TDM #5

[calderaevents]

ARRIVAL

It happens in an instant. A heavy weight in your gut, a trembling of your limbs, the world spins and you barely have time to register that you're falling before you lose consciousness. And when you awaken, it's not where you were last. Dark, unadorned oak walls surround you in a tiny room, the only furniture the bed you are currently resting upon, and the bedside table with a folded piece of parchment resting atop it that simply reads:

“The Tavernkeeper is awaiting your arrival downstairs.”

As you exit you find others like yourself emerging from the surrounding rooms. You are indeed in a tavern, but there is no hustle and bustle one might think to hear in such a place. The only person down on the main floor is a humanoid figure wiping down the bar, who smiles when they see you. They're familiar, but not, and you can't quite place their face. For some reason, however, their presence is comforting and warm.

“Welcome, Visitor. I'm sure you have a lot of questions.”

And you most certainly do.

Due to popular demand, the starter tavern and the drinks provided are available to in game characters via a portal accessible only to those with a faction gem.

DRINK MENU

FLAMEFRUIT SANGRIA a deep red wine based punch with chunks of softly glowing fruit floating in it. A single serving makes you feel relaxed, social, and maybe even a little flirty.

MOLTEN MEAD Though the thick drink itself is room temperature, it bubbles sluggishly, and feels very warm going down. The bold flavor affects your mood. You feel very bold! Like you could do anything!

BESALT BRANDY a hopefully staple drink for the brewery, this liquor is smooth and rich with a peppery bite. Ironically after consuming it, you kinda want to bite someone! Not hard! Just a little nip and nibble!

THAT ASHY ESPRESSO a single potent shot of dark espresso swirled with a gold-tinged cream. Intense and bitter with a hint of caramelized sugar. You are now very awake, hyper, and excited.

PYROCLAST'S WHISKEYa glossy black whiskey that turns a vibrant glowing orange when swirled. You now breathe fire.

EMBERMARK WINE a rich, velvety, spiced wine that immediately makes one feel mellow and calm.

CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY

As the effects of your drink wear off, the Tavernkeeper speaks once more:

”It is time, my friends, for you to find your new homes.”

You are compelled to walk through the only door leading out of the tavern, finding yourself not outside, but in a deep black, seemingly endless room with five portals arranged in a circle. As the last of you leave and the door closes behind you, gone when you look back again and replaced with nothing but that black void, three of the portals illuminate:

The first portal is surrounded by an almost blinding light, prismatic rainbows shining brightly in the dewy air outside of the tavern. A soft breeze may gently caress you, pulling you toward it. The portal seems to lead to a city in the clouds, airships and winged beings of all sorts soaring through the skies. Of the little bits of visible land, much of it boasts giant waterfalls that look like clouds melting into the land below. The portal calls to those who crave independence and freedom; and especially to anyone that wishes to find the strong bond of a family not forged in blood.

The second portal is encircled by a fairy ring of spotted white capped mushrooms, the faint scent of damp stone and rich earth wafting from within the faint green glow. Peering inside, one can see a sprawling harbor city of gray hewn stone, a melting pot of humanoid beings going about their day, and beyond, rolling green farmland and cottages clustered in small villages. This portal is destined for those who crave stability and solid ground beneath their feet. A simple life, an adventurous one, and everything in between can be found within.

The last portal is adorned with shells and seaweed, the glow of blue around it catching on droplets cascading down the circular opening. Beyond it you see a city housed inside a massive bubble deep under the ocean, spiraling towers encrusted with coral, and a variety of different creatures mingling about the streets. Outside of that bubble, merfolk swim, a massive squid engulfs the view from the portal as it smoothly glides through the water, and schools of fish disperse as it passes. A sanctuary in the sea that calls to those with a hunger for knowledge and a desire to aid those in need. Or perhaps it is the mystery that beckons you - the lure of the unknown in the depths that bids you explore it.

---

Upon following the pull of the breeze through the first portal, you are thrust into the beauty of a lively city that goes by the name of Heaven's Bow. Much of this main city feels exactly as you would expect on a city below, but there are clouds surrounding every direction you look. The walls of buildings are made with light-colored limestone, and buildings are generally built up to heights made even more grandiose by their position in the sky.

The Skyfall Docks are the first thing you notice, boasting hundreds of airships sailing in and out across the clouds with shouts that accompany a typical port city. Just outside is a fantastic market with goods not only from the other regions of Caldera, but from what some shopkeepers claim are other worlds--items sold or left behind by Visitors. Almost anything can be found in the markets if one is willing to look hard enough. Transport to other locations throughout the sky and even to the land or sea can be found here.

If the docks are too lively for you, you may instead find yourself roaming the underbelly of Heaven's Bow and finding brothels and gambling parlors filled with the promise of pleasure and fortune. The guild house for the Sylphs can be found here as well, giving out quests and training to prospective adventurers and guards alike--though none of them seem concerned with the illicit activities that surround them. Perhaps the freedom the Sylphs boast of extends to what others may deem an undesirable activity.

But most curious of all, you find a shimmering opal gemstone in your hand. When placed anywhere on the body, it will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

---

If it was the second portal that called to you, you will find yourself in the busy city of Grey Ward, with its cobblestone streets and sturdy grey stone buildings. You are in the heart of the city, the Glass Market, so named for the colorful stained glass windows of the surrounding buildings. The scent of cooking food and the sound of barkers fills the air; watchful guards keep an eye out for pickpockets and thieves, and citizens go about their day. From here, one can investigate the rest of the city: the Sundown Docks, where both sea and sky faring skips transport people and goods. The Soot Spire, home of inventors and engineers. The Hearthstill, the main residential area. The Downs, a smaller residential area for those with less means.

Outside the city walls, one can explore acres of farmlands to the east and west, or follow Terra’s Pass to the less settled areas, but take care. Past the Skyward Range, out in the smaller burrows and villages, the influence of the city guard diminishes quickly, and you’ll have to keep your wits about you. Bandits along the road are always a risk, and the wildlife are less controlled by regimented hunting.

In your hand is a gemstone, a brilliantly green emerald that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

---

If the last portal beckoned you through it, you find yourself within that bubble covered city beneath the sea, the city of Salt Spire. Your ears pop with the change in pressure, and the smell of the salty sea fills your nostrils. All around you buildings made of dark stone encrusted with coral and seagrass tower high above your head, the backdrop outside the dome a deep blue, seemingly endless sea filled with fish and merfolk and all other manner of creature swimming through the water. You stand in the heart of it all, surrounded by people with gils on their necks and scales upon their vibrantly colored skin, all of whom seem intrigued by your arrival. You have many options of where to visit in the city under the sea, but where oh where will you go first?

The Salt Spire Library is right before you, an impossibly large building housing thousands upon thousands of books of all genres. Fiction, non-fiction, romance and mystery and all between. You may even find books from your world and others! Oddly enough though, no Calderan history books are to be found, and if you ask for them, the librarians and locals all choose to ignore your questions.

If scholarly pursuits aren't to your interest currently, perhaps a trip to Bluetide Market would be more your style? The marketplace is host to every manner of shop one might ever need: artisans of all varieties, apothecaries and healers in the Shimmer Quarter, the most in fashion undersea clothing shops, food stalls, and all between can be found in Bluetide. There are also the Tideshore and Fogbottom docks on either end of the city. The former allows transport to the surface via large, magical bubbles for those that cannot hold their breath or make the swim themselves yet. The latter allows people to venture further into the sea. Those without their underwater abilities are offered rebreathers for travel that last for four hours before needing to be replaced.

In your hand is a gemstone, a shining sapphire that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

IGNACIA'S CRADLE/EMBER VEIL

Months ago, a piece of land from Heaven’s Bow fell from the sky and scarred the land below, damaging a part of the city. From that chaos and ruin rose new life, a new ruler, and a new city: Ignacia’s Cradle. Just a short walk from the edge of Grey Ward, the gates of the city are guarded by two massive obsidian golems, and any who did not rise from the lava itself are warned at the entrance that to travel about the city will be most difficult, unless they have obtained a way to mitigate the extreme heat: be that with a charm, an ability, or a potion. The very streets themselves are paved in slabs of volcanic rock, tall spires of buildings constructed and shaped by rapidly cooled lava. The main method of travel are the mine carts, with tracks that wind through the spires ready to take one to almost any location.

Currently, the main feature of Ignacia’s Cradle is the Lava Flats, home of skilled smiths that use the extreme heat of the lava to melt the strongest metals and create unbreakable weapons, glassmakers and jewelers who fashion elaborate headpieces, rings, and amulets. These items are sold at the Ember Market on the outskirts of the Flats.

At the edge of the city lies the Ashfall Terrace, where a small farm using the rich volcanic ash and soil is in its infancy, as well as the Basalt Brewery where clever alchemists are researching ways to use the extreme heat to craft new and unique beverages that they are eager to find folk to test them out on.

---

The hot spring of Ignacia’s Cradle is a breathtaking anomaly located just beyond the Ashfall Terrace, tucked into a secluded crater formed by the celestial impact that gave rise to the city. Here, molten veins from the Lava Flats weave beneath the earth, heating a natural reservoir that bubbled to life amidst the chaos. The spring’s waters shimmer with an ethereal brilliance, hues of deep turquoise blending with molten gold and fiery orange, as though Heaven’s Bow itself left behind a fragment of its essence. Steam rises in curling wisps, carrying the tang of minerals and faint traces of sulfur.

The spring, known to locals as The Ember Veil, is both a sanctuary and a marvel of natural wonder. Its soothing waters are reputed to heal wounds and fortify the spirit, with the temperature kept in perfect balance by an intricate system of naturally formed vents and channels. The edges are lined with intricately carved obsidian benches, where patrons can soak their feet or meditate in the rising steam. Plants resistant to the intense conditions—vivid fire lilies and ash ferns—dot the perimeter, their resilience a symbol of life’s ability to flourish even in the harshest environments.

Sometimes, when two or more individuals share the waters, the spring creates a subtle connection between their minds, allowing memories to surface like ripples on its surface. These shared memories appear as glowing, translucent scenes that hover above the water, visible to all within the spring. Participants can relive moments from their lives, experiencing them through each other’s eyes, fostering profound empathy and understanding.

Another of the spring’s mystical properties occurs when bathers who enter the waters feeling drained, injured, or burdened by grief often find their vitality restored. The waters seem to draw out negative energies and emotions, replacing them with a warm, invigorating sensation that spreads through the body. In rare instances, the spring has been known to accelerate physical healing, mending minor injuries and soothing chronic aches, as though the magic itself is stitching the body back together.

A lesser-known but equally fascinating effect happens on particularly clear nights, when the moonlight reflects on the spring’s surface, some bathers report fleeting glimpses of potential futures. These visions are often cryptic, appearing as brief, dream-like flashes, but they have guided many to life-changing decisions. The alchemists of the Basalt Brewery believe this effect stems from residual cosmic energy, and they have begun experimenting with enhancing it through the addition of rare minerals and lunar elixirs.

RADIANT SUN

The day begins like no other, with the skies painted in hues of golden-pink as the Radiant Sun ascends. Its light spills over the world, warm and soft, caressing the land and filling every heart with a sense of peace. Beneath its glow, emotions of love and connection bloom like never before. Strangers exchange heartfelt smiles, old friends embrace as though no time has passed, and lovers find their feelings deepened, their bonds strengthened.

Even the air feels different—lighter, sweeter, as though the universe itself is celebrating. The songs of birds harmonize with the melodies of impromptu musicians who feel inspired by the sun’s radiance. Those with magical abilities sense their powers of healing and creation magnified, as if the sun itself lends its strength to their intentions. Long-held grudges seem to melt away under the sun’s tender gaze, replaced by tears of reconciliation and words of forgiveness.

The Radiant Sun touches every heart differently:

◾A widow finds peace as memories of her late spouse no longer bring sorrow but gratitude for the love they shared.
◾A timid youth finds the courage to confess their feelings to the person they’ve admired for so long.
◾A gruff warrior lets down their guard, laughing freely with their companions for the first time in years.

For a fleeting moment, the world feels as it should be—unified, harmonious, and drenched in love.

But as the day wanes and the Radiant Sun dips below the horizon, an unease begins to settle...

JEALOUS MOON

The golden light gives way to deep purples and silvers as the Jealous Moon rises, its glow pale and cold. Its light pierces the heart, not to warm it, but to expose the insecurities that lie buried within. Where love had flourished during the day, doubt begins to creep in.

Under the Jealous Moon’s influence, emotions twist and darken:

◾A once-reconciled pair of siblings argue over old grievances, as jealousy over perceived favoritism resurfaces.
◾A couple, who had spent the day lost in each other’s arms, now question each other’s loyalty and intentions.
◾A nobleman, inspired to be generous during the day, grows suspicious of those who received his gifts, fearing they may exploit his kindness.

The air grows heavy with tension, and the magic of the Radiant Sun fades, replaced by the sharp sting of distrust. The moon’s pale light seems to follow people like a judgmental gaze, amplifying every fear, insecurity, and lingering resentment.

Worse still, the night seems endless, as though time itself has bent beneath the weight of the Jealous Moon’s envious glow. For three long days and nights, the moon lingers high in the sky, its pale, piercing light casting a shadow over hearts and minds, amplifying discord and despair. Its power sows strife among even the closest bonds, driving some to dangerous extremes. Yet, when all seems lost, the scholars of the three factions unite their wisdom and uncover a glimmer of hope—a means to dispel the moon’s cruel influence. For those who have not yet succumbed to jealousy’s grip, there remains a chance to reclaim harmony, a chance for redemption before the damage becomes irreversible.

The solution lies not in complex rituals or rare relics but in the simplest and most instinctive actions: physical connection. To weaken the moon’s hold, people must embrace one another—offering a hug, a handshake, or even resting a hand on someone’s shoulder. These gestures of closeness disrupt the isolation and mistrust that the moon thrives upon. Sitting side by side or holding hands creates a barrier against its oppressive light, reminding the afflicted that they are not alone. Even small acts, like sharing warmth through proximity or clasping arms in solidarity, build a shield of connection that the moon cannot penetrate.

As these actions ripple through the night, the Jealous Moon’s light begins to dim, its sharp, cold glow softening until it fades from the sky entirely. The tension in the air lifts, replaced by a quiet calm that feels almost foreign after the chaos of the past three days. Slowly, the world seems to exhale, and the darkness that clung so tightly to the hearts of many begins to loosen its grip. People step back from the brink of despair, their minds clearing as if waking from a long, disorienting dream. Relationships strained by the moon’s influence begin to mend as apologies are exchanged, tears are shed, and bonds are reaffirmed.

ALL IS WELL(?)

With the Radiant Sun rising again, its golden-pink hues spilling across the horizon, life begins to return to normal. The birds resume their morning songs, markets reopen, and the hum of daily activity fills the air once more. Though traces of the moon’s influence linger in whispered memories, there is a collective sense of relief and gratitude among the people—gratitude for the light, for connection, and for a second chance to heal.

In the outskirts of Ignacia's Cradle, Aella and Terra, two of the three leaders of the factions, come together to address the gathered crowds. Together they assure the people that this celestial event was a rare anomaly, something never before recorded in the annals of history. They explain that while the Jealous Moon’s influence was unprecedented and deeply unsettling, it was a unique alignment of cosmic forces that is unlikely to occur again in their lifetimes—or ever.

The leaders thank the people for their resilience and compassion, emphasizing how their acts of unity—simple gestures of closeness and connection—proved stronger than the moon’s envy. They commend the scholars for their quick thinking and the Visitors for their role in guiding others through the chaos. Finally, they urge everyone to move forward, not in fear of what has passed, but with the knowledge that even in the darkest moments, their strength lies in the bonds they share.

QUESTBOARD

Settled in? Good. It's time to make your way to the Questboard located in every city in numerous, easy to access locations. That is, if you want to make any kind of impact on the world or just get some Bones for anything you might wish to purchase. Visitors are given a very small stipend in which to survive every month, but all it does is keep you fed and housed. These quests will assure you greater wealth, and they're the main reason you're here: each finished quest helps the Calderans fix their shattering world.

Quests can be accepted at the questboard via magically signed parchment upon the board. Just sign your name to accept and the paper will be whisked away... somewhere. You're not actually sure. Probably nothing to concern yourself with.

Once quests are completed, earned Bones will be dropped off at the character's residence by Bonita, the mysterious artisan who has supposedly handcrafted every Bone circulating in Caldera. Please do not speak to her, she startles easily.

*February will be the last month to complete quests for this rotation. New ones will go up on March 1st.

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Caldera's fifth TDM! All characters awaken in a strange tavern with nothing save the clothes on their backs, all of their powers stripped, and a piece of parchment directing them downstairs to the Tavernkeeper. There is a thread of all questions answered by the Tavernkeeper here, and if you have more, feel free to ask there for what would be offered ICly.

For OOC questions, please direct themhere.

All locations are available to be explored! Ignacia's Cradle and Ember Veil have been added, along with details about the Violet Drop regarding the Cult of Triton.

The TDM is game canon and all completed quests can be carried over once accepted into the game.

Participation in the Radiant Sun/Jealous Moon effects is not mandatory.

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Comments

[thesunreturns]

This sort of scrutiny is very old-fashioned to Simon's ear, though at least one fae he knows is geased to follow similar rules. But it is something he remembers learning. "Simon Lorden, of Saltmist. Well met."

[ofravensanddaggers]

"I'm sorry for your loss." Vax starts, arms crossing. He sits and patiently listens to Beleth talk about the man and only speaks up when she blames herself.

"I'm sure he knew the dangers of the mission when you sent him on it, yes?" He tilts his head with a small smile. "It wasn't your fault, you didn't kill him and you didn't send him out with the intent for him to die."

Seeing her eyes turn glassy, Vax slowly reaches out to take her hand. "I have known even men the size of mountains to cry, it's okay. I won't tell anyone if that helps. You can cry here and go back to being the pillar of strength after. You're safe."

[odare]

"Yes. You, too." He squeezes Maedhros' arm, knowing the man likely has plenty of people he's lost, living for as long as he has. Even if they had a proper sendoff in their own respective worlds, it can still be nice to have a ceremony to remember them.

"Sorry for... Losing myself. I feel much better now." It feels as though a weight has been lifted from him. Lighter. Catharsis.

[odare]

"Yes, keep your hands there for me, that's good," he encourages, giving John the instructions he needs to be the good boy he so desperately wants to be. It's adorable.

The scars are evidence of John's experiences, what he's been through. Evidence of pain, but also proof of his resilience to still be here, to heal, to mend. Finnick is grateful for that, and he has appreciation for everything that's made John into the man he cares for.

It's true, though; Finnick is trying to overwhelm John, to send him to that lovely place where thoughts are slow like sludge and wrapped in fog, and all that matters is submission, in being held safe and treated to pleasure. John deserves that. His hands and mouth keep working lower, and he hears John struggle to form words, knowing that rational thought is unravelling from Finnick's touch. He looks up, meets his eyes.

"It's alright, sweetheart. I've got you; nothing's gonna hurt you. Let yourself go." As though to support his point, his hands wrap around John's hips, holding them securely. Given that his partner seems relaxed enough and still enjoying himself, Finnick undoes his pants and slides them down his hips carefully. His cock springs free, and John's physique is fully revealed, like a statue carved of smooth marble. Finnick's hands caress over his hipbones, thumbs creeping into the divets of his hips. He then kisses there, very softly. Lips and tongue lap at the spot, then gradually make their way lower, toward the base of his cock. Still, nothing touches it. It stands erect, pre-come dripping onto John's stomach.

"You're so beautiful," Finnick murmurs adoringly.

[loosed]

It tracks — the simmering tension he'd already heard about from Briala boiling over that year, after Felassan was gone. That's what simmering tension usually does. So he might as well believe her. The most outlandish part of her account remains that an elf, Dalish or otherwise, might have led an Inquisition in the world he last saw. Ameridan was one thing. They had the Dales then, Halamshiral and their Emerald Knights and alliances with the humans. It was a different world.

But he might as well believe her. Certain events sticks like a burr to his thoughts. He carries it with him even as his attention shifts to her very reasonable question.

"Felassan Virnehn," he says, and speaking his own tongue again, slowarrow, leads him back into the language as easily as thinking about the human calendar had led him out of it. "And you must promise me that no matter how friendly we may become or how immediately you might need my attention, you will never shorten that to Slow."

Imagine a childhood of lost footraces and stumbling answers to a hahren's questions. And only imagine it, because he was never exactly child.

Thoughtfully, so serious one might believe he doesn't hear himself except for the faintest glimmer in his eye that indicates he is doing it on purpose — "I'm not overly fond of Ass, either."

[senriofmagic]

A trait that Hayden had to learn very quickly to control when possible, however nothing could really prepare him for meeting a literal god in the flesh. Let alone the same one who he had sold many a statue of to young members in the community. Or even gifted in some cases.

"Wow, sorry...that's weird right? I mean just saying 'wow'...I'm just...it's..." Yup, excuse him as Hayden pauses, eyes going distant for a moment with a small frown.

"Take a deep breath and stop being a fanboy." The laughter in Sabu's voice practically rings in Hayden's ears as he flushes, ears tilted back again.

"Sorry, it's not like it's every day I get to meet a god, Sabu." Is muttered before he looks back at Loki. "Uh, I mean. Sorry I'm Hayden, which you learned from....that." He motions to the water. "I'm a Wizard from my world and I promise I'm not talking to myself. But yeah, you're name is....pretty popular with a lot of my clients. I think after I opened my shop I've sold more statues of you than even Odin. To be fair most of my customers are kids trying to find their own way."

[dreamflowers]

Yes, it hurts. Yes, it's been twisting her up for much longer than Jade would like to admit. It was easier when she could just put on a mask and pretend, because no one knew. No one had to know.

The knowing feels like it's trying to change things. Shift the pieces on the board she's arranged so well up until this point. And now, all she can get out are two words:

"Doesn't matter."

She gave up her right to grieve when she decided humanity was probably better off dead, and it could go straight to hell without her.

b.

[dreamflowers]

It was only a matter of time. That's what it feels like when Jade has been plagued by visions of memories not her own. It certainly wouldn't be the first time.

Certainly wouldn't be the last for one such woman dubbed 'the Prophetess'.

Lavellan seemed alright when they first met. Maybe a bit calculating, given her probing questions and the manner in which she had been sizing up the tavern at the time, but decent. But the woman in the visions sounds different -- younger, commanding. It leaves behind an echo of complicated feelings.

But ultimately, Jade has no room to judge. Should Lavellan catch a glimpse of one of her own memories, Jade might be equally vulnerable to scrutiny.

When it's over, she flinches away from the water, gripping her face and hissing. "Bloody hell."

Radiant Sun

[ablativeholopleather]

For his part, Wayne doesn't even budge at someone new settling in near him. He'd mostly been distracted beforehand, trying to remember a tune that he plucks out on an odd-looking guitar.

Music's good for bringing people together though, right? And this place is pretty good vibes (for now). So now Alastor has a funky yellow guy leaning on him in return.

Self Care

[chosenkingoflucis]

He wasn't sure what to think of the hot springs, but if there's one thing besides a comfortable bed that Noctis is down for, it's a hot bath. He's on the other side of the spring, his back to Wayne, not noticing that he has company as he strips down and enters the water. If Wayne was looking, he may have caught sight of a long scar spanning the width of Noctis' low back.

It's only after he's settled in that he notices the other guy, nodding in return and giving a little wave.

"Hey."

[buffleheaded]

Doesn't matter?

"Of course it matters."

Her voice shakes. It matters to hurt, and to be hurt. Part of life. Part of death. Water sloshes around her ankles as she shifts, agitated. Imoen tugs her sleeve this time - to draw her close, to get Jade to look at her instead of burying her head between her knees, whatever she can get.

"What did you do? After."

[arlathvhen]

"I have made very few things easy for you. Even falling in love with you." The anchor, the mountain, her love for him, the events that cost her her arm, even the events that he had not witnessed yet--all of it weighed heavily on him. Burdened him. She was sure that he would not undo it, but--

She had a policy with Solas: That she didn't ask questions she didn't want to know the answers to. But it was, on occasion, very hard not to. He had tried not to love her. The knowledge sat like a pebble in her shoe.

But she had also told him not to lie.

"You are not a monster." This part, at least, is easy enough. She pulls her face away from his chest, to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. "I do not care if you do not believe what I have told you will come to pass, but I have seen it, and not even at your worst, are you a monster. You are what you have always been: A man doing what he thinks he must." Then another little kiss, and another. "We will walk together, Solas, and death will not come for either of us. The others think they have won, but it is us who are the ultimate victors, for we have each other, and time cannot touch us."

[theydrewfirstblood]

John lifts his head to watch Finnick, and their eyes meet. Every word out of his mouth shoots straight to John’s core, registering in his conscious and subconscious mind to make that sense of warmth and safety as overwhelming as the slow teasing pleasure of Finnick’s touch.

Let yourself go.

John’s eyes fall shut, he shivers with a sigh as Finnick’s hands wrap around his hips…and he does just that.

He doesn’t try to control how much he feels, how he moves, what he gets from Finnick—just feels, accepts, and sinks so deep into sensation every touch feels like that tense, glorious moment before orgasm. Even the cool air as Finnick strips him bare feels like a lover’s caress over fevered skin.

He feels every touch at once, those thumbs sweeping the indents over his hips, mouth hot and wet on his skin, inching towards his cock with painful slowness…and he doesn’t care. He can’t care, only one thing pierces him with the kind of painful longing that should be reserved for that distant, all consuming need to come.

“Please.” He breathes, and then the words tumble from his mouth, barely coherent and riding the edge of every moan. “Please…touch you, can I? Can I touch, Fin—wanna touch, please, wanna touch you so bad…”

[pokeabear]

The soft touches and kisses are soothing, almost as soothing as the fact that Aymeric's heart was beating in time to his own, grounding him further. It helps to chase the shadows further back, especially as the brush of his finger against his ear stirs a shiver out of him.

"I know I should be over it," he says after a moment, sounding pained. "But it wasn't just what happened to Sky. It was the darkness, Aymeric. The rage inside of me that felt like it was going to choke me. The full impact of Nature's Fury that made me want to tear everything apart, to hurt them all."

"Sometimes I feel a whisper of it inside of me but this time I wanted to embrace it. I attacked...friends of hers." He swallows thickly. "But it wasn't enough. I still felt the darkness as I watched her....then I ran away."

[ablativeholopleather]

There isn't a lot that concerns Wayne, and humans or human-adjacents generally aren't part of his purview. He doesn't know what isn't normal. Nothing about Noctis concerns him.

Noctis, meanwhile, is going to be treated to the sight of a peculiarly uniform yellow body as the jumpsuit is unzipped and peeled away, folded haphazardly and put aside before he sinks into the water in kind. When his arms are raised, it's possible to see the array of lightly raised regular flesh formations that run from just under his arms down to the cut of his hips.

As soon as he's settled down in the water up to his chin he speaks up again. "You new too?"

[pokeabear]

Halsin shook his head with a click of his tongue, ignoring Lulu's protests about being there to comfort him and being the therapy duck. He was better at this, he was better at supporting and comforting others than wallowing in his own despair.

"It is never just one person," he continued, turning the conversation back. "You might say it was all you but she had to play a part in it if it caused the demise of your relationship. Maybe it wasn't equal, maybe there is a lot for you to make up for."

"But she could have done more than just leaving." Then he tilted his head, thinking. "Are you sure thought that she left of her own free will?"

[pokeabear]

It is suspicious, there is no doubt about that, but it is also hard to care while under the effects of the sun.

"I agree," he nods as he draws closer to sit down beside Dorian. "Do you play a lot?"

[dreamflowers]

Feeling Imoen on her sleeve, something loathsome in her bubbles up again. Something that had been simmering into a boil for quite some time. It's annoying. Why can't people just learn to mind their own damned business?

"Don't fucking touch me!" Jade snaps, slapping Imoen's hand away.

Regret immediately follows.

Deep breath.

Exhale.

Just as soon as she sits upright, she covers her face again, hands running down her eyes. "Sorry. I don't... don't mean that."

It was easier if people didn't know her circumstances before coming here. Didn't know what was going on in her head just moments before it all vanished.

Easier, or just exchanging one burden for another? Jade can't say. Her apology is sincere, though; her regret audible when she decides to answer Imoen's question soon after:

"I dunno what I did... Most of it's a blur. Drifted for a few weeks, I think. Thought I'd head up into the mountains, find someplace high... Ended up here instead."

[arlathvhen]

The laugh escapes her before she can stop it--louder than she'd like and rather undignified, but he's startled her into it before she could control the sound. A moment is needed for her to gather herself, though the smile lingers on her lips. A slow arrow who thinks he's a comedian, apparently.

"There is another Arrow here, though I think the two of you should be easily differentiated." That's a little joke on her part, though she knows it will not pay off for some time. "Perhaps I will introduce you two."

She decides she likes him. Perhaps it was a forgone conclusion, because Beleth is predisposed to liking elves, and particularly Dalish ones. But he's interesting, and Beleth has always been one with an eye for interesting people. Virnehn -- It is a Dalish clan name, though the exact details escapes her. One of the ones who has a better grasp of the language than the Lavellan clan, then. Such things happen.

"But very well, Slow Arrow. If you have any questions about what has proceeded past the time you know, I will indulge you with what I know. If you don't wish to listen to my meandering, then I will buy you drink and we can find something else to discuss." She could think of several questions about his clan and their command of Elvhen.

[chosenkingoflucis]

Had this been right after he arrived in Caldera, the other guy's appearence might have startled him. However, he's seen many inhuman types in this place, so he's only a tiny bit phased.

He shakes his head in answer to the question.

"Nah, been here awhile now." He scratches at the back of his head. "Welcome, I guess."

[wrathstrikes]

Why is she laughing? Girls are weird.

"I'm new. Wonder if this kind of shit is normal here." He gestures to the water in the middle of the pool where their memories had played.

[lost_and_foundry]

"Are you sure?" Again, his voice is mild, but the look he gives Solas is gently quizzical. After thousands of years of watching empires rise and fall, what even is a normal life, and how could you possibly adapt to one? "Maybe you were always going to be stuck with extraordinary, dear."

"No point in speculating, though. We work with the materials we're given." And for a moment Barcus dares to wish he had a little more, if only for the sake of offering better work to others.

"Love is like that," he says. "It brings out the best and worst in us, one way or another, though it's not always the most enjoyable experience. Maybe the pain makes it more precious, in its own way."

[buffleheaded]

Imoen's hand jerks away and she jolts, and the dark thought crowds in so fast. It was a little thing, but it was something and she could lash out too and the bhaalspawn could push her into the water to show her something else -

No. No. Imoen shrinks back a little, and hides the hand under her other, in her lap. Makes herself be quiet, and just listen.

"...Here. With a whole new bunch of people expecting things out of you."

[ablativeholopleather]

[[belatedly a physical appearance ref.]]

A Wayne is an adaptable creature. He's pretty sure he'll be just fine here, whether he's a novelty or not.

"Tavern dude said there's people from everywhere here," he notes flatly. "Like some multiverse stuff."

[lost_and_foundry]

In a way, that caution is part of what makes their closeness special to Barcus. For the first time in Caldera he was able to consider what it must be like to leave everything familiar behind, shake off the vestiges of an identity that you never really wanted, and emerge into a whole new world only to have everyone look at you like some sort of monster you never were. Bel has made choices that must have taken extraordinary courage.

A single gnome can't give every drow defector a soft landing, but he'll be thinking of this man every time he meets one, now, and looking for every chance to give them the benefit of the doubt. That has to mean something.

He just didn't expect it to mean this. Bel is objectively attractive, and shockingly kind, and Barcus would be an idiot not to notice that, but there's a gulf between warm feelings and...a relationship? Friends with benefits? He'd ask what exactly they're considering here, except it doesn't seem like Bel is entirely sure, either.

He blinks up at him for a moment, then gives him a slow, sweet smile and places his hand over his gently. "I have, in fact, been eyeing your neck since you sat beside me, which is not typically platonic behavior. It's not just the drink."

"We probably should have had this conversation without me under the influence, but I'm not drunk, I just want to bite you more than is normal for me." ...Barcus. Really.

"You've made a huge difference in me. The way I think about myself, and my kin, and the Underdark. That's important. I...I want this but I want to be careful not to hurt our friendship, either. Does that make sense?"