Day 3: Evening

[wizardseason]

Evening: 5:00pm - Midnight

[ IRL Timeframe: June 16th to June 26th July 3rd, 2019 ]

No matter when the heroes defeated their monsters, or when the sixth monster was defeated and there were none left, everyone will be treated to an unfortunately familiar feeling. The world of the past will fade, slowly at first but gradually increasing in pace until they pass out to blackness.

Everyone will wake up on a beach, and not a beach in the town their residence is in. Looks like everyone will need to take the train back home or go for a really, really long walk.

More unsettling than that is that every hero will either have a decent suntan or a mild sunburn. Social media is abuzz with comments about the island "going still" and the knights "dead on the beaches". There are reports that all twelve knights and the princess were all defeated at the same time and left on the beaches as an advertisement that the world was over this year.

Naturally, the heroes will realize that they are not, in fact, dead. Better do some damage control, there. Anyone who tried to make any recordings in the past will find that the files are corrupted and unavailable. Looks like whatever happened is going to... stay in the past.

The heroes who are due for an evening visit in the Princess' Dream Citadel or in The Wizard's House will arrive there the moment they sleep.

---

The Weather

• Warmer than yesterday.
• 77°F / 25°C
• Everyone's in a bit of a panic!

---

Prompts:

• 05:00pm Beach Wake-up Call: Every hero will wake up laying on the wet sand of the beach. There's waves gently lapping at them, waking them up slowly from their abrupt return from the past. Everyone will feel a little groggy and their clothes will be uncomfortably crusted in sand. Here's to hoping that saltwater and sand will wash out? Make sure to remove the little crabs that have started crawling over you!


• 5:00pm, Craydon: The residents of Craydon are all safely at home up the mountain by now. The only people still lingering around the Craydon beaches are fishermen working to prepare for their sunset runs. The offshore cages aren't going to empty themselves, after all! Fortunately this means they have, and can offer, blankets and hot drinks while they're heading out. It's not much, but they're here to help. At least the heroes are hopefully not alone?


• 5:00pm, Bamborough: The residents of Bamborough are really just the locals, concerned for the future of the world and of the heroes. Instead of waking up alone, they'll find little boxes of dry towels and bottled water beside them. Looks like the residents were pretty sure they were going to wake up at some point because they've left little kits to help them wake up with. It's not much, but it's better than nothing. The boardwalks of Bamborough are empty, with not a single soul out and about. The local shops, though, are pretty much business as usual. They'll immediately bustle in excitement when the heroes show themselves. Also: Free showers near the beach boardwalks! Better get all that crusty sand cleaned off.


• 5:00pm, Far Haven: The city of Far Haven is simultaneously the most cold and impersonal and the most immediately helpful. Each hero in Far Haven will wake up with a little walkie talkie beside them. If they pick it up and reach out, they'll be immediately told to come to the Far Haven hospital for immediate medical assistance. Once there, they'll be offered a free shower, water, hydration, a medical checkup, and a free coupon for the Craydon hot springs. There are even little kits set out for the knights in other towns. But... there's no one to bring them to the other towns, whoops. Guess they're carry-out only?


• 5:35pm onward, Train station(s): The train has a pretty reliable schedule for the evening, ending in Far Haven at 11:25pm. One way or another, the train is going to be how your hero makes their way back home to sleep for the night. Will the ride be uneventful, or will it be spent with others?
  
  • Bamborough: 6:45pm, 8:30pm, 10:15pm.
  • Craydon: 7:20pm, 9:05pm, 10:50pm.
  • Far Haven: 6:10pm, 7:55pm, 9:40pm, 11:25pm.


• 6:00pm, Bamborough: In the outdoor seating area of Slyder's Wizard Sliders, a Wizard-themed burger restaurant in the most touristy area of Bamborough near the waterfront, the Wizard herself is seated at one of the tables under a big umbrella. Despite the big umbrella, she's still wearing her massive hat: Double shade from the setting sun. Sitting on the table is a small wizard-themed drink with little lightning bolts sticking out of the blue liquid.


• 8:00pm, Far Haven: Social media is quick to add the #wizardsighting hashtag to posts made by officers at the police station in Far Haven. The Wizard is seated up on the rooftop ledge of the police station, legs dangling over the third floor edge, surrounded by fireflies sparkling in the night. All a hero has to do is tell an officer they'd like to go up to talk to the Wizard and they'll be escorted to the elevator to the roof. Up you go, heroes!
  

---

Procedure:

Reply to the appropriate toplevel comments for events below. Indicate if a post is a private conversation with "Private" in the subject otherwise all threads should be open to interaction with others. Plan OOCly how you'd like to toss everyone around.

Comments

[daddykong]

At this point, Miri and Garrot are locked in a staring contest, the fiercest of battles of willpower. Both have the faintest smirks on their faces, so... this must be normal and/or fun for them? It isn't until Miri's glance darts towards Matilda, seemingly frozen in time.

"HA! I win, Miri!" Garrot is loud and triumphant, but that comes to a dead halt as he notices the look of growing horror on his daughter's face, especially once her gaze starts to flit back and forth between Matilda and his flexing arm.

"Dad, what the fuck, did your gross animal smells just kill the Dog Knight?!" Garrot recoils, not in offense but in terror, as he gently pokes Matilda on the arm. This poor girl is made of lace and scented candles or something, so Matilda might actually be dead!

Or at least vaguely unconscious. He's still worried for her.

[scandeled]

Matilda jolts back to reality violently at the poke, very nearly elbowing Garrot in the process, and only barely manages to stop herself from nodding more. "I'm okay!" She announces, perhaps too loudly, and she tugs the pink-lensed goggles back down over her eyes to try and calm herself.

"I was impressed, by the-- uh--" her eyes flick from Garrot, back to the phone. "Staring."

[daddykong]

Garrot, being made predominantly of hair and muscle, does not flinch at the elbow. Besides, it's Matilda, what's the worst she'd do to him? The loud voice does get a bit of a flinch and wince from him, since uh... he's got big ears.

"Matilda..." Miri cuts right past Garrot's presence, leveling her eyes at the Dog Knight. "I'd be more than happy to stare at you if you wanted to tell me about those cute goggles." The elven woman giggles like an experienced fey seductress and just... smiles a teensy bit more than before.

"You know." Garrot's deep and gruff voice threatens to smash right through Miri's feminine wiles. "I've been curious about that too, kid." And now they're both staring at her.

[scandeled]

Oh no. Oh no. Matilda's fingers sprawl over her cheeks as she tries to calm the burning in them, then regrets it because ow, she's sunburned too. Nothing can smash through that giggle, not even the fact that Garrot's there. In fact, she probably wouldn't even have remembered he was there if he didn't just call her kid. Her pout grows ten sizes.

"I'm of age!" She quips quickly, fidgeting with the goggles just slightly. "Um, what did you want to know about them? They are a little anomalous as an accessory, I must admit."

[daddykong]

Garrot can't really do much except choke back a laugh at Matilda's little quip. Sure, she's of age but... she's still so young and naive! But he knows how easy it can be to ruffle the Dog Knight's feathers, so he lays off. Mostly to get to the bottom of those goggles, and because it's obvious the attention is not on him.

"Your social media posts make it obvious that you're a fashion-conscious woman. So why do your outfits include not just goggles, which are as anomalous as you say, but a set with pink lenses? Seems like there's a story to tell." There's a beat, and a slight shift in the angle of Miri's camera. She's got a pen and paper, apparently about to take notes. Garrot, upon seeing this, just rolls his eyes and chuckles. Pushy, intrusive Garrot is showing zero signs of wanting to pushily intrude. Instead, he just takes out his other phone with his other hand and, holding it halfway up his chest so Matilda can't see, types a quick message.

"But please share whatever you're comfortable with, I don't mean to pry of course." And then Miri just tilts her head slightly and bats her eyelashes. She absolutely means to pry, she'll just be charming about it. Then, as if her phone just previewed a text message on her end, the elf's eyes dart up to skim it, and then there's the slightest roll as they focus back on those goggles.

[scandeled]

Thankfully, Matilda's too distracted and flustered to notice whatever's going on with Garrot."My social media posts-- Golly. You saw those?" She seems cheered by that, though, and relaxes a little, finishing adjusting the band of the goggles so her hair doesn't poof awkwardly underneath. Really, she's more than happy to talk about them, especially since the person in question isn't teasing her about them.

"The frames are vintage, of course. And the lenses-- they aren't pink." Her nose scrunches slightly as if it's a distinction she's made before. "They're rose! There was this story, I heard it as a girl, about someone with rose colored glasses. I've always loved it in the most guileless of ways. So, the lenses, they're a custom addition. And when I wear them, I don't feel so..." She trails off, before realizing how vulnerable she's being with her sincerity. She rocks back and forth on her heels, glancing back at Garrot suddenly to make sure he's not laughing at her. "It's like a lucky charm."

[daddykong]

Miri just smiles and nods, first to confirm that yes, she's researched the Dog Knight and all the others, and then throughout Matilda's explanation. Her motions are entirely genuine and interested, and once Miss Hamilton mentions stories and comfort, her smile just widens. Garrot, once Matilda glances at him, just gives her a warm smile. Not even a hint of laughter!

"I do so adore stories." She sighs dreamily. "They carry history, they turn the mundane into the mythical, and two people can tell the same one in wildly different ways." Then, she leans her phone against... something out of frame. Her hands gently pull her hair back behind her ears, and now a few streaks of silver are visible among her long, black locks. Aside from a few simpler earrings, each earlobe holds up a simple silvery figure-eight ensnared by meticulously crafted dark blue brambles.

"These are a memento of my mother. She loved them, and never told me why. It wasn't until I was older that I did some research, and it turned out to be symbology for an ancient Elven goddess of truth and justice." There's the slightest chuckle. "When I wear them, I feel like my mom's still here." Miri might want to get all the juicy journalistic details about this year's chosen, but... clearly she doesn't mind being a little vulnerable herself.

"And me?" Garrot chimes in, causing his daughter to sharply inhale as her eyes go wide, "They got a whole different story for me." "dad" "See, we went to a Sinful Eternity concert, and Miri had twisted her ankle so she was on crutches." "dad please" "And she went to put on the earrings once we got past the metal detectors and this fuckin' punk snatched the box right out of her hands-" "dad CAN YOU NOT" Miri is shouting, and uh, Garrot starts being louder. "So Miri's all like dad help! and obviously I chase after the guy, and I don't know if you've ever been chased by me before" "dad I give up" "but long story short I did a flying elbow and that scum-sucking little swamp shit was in the hospital for a month." "thank goodness it's over" "And the reason I told this story is because it's the first time Miri ever called me Dad!"

Miri is now bright, bright red, brighter than those rose-tinted goggles and brighter than a sunset and her hands are covering her face and there's just this angry whimper. Her cool kid facade is shattered by Garrot's well-timed counter-embarrassment. He was waiting for a chance like this all along, wasn't he? Garrot is absolutely laughing now, but every moment he takes to catch his breath he's looking at his daughter and beaming like a proud parent. Because he is one.

[scandeled]

Matilda’s relieves to find Garrot not laughing, and even more relieved to see Miri looking so interested. The dreamy smile, the sigh and confession that she loves stories too— it’s all enough to make her practically melt. The earrings get a little gasp from her, and a softer smile. “They’re beautiful!” She chirps, though she can’t help but feel a little envy at the memento. Though... her goggles are a similar thing.

As the story begins, and Miri’s voice starts to raise, Matilda can’t help but giggle. And the. the giggle turns into a snort, and before she knows it she’s laughing hysterically along, delighted with the story. By the end, she’s wiping tears away, beaming at poor Miri. “I-I’m sorry! He’s just so—“ She laughs again, beaming. “I’ll keep an eye on him for you.”

[daddykong]

"keep an eye on him just long enough to stab his organs please" At no point do the hands remove themselves from Miri's face. She's absolutely mortified and sounds like she expects to wither and die right on this video call. Garrot, on the other hand, is still laughing, egged on by Matilda's amusement. It's a hell of a lot better than the mood he caught her in, that's for damn sure.

"Waaaai-hahaha-ait, Miri, if she stabs me," Garrot snaps his fingers while hyperventilating, and suddenly there's a second Garrot standing in the video's frame. They're both struggling to repress their laughter, in complete and utter stereo sound. "...Then I can just stitch myself back together!" And then both bugbears are howling with laughter again, because they've foiled Miri's exasperated threat!

"if he wants to stab himself just to have his clone stitch him back together, you can kill him." Her lavender eyes peek out from behind her hands, just the faintest bit puffy. Was she laughing of crying?

[scandeled]

Matilda lets out a soft eep as Garrot doubles-- she may be used to and comfortable with her own powers, but with the others? Not always. And two Garrots is a lot-- even for the girl who's unarguably the next loudest person on the island. But once she's regained her footing (literally, the appearance of a second Garrot makes her stumble, even though she's standing still) she turns her attention back to Miri, and smiles. Hopefully, it's laughter and not tears.

"Don't worry. It was a nice story. It's not bad to care about things-- and it's nice, that he was able to get them back for you." She smiles, knocking an elbow into the Garrot closest to her. "It's simply frabjous that you two have each other. Even if he's a tad vexatious at times."

[daddykong]

"Just a tad." Miri sighs, removing her hands from her face so she can take in the fact that poor Matilda gets to deal with immediate proximity to two Garrots. She's smiling, and it looks like she might've been laughing and crying!

"The next thing I'm gonna get back is me!" The Garrots boisterously proclaim this in unison, but one of them does have the compassion to outstretch an arm a few feet behind Matilda in case she stumbles again. "And, y'know, everyone else. We're all gonna be okay, sweetie!" Garrot is very nearly shouting this, so it's clearly an attempt at reassurance considering everyone thought they were all dead.

"If he gets like this for too long, do me a favor and just teleport him into a swimming pool, okay?" Miri's rolling her eyes, clearly an expert in dealing with her dad's utter nonsense. But she looks away for a second, and when she looks back to Matilda, she smiles. "And... thanks."

For offering to try and rein in Garrot? Thanking Miri for sharing the story? Or putting her life on the line daily against unknowable monsters for the sake of the world? Maybe all three???

[scandeled]

It's a good thing there's a Garrot arm behind her, because Miri's smiling, and that's enough to make her stumble again. Garrot's trying extra hard at reassurance too, though, and it's enough for Matilda to slip back into her charming socialite persona once more, slipping her goggles back onto the top of her head and smiling. "What he said! We'll all be okay!" She giggles, trying to look confident-- but then Miri's suggesting teleporting him into a pool, and distress crosses her face.

"T-Then I'll be in the pool too! And my hair---" She freezes. Her hair will.... like it is now..... it's frizzy and poofy and--- her hands fly to smooth it down.

[daddykong]

Honestly, Garrot is living for Matilda's reactions, and so is Miri. It's a nice change of pace from their typical father-daughter banter and fretting. The distress, the freeze, it's all too much, and Miri's composure falters enough for her to snort out a little chuckle. Garrot, however, has no such luck; he's just kinda laughing! But to make Miss Hamilton feel better, Garrot takes the time to pull the scrunchy from his own hair, which... is similarly frizzy and poofy except it has about as much volume as his muscles.

"No no, you gotta teleport me over the pool and then let go! I'll fall in, and I probably won't grab you in time!" He's helping!! And it's clear he keeps his hair tied up for a reason.

But Miri's smirking as she shoots him a look- she's not convinced. Garrot is loudly and clearly convinced... that he can pull Matilda into the pool with him. At this point, he just wants to put it to practice, maybe make a bet with his daughter about it.