INTRO LOG: JANUARY

[inthenightmods]

INTRO LOG: JANUARY
ALLES NEU

characters: everyone.
location: the harbor, as well as the rest of town.
date/time: january 1-3.
content: beacon's newest batch of residents arrives on the ferry. the forest spirits engage in some new year's shenanigans.
warnings: n/a.

welcome to beacon.

It's dim, and the room won't stop swaying, gently rocking you back and forth. A loud sound startles you fully awake, a deep, moaning call: a foghorn. As your eyes adjust, you note faint red light streaking through the room from a tiny, round window.

You've found yourself in a private room, lying on a bed. The last things you remember are the events that led up to your death. Beside you is a folded tablet and a lantern glowing with a healthy flame.

You're on a ship. And that ship is docking.

Making your way to the deck, and eventually the pier, you find only moonlight to greet you, and a dark forest beyond. There are other people here, each with their own unique lantern, and many of them look just as lost as you are. On the ferry you've just disembarked from, the speaker system begins to play a song.

In the distance, across the waters of the lake, you can see the tall silhouette of a lighthouse, its red light slowly turning.

•••

A small crowd of forest spirits have shown up at the harbor to welcome the newcomers and to ring in the new year! They are very excited to promote and partake in the following traditions:

• Making lots of noise! Forest spirits are passing out a variety of noisemakers of all shapes and sizes with which to create a lively ruckus. Happy year!!!


• Setting off fireworks! Sort of! More like firecrackers, sparklers, and bottle rockets, but close enough, right? None of them cast light, but they're still pretty glowy things.


• Hanging bunches of onions from doorways! And also trees! And fences! And people! Hanging onions on everything! The more onions the better! Where did they get all of these onions!


• Smashing stuff! Specifically, the forest spirits are yeeting whole-ass pomegranates into doors and smashing every plate they can get their hands on before sweeping the debris into a pile. In fact, the forest spirits seem to be having small contests to see who can amass the largest pile of broken kitchenware. Hide your fruits and fine china, Beacon bits, because the spirits have a loose definition of "pomegranate" and "plate".


• Banging loaves of bread against walls! Maybe the tradition doesn't call for actual destruction or maybe it's just hard to smash a loaf of bread, but forest spirits are definitely running through town whapping hunks of bread on anything (and anyone) they run into. Some of the loaves even have coins and... acorns? Inside? Sure. All the better to bruise you with.


• Tossing flowers into the lake! They're all white flowers... mostly? Flowers are tough to come by this time of year, so it's more like white "anything that looks like a flower"s that are getting hucked into the water.


• Ringing bells! A couple of forest spirits have been tasked with scurrying up into the rafters of the church and town hall's clock tower, ringing the bells madly. Problem is, the spirits are trying to count and coordinate how many bell chimes peel through the town, but counting is hard and so is coordinating across a distance. So, uh, the bells are just kind of going hog wild for the day.


• Melting lead! One forest spirit covered in fur with a long tongue lolling out from their mask seems to be in charge of a lead-melting booth, where lantern-havers can melt bits of lead over a torch borrowed from the bonfire. The molten lead is then dropped into the lake and fished out with the spirits long, long tongue, after which they'll examine the lead's shape and hoot... something at whoever's dropped it in. A fortune for the new year? Tough to say. Even the other forest spirits don't seen to be able to understand this tonguey gent.


• Drinking burnt stuff! Be prepared for a forest spirit to run up and shove a scrap of paper and a glass of something bubbly into your hands. The idea, after some miming from the forest spirit, seems to be to write a wish or resolution onto the piece of paper, burn it in a bonfire torch, and mix the ashes with the glass of... something. Maybe you got lucky and it's champagne, but there's no telling what's in that glass. Bottoms up, though. You have to drink your wish to make it come true!


• Burning stuff! The forest spirits are making cute little dolls of each other and other folks in town! How cute! Less cute is that these cute little effigies are getting chucked right into the bonfire and swallowed up by the flames. Rastus is moderately distressed by this development, though he won't stop you from making your own effigies to burn.

By the end of the week, the forest spirits will have cleaned up their festivities, but for now, eh, get in the spirit of the holiday. It's a new year, after all.

Luckily for all the newcomers who may find themselves horribly confused by this welcome committee, their tablets and the town have some resources available for getting acquainted with their new situation! In fact, as soon as they're prompted to enter a network username, an app containing all sorts of useful welcome information will launch. Newcomers can always check out the weekly bulletins and the records in town hall as well, and everyone's welcome to get in touch with the NPCs through their inboxes.

ooc.

Hey there, wonderful players, and welcome to In the Night! We're super jazzed to kick off the new year with a fresh crop of new players and characters.

For these New Year's festivities, you're all welcome to play out your own forest spirit interactions! NPC away, my dudes.

Go ahead and introduce yourselves on the OOC intro, and as you settle in, we'd like to ease everyone's minds with a little spoiler: More housing will be unlocked soon! A location discovery announcement will go up in the next week or so, whenever that exploration wraps up, and a whole crop of new housing options will then be made available. In the meantime, don't stress about finding lodging for your character. So long as everyone's settled by the end of the month, we're good to go!

DELIVERIES

The following packages can be found in the cargo hold:

• The monthly store restock
  
• For Midge: A menorah, a seder plate, a mezuzah, and a siddur
  
• For Rosalind: A dozen elegant eyepatches and the equipment necessary for her to construct her Lutece device
  
• For Hux: Equipment and tools to create mouse droids
  
• For Aziraphale: A fountain pen and two bottles of blue ink
  
• For Maes: A large crate full of collapsible cots and sleeping blankets, and an additional crate of various bedding and pillows
  
• For Crowley: A book of prophecies from home, a bottle of white wine, a box of various sizes of PVC tubing, a water pump, the goods, and a variety pack of seeds
  
• For Bucky: Bucky's armored vest from home
  
• For Daylight: A dozen packets of Soldiers' Kisses seeds
  
• For Rosinante: Two newspapers from Rosinante's home published in the months after his death, three bottles of nail polish (red, green, and pink), four cartons of cigarettes, and a crate full of various winter equipment
  
• For Peter: Webware
  
• For Rhys: A froyo machine
  
• For Kol: Kol's daylight ring from home
  
• For Elektra: A make-up case with a full set of make-up, six sets of good quality clothing (three for men and three for women), two bottles of fresh honey, three bags of coffee, and a Braille Bible (which comes in the form of seven very thick volumes)
  
• For Scully: A poster, three sets of medical scrubs, two sets of silk pajamas, and a bag with enough medical supplies to treat 5 major injuries or 10 minor injuries
  
• For Matt: An orchid-scented perfume, twin sai, a bottle of fancy tequila, three classic rock records, and a record player
  
• For Ignis: A violin, two dozen containers of various spices, a dozen skeins of knitting wool, and a dozen spools of colorful thread
  
• For Javert: A dozen outfits comprised of all 19th century clothing and a crate full of bedding materials

If you submitted an item request last month and we've missed it here, let us know!

QUICKNAV
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pages	|	rules • faq • taken • mod contact • player contact • calendar • setting • exploration • item requests • full nav

Comments

Ignis Scientia | Final Fantasy XV | OTA

[reigniter]

1. Violin

---

A) [Ignis doesn't wander around the Beacon as much as he's used to. If asked, he'll say that it's because of all the snow; he doesn't want to get lost or have others get lost because of him. His usual trek is between his residence, Invincible where he goes to help Maisel from time to time and Bonfire- just to check in on it.

This time, he makes a very quick, short stop at the docks to pick up the goods he asked for. Rastus came through- that's more wool than what he asked for. He's so glad he still has access to the armiger to store the stuff even after... Noct disappeared.

Still, a promise is a promise and he stops by Rastus to play him a piece. It was a slow song, that filled in the usually silent night. He didn't play for too long, however, just a few minutes, honoring the promise. Everyone is free to listen, however, but once he's done and says goodbye to Rastus, he'll head towards the Invincible.]

---

B) [In late nights, however, he will head into the church and stare at the candles flickering, the instrument in his hand. He'll make sure that there's no one around before he starts playing. Very familiar melody, at least to him; close to heart. He won't notice if anyone hears him and comes in, not until he finishes.

Once he's done and sees company with him, he will give just small, albeit awkward not.]

My apologies. I didn't wish to disturb.

[He will come to the church to play every other day.]

2. Odd festivities

---

My word... [Ignis says slowly as he watches spirits throw yet another pomegranate at the door of the Invincible. It splatters in a beautiful catastrophe and Ignis is happy he has enough skill to dodge it all. There are more things flying around and he manages to catch one of the spirits that had grabbed someone's boot, determined to toss it into the bonfire. The spirit would've reached out for said boot again, but it got swamped up with a river of others that came rushing from the dock, tossing fireworks into the air.]

Are you alright? [He crouches next to the person that got knocked over and boot yanked off their foot.] Here. I'm sorry, I do not know what came over them. Are you hurt?

3. Sleepless nights

---

[At any other night, until blizzard, Ignis will be spending time in the corner of Invincible, putting the yarn he got from Rastus to good use, knitting mostly very thick scarves, beanies and gloves. There are already few done, resting on the table, each a bit different. He promised Rastus to keep the Beacon warm and he will see to it in the only way he can.]

You are free to take one, [he speaks up when he notices someone eyeing what he's doing, but not looking up from his work.] I can also put your name on it if you wish.

4. Wildcard

---

[OOC: If you have something else in mind, feel free to toss it at me! Or you can reach me WindsongWitch for more detailed plotting]

Locked to Midge

[reigniter]

[While the 'chaos reigns' outside with "festivities", Ignis enters the Invincible and heads for the kitchen. The way he looks is, well, he's seen better days, that's for certain- his hair could use a brush tonight. But he's honestly happy enough to just dodge the forest spirits before they rope him into some of their "celebrations".

He knocks on the kitchen door a few times, not wanting to give her a fright. As always, everything smells good in the kitchen- she's taking good care of it all. He makes a mental note to drop by more often.]

Good evening, Midge. Are you busy?

[While he does have something to give her, he doesn't want to interrupt her if she's busy. He knows how that feels.]

[maisel]

[ She's honestly a little distracted, looking out the window at fireworks. It reminds her of the Catskills in the summer, and she feels a strange little pang in her chest as she thinks about the last time she saw any. Her father had been drunk, laying down on the blanket they shared, insisting pickles would sober him up. Her mother and her wound up trying to describe the fireworks, which didn't work, and most of it was just the two ladies dissolving into laughter.

She misses them. The New Year is wonderful, sure, but--well. She doesn't have her Mama or her Papa, and as horrible as it is, a part of her feels like no one else should be celebrating.

She has got to get over herself. It's the second knock that jolts her out of it, and she jumps not because Ignis is particularly frightening to her but she'd been so wrapped up in her own thoughts. The smile is there, still dressed, as ever, to the nines. She seems to have a bottomless wardrobe.

Maybe that's her superpower? ]

Ignis--not busy at all! Hiya.

[ She's crossing the kitchen from the window to the door, head canting to the side, and her hands (they're clean!) automatically sneak up to try to fix Ignis' hair. ] Thought you'd be out with your friends.

[reigniter]

[Ignis isn't in much of a festive mood either, so they can bond on it. He's not sure there's much to celebrate here. After things that happened recently, Ignis is trying not to let himself fall into that defeatist mindset. But without knowing whether Noctis is alright or no after disappearing, he just can't find peace within himself. Even though he needs it if they are to do something about all this mess.

In the meantime, he'll do what he does best- help others and work himself to the bone. He doesn't have to sleep here either- coffee and cooking constantly will keep him awake.

He returns the smile with a slight one, and a nod, a bit surprised when her hand reaches out to clear his hair from the snow. Too many memories. He doesn't say anything though, nor does he stop her.]

Unfortunately, the Spirits decided to spread 'holiday cheer' by making snowball and food war outside. [He sighs,] Besides, the only place to go 'out' is Invincible, so I'd still be here.

[-Oh. Right. The reason why he's here. She completely distracted him.] I came to thank you for the gift you sent me for Christmas. I apologize for being late with mine, but it had to arrive with Rastus.

[He'll wait for a moment for her to step to the side so he can approach the counter to summon two wooden spice boxes, similar to one he has, from the armiger.]

Every cook's weapon, I believe, [Ignis says with a smile.]

1/2

[maisel]

[ Are those some fucking spices??????? ]

2/2

[maisel]

[ Please make sure you're holding onto the box, Ignis, because Midge doesn't say a word--she squeals, hands balling up into fists, and proceeds to launch herself at Ignis, hands around his neck, hugging him as tightly as a 5'3" girl who's light as a feather possibly can. ]

1B

[equinoctials]

[ He can't sleep. Sometimes it's like that, his heart too heavy or too hurt to rest under the smothering weight of one thing or another. That's what sends him out roving, restless through the unceasing dark.

But there's music, a lilting violin sings and echoes inside the stony walls of the church, sweet and poignant.

Riku, unwilling to interrupt, doesn't enter so much as crack open its heavy doors and lean in, his fingers curled around the edge, his eyes closed and ear against the gap. It's not his first time on the wrong side of a big door.

Only when he stops does Riku edge inside, curious to see who had played something so beautiful, except Ignis apologizes. Feeling like a voyeur, Riku cuts his eyes away, his gloved palm rubbing at the nape of his own neck. ]

You weren't. It sounded... nice.

And sad, I guess. Are you waiting for someone to come back?

[reigniter]

[Ah, it's him. There's a small, sad twitch of a smile in the corner of his lips as he looks down at the violin.]

It is a melody I learned quite a while ago. "Somnus", they call it. It feels as if decades passed since I played it last time.

[Not decades but, indeed, he didn't touch the violin ever since his work as Noctis' advisor picked up. He didn't have as much of free time as he used to.

The question, however, makes Ignis' gaze wander back to the flickering candles and he remains silent for a while. Was he waiting? What is he hoping for? He can't put a finger on it, he doesn't want to, because what it 'should' be and what he truly 'wants' are very separate things. His grip on the neck of the violin tightens a bit, Ignis heaving a small, tired sigh.]

I... do not know, [he says very sincerely. It would be selfish of him to want his return, but he does miss him.] All I can do is hope he sleeps peacefully wherever he is.

[equinoctials]

[ Riku understands the feeling, of time feeling particularly long even if the objective measurement of it contradicts.

Ignis has a willowy frame and a dignified poise, but in the light of the church's candles Riku thinks he looks a little diminished by grief. Maybe he's reading too much into it, projecting. Or something. ]

He..?

[ Perhaps Riku wasn't projecting at all. Walking down between the pews, he approaches slowly, aware that he might be an unwelcome intrusion. They aren't close. They don't speak often.

But he also knows that being solitary in one's grief is a lonely business. ]

Did you want to talk about it?

[reigniter]

[The flicker of the candles does nothing to calm him, no matter what other people say. There's still the same number of them, a few more, in fact. He never understood why they are here but he never touched them, and he doesn't do it now either. He steps away from the candle altar and stores the violin away into the armiger in a burst of sparkles. They don't shine through- just sound of broken glass and dull reflection.]

I am not sure if there's anything to say, [Ignis says tiredly. It's not his intention to sound harsh with that sentence, not at all- he's just stating things as they are.]

I'm not sure if you met him, but my friend [and my King (and so much more), although he doesn't say it, Noctis made him promise to not see him as such while he's here,]disappeared a week or so ago. No lantern.

[Ignis knows for sure that Noctis didn't go around wandering without telling him first- it was an agreement he made- so this is still weighing heavy on him. How? Why? Is he back to the land of the living? Did he move on? Or was he completely destroyed? A lot of questions; and Ignis isn't sure if he wants the answers.]

1A

[knifecollecting]

[Jo doesn't mean to stay for the whole song, but music always grabs her attention. Especially here in the quiet town of Beacon, it's a treat.

Ignis stops playing and Jo clears her throat with a little smile. She isn't going to apologize.]

You're very good at that.

[reigniter]

[It has been really quiet around here, even Ignis has to admit. Perhaps he was just used to the music constantly playing in Regalia, everyone fiddling with it until he snaps at them to leave the radio station alone.]

Ah, thank you very much. [He returns a smile.]

I have to admit, I am a bit rusty. It has been years since I last picked up the violin and properly played a song.

[knifecollecting]

[Jo shrugs at that before shaking her head for a moment.]

If you don't tell anyone that they won't know. [She laughs.]

It sounded good.

[reigniter]

[Ignis offers a smile,] That is true.

I am glad you enjoyed it.

Do you know how to play it? Or any other instrument?

B

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru's been living in the Church for the last month or so. And it's surprising one night to hear that melody playing. It's rather...soothing actually, especially for a place like this.

He might accidentally stub his toe on one of the pews, letting out a soft gasp as he winces. Way to introduce yourself there Shigeru but he'll pause at the entry way before shaking his head. He might move closer towards Ignis as he holds up his device for him to read the text on it. ]

It's fine! You can keep playing, it's very relaxing, and you're very good.

[reigniter]

[Ignis had only now gotten the violin; he needed something to calm down his nerves and he had a vague memory that playing did so in the past. And he wasn't wrong; while his soul mourned heavily for the disappearance of the closest person he had in his life, the melody calmed him.

However, he didn't know that church was someone's home (excluding the thing under the trap door).

He walks over so he can read the words on the device.]

Ah, thank you. It has been a while since I played. Are you sure I am not bothering you?

[If he had known, he would've picked a different time and asked.]

this is so delayed, I'm sorry!!

[mysophobic]

[ Shigeru smiles and shakes his head 'no' in reply. ]

No of course not! I found it to be really relaxing you're really good at playing.

[ Saying that with a small blush on his cheeks as he turns away a little. Shigeru please. ]

You can play as long as you like. I was just about to go and clean up a little, so don't mind me.

Sleepless nights

[bunny_suit]

Wow, these are really good.

[She was just looking at them, but when he offered...]

Are you sure? Would you have any in pink?

[reigniter]

Thank you, [Ignis says, sincerely.] And of course I am.

[As for the color, he looks over to the box where most of his knitting material is and pulls out a knitted beanie.]

Unfortunately, I have only beanie in pink color. If you wish, I could make a pink scarf in a day or so, to match it. [Once he finishes the white beanie he's working on for Luna.]

[bunny_suit]

Oh! That's cute! I don't mind waiting if you're willing to do that for me.

How long do these take to make usually?

Violin

[justcawse]

[He was just in the area to see what the ferry might have had on it this time when he heard the music. Once he was done, he lightly applauded him.]

That was nice. You're pretty skilled with the violin.

[reigniter]

[Ignis is not really used to the audience (aside from Noct... who isn't around), so he's a bit surprised when Akechi approaches him.]

Thank you. It was my favorite hobby back home. Rastus was kind enough to bring me the instrument.

[justcawse]

That is kind of him. I never learned how to play an instrument myself. Seems like it would be fun. [Or at least something to focus on.]

Violin B

[sauntered_downward]

[Crowley comes to the church sometimes. He mostly comes here to complain to God. He knows the place isn't holy. He also knows that God isn't listening----She hasn't listened to Crowley in a very, very long time. But he still goes. It's something to do, somewhere to complain.

And besides, at least Aziraphale won't hear him.

What he doesn't expect is music. He listens, and rounds the corner to find someone playing the violin.

He'll wait for the person to finish before he speaks.]

Die with a violin in your hands, did you?

[reigniter]

[Ignis never comes to church. It is not his thing, not something he believes in, not his religion. However, after Noctis disappeared, he had no idea where to go or what to do even. The only thing he did know is that people that get revived appear here.

The song is a hope to it.

Ignis gives the man a short nod of acknowledgement, his lip twitching up a bit.]

Unfortunately no. It was a hobby of mine a long time ago. I'm a bit rusty. [He tilts his head-] Do you play?