I: PRISMATICA APRIL EVENT CATCH-ALL

[blkwings]

▶ WHO: Gladio and YOU
▶ WHAT: Prismatica Arrival Event .002 - In Too Deep
▶ WHEN: Throughout the event.
▶ WHERE: Levels 1 and 2.
▶ WARNINGS: None. Yet.

Comments

HARVEST MOON SIMULATOR; Option A ⬤ Planting Trees

[blkwings]

[For most people, the act of Harvest was something typically associated with the Autumn, and of course the spring was all about getting what was needed started, tending to it all year, and then reaping the reward of their efforts in the back end of the year.

Or so Gladiolus figured. He didn't know shit about farming. Not really. But hell... there was a sort of honour in it, wasn't there? He lingers at this particular place, watching couples plant small packets of seeds together. It calls to mind something years ago.

His sister, younger, smaller, on her hands and knees planting carrots in a more-or-less abandoned coastal field. The simple joy in her eyes as she'd looked up to him with filthy hands and even a little bit of dirt on the bridge of her nose, her eyes, for once, simply happy.

Shit. Even the thought is enough for him to smell turned over soil and the sea. He lingers, half leaning over a small fence that enclosed the area of which a handful of Government officials oversaw the couples, turning his head to anyone that might do the same.

Hey, he was feeling nostalgic.]

Hey. You wanna give it a shot?

just setting the meme thing as canon but somewhat after their reunion we'll work something out x)

[menphina]

[ Gardening came with the whole process of being a healer. Her tribe used to be able to procure the rarest of plants they needed for their medicine, and she herself, went hunting all the way into the Ruby Sea and the Steppe when she needed to look for certain ingredients for her medicine.

Planting a tree... there's an instance of it, one that was planted in the home village of a certain someone she doesn't want to actively think about right now, lest she feel her heart grow heavy. Still, it seems like couples are the ones doing it more than anyone alone, and it makes her ears droop to see-

Up until a familiar voice, and a scent she'd thought forgotten, makes her ears flick back and her eyes widen as she turns to look at... ]

Gladio?!

[ She doesn't really hesitate, moving forward to throw her arms around his waist and squeeze him in a hug. At least, she doesn't hug him off the ground in a carry, but... Wait, he remembers her, doesn't he? She doesn't want to assume, but at the same time, seeing him makes her heart go a-flutter, reminded of certain memories she didn't think would return as such.

He's as she recalls, at least... ]

When did you get here?!

Yeah! details. details.

[blkwings]

[Damn, she looked surprised. Unfortunately, for him, he'd half assumed that this place was something to do with where he'd seen her before, so seeing her react to him quite like that was... unexpected. Really unexpected- since all of this was a trick, right? Something horrible'd happen pretty soon and-

Shit, maybe it'd happened already. Maybe that's why she greeted him like that? He lowers himself to her, wrapping his arms about her shoulders as best as he can, given their current position. He speaks lowly, guiding a large hand to just between her ears, his thumb lightly caressing the back of one.]

Uh. Just a day or so? I guess? You alright? What happened?

[Oblivious.]

hello

[codecmoment]

[ Look, he has a very narrow range of guy types that do it for him; it was basically a Pavlovian response to the only person he's ever been loved back by, who was 1. big 2. buff 3. manly 4. scruffy. Y'know... the kind of guy a MLM might like.

But good lord Gladio was attractive. It was like a model wandering around. It kind of made him angry, on one level, that low-key inability to like himself no matter how hard he tried.

Still... he just looked at him, like an average person does when they see someone so much more attractive. Especially when they're Your Type. ]

-- what?

[ He blinked, not understanding he was being spoken to. ]

Hey!

[blkwings]

Yeah, you. I asked if you wanna get your hands dirty. They're only letting groups of two plant some stuff, so I'm kind of looking for a date.

[What could be said. Horticulture whims were very much today's Thing. And hell. This guy seemed harmless looking enough. ...Kind of alright, too.

Of course, he does remember speaking to him through the network some days before. And he seems okay.]

C'mon. I read somewhere this sort of shit's good for the soul.

[sanguinertia]

Sure do! [ Ruby has zero problems trying out some kind of planting gig. She doesn't know much about it (you...put the seeds in a hole and pour on water, right? Is there anything more complex to that?) but she likes plants in a general sort of way. She just, you know, prefers weapons. Scythes, guns...the usual!

But a prize of a pretty glowy tree and a wish is entertaining enough to have her more than willing to grub in the dirt (which she probably would have done even if it weren't a neat tradition anyway, because she's pretty helpful on the whole). ]

I'm Ruby, have you planted any of the seeds before? I hear we get a really cool tree, and you get to make a wish, nooooot that I think the wish is going to come true - I mean, not that I think it absolutely won't either - !

[blkwings]

Sweet. Good to meet you, Ruby. I'm Gladiolus. ...My friends call me Gladio, though.

[Oh, was he glad the nearest person seemed receptive! He's got to admit, the idea of a glowing tree sounded pretty neat too. Even if ...damn, he's only been here a few days and his thoughts sure as hell haven't settled down enough to make the idea of getting one a priority - it still sounded neat.

Probably because this woman, Ruby's- enthusiasm is so infectious. He hangs on every word as he indicates the line to her, getting in it, and waiting for their supplies. Seeds, watering can, little trowel, everything that one could possibly need for planting magical wishmaking trees.]

Nah. This kind of thing... it's not really my bag. Heard it's good for you, though. And it feels kinda nice to do something. M'not that big on cities, so more green stuff's always a plus, wish or no wish.

[He glances to the plots, lowering his head slightly, to speak lowly to her.]

I'm kind of competitive too. Can you imagine if like, in hundreds of years or whatever, our tree's the biggest? That's something worth leaving behind. So we gotta find the best plot.

[It's kind of a silly thing to get competitive about, that's not lost on him. But hell. He took his fun were he could find it.]

[cheir]

[ Fiore hasn't moved yet, with her hands in her lap, staying securely nestled in her wheelchair. But she stares out across the area, something nostalgic in her gaze before she glances up, and.

... Up.

He's... very tall, isn't he? ]

It sounds like a good cause, doesn't it?

[faeblooded]

What? With the trees?

[Mordred nodded toward the field that was laid open with open rows of dirt and a multitude of people on their hands and knees working the earth as if it were second nature. Mordred herself, barely larger than a sack of potatoes herself, looked up (and up-- and up!) at the man with a look of intrigue in her eyes.]

Aw, hell. Why not? Can't remember the last time I tried something like this.

[If she ever had. Life for her had been both short and rough-- and, in her current state, she hardly expected to have all the time she had thus far been granted.

May as well make the most of it.]

HARVEST MOON SIMULATOR; Option C ⬤ Tournament Display

[blkwings]

[Exhibitions. Now that was something he could get his teeth into. Of course, by the size of him, most Government officials that clocked him came on over, telling him about the displays, the meaning behind some kind of sacred origin story of the nation of which he'd found himself in.

And fuck it. He'd found himself carted away, dressed, he figured, like something that was a cross between a medieval knight and a power ranger, given a decorative greatsword that honestly, seemed more like a sword crossed with a laser gun, and... complimented. Extensively, by a hoard of animalistic officials each wielding clipboards.

Oh, you look just like a Moon Knight! A handsome, hunky Moon Knight!

Have you considered modelling? Can take your hair down? Then you'll be like a calendar model!

Hey, do you think we can have him up front? We're going to get so many applicants next year with him as eye-candy!

It was ridiculous, really. But ridiculous was something he could abide, if anything, because he was many things. Vain was one of them. So, without further ado, he picks up a particular official, seating her on a broad shoulder as he poses for a series of pictures from the others.

Aaaah! This is the best Encircling ever!

Pick me up next, pick me up next!

The Moonblessed are the best!!

That is until he's interrupted.]

'Sup. Time to get to work already? Damn. Alright.

[yakiniku]

[Hanzo has somehow ended up in a similar situation. Despite doing away with his bracelet early on and resisting he ends up armed and armored and gets pushed toward a towering man that he's told he has to fight. He sizes him up for a moment from behind then reaches for the man's shoulder to get his attention.

Of course he could wait until the guy has finished taking photos with his newfound fans, but he wants to get this started to be done with it. Perhaps the prize would be a lump sum of chroma. Which is why he's not quite as reluctant as he wants to be.

Deep down he does want to win. He wants that huge home in Level 1.]

You look like you will be fun to defeat. I want to make your fangirls cry.

[Hows that for prebattle banter/trash talk?]

[badluckblues]

Unbeknownst to the hunky young man and his admirers, Qrow has been standing somewhere behind them for the past several minutes, photobombing their snaps with alternating expressions ranging from genuinely curiosity, to genuine incredulity, to dull disbelief mixed with something akin to disgust. A few lucky winners even get gag faces.

Fortunately, an older, more collected official informs them it's time to go before Qrow can get up to any real mischief. Qrow shakes his head, gesturing vaguely to the gaggle of girls as the group finally breaks apart so that they can all get back to whatever they're supposed to be doing.

"Seriously? Does that ever get exhausting for you?"

He definitely does not sound even slightly jealous that Young, Buff and Handsome seems to be getting all the attention around here. Nope. Not a bit.

[mylawn]

[76 had tried to stay away from anything that involves the festival, but it's hard to resist the opportunity to blow off some steam in exhibition matches. He can deal with a little ceremony if it means he gets to bash some (mechanical) heads in, but as it stands he looks just a little too old to be here.

If it keeps the attention off him, so much the better. Gladiolus' display, however, is a bit difficult to ignore, and when he speaks up, he sounds exasperated.]

Don't let that go to your head.

[Or do. Might make him easier to beat.]

because this is Dorian and he's fashionably late for everything ever

[liberaltus]

[The only thing close to an exhibition Dorian had ever been a party to was his own Harrowing, fewer costumes, marginally, more cheering definitely. Also more demons, more magic, and more magisters...and a great deal less frippery. What were these costumes anyway? Even Orlais could do better and that...well that was saying something, but he went along with it in the same manner that he went along with everything else.

So long as they left his hair well alone.

He wasn't in this on his own apparently...apparently, he was in what...competition, cooperation with another man who was doing a rather good job at peacocking. Dorian was admittedly impressed, used to catch the eyes of those around him he could see how the ladies would swan their way toward him. He might have done as much, were he one of these young ideal ladies, so he couldn't begrudge them that.

Less squealing, of course, it would have been undignified. Ladies, where he came from, were less about the obvious and more about the dance...but it was all rather ridiculous. Too ridiculous to ponder over.]

I'd hate to deprive you of your adoring public [but Dorian was eager to move on, there were other things he was anxious to get around to] but I don't think they'll mind if I jealously monopolize your attention for a few moments.

[It was at this point that the mage observed the weapon they had placed in his own hand, something he discarded immediately with a look that was somewhere between uncomfortable and disgusted. Weapons designed for warriors were just unnatural in his hands, he brought a better one anyway, something he never left home without, but he kept it wrapped up very well out of consideration that it might unnerve those around him with its macabre appearance and its overall eerie aura.

Once his choice weapon was unbound it was obvious why he opted to keep it that way.] If you don't have the fortitude, you could stay here with your fans, I'm a kind man after all.

YOU SPIN ME RIGHT ROUND, BABY, RIGHT ROUND; Option A ⬤ Lunar Blossoms

[blkwings]

[As Gladiolus settles in an area which is full of benches and bathed in sunlight, he's pretty aware that he's placing far more value in just simply walking around and experiencing the Encircling than what he really should.

If anything, it's because he knows in the back of his mind that he shouldn't be enjoying this. He knows that while he's here, having fun, simply basking in the sunlight, lying on his back on a bench, eyes closed and simply enjoying the feeling of warm sunlight on his skin, that this place, the music, the festivities, the area...

Shit, just the amount of people around is something that isn't meant for him. It's so far removed from darkness, decay and death that he can't help but feel guilty simply for the sake of the fact that he's here.

He needed to get home.
He knew that.

Excuse me?

He opens his eyes, just in time to see an official place a flower on the lapel of his leather shirt. And he blinks, his eyebrows furrowing slightly as he looks up at the woman, pushing himself up to sit, and incline his head in thanks.

It's just a flower, no harm done.

...Right?]

[hoasen]

[There was something so nice and pleasant about this, and considering that it has been some time since she's had a vacation, she may as well enjoy it. But her letting herself bask in the atmosphere must be because she has full confident that it will be okay, they will get home.

Even when she spots the man receive the flower on his lapel, and the official walking away. He looks confused.]

I don't know the purpose of them either.

[mcring]

[ At a glance, Noctis isn't sure if he's seeing right. He'd thought— It'd make sense, wouldn't it? Why would he be here, and Prompto, and Ignis, even Luna, but not Gladio? After travelling so long together, it just didn't feel right to be in a world where he wasn't. So it was just a matter of time before Gladio showed up, too. Like he'd let them be on their own without butting in to remind them all of the fun they're not supposed to be having.

Except the guy lounging on the bench, soaking up the sun, doesn't completely look like Gladio. He is. He has to be, but...

Noctis is just kind of creepily staring as he's pushed past by the official, and he watches with a shake of his head as she wakes Gladio up by pinning a flower on him. Of course. Women giving him flowers the second he arrives. Yeah, that's Gladio, alright. Confidence restored, Noctis calls out as he walks over. ]

Gladio! Hey.

[ He stops a couple of steps from Gladio and gives him an obvious looking over. Longer hair, more of a beard. No new scars on his face this time, at least. Definitely from the future, which is great, if it's true. It'd be nice to see living proof that there's a future to go to, if he isn't just some Gladio look-alike from another world, or something weird. Chin lifted, Noctis mocks being stern, though it's honestly a challenge not to smile. ]

What the hell took you so long?

[punshots]

[ The festivities are in full swing and predictably, Prompto is swept up in them. How could he not be? It's one of the things he loves most about this city — every corner of it is so full of life. There's always something to see and do and photograph, and the Harvest Boon is no exception. He's just received a flower himself, mostly fascinated by the way it clings to his clothing without so much as a pin and trotting forward at the same time —

Meaning he's not watching where he's going. Like, at all. So it's no surprise that he bumps into someone at his usual speedy pace, stumbling backwards but managing to catch himself before he eats the pavement. Before he so much as shakes loose the surprise or gets a good look at who he's run into, he spouts off an immediate apology: ]

Shoot! Sorry, sorry!! Gotta a little carried away, neat flowers, am I r—

[ But he trails off, because he at last does look up at who he's bumped into. His profile is unmistakable, and Prompto knows who it is before he even jumps around Gladio to get a better look at his face. His eyes snap wide, bewildered and overjoyed, as he draws in a sharp intake of breath. ]

Gladio?!

[ Please hold. He needs a moment to appreciate this, to really appreciate it, that Gladio is here, that all of his friends are back with him again. They can get to his scruffiness in a minute. ]

Hah...'bout time you showed up, big guy!

JUST LIKE ANIMALS-MALS; Option B ⬤ The Lightless

[blkwings]

[As the day wears on, Gladiolus isn't exactly unaware that there are more and more animalistic people walking about as time passes. The three moons linger in the sky, despite the fact its daylight... and as the day wears on and on, he's aware that there seem to be more and more bouts of totally weird behaviour.

The weird behaviour ranges. Whether its two people necking in a doorway, to other people in alleys doing other stuff entirely, hell, even a few fights here and there, he can't help but notice that there's a bunch of shit that's getting progressively darker as the day wears on.

Except it's not his place to do anything about it. Each one of these people are citizens, and a stranger - a foreigner - getting involved in any of it is something that won't go down well. Either with them or the officials themselves. So he keeps himself to himself, sidestepping altercations, averting his eyes at more intimate displays of affection, and walking- hands in pockets- until he sees something entirely and completely wrong.

It's a three-headed monster- a Cerberus, he thinks- a daemon? An actual daemon? attacking a (wolf)mother and a child. He can't ignore this. He knows it. So he runs forward, habit making him extend his hand - a large, sharp, and keen greatsword appearing in one strong hand as he gets between the woman and her attacker, his eyes flashing.]

Hey! Run, lady!

[Well, this was going to be a thing.]

[glitchinthesystem]

[ Glitch had been just avoiding everyone on the streets. He'd been smart to keep his bracelet on the entire time since he wasn't being so strongly influenced by the moons. He had mainly kept it because he had never owned something this nice looking even if it was a trinket.

With people getting down on each other he had kept his hood up and ignored it. It was definitely a strike against this place, at least back home people had the decency to keep that shit private.

It's when he hears a woman screaming that finally breaks him from his thoughts. He looks off in the direction and well, curiosity dictates he should look into it. He jogs towards the noise and he see's it. One of those giant, three headed creatures.

Yeah, okay he's going to leave...if not for the fact when he looks over he see's there's a kid in the mix with this woman and some giant man.

Well, now he really has to get involved. As the Cerberus was charging towards the man guarding the two civilians, Glitch would take his chance. He felt the rush of electricity rush through his fingers, tingling the nerves in his hand. He formed it, deciding what it would do and thrust his hand out lancing out branches of blue electricity into the thing. It gave a wail of pain as the bolts struck it and soon it's attention turned to what had struck it.

Then Glitch yelled towards the burlier looking man; ]

GRAB THEM AND GET THE FUCK OUT! [ Say hi to your party mate, Gladio. ]

lightless;

[illuminism]

[ The chaos had erupted so swiftly that it's been difficult to keep on top of all the attacks and violence, especially given how much his powers had waned compared to being an all-seeing eye in his own world. Lucio is left scrambling almost as much as the other moonblessed to protect those who cannot fight for themselves, especially the Prismals who had offered their hospitality to them upon finding them on the Iris Moon.

He happens to spot the human protecting the lupine woman and child in time before swooping down fast, his wings transforming into six brilliant ones behind his back as he grabs the two of them and flies them to safety atop one of the roofs. With all the cerberuses roaming around, it's better than being on the ground level at the moment. Now, for that human...

He hovers behind him and casts a shield and an attack buff as quickly as he can manage before greeting him with a nod. ]

I hope you do not mind the assistance. If you hold him steady, I will aid you in striking him down.

[ A ball of light is already gathering at the edges of his fingers as he makes sure to keep an eye on the human and keep him out of harm as well. ]

[coasts]

[ The wolf-mother and child are frozen where they are, unable to move due to fear. Samatoki just happens to be at the other end of the scene when he sees what's happening. He pulls one of the stop signs on the ground (metal pole included) and hurls it straight at the Cerberus, pointed tip first. It makes contact, and the monster thrashes in pain. Unfortunately, as it does that, the sign falls from its skin. This alls happens just as Gladiolus summons his sword.

There's blood that oozes out of the creature's body that paints the street brown and red, but that's the least of Samatoki's concern. He lifts both the kid and the mother despite his scrawny body, then looks at Gladio, who seems to be strong enough to carry at least one of them. Samatoki's strength comes from the wolf ears and the fluffy wolf tail, both in white, but perhaps if he were angry enough, he could easily Hulk Out, anyway... ]

Think you could kill that thing with what you got?

[ Samatoki's weapon can't exactly work against creatures like this, or so he thinks, anyway. ]

[regelkonform]

[ Totally weird behaviour was an understatement, but that was neither here or there. While a majority of his time had been spent trying to assist all of the stupid unfortunate souls that didn't have their bracelets, something caught his eye as he was on his way to check on the next erratic person on the street. It wasn't the mother and child, but it wasn't really Gladiolus in particular either; it was the sudden flash of that rather impressive sword when it made it's appearance.

Germany was frozen for a moment, only able to stare at first. He was probably more tired that he realised, seeing things? Skeptic or not, the Cerberus was real enough but surely that sword couldn't be wielded so easily, except that was most definitely what he was seeing. It was when the other man yelled that he finally snapped out of it, running forward without thinking. No plan of attack just yet, instead focusing on ushering mother and child away from the scene; ideally he would have been able to breathe a sigh of relief once they had run but alas, it wasn't meant to be.

His fox tail whipped frantically behind him, ears folding back as he realised there was another one coming. He wasn't prepared to fight, he had no weapon and he was beyond rusty but he certainly wasn't going to run himself. For now he would stand his ground, only glancing over his shoulder at Gladio before calling out to him. ]

I hope you really know how to use that thing, there's another one coming!

[ He could only hope that the other man was as skilled as he looked. ]

WILDCARD ⬤ Dealer's Choice

[blkwings]

[hmu!]

•||• Hard to Reach

[worthit]

[ Even optimists have their limits, and Rapunzel has just hit hers. She can't find Pascal, she doesn't know how she got here, or even where HERE IS, people have been stepping on her hair all day, and she hasn't been able to figure out what she's supposed to do about food. It's been a stressful day, to say the least. She'd finally found some solace when she accidentally stumbled into the lift and been taken down to level two. It was the closest thing to being like home that she'd seen since waking up in this strange place, and she wasted no time finding the tallest tree that she could and getting IN it. That... ACTUALLY isn't that tall, but it's better than being on the ground. Her hair is pooled partially at the base, a swirling bundle of blonde locks attached to- er... something up in the tree, people figure as they walk by. Something that sounds suspiciously like a crying young woman. ]