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

[troubadamsel]

Hm? ... No, I don't think so. I've been stuck in this icy castle, same as everyone else. All I've done is walk around, really.

[good_ideas]

[Taking Maribelle's hands in hers, she breathes gently over them, hoping to warm her up a little.]

But then why is this happening? It shouldn't be.

[she frowns, holding Maribelle's hands tighter.]

[troubadamsel]

... Well, it is. There's nothing we can do but wait it out. Everything in Chroma always comes to an end.

[good_ideas]

I'm not just going to wait here without doing anything.

[her tone is blunt as she clutches Maribelle's hands, feeling her very being slipping away.

So against her better judgement, she hugs her. Does... does that work??]

[troubadamsel]

[... Nope. Just more blinking. Enjoy that cold hug, babe.]

... Do you feel better now?

[good_ideas]

It's not for me to feel better, it's for you to feel better. But I guess it didn't work. Do you have something on you that I could break or something?

[troubadamsel]

... You can rip my clothes, if you want. But the others might get mad if you break my healing staff.

[good_ideas]

[That has her pulling back.]

What kind of a pervert do you think I am?! [GOSH]

I meant like a cursed ribbon or a comb or something?!

[troubadamsel]

[How's it feel to be the flustered one for once?!]

I don't have anything like that.

[good_ideas]

[It feels terrible. Obviously that means she now needs to go and fluster someone else, perpetuating this cycle.]

So all you have here is yourself, slowly fading away.

[troubadamsel]

... It'll pass. Everything ends, eventually, in Chroma.

[good_ideas]

...I don't think your body will be able to hold on till it passes.

[troubadamsel]

Even death isn't permanent in this place... if I remember right... It's hard to think, sometimes...

[good_ideas]

I still don't want you to die! [It didn't matter if Maribelle didn't stay dead. It was the principle of the thing, of failing a friend.]

[troubadamsel]

... Of course... I, thank you, I think...

[So tired.]

[good_ideas]

I haven't even done anything. [And she can feel tears gathering in her eyes. They're entirely from frustration, but hopefully they count as she rubs one hand over her eyes before reaching out to cup Maribelle's face.]

[troubadamsel]

[Maribelle blinks slowly.. but then... her eyes widen, as if suddenly seeing the person in front of her for the first time.]

... Shiho!

[good_ideas]

[Oh.

Maribelle's back. That's Shiho's first thought with her hand on Maribelle's cheek, reading everything that she was for a split second before she pulls back like she's been scalded and turns bright red.]

Th-This isn't-.... I-...!

[Maribelle has seen her care.

The only thing she can do now is run away.

Or tranquilize her and hope that her memory will be fuzzy and she'll forget everything she saw.]

[troubadamsel]

Shiho!

[Suddenly full of warmth, love, and relief, she grabs Shiho's arms-]

I... I'm not cold anymore! By the gods, I think I'm alive!

[good_ideas]

[NO]

That's fine and I'm glad but you need to let go! [Shiho is looking away now, please... have mercy...]

[troubadamsel]

You don't understand! I couldn't feel anything! I... oh! What if this is happening to the others!

[good_ideas]

But you're fine now! I don't even know why you are, but I can... p-probably figure it out for someone else. I think. [Maybe?

At this point she's just trying to escape.]

[troubadamsel]

Yes... what was it...

... Wait! Could it have been your tears?

[you ain't going anywhere IRON GRIP]

[good_ideas]

Tears? What is this, some kind of fairy tale-....

[Wait.]

Oh.

[troubadamsel]

... Shiho...

[Guess who's getting a hug?

Spoiler alert - YOU]