January | Event: Castle in the Snow

[jikan_mod]

Castle in the Snow↲ OOC Plotting

Minimize

As winter rolls through Tokyo, some may find themselves longing for a little snowfall. While it certainly gets cold, there's very little snow in Tokyo proper, with the storm of last year having been something of a fluke.

But as it turns out, those looking for a little snow will get their wish, as the NRL announces an opportunity for refugees interested in traveling to visit the northern region of Hokkaido for a weeklong getaway.

A City Encased in Ice

Visiting Hokkaido is something of an undertaking. Well beyond the stretch of Kanto's flooded valleys and city ruins, the only realistic way to visit Hokkaido is by train. And once there, navigating it makes the train something of a requirement. This is because Hokkaido is home to a unique phenomenon known as the Everfrost, a frigid storm that perpetually blankets the region in snow and ice, no matter the season.

Following a lengthy train ride, the train enters a tunnel that sends it underground, before finally emerging into a station seemingly carved out of dark blue ice crystals. And yet the refugees won't feel a chill, as the unique properties of ice formed by the Everfrost prevents it from melting, even with the heat on. From there, it'll just be quick transfer, and they'll arrive in the Minami Ward of the city of Sapporo.

Earn Your Keep Minami, Sapporo
The refugees will be staying in Sapporo's famous Ice Princess Hotel, a luxury resort made entirely of Everfrost ice and located in the shadows of a massive castle. Ordinarily, the rooms here would be too expensive for even the wealthiest refugee. But seeing as this is the off-season (no one wants to visit a perpetual winter wonderland in the winter, obviously), they've arranged special accommodations that even the NRL can afford! The rooms are nothing grand, arranged in a suite style with multiple bedrooms connecting to a shared living area. And of course, while the rooms are still rather warm, the walls themselves are made of thick Everfrost, which is just as cold to the touch as ice ought to be. Make sure not to lean against it after a shower.

Unfortunately, these accommodations require each guest to work a minimum of one work shift at the resort. While it's not impossible to argue one's way out of working, seeing as they were not informed of this part of the deal, those willing to grin and bear it will find that the work available really isn't that bad. There's ordinary jobs, such as cleaning, managing the front desk, or helping out in the bar or kitchen. But most of them will be given opportunities to learn more about Hokkaido's Everfrost up close.

Those who can handle the cold will be invited to a workshop behind the resort where the Everfrost is processed into workable materials. Harvested from the eye of the storm in the center of Sapporo, these icy blocks are carved into shapes and then polished until they shine a brilliant blue. Walls, frames for furniture and decor, glasses and even plates used for cold desserts are all common uses for Everfrost. The ice is plentiful and can easily be frozen back together again, so there's no need to worry if your carving skills aren't up to par.

Those who assist here will also be given an item made of Everfrost of their choice, ranging from gemstones to be inlaid into jewelry, to an icy blade that never melts. Just remember, it is very cold, so try not to wear it anywhere it touches the skin.

Gourmet Tourism Ainosato, Sapporo
Due to the sheer cold of Sapporo's climate, the only way to travel through the city is by underground train, with only the locals brave enough to navigate the streets on foot. But the refugees are certainly welcome to try, and will even be offered snowshoes to make the trip easier.

Heading north to the Ainosato Ward, refugees will find a Beer Museum dedicated to all the brews made throughout Nippon, and including some rare international brands. Naturally, there's free samples, but do try not to get drunk until you reach the bar at the end of the guided tour. This is also the only bar in the East with a permit for selling imported Uki beer, which is almost cloyingly sweet and sure to be an acquired taste, even for those who normally enjoy Uki.

For those seeking Sapporo's signature snack as a souvenir to take back to Tokyo, they'll be sure to find no shortage of shops selling Snow White Lovers, which are said to invoke strong feelings of pure and innocent love when gifted to someone else. Which is very literal, because the gift boxes they arrive in are enchanted with a temporary love spell. At least the cookies are fine??

Nippon's Snow Level

While exploring the city is all fine and good, the real draw of Hokkaido is the sheer amount of outdoor activities visitors can do out in the snow! Naturally, winters in Hokkaido are even harsher than usual, so all refugees interested in exploring will be encouraged to take with them a special haori that can be worn over their clothes, imbued with a magi-tech heating element to keep the wearer nice and toasty.

The Ice Princess Hotel is connected to a large ski resort, and is a short distance from numerous hiking trails. But take note: the cold isn't the only threat out in the wilderness, and those without the ability to protect themselves may be joined a local Hunter Samurai just in case they get lost or encounter something dangerous.

Regardless, whether one is interested in renting some skis, sleds, or snowshoes, the ski resort is still sure to be a pleasant experience!

Crystal Tears Minami, Sapporo
Although Hokkaido is stuck in a perpetual winter, that doesn't mean nothing grows here. In fact, Hokkaido is the only place where crystalflowers can be found. As the name suggests, they're flowers with a crystal-like appearance, with jagged petals and a clear stem. And despite growing like flowers, attempting to handle the fragile petals will cause them to melt like ice.

These flowers can be found all across Hokkaido no matter the time of year, but the best place for viewing them is at the summit of the Ice Princess Ski Resort, where an elaborate garden showcasing different varieties can be found. Some grow on spiky vines like roses, while others grow straight from the ground like poppies.

But beautiful as they are, being surrounded by so many has an odd side effect. For those with an affinity for water or ice magic of any kind, be it local or from home, they may find themselves starting to cry when standing amongst the flowers. While they won't be able to understand why, they'll feel a certain sense of melancholy when looking upon them, as if reminded of someone dear they've lost in the past.

Thankfully, this effect will wear off after getting some distance from the flowers.

Remnants of a Goddess ???, Sapporo
But not everywhere in Sapporo is safe to explore. Those with a penchant for getting into danger may find themselves wandering into the eye of the storm at the very heart of Sapporo. The Everfrost is not a natural occurrence, and is in fact the result of a powerful Goddess who is said to have met her untimely demise at the hands of the people who once worshipped her. While the true history has been lost to time, there's no denying that the source of the storm pours out from a single region in Sapporo.

Although there are many signs warning visitors to keep their distance, should anyone press through the snow, they may hear the sound of someone screaming into the wind. Following it will lead them to a large chasm, with a single bridge of ice leading to a large crystal-like structure. The bridge is slippery, and the only way into the structure is to follow the winding staircase of ice that circles around the outside to an entrance at the top. The chasm is too dark to see the bottom of, so hikers best be careful not to slip and fall.

But once they reach the inside, they'll find no person waiting for them. Instead, they'll find the entire inside of the structure is carpeted with crystalflowers, and at the very center sits an absolutely massive flower, which begins to stir as if it were alive.

If the elaborate set up wasn't obvious enough: this is a boss fight.

The flower is capable of summoning icy phantoms, who take the form of beautiful young women. These phantoms will surround their opponents with cyclones of icy wind, causing a death by a thousand cuts if they aren't shattered. Only by shattering the first phantom will the flower once more return to dormancy. Attacking the flower directly is also an option, though it is far more dangerous, as the entire structure is filled with the flower's roots, capable of wrapping around opponents and stabbing them with icy thorns, sapping the heat from their bodies.

Defeating the flower will calm the storm down long enough for them to safely return to the city proper. But should they stay long enough to explore the inside of the structure, they'll find numerous riches and expensive offerings that no one is going to stop them from taking. Just don't take too long stuffing your pockets, or you'll have to fight the damn thing twice just to get out.

Icy Reflections

Just behind the Ice Princess Hotel sits a tall and imposing building within the castle complex. Believed to have once been the keep where an ancient goddess ruled over her subjects, this area isn't part of the main hotel. Instead, guests are welcome to explore the maze-like corridors on their own.

Unlike the hotel, the castle isn't heated, and the structure isn't entirely made with Everfrost. Instead, it appears as though the Everfrost simply blanketed every inch of the original wooden castle, with everyday objects and decor sometimes visible beneath the unpolished ice stone, forever frozen in time.

But for those who dare explore the highest levels of the keep comes an ominous warning: should you meet a phantom of ice, shatter it immediately, lest it assume your identity and replace you.

Mirror, Mirror Minami, Sapporo
Throughout the castle's keep, there's only one thing that hasn't been covered by the Everfrost. On each floor sits a large mirror, seemingly enshrined into the center of each room. And looking into these mirrors reveals a distorted image of oneself.

As they ascend to the higher floors, the images will become clearer, revealing the reflections to be glimpses of alternate timelines from their home worlds. Each floor will reveal more of a specific timeline, their altered reflection growing more and more detailed. And upon reaching the highest floor, looking into the mirror will cause them to trade places with this alternate version of themself.

These alternate versions are the result of a kouribake, the ice phantom ayakashi, and appear just as real as the ones they replace. They retain all memories of the original's life in Nippon, as well as any memories from the alternate timeline. However, they have a significantly lower body temperature, and their bodies will crack and shatter when injured.

But what do they want, exactly? It's hard to say. Some of the more peaceful ones will even admit to being reflections of alternate timelines, given solid form thanks to the ayakashi. But others will retain some shades of malice, intent on taking over the life of the original, and silencing anyone who finds out the truth.

Shatter Me Minami, Sapporo
Now some may be wondering why something so dangerous is open to the public. But that's just the thing: ordinarily, these ayakashi aren't dangerous at all, and their phantoms simply melt away after about an hour, freeing the original from the mirror. But things have changed. And the ice phantoms will exist indefinitely unless destroyed.

Is it Kizuna? For some reason, the locals and even the NRL don't believe that to be the case. But regardless, these phantoms need to be dealt with.

Thankfully, many phantoms can be convinced to leave peacefully. These phantoms may simply have a short list of things they want to experience or share, and will leave willingly once satisfied. It could be sharing their alternate past, finally confessing their feelings for someone they met in Nippon, indulging in sex or a specific kink, or just eating their favorite meal from home. Upon being satisfied, they will fade away until all that remains is a crystalflower.

But others will be more stubborn, and may need to be shattered entirely. Naturally, this is easier said than done when the phantoms share the face of someone you care about. These phantoms may have powerful new abilities from their respective timelines, or even ice-themed versions of their original's powers. While their bodies are constructs of ice and magic, wounds that would otherwise be fatal will still be fatal for the phantoms.

Of course, the fastest method is to simply destroy the ayakashi responsible for creating the phantoms. But by the week's end, any remaining phantoms will turn into crystalflowers, with the kouribake responsible nowhere to be found.

And perhaps the most troubling thing about all of this is that the original may receive memories of the phantom's time spent in Nippon, as well as vague memories of life in this alternate timeline. Was the alternate timeline real after all? Or was it just all an illusion conjured up by the ayakashi? Perhaps some things are better left unknown.

OOC Notes
Welcome to Jikan's January event! Please direct any questions to the Question Thread in the OOC Plotting post.

• Characters who won a trip in the TDM's ice skating contest will be upgraded to private, luxury rooms as per the contest's rewards. As there was no need to sign up for this, players who want their characters to have a fancier stay without needing to work for a day can just say they won a prize!

• As the Hi element concerns both high and low temperatures, characters who have mastered either Hi or Mizu can also be affected by the crystalflowers.

• The giant flower cannot be fully destroyed, nor will the structure melt if subjected to fire. That said, the crystalflowers can still melt, and will cause the chamber to fill with icy water if too much heat is applied.

• The treasure will not include modern day currency, but instead will include jewelry, gemstones, very old gold and silver coins, and ancient artifacts like vases, cutlery, and weapons. These can be sold in Sapporo to collectors for a high price (upwards of 500 thousand yen), or sold in Yokohama's Port Market for an extremely high price (upwards of 10 million yen). Only the weapons will not sell, as upon explaining where they were found, most collectors will presume the weapons to be cursed and will suggest they enshrine them instead.

• Ice Phantom AUs must be possible deviations from canon, but otherwise, can be as wild as you'd like. For example, you can't do an AU where Naruto is a Pokemon trainer, because Pokemon don't exist in Naruto's canon. But you can do an AU where Naruto is adopted by a canon villain and grows up evil, drastically altering his personality and past.

• AUs will still retain memories of their original's time in Nippon. Whether these memories are skewed to suit their new personality/backstory is up to you!

↲ navigation

Comments

[acutabove]

[ The revelation that Diluc had actually met another Snezhnayan before is a little surprising, but he's unsure if the redhead is counting his dealings with the Fatui as "meeting" them. He'd ask about it, but then Diluc says something that might as well be a throwing of the gauntlet, and - well, he can't just let that go.

The shift in his demeanor can probably be seen as well as felt. While his drinking skills aren't anything to sneeze at, probably much better than Diluc's since he made it seem like he wasn't a frequent drinker, there was something jarring about downing a mixture of different proofs of sakes that weren't meant to go together. At least with fire-water there were familiar notes of taste for him to get accustomed to; here, everything was new, and he could already feel his throat burning with the liquid and the strangeness of it all.

But he's no coward. So, after setting the glass down - first to stare Diluc in the eyes in silent acceptance of the challenge, and second to get his bearings enough to get in the right mindset - he's quick to immediately draw in a breath, hold it, and then throw back the rest of the concoction all in one go.

This he does without breaking eye contact, not even once, which might be terrifying in its own right if Diluc was unused to it. But surely those in Mondstadt got drunk enough to try and rile up their cute bartender when they'd been injected with enough liquid courage.

When he's done the way he hunches over the counter and breathes out, ragged and uneven, is probably telling. What a terrible, awful idea. ]

[phoenixblessed]

[Diluc meets his eyes unwaveringly. He has faced down far more terrifying things than a Snezhnayan brat - harbinger or no - who doesn't know when to back down from a challenge. That the man rises to the bait is no surprise, but Diluc does hope that he doesn't think this is the way to go to impress him. Though, he doubts that's really in Childe's mind at the moment.

Those in Mondstadt might have decided, on occasion, to get drunk enough to rile up the bartender but those attentions were rarely - if ever - directed at Diluc himself. Even Nimrod knew well enough not to play around with the owner of the Dawn Winery when he chose to take a shift behind the bar. One icy look was usually enough to keep any of the uninitiated from trying it again.

But down the proverbial hatch it goes, and that can't have felt good. He cants his head a little to one side and watches how Childe reacts, and he does nothing to fight the smirk that pulls across his face.]

If you're going to throw up, kindly step to the other side of the bar.

[Diluc reaches around him to grab a couple of the bottles and set them back in their proper places.]

I don't want to have to deal with that.

[acutabove]

[ If he were going to throw up Childe has half a mind to do it all over Diluc's front just to be spiteful. The agony in his throat eases up in degrees, shifting from the angry burn in his esophagus to something warm and pleasant and buzzing in his stomach that spreads along all his nerve endings to the tips of his fingers.

He can't remember the last time he's been drunk before. Certainly not now, because his tolerance is much better than one might think despite his stature and the last time he'd imbibed so heavily. He was Snezhnayan and fire-water was as much a staple of his homelife as his mother's borscht was. It was one of the better ways to warm up when out in the dead of winter, after all, and it was something he'd grown up with and had even taken pride in.

It's only the dimness of the room that has his senses dulled, the lack of sleep he's had over the past few days that makes his movements sluggish and heavy. Lifting his head, he's surprised at how warm and hot his face feels but it's probably from all the blood rushing to it, he thinks, from where he'd been hunched over it up until now.

Turning to Diluc, he - stares. At the way the uniform hugs his waist, the broad shoulders of his back, the way his hair's tied up just enough to expose the nape of his neck tantalizingly, like a particularly juicy piece of fruit just waiting for someone to bite into it. His mouth waters, his pupils dilate a little. He's not drunk, surely. Buzzed maybe, but not drunk.

He's not drunk, he thinks, over and over and over again even as he's reaching out to catch Diluc's wrist, less a means to balance himself and more just because he wants to. His lashes dip, framing the warm, slightly glazed look in his eyes. He's absolutely not drunk. ]

Hey.

[phoenixblessed]

[Oh, he would be fully content to just ignore the man while he pulled himself together and then - hopefully - stumbled off somewhere to reflect on the mistake he had just made. No such luck, though, as he feels the hairs on the back of his neck prickling up in response to being watched. He places one bottle back, and the other a little more slowly, and he turns just in time for Childe to take hold of his wrist.

For a moment - just a moment - his entire body twitches in instinctive revulsion. His jaw sets, the brief flash in his eyes like he's readying to swing a blow--

But it only lasts a moment, and he doesn't yank his arm out of the other man's grip.]

You're drunk.

[Diluc knows drunk when he sees it. Has far more experience than he would ever want to have with what drunk looks like. He lifts his arm up, pulling Childe's hand up along with it, and takes hold of his forearm to almost gently disengage his grip.]

What do you want now?

['What do you want'. How many times has he asked that question of this man? There is always the assumption that he wants something, is after something, never that he is simply there for the sake of being there.]

[acutabove]

Nothing.

[ Which is a bold-faced lie, made obvious in the way his eyes linger on Diluc's face like someone about to say or do something they would undoubtedly regret in the morning. Fortunately, Childe is not yet far gone enough to do anything that he might regret and even if he did, it's highly doubt he'd regret it in the morning.

His relationship with Diluc has always been hard to pin down and define. Fitting, for someone who was able to elude the Fatui for so long.

Wrist turning in the redhead's grip, he hums, leaning into him and probably smelling very strongly of alcohol but having the good grace to rest his forehead on Diluc's shoulder. Or just whatever part of him he can reach. His breathing is even, deep, and when he speaks next it's muffled into the fabric of his clothes but close enough that it's something Diluc can probably both hear and feel quite well. ]

You're really pretty, you know.

[ That's not really the worst of it, is it -- ]

Wanna kiss you again.

[phoenixblessed]

[Oh, he's...

He's very close. The smell of alcohol on him is definitely there but not entirely unpleasant, Diluc supposes, given the hellish combination that he had forced himself to imbibe. He should push him away, probably, but instead he finds himself placing a steadying hand gently against the small of the younger man's back.

'You're really pretty'. The hot flush that rises to his face is immediate and impossible to fight. He huffs out a sharp breath and shakes his head, about to open his mouth and say something denigrating about flattery or how quickly Childe had succumbed to drunkenness when the other man follows up with--

With that.]

You--...

[His fingers twitch slightly where they rests against Childe's back. Diluc frowns, his heart suddenly racing, and he brings his free hand up to slide it against the side of the Snezhnayan's neck. Fingertips brush into soft ginger hair, his thumb presses along the line of Childe's jaw, and Diluc swallows around the dryness in his throat.]

Then why don't you?

[acutabove]

[ Even in the haze that's threatening to overtake his senses - really, he should have known better, it's been far too long since he's had any kind of mixed drink and a combination of all of them at once was definitely not the best way to ease himself back into things - he's aware of the fingers brushing into his hair, the warm pressure and weight of Diluc's touch against his head. Dimly, he wonders if Diluc being so warm is just a trait of all Pyro allogenes or if it's simply Diluc himself; he'll have to remember to ask later.

For now, it seems much more important to just press his head into his touch, lashes dipping with the sluggish weight of inebriation. Even with the alcohol burning every breath he imagines he can get a hint of Diluc's own scent beneath everything. It's easy to focus on that over everything else, so much so that he actually forgets what he was saying and just exists in the moment with Diluc, warm and content in the knowledge that he's in the presence of someone that he's quite fond of.

He still can't say for certain whether or not Diluc feels the same. Even after all this time their relationship is as much a mystery to him sober as it is drunk. But there's significance, he thinks, in the fact that he hasn't been thrown out or laid out on his ass. ]

Why don't I... [ He parrots, forgetting his train of thought for a moment. When it hits him a few moments later he lets out a quiet noise of affirmation, contemplative and also wondering. The pause that follows is equally thoughtful, and it's broken at long last with a short, fond little laugh, as much at Diluc as it is himself. ]

I don't know where your mouth is.

[phoenixblessed]

[Diluc is very sure of how he feels about Childe. He's very certain and it is that certainty that throws his entire mind into confusion whenever he thinks about it.

Because despite everything, in spite of everything that he is so sure that he should feel... he doesn't hate the younger man. More than that, he's grown peculiarly fond of him. In a way that... he can no longer bring himself to dislike. The two of them are similar in some ways and the redhead sees it every time they interact, and it is this as well as their differences that keeps things so...

So interesting.

He doesn't shove Childe away when he leans in so close because having him so near is pleasing. He doesn't balk or bolt at the almost-request, nor the baffling response to his question, because his thudding heart and racing head tell him one thing very, very clearly. Diluc is entirely sober, and he would like to kiss Childe right now as well.]

Oh. [He says eloquently. For a few seconds he doesn't move, then he drops his hand to Childe's shoulder and pushes him back, peeling him away just enough to see his face. His bright crimson eyes wander over the other man's face for a moment.]

Then let me help you with that.

[Thank the gods the bar is so quiet now. Diluc still has his hand against the base of Childe's spine, still carefully, gently shoring him up while he ducks his head a little and presses a warm kiss to his lips.]

[acutabove]

[ The jostling isn't nearly enough to nauseate him and, besides that, when he can get a look at Diluc's face properly again he feels less like he's going to be sick and more like there are a hundred butterflies trying to escape out of his torso. They're close, so close that he can count each individual eyelash framing Diluc's bright red eyes. So close that he can see the fine contour of his nose, the way his lips form elegantly around every word, the way he leans in and -

Oh. Diluc's mouth is firm and warm and a welcome weight against his own. There's maybe a brief moment where he imagines that it can't be very nice, since he's pretty sure he could actually start a fire if he breathed on an open flame, but it's easy enough to get lost in Diluc's taste and focus on that and the way the other man feels against him, under him when his fingers slide up the expanse of his chest to rest over his heart.

Unsurprisingly, it doesn't take very long before Childe is pressing back into him, both to deepen the kiss and take more of Diluc's warmth for himself. His fingers tangle themselves in the fastening of his front, curl around a wayward lock of his hair that he might have pulled forward where it dangles out of his ponytail, and he's half-leaning, half-draping over him and tipping his head into the proper position to thoroughly kiss him.

For someone who's quite inebriated, it's not nearly as sloppy as it could have been. There's an almost shy hesitation that gives way to something more bold, braver in its exploration with each passing second. The gentle nip of teeth in Diluc's lower lip heralds the press of tongue, flicking just light enough at his upper lip to be completely missable. ]

[phoenixblessed]

[It doesn't feel like the first time, when kissing Childe had been the result of a wild moment of impulse that had left him feeling shaken and confused. This time he makes the decision confidently, knowing that it's what he wants despite the sharp taste of alcohol on the other man. His skin tingles everywhere Childe's weight rests against him even through the barrier of clothing, part excitement and part disbelief, still.

And he welcomes all of it. The light tug he feels against his hair, the other man's frame leaning into him, his own heart racing against it. Diluc wonders if Childe can feel that, where his hand is resting against his chest.

Though he doesn't miss the light press of tongue against his lip he doesn't react to it immediately. Instead he moves his hand from Childe's shoulder to his jaw line, curling his fingers into the harbinger's hair and brushing around the shell of his ear with the side of his thumb. It's a gentle touch, almost delicate in how he traces the shape, before he's tilting his head just so and parting his lips just enough to be a clear invitation.

His fingers twitch against Childe's back again, then tighten into a light grip against the fabric there.]

[acutabove]

[ Kissing Diluc is much like a dream, where it feels as though he's been sent adrift in a boat in the middle of the ocean, floating and grounded all at the same time. Flashes of heat mingle with the languid press of lips against his own, the sensation both foreign and familiar. They've kissed only once before but he can recognize Diluc's taste, the way he handles him, neither yielding completely nor dominating him and overwhelming him with sensation. Fingers press against his back and he makes a sound that's felt rather than heard, a low timbre of a moan that thrums vibrantly in his chest even as he surges forward for more.

The rest of the world falls away and he's left to only focus on what's in front of him. His hands press and pull him in intervals against himself and he takes Diluc's invitation as intended, pressing more insistently into his mouth eagerly to explore. The heat and the thrill of kissing Diluc Ragnvindr, of Mondstadt is lost in the desire to just feel everything he's doing with him, to him.

Unsurprisingly, it takes little prompting for him to realize he wants more. His touch reasserts itself at his hip, then at the hem of his shirt - before tipping up, seeking out an opening for him to slip through and touch beneath the layers, pulling away with a bite and a tug at Diluc's lower lip that's significantly softer than it should be, as though even that movement is affected by how much he's drunk. ]