Event Fourteen.

[awashmods]

Roses bloom and cease to be, But we shall the Christ-child see.

t's very, very cold. It's cold enough that you'll see your breath fog in the air before you, that goosebumps appear on your arms and legs and a chill goes up your spine. You're inside, in a huge palace with sweeping arches and rooms, but it's no real shelter from the cold -- it's just as cold inside as out. There's a throne room, a kitchen, various rooms and even a dungeon to be explored -- and outside, a frigid, frozen garden, a lake that's naturally frozen over, and miles, and miles of snow as far as the eye can see. But be careful while you explore. The snowflake soldiers are naturally dangerous, but even more dangerous than that...there's that creeping sensation of numbness going up your arm, a pang through your chest, and the slow, slow freezing from the inside out. Try not to leave any of your friends behind, okay? Even if they might look a bit too uncannily like some of the statues hanging around for decoration when they're frozen over. Welcome to Awash's fourteenth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to make your own logs for this event, but please keep in mind the lack of laptop function during this event when it comes to forum posts! If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

Comments

[brightlyshines]

Well you've certainly got the skills to go for it.

[Estelle tries, but eh. She's more power and charging ahead most of the time.]

But yeah.... honestly, that's kind of why I'm out here. If we can thin out their numbers, it'll be less trouble for the people who can't move as well.

II

[sirnyxalot]

You and me both.

[Nyx approaches with little fanfare, shivering as he cradles a flame in one hand close to his chest. It's not doing enough to keep the chill out, but as the town saw fit to grab him without his coat it's better than nothing while his chocobo is helping someone else warm up.

His coeurl clicks her way across the icy floor after him, claws out to keep from slipping as she does her best to become one with his legs when he stops to study the map.]

How long did this take you? [Impressed.]

[stripedown]

[ Breaking?? Is that a good idea?

The look Kisa shoots Shiho is both wide-eyed and worried. Is that going to call down the wrath of those weird knight things if Shiho goes around snapping furniture in half? ]

[stripedown]

[ To that, Kisa simply shakes her head. She does, however, point to him with a concerned frown. He's being so helpful, but surely he's got other things to do? ]

[stripedown]

Y-you were so cold and... I told Damian you'd never bite me... and I didn't want anything bad to happen to you.... if you did...!

[ KISA. ]

[stripedown]

[ Apparently she is, because Tohru has clung to her like this too. She's not sure what it is. Because she's small?

Ah, well. Estelle is warm and Kisa can cling and she is absolutely okay with that, burying her face into her chest. ]

[scooptimistic]

I don't know, either. But I don't think I should be asking you to kiss me just to test out a theory when we don't know exactly what will happen.

[ She wants to dig into it a little further. ]

[scooptimistic]

I appreciate it! Care to join me?

[ In sinful tapestry cohabitation? ]

[scooptimistic]

Because even though I have body heat, it's been cold lately, and this helps me keep it exactly where it is.

[ CUDDLE WITH HER, ROCK. ]

[scooptimistic]

[ Maya grips it firmly in return, before she releases it and slips her hand back to her side. ]

I think the problem with that is that we don't know whether or not there's an actual end to them. They could be linked to the snow outside, for all we know. So even if you destroyed them all, more might come back to take their places.

RIP Nyx

[sirnyxalot]

[The week has been slowly draining on him. Campfires and warm animal companions only went so far in keeping away such a persistent chill, and it's almost impossible to get steady sleep when he can't stop shivering. If they ever get back to town he's going to make sure to sleep in his astral blasted coat just in case something like this ever happens again.

Tired, but unable to sleep, Nyx leaves his pets behind to sleep and goes for a walk. He's not too concerned about the knights. While his magic reserves are getting low without being able to really rest, it's still enough to melt them before they can get their hands on him.

He's only a little surprised to find Sierra also out and about. Sure, he knew she wasn't with the majority of them during the week, but word of mouth has accounted for just about everyone at one moment or another. But there's no real reason to be out here, and the last day or so just felt so off that Nyx can't help but think the chill in his spine isn't quite the weather.

Her tone isn't the only cold one he's heard recently. A far cry from the direct, teasing one she'd used last month. Was she afflicted too?]

Not sure what that could be, my lady. [The patterns and rules of a game are much easier to rely on than the uncertainty of what the rest of this catastophe has in store for Chroma.] Last I checked there wasn't anything about me I could offer.

[sirnyxalot]

"No offense, but I'm not going to hold my breath. Last I checked whoever has our lives in their hands don't really seem to be the giving type. At least, not without some terrible consequence or joke at our misfortunes first." Nyx grins lightly. As true as the statement is, it's easy enough to be flippant about when they've got a good plan in motion.

Survival shouldn't be too hard. They've got food, and a whole metric fuckton of water if they boil the melted snow and ice before drinking it. There are enough trees to keep some fires going for a week or two that'll help stave off the cold, and so long as some of them keep up their strength to go knock down a few trees they should be fine. Honestly, the siren attack was much worse.

Of course, there were countless angry snowflake monstrosities beelining for them at every opportunity, so it wasn't exactly a walk in the park.

Nyx rubs his hands together, glad that he'd been up late the night they were brought here. He'd hate to have to do all this wearing nothing but his pants. Might make it a bit difficult.

"There are probably a dozen twists to the hallway right around here to be mindful of, but if we can find a chokepoint somewhere we could theoretically defend this entire block without running ourselves ragged."

[pyrafect]

[ Archer, huh. ]

Well, then. We might not find the ingredients to make hot chocolate, but. If you can indulge me in something else...

[ She pauses before she lays out her request. ] Maybe you’ve noticed by now, but some of us here have been afflicted with a strange, insidious frigid power. I’m not exactly one of the lucky ones. [ She appears calm while she tells him this, though. Mostly because she knows there is something of a “cure” to it. ] It’s almost poetic. Like something out of a fable.... You begin to become numb, you feel less and less— physically, yes, but also emotionally.

[ She laces her fingers together in her lap, the motion a bit nervous. ] It’s not pleasant, but there is a way to help it. Either through tears or a kiss. For some reason, that works to dispel the ice. [ She adds quickly: ] Of course the nature of either of those can be... uncomfortable for a stranger, so you needn’t provide either yourself, should I become unnaturally cold in the course of our chat. [ An awkward smile. ] But even if you were to find someone else, I would be grateful.

[nascere]

[ It's definitely uncomfortable, but Noctis' feelings on the matter is unfortunately muted -- he doesn't much like the discomfort, but it doesn't matter to him either way. How strange, he thinks distantly, as he looks up at the speaker. She's a pretty young woman, and fleetingly he thinks she could have passed off as Luna at first blush. Similar beauty and warmth, even if this stranger's visibly younger.

She unfolds the blanket, and he thinks of Luna, supposing that she would do this for others, too, and where he would be filled with an odd sense of longing and sadness, he feels... nothing. How very strange; it's as if someone had crept into his brain in the middle of the night and stole something precious away and there's an odd-sized hole where his warmth has been. ]

Not really. But it's nice of you.

[ He says simply. ] Although I don't think it'll work.

[nascere]

[ Noctis is absolutely sure Estelle is in a league of her own when it comes to princessing, and Joshua is one hell of a lucky dude. He grins when he sees him. ]

You too, huh? What'd you get, kisses from Estelle?

[nascere]

That's not gonna work.

[ Noctis tells him simply, entirely devoid of emotion. He tries to smile, of course, but it never really comes. It's false and unnatural and fleeting, like he's grasping for emotion and is coming up short. Absently rubbing a hand over his arm where the cold is creeping up, squeezing gently as if he could will warmth into his skin, he realizes he can't.

Oh, well.

He shrugs, but leaves his hand there. He hasn't seen Prompto in awhile, but here he is again, coming back to him. He wonders where Summer is, but Prompto doesn't look distressed, so perhaps she's safe somewhere? ]

You're yourself again.

[ He says simply, tilting his head at him. It's odd how Noctis can pick the play of emotions that flicker across his face, but can't quite find himself able to replicate any of them. He's concerned, Noctis knows objectively, but objective thinking is all he can manage presently. Weird? Definitely weird. He doesn't pull away when his cheek is patted, and he murmurs. ]

I'm not really tired. [ He pauses. ] I was upset you lost your color, before. [ He pauses. ] At least, I think I was. I don't remember what that feels like.

iii.

[sirnyxalot]

[Does it count as a laugh if it was a muffled snort that he tries to smother as a cough?

Probably not, but he'll hold to it until his dying day.

Of course, Nyx doesn't bother to hide his grin as he nudges his sea-green chocobo to turn towards the lake, cantering over to see if Akira needs help getting back to the shore line. He's not exactly dressed for the weather, but the bird is warm and he has a fire burning in his free hand to help ward off the cold.]

Did that go differently in your head?

1

[sirnyxalot]

Understatement of the century.

[Nyx turns from a melted puddle at his feet and throws out one hand towards the knight bearing down on Mutsu. The fireball bursts and sizzles in its armor and Nyx casts again to blow the heatwave down the hall over its reinforcements. He has to brace himself against the wall for a moment as a wave of dizziness skips over his head.

Too much magic, too damn fast. Forcing himself to move, he steps up next to Mutsu to see the injury closer in their moment of reprieve.]

How deep is it?

[interlucere]

[ Oh good, he's not so far gone that her words won't reach. It's hard to say if this man is naturally reluctant to accept help, if it the spell has wormed its way close to his heart. Lux hardly seems deterred, continuing to move with purpose as she quietly slips the blanket on his shoulders. ]

You may not be able to feel anything, but I would much rather mildly inconvenience you than sit around and let hypothermia set in.

[ Optimism won't work in the mental state he's in, Lux knows, so maybe appealing to logic will be a better course of action. Quietly sighing, she takes a seat next to him, keeping her own shivering at bay. Her gaze flicks down to his hands, then back up at him, as she offers him a pensive smile. ]

Could you give me your hands? [ Chroma she's going to have words with you about this later, but at least she can try to keep her dignity now. ] I might be able to do something to help with the cold.

ii

[sirnyxalot]

[Sorry, kid, the rescue is probably just as traumatizing as the attack, let's be real here.

Nyx is getting real tired of hearing these kids under his care screaming in fear and pain. This place is getting another tally on his shit list that he'll remember for the day he has the mastermind at the edge of his kukri.

Until then, however, he's following the screams as quickly as his chocobo can run without losing traction, and doesn't even bother to stop as he comes upon them. Heroically, for a chocobo, Chocobob pushes right between Tsumugi and the frozen knight, screeching a challenge and flapping her wings. Sure, the knight doesn't seem to even care about the warning, but it sure notices the fifty pound cat attacking its head from top speed.

Rahm topples it over, hissing and generating mini sparks of electricity as it tries to find something to sink her claws into. Nyx knows it won't do much to it, but all they need is time.

Twisting to look at his housemate, Nyx reaches a hand down to him.]

Get on!

[tosa]

( He has to moan at that. He's complaining now which is a good sign in it's own way, )

There's no need to go making a fuss! I'm already better 'cause of you. ( A lot better even if he's sore and probably won't be picking any fight for a little while. His body might have taken a beating but his spirit feels a lot lighter.

Next to the fire, he moves as close as he can without putting himself in danger. He also keeps his sword huddled close to him. Maybe he thinks he'll warm up faster if he can get his true form to warm up a bit.

... A healer would probably be a good idea, huh? Aw, man... what a drag. )

[tosa]

( He turns his attention towards Nyx who is definitely way more effective at this than he is. Fire magic, huh? Pretty convenient. He can tell that something is wrong though and where he'd normally scold Nyx to take it easy and take care of himself in in a heartbeat, he struggles right now. Vaguely, he knows what he would do but mustering up the concern feels like a long process...

Nyx is already checking on him before he can sort out his own feelings here. Huh.

He's quiet for a moment, fingers still on his cheek and frowns, )

It's fine.

( Maybe. He can't really tell. But he'll wipe at his face, spreading the blood with his fingers and try to shake it off. )

Don't worry about it.

[sirnyxalot]

Bullshit. [There's no heat behind it, as he'd be hypocritical if he said he wouldn't be doing the exact same thing if they were reversed.]

You don't want that to freeze over without being seen to. It's cold enough out here to kill the exposed cells, and if you need stitches the longer we wait the worse it'll get. [He's frowning now, unsettled, and tries to remember if he'd ever seen the other man injured before. Could he heal it?]

[tosa]

( He's definitely been hurt before but he's usually,

1. A lot more careful about his health
2. Seems to bounce back from his injuries faster than most people

Right now, he doesn't seem to really care one way or another, though.

He feels like he should argue back and insist he's fine but what comes out isn't his usual fire but instead, a half hearted, )

I said it's fine. ( It's annoying. ) This body isn't that big of a deal.

[sirnyxalot]

Last I checked that body is how you’re getting around, but have it your way. [He hadn’t wanted to draw more magic until he had to fight, but Mutsu clearly wasn’t going to let him check on it manually. Nyx wasn’t too keen on letting the man’s face turn black with frostbite later. Taking a step back he casts Cure, watching the green magic cloud around them and fade.

It’s weak, Nyx doesn’t have the reserves to do anything bigger unless he wants to wipe himself out, but hopefully this will do until they get to an actual healer.]

Can you keep going?