Naminé saw fit to offer the woman as much privacy as possible, herself, inasmuch as one could when one shared a room with the other party. ]

Oh? I don't think I've ever met them.

[ Filing that away, she returned to thumbing through her small wardrobe. One dress got pulled out, followed closely by a second, and she held them up to consider them side by side. Then, blinking, she realized her foolishness and turned to lift them so that they were on either side of Terezi in Naminé's vision. Much smarter to use the model one has at hand, rather than attempting to imagine them. ]

… Which one do you think you'd like to wear?

[ Perhaps deliberately she'd chosen a blue dress and a pale yellow one, both light and both a little higher than knee length. Terezi did seem to like colors, after all; it seemed that would suit her better than Naminé's more typical white. To the troll's comment, ]

And-- why is that? That you prefer to meet people from other houses, I mean.

He's a little boring, which surprised me. Would have thought an actual elf would have been... I don't know, more spritely? But he's got a good think pan between the hear ducts, so if you need advice like you might ask from a ruler? He's a good one to talk to.

[She sniffed at the both of them. Nice colors. Not her favorites, but they were nice. And, after a moment she pointed towards the blue one and smiled.]

I think the blue would be good. Thanks.

It's not that I don't want to meet people in the hous, but I prefer to meet them outside of the house house, if that makes more sense? Not in the hive.

Huh. [ Naminé was... possibly loosely familiar at best (if she was familiar at all) with the concept of an elf as it was, so reasons for which they should have been expected not to be boring were in short supply in her recollection. ] I'll... keep that in mind. The-- advice part, that is. Is he a king? Or some kind of prince?

[ The girl nodded at Terezi's decision, stepping closer to hold the dress out for her to take. ]

Here. In that case, I'll wear the other one.

[ Lips pressing together thoughtfully at Terezi's description, she paused. ]

It makes sense. But why is meeting them there so different? It's important to know the people who share the house with you, too.

[ If it's all... one house, and not a bunch of separate cabins. Although honestly she should probably try to be more friendly with her neighbors, herself, but old habits die hard. The old mansion in the woods didn't exactly provide much opportunity for a housewarming party, especially when they were hiding there to begin with. ]

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