realmofstories | Character Introduction Log: May 2020

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Character Introduction Log: May 2020

Intro Log: May 2020—

§ instructions.

Greetings and welcome to the intro log for Forgotten Tales! There are no hard and fast rules here. Just include your Character, canon, and essence in the subject line and post away! Network prompts are allowed in the intro log, so feel free to put one in.

In terms of timeline, the intro log can span over several days, so don't feel as if everything has to happen all at once. You are also free to post your own logs at any time, and can even take these prompts for them!

§ prompts.

¶ I. Adjusting to a New Life. Even after being told by the Storyteller about everything, there's still a lot to learn. There's also the satchel and journal to investigate, and figuring out where they live. The Index itself is a large, vast city inhabited by a large variety of characters from numerous stories. Because of this, there is no uniform style to the city. One street could look like a normal street plucked out of a Victorian, English fairy tale and then the very next is made of candy. It makes for an interesting mishmash of cultures that somehow manages to get along. Most of the time, at least.

A. Brushing Up on the Lore. Perhaps a trip to the Grand Library to read up on the essence's stories wouldn't be such a bad idea. It might help give the Aspect some ideas as to what they can do. But you know, it would be their luck to have a large tome dedicated to their stories way high up on a top shelf. And the ladder is rusty. Might need some help.
B. Magic Journals. For those of the modern era, needing to write is going to be an interesting exercise. But after reading the instructions, maybe they want to reach out, see who else is out there. Or troll people with dumb doodles.
C. Watch What You're Doing! Testing out a new spell or weapon? Great! Just be mindful of the surroundings—this is all new and no one has thought to create a special training area for everyone (yet). And while most of the locals are happy and hopeful about their potential heroes, broken windows or almost burning one of them won't go over too well.
D. House Hunting. Among the items found in the satchel is a set of keys. These keys will magically lead their new owner to the house they will be living in for as long as they are in the Realm of Stories. The home will be styled to fit the essence and the location will also be fitting of that essence. It could be within the main city of the Index, outside of town, underwater, in the air—anywhere! Now if only the keys didn't take their own through...interesting, winding routes. Like through a random bakery or down someone's chimney. Who knows, maybe they will want to come back and visit the stores for clothing and other housewares.

¶ II. Rabbit Season, Duck Season. There are two new cafes that have opened up: Hare de Lune Teahouse and Bistro de Saison de Canards. The Hare's owners hail from the Book of Kaguya and wish to spread the joy of eating their local treats with the bonus of having a cute, fluffy rabbit as a dining companion. Canards, however, are more local and are competing against them with their own special delicacies focused on duck and eggs. A fierce competition is brewing between the two, and hair and feathers may end up flying before the day's out.

A. Hare de Lune Teahouse. The inside of Hare de Lune's is brightly colored (almost a bit too bright and chaotic), but the perfectly brewed teas and beautifully crafted wagashi served are surprisingly elegant, adding a note of serenity to the riotous surroundings. … At least at first. After eating certain cakes or drinking certain teas, patrons will suddenly find themselves either suddenly growing or shrinking in size. The effects only last at most ten minutes, but it's still a bizarre change that sends many in a panic. Could the Canards across the street have sabotaged their food!?
B. A Hareful of Trouble. Not only that, but even the cafe's rabbits are acting strangely. While most are still docile and enjoy a nice warm lap, others are acting rambunctious and are attacking cafe patrons. It gets worse when a few nibble on a few of the size-changing cakes. If they grow in size, they become a more dangerous threat while those that shrink make it harder to find. The owners don't want the rabbits to be harmed, however, so great care is needed to try and catch or calm them down! Perhaps a big carrot will help? Or figure out which size-changing food will reverse the effect—and hopefully not make it worse.
C. We Ducked Up. Bistro de Saison de Canards has gone all out to be as fancy as possible in every way. Duck-shaped flower arrangements and topiaries, ice sculpture ducks enchanted to "swim" in the center of the tables and quack pleasantly, linen napkins folded like swans, menus inexplicably also folded into a duck shape (good luck trying to re-fold them), and very pretentiously named dishes which… might have concerning amounts of duck eggs and rabbit meat in them. To help attract customers, they are hiring volunteers to be their mascot who must wear a special costume and try to draw anyone who is heading towards Hare de Lune to their side instead. Unfortunately, sometimes the mascots are a bit too zealous, and one even tries to steal a rabbit! Perhaps it's someone working for Hare trying to sabotage Canards? Whether trying to have a meal, roped into being a mascot, or a witness to the ridiculous actions, it's a chaotic mess. (Was that a small flock of ducks that just waddled out onto the street with a chef chasing after them?)

¶ III. Untitled Swan Princess. It's a lovely morning in the Index… unless you happen to be the latest princess cursed by a rogue sorcerer. Unfortunately, this particular magic user was under the impression that swans are lovely, serene birds and make complacent captives. He was proven very, very wrong very quickly. Now the princess-turned-bird has a lot of anger to unleash, and quite a few acts of chaos on her to-do list.

A. Write Your Story. Apparently either the princess or her new bird brain has quite the case of kleptomania. Everyone wandering the streets today will want to keep a close eye on their valuables: lunches, keys, potion supplies, even journals and quills! As a result, some might find themselves on the receiving end of squiggly, angry beak-writing from strangers, or chasing after the thief while dodging bubble traps or ice slicks from potions dropping out of a snatched satchel!
B. Hot Fuzz Sundae. Somehow, the swan has managed to orchestrate a massive accident involving broken barrels of caramel sauce, a teddy bear parade, and a cart full of down pillows. Thankfully for anyone caught in the crossfire, the caramel is room-temperature, but now the whole intersection is covered in a sticky, fuzzy, feathery mess! Are you a passerby, a volunteer for the clean-up crew, or a stunned victim? And more importantly, is that caramel making you stick to something (or someone) else?
C. Wild Goose Chase. Finally, after hours of chaos, reports come in of the swan storming the Grand Library, stealing artifacts from the four Drafts the Aspects have restored thus far: a Jack-o-Lantern from A Hollow Christmas Carol, a bamboo sword from The Legend of Princess Kaguya, a pearl necklace from The Little Mermaid, and a rose-decorated dragon egg from A Midsummer Rose. It's up to the Aspects to stop the swan before she leaves the Library with the relics, but it won't be easy. The swan has planted rotten egg bombs all over the place, some even ready to fall on the unsuspecting. They do not smell until cracked open and are camouflaged to match their surroundings, especially the carpeting. Then there are some that are large and tick ominously once someone is within range, counting down until they explode. Either get those eggs out before they explode or somehow neutralize them, or the Grand Library will really be a mess for months to come.

¶ IV. Of Tea Leaves and Dragons. Somewhere outside the index is a newly opened nursery farm focused on raising tea dragons — special little dragons that produce leaves on various points on their bodies. Teas brewed from their leaves will reflect the temperament of these dragons, and although friendly special care must be taken for them. As they are a new addition to the Index, both the dragons and their caretakers are still learning to adjust and thus need a little extra help. These are the mains types of dragons and their teas at the nursery:

Rooibos. Active, curious dragons who tend to get into trouble. Drinking Rooibos tea will lead one to being unable to sleep or sit still.
Earl Grey. Easygoing and protective dragons, they are the largest of the group. Drinking this will lead the person wanting to be around those they care for, making sure nothing bad happens to them.
Hibiscus. Although calmer, they are willing to try new things and socialize with others. Drinking this tea will make one want to explore new places and or become more talkative about what they discover.
Ginseng. Very sensitive, these dragons can read the emotions of others and are loyal. The tea will help strengthen bonds between relationships as well as have an odd side effect of allowing one to read each other's thoughts.
Chamomile. The smallest of the dragons, they love to take long naps and just laze about, not really caring about what's going on around them. Similarly drinking their tea will make the drinker more apathetic and prone to sleep more often.

A. How to Bribe Your Tea Dragons. The dragon tea leaves are ripe for "plucking," and while the process is painless for the young dragons, they can still be a little ornery about it. After all, no one likes being manhandled by a stranger. One has to earn their trust, and fortunately it's not too difficult. As they are young, playing with them will go a long way in forming that needed bond. Tossing balls for either a game of catch or fetch, playing chase (the flyers are cheaters), hide and seek (they love hiding in bushes), and other similar games. Another good way is to offer them their favorite treats; fruits, veggies, and specially cooked biscuits are all part of a balanced diet, and will add some delicious notes to the final tea.
B. Harvesting Tea Leaves. Once settled in, the dragons will allow their leaves to be plucked and harvested. The process is really more like "grooming" the dragons, using special brushes to gather the loose leaves before hand plucking those that remain. First a special oil is applied to loosen the leaves and then a rake-like brush is used. It's a simple enough process, but the real problem comes from the dragons. While one person could possibly harvest a dragon on their own, they get so comfortable and cuddly while grooming that more often than not they end up pinning the holder's arms or keep butting their heads against the brushing hand which can hinder gathering the loose leaves. A second person is usually needed to either help distract the dragon or to collect the leaves.
C. Taste Testing. At the end of the day, everyone is welcome to try a taste of the finished tea. They all have different effects, and everyone can carry a small sample home with them.

¶ V. Wildcard. Make up your own prompt! Especially in regards to the festival, anything can really happen.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Atem nodded with a wider smile and did a sip. Mm, it was definitely a little different from the usual chamomile. Sweeter, almost. But it was herbal so it was still a light fragrant tea.]

Yes, I was. Ah, I didn't message you like I said I would. I'm so sorry, I was a lot more tired than I expected to be and your blanket was actually very comfortable. I appreciated it.

[ He'd stayed up...not that he was worrying, that was silly. Atem was a grown man. But he had wondered about it. ]

Next time I'll be writing an angry letter back, so don't forget again.

[ He's kidding. Mostly. But the thought of anything happening to the pharaoh...he scoots his chair in a little closer. ]

As long as you were warm.

[And safe.]

[Ooph, that was a sudden rush of tiredness that he was feeling. His eyes were even feeling a bit heavy. He couldn't have been tired from the rambunctious dragons, could he?]

Please do, I don't want to be known as someone who goes back on his promises.

[He managed a smile, leaning his cheek in hand.]

I was. It's odd... Index seems to have weather almost similar to Tokyo but... [Oh, that was a yawn, excuse him.] Sorry, but back at my home it seemed almost similar to Egypt. Dry and chilled when the sun goes down. It made things a little more comfortable, being reminded of home.

At least someone had a good night.

[ He scoots just a little closer, about arms-length to his left now. ]

But you said you didn't know anyone there...did they behave?

Did you... were you up waiting for my message?

[Geez, why was he feeling so tired, especially when Kaiba had obviously worried about him?]

I'm really sorry, Kaiba. I... uh, yes, they did. Why wouldn't they?

Not all night, don't flatter yourself that much.

[ But he had waited. A little. He was tired from it too, actually...which was why he needed the earl grey to keep him awake.

He shakes his head. ]

I should've let you stay with me.

[Okay, well, that made him feel a little better. He could understand waiting for a least a little. Still, he did feel a bit guilty. He yawned again, rubbing his eyes.]

Sorry... um... stay with you, why? Surely I would just be in your way.

[He wasn't declining. Atem was used to living with someone else, after all. But it was strange coming from Kaiba.]

I could make room. I'd just---feel better, if you were closer.

[ But...hmm, why is Atem so tired? ]

You must be very relaxed.

Well, I mean... I suppose there would be no harm...

[Very relaxed was an understatement. He was trying to have a pleasant conversation with a friend and here he was falling asleep on him!]

Mmm... is it supposed to be this strong?

I don't know.

[ But he pushes both cups away just in case...he's not sure how his is affecting him, but he scoots closer anyway, placing a hand on Atem's elbow. ]

Your home's too far. Let's go to mine. Can you walk?

[ Kaiba stands at his side, ready to catch him if needed. ]

[Either it was because he was too tired or Kaiba was actually being very logical about it, or both, but Atem nodded. He wasn't so worried about what was going on, clearly he just needed some sleep. But it would take more energy to walk out of town and falling over on the way was definitely not ideal.

He pushed himself from the chair but only managed a few steps before he was tilting to the side. What were they talking about again?]

[ Kaiba's quick to turn and grab his arms, propping him up. He takes one look at the pharaoh's face and sighs. ]

Never mind. Let's go.

[ And without a moment to waste he steps around Atem and scoops him up, holding him in a bridal carry as he starts the walk home. ]

...lighter than I thought.

[It's what sealed the deal, so to speak. Despite the creeping apathy and sleepiness, Atem had been trying to keep his eyes open. But as soon as he felt the warmth around him, his head lolling against Seto's shoulder, the sleepiness took over completely.

Had he been more awake he probably would have complained about being carried like a bride or that he was totally not that light or something that would sooth his pride.

Except he was falling asleep too fast to actually realize his pride had even been wounded in the first place.]

[ Not only was he light, he was...cute. Kaiba looked down at the face nestled into his shoulder and melted, his arms tightening protectively.

He walked slowly, careful not to jostle him too much. Opening the door like this was tricky, but if he balanced Atem on his arm and crouched to the right height...there. Nailed it, with only a little difficulty.

There was really no place to put him but his bed, so he tucked the pharaoh in, carefully smoothing his hair out of his face as he did so. Soft...but he forced himself to pull back. Time to watch and wait.

Kaiba would spend the next little while quietly tinkering with a Rubik's cube, watching and waiting for Atem to wake. This wasn't one of those cursed sleeps, was it? He'd wait a little longer, but if he didn't wake soon he'd have to take drastic action. ]

[Thankfully(?) it doesn't last more than a few hours. And also probably screwed up Atem's sleep schedule. But he woke up sometime in the afternoon, curled up in a very soft bed. It smelled like gingerbread, it was faint but familiar. He could also hear the soft sounds of tinkering. A small click here, a snap there. That sounded nothing like what his home sounded like, not even on the outside.

Atem finally rolled onto his back, opening his eyes to gaze blearily at a roof he didn't recognize (he had never been in Kaiba's room before). His brows furrowed a bit as he turned his eyes. Where...?]

Kaiba?

[He found the young man seated nearby, working on the Rubik's cube with the usual tools for creating nearby on the table. He was in Kaiba's house? When did he...?]

Oh good, you're up.

[ Kaiba sets the cube aside and leans in. ]

The chamomile knocked you out. I brought you here to sleep it off. Are you all right?

It did?

[That sounded about right though. It was the last thing he remembered, to be honest. Drink the tea and having a conversation with Kaiba.]

Tired still, but not enough to fall asleep on the spot again.

[He probably slept too long. He sighed, rubbing his face.]

Sorry if I worried you again.

I wasn't that worried.

[ But he doesn't deny it. He briefly steps out of the room and returns with a plate of cookies. ]

But you should really eat more. You barely weigh a thing.

Worried enough to want to fatten me up, apparently.

[He can't help the smirk as he looked at the plate of cookies. He takes one anyway, biting into it.]

As much as I don't want to point it out, you are a foot taller than me. Of course I would weigh nothing compared to you.

Hey!

[ He growls, but there's no menace in it. He leans forward, stopping to think for a moment, and then...]

I meant what I said before. I'll make space for you if you want to stay here.

[Is he wrong, though? His look to Kaiba says it all. But then, the look fades as he recalls that conversation. He almost had forgotten it, being so drowsy. He honestly thought it was a dream or perhaps a joke but...well, he wasn't one for jokes.]

As... long as you're certain I won't get in your way.

[He wondered if Kaiba really was just as lonely as he was. He wouldn't fault the young man. They enjoyed each others company this past week, had a routine even. If Kaiba really was willing to extend the hand of friendship like this, who was he to really question it? After all, Atem had been trying to do the same all this time before he had to go.

So, he smiled and nodded.]

Can I least help with making a space?

If you think you can. Come on.

[ Kaiba comes around to his side of the bed and makes sure he stands all right, then pushes his bed against the wall. Well...that answers the question of where he's planning to put Atem's. The kitchen and workshop take up most of the rest of the small space, there isn't much else to put it.

He then moves to gather another few blankets from the closet, some half-woven baskets, a few pillow plush (all cats) from Santa's bag for temporary fluff...it's more of a nest than a proper bed, but it's shaping up to be big enough. There's plenty of room to help him weave the frame together or arrange the pillows. ]

The shops closed, but we can get you a proper mattress tomorrow.

[Atem slid out of the bed, a little disappointed to be out of the warmth now. But he stood alright, rubbing his eyes again to rid the rest of the sleep from them. He blinked when the bed was shoved over.

Oh, he meant to literally make a space. That made sense, he didn't recall there being an extra bedroom. He helped set up the temporary fluff, arranging them and set up the blankets over them. It really did look more like a nest but it was better than nothing. Especially if Kaiba was going to insist on keeping an eye on him like this. It wasn't quite so different than his Priest, wasn't it?

The only difference was the odd warm feeling in his chest he got this time.]

That's fine, you've done enough so far. I couldn't ask for anything more.

[ It's nice, working beside him like this. It takes some creativity with his summons and existing items, but eventually they manage to build something decently comfortable. ]

So long as you don't snore.

[ He laughs and ducks into the bathroom, washing up and changing into a simple blue nightshirt. He sits at the edge of he bed and sighs. ]

But you slept so long you'll be up all night, right?

You've already heard if I do or not.

[He was pretty confident he didn't and Kaiba was definitely the type to point it out. He rolled his eyes and busied himself with the Rubik's cube that had been tinkered with. He played with it, looking up when his friend returned.]

Undoubtedly. I could go home and get some of my belongings. Since I won't be sleeping any time soon, getting some night clothes and a change of fresh ones for tomorrow would be ideal.

Character Introduction Log: May 2020

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