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Entry tags:
- !event,
- cursed: nimue,
- dragon quest xi: sylvando,
- elfen lied: lucy/nyuu,
- final fantasy vii: cloud strife,
- final fantasy vii: zack fair,
- fire emblem three houses: edelgard,
- genshin impact: arataki itto,
- genshin impact: kamisato ayaka,
- genshin impact: zhongli,
- gundam wing: chang wufei,
- gundam wing: duo maxwell,
- hetalia: north italy,
- ikemen sengoku: akechi mitsuhide,
- my hero academia: keigo hawks takami,
- original: daeshim,
- original: kaito nagano,
- original: lioriley,
- original: troy dantes,
- tales of arise: alphen,
- tales of arise: dohalim il qaras,
- the untamed: jiang cheng,
- the untamed: lan jingyi,
- unholy blood: vael
July | Event: Waterpark Waves
Waterpark Waves↲ OOC Plotting
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Thanks to the Refugees, vital information concerning the history and application of Kizuna bonds is now available to the NRL with MRU's cooperation, quickly allowing for new breakthroughs in their research.
As thanks-- all Refugees who participated in the Trials last month are gifted a free week-long stay at Itabashi Springs, Tokyo's premiere (and only) indoor waterpark, while others will be given the chance to buy vacation packages at a highly discounted rate! Boasting a massive indoor complex, it's one of the largest buildings in Tokyo, housing a vast botanical garden, aquarium, and water park!
Wet n' Wild
By and far, the greatest attraction at Itabashi Springs is the water park itself! While the area will be a little overrun with children, the park is open to all ages, and includes a number of activities and pools for guests to use. Large water wheels can be seen pumping water through bronze-colored pipes, and a rainy midday sky can be seen though the steel and glass roof covering the complex.
But some may take notice of the large number of "swim at your own risk" signs. It turns out that Itabashi is among the first water parks in Nippon, and even after a year of operation, there aren't too many safety standards yet. They have lifeguards at least?
Black and Blue and Bronze Itabashi, Tokyo
Everyone who walks in will be immediately met by the sight of dozens of bronze tubes and slides encircling a number of pools. These water slides come in a variety of speeds, with one even requiring that riders wear helmets, as most people tend to slide out too fast, skipping over the landing pool, and slamming into a nearby wall. You know, safety first.
Those who visited Itabashi Gardens on its opening weekend may remember a certain waterslide boasting a pair of vertical loops. The slide has since been altered to create two horizontal loops instead, but the risk of being trapped inside is definitely still present, as most will find themselves coming to a stop in the purgatory between the two loops. Better start crawling, or else there's going to be a traffic jam inside the tunnel!
But not all the slides are dangerous. The newest attraction is by far the most popular, as a pair boards an inner tube and makes a slow decent down a clear pipe, which extends through one of the aquarium tanks. The lights are low and the ride is smooth, making it a popular choice for couples looking for something a little more romantic.
Wait, is that a crack? Is the aquarium tank leaking into the slide?? Don't worry about it.
Have Fun Don't Drown Itabashi, Tokyo
One of Itabashi Gardens' biggest selling points is their lazy river attraction. A narrow river circles and weaves in between other pools and under footbridges, lined with tall plants to give the illusion of privacy as swimmers float or ride atop an inner tube along the easygoing current of the water.
Along the way, swimmers can push their friends down various paths containing traps, such as a cave filled with waterfalls that drops buckets of heavy water on their head, or a slide that leads down into an isolated pool with a small bar, where swimmers can sit in the water and enjoy alcoholic beverages. Drinks must be finished before swimming back out to the main river again, but there's more than enough space to swim and float around by the bar. Alternatively, the bar-exclusive hot tubs are located just outside another exit, where additional drinks can be delivered while you relax in the hot and bubbling water. This is the only swimming attraction open late at night, so those who want a little more privacy best be staying in the hotel to get late-night access.
And of course, what water park isn't complete without a wave pool! Rather than use machinery for this, the lifeguards themselves have been trained in Mizu magic, allowing them to manually control the rise and fall of the waves. This results in a much more personalized experience, with some swimmers taking to goading the lifeguards into giving them bigger and bigger waves.
Just... don't piss them off. They're professionals who've studied for years to be able to do this, and insulting them will encourage them to bend the water around the offender, causing them to fall onto the dry pool floor. The water will constantly bend away from them no matter how fast they try to dive back into it. While not fun to experience, it's certainly hilarious to watch happen to someone else.
Deep Blue Sea
The aquarium is perhaps the greatest showing of Tokyo's technological advancements over other cities, with vast tanks containing any number of fish and other sea creatures. Guests can spend hours looking into the tanks and appreciating this rare look at Gaia's unique wildlife.
Refugees who decide to stay in the hotel will be staying in one of a number of rooms sharing a wall with the largest tank in the complex. Take a relaxing nap as sealife gently coasts by the window, as if living under the sea. Just keep in mind that with the lights off, it's not too hard to see across the tank and into another bedroom, so don't forget to close the curtains before doing any Activities (unless you're into that).
Landshark Itabashi, Tokyo
By far, the greatest appeal of the aquarium is the different ways one can experience the sights, as in addition to the winding paths outside the tanks, there are also guided tours inside, using magi-tech breathing apparatuses to allow for breathing underwater, with the latest model even allowing for natural-sounding speech through a small speaker. These devices have a half-hour time limit before they need to be refilled at the surface, but those proficient in Mizu magic will find they can stay underwater just fine for well over an hour.
Guests will be warned not to stray from the group for their own safety. But those who do may find themselves in areas they're clearly not meant to be, with one such area including a large shark tank. For the most part, the sharks won't bother anyone. They're not the thing to worry about. Unbeknownst to the staff, a kagewani was accidentally captured when gathering specimens for the aquarium. Known as the shadow-shark ayakashi, it appears only as a flat dark shadow with no physical body, and should your own shadow cross in front of it, it'll attack and simulate the pain of a shark bite, even from very far away.
Immediate treatment of the skin will alleviate the pain, but waiting too long will allow the curse to settle into their bones, resulting in a deeper pain that lasts for over a week. Alternatively, killing the kagewani will undo the curse immediately. How do you kill a shadow? While stabbing it may cause it to run away, exposing its body to bright light is the only way to kill the creature.
Considering the effects of its curse can extend through the glass walls of the tank itself, even those simply walking through the aquarium normally best be careful not to cast a shadow into the tank either!
Horny Sealife Itabashi, Tokyo
One of the newest attractions this year is a special wading pool that guests can walk through directly, extending through a winding path down a long hallway. With a sandy floor and waves that gently lap at their legs, it's a popular choice for those who wants to see creatures up close without doing a full dive.
For the most part, the pool is filled with starfish, harmless anemone, and the occasional small fish. But the pool comes with a warning. Don't touch the spiky anemone. But why? Of course someone is going to find this out the hard way, either by accidentally taking the wrong step, or curiously poking it.
The spikey anemone in the wading pool is actually a gentle ayakashi known as the anemonmon. Never attacking directly, these ayakashi will only cast their spells when stepped on, causing either feelings of intense anxiety and distress, or feelings of intense arousal, seemingly at random.
Why would they put such a thing in a wading pool?? Perhaps they put a bit too much faith into people reading the signs properly. Though this may explain why such a seemingly family-friendly exhibit has an age limit.
Greener Pastures
One of the most intriguing points of interest is the Botanical Garden. In addition to beautiful local plants, the garden boasts many exotic plants, including those previously thought to be impossible to raise in captivity.
Butterflies can be seen fluttering around, and while the inside of the garden is very warm, those sensitive to heat can borrow a cooling poncho with a magi-tech powered cooling device fixed inside of it to keep from overheating.
Plants of Temptation Itabashi, Tokyo
This summer features the opening of a new exhibit: an entire grove of wine fruit trees, specifically formulated to contain unique flavors. Thankfully, most of the fruit available is fresh, so the alcohol levels are low enough that one can enjoy as many flavors as they like!
There are a few basic flavors, including apple, strawberry, and watermelon, in addition to the classic grape-like flavor. Guests are welcome to pick them off the tree to taste test, and are even allowed to take the seeds home, which work as effective pain killers when chewed, no matter the ripeness of the fruit.
But those old enough to drink can select from a few fruit cocktails brewed using the fully ripened variety, which all contain a not-insignificant amount of alcohol. But among them, a suspiciously mild and floral variety is the most potent, with just a few sips required to put anyone flat on their ass. There's a reason they won't sell more than one glass of it to any one person.
However, those looking for something a bit more exciting should make their way over to the Nuruname Blooms. Carefully guarded by a well-trained samurai during the day, these plants are known for using their long, slimy buds to inject seeds into living creatures in order to incubate them. The samurai is there for your protection, not the plant's!
But the Gardens can't afford to pay a samurai to be there 24/7, and at certain times of the day, the nuruname is simply guarded by a strongly worded sign not to get too close. And while that may be a sufficient warning for visitors, it's not enough to stop the nuruname from hurling its vines across the barrier to try and drag some poor soul into its grasp. Looks like it grew a little faster than expected. The slime it produces is also a powerful aphrodisiac, but try not to have too much fun out there.
Cry Baby Itabashi, Tokyo
Plants aren't the only thing on display in the Botanical Garden. Isolated from the rest of the complex is a series of rooms housing plant-like ayakashi. Before entering these rooms, guests must be purified by a brief prayer given by a local monk, and affixed with a thin paper talisman on their forehead. Removing it will prevent them from being allowed to leave the area until they've walked back to the front and received a new one, in order to prevent any ayakashi curses from spreading.
After all, the very first enclosure houses an entire field of higanbana. As these flowers only grow in places where people have died, it begs the question of exactly how they got them here in the first place. However, there's a rather interesting trick at play here. The higanbana is only visible to those who have witnessed a person die. Those who haven't won't see them at all. Instead, they'll see the vast graveyard filled with stone markers hidden below the flowers, with an otherwise hidden plaque reading: "Dedicated to those who didn't survive to see the end of the time loop, and pledged their final year to the research of this facility. May their souls rest in peace." A bit grim, but a unique memorial all the same. But should there really be so many...?
Many of the next exhibits aren't too exciting. A Venus flytrap type ayakashi that gnaws on anything unlucky enough to sit next to it, a grass-like ayakashi that turns the ground acidic enough to melt metal, a distressingly stinky flower that manifests temporary synesthesia in anyone who stares at it for too long... okay, the tree that grows fruit that resembles laughing human heads is pretty wild.
But at the end of the exhibit lies an enclosure labeled "Unknown". Inside sits a singular boulder and nothing else. But the moment one turns away from it, they'll hear the sound of a woman crying and wailing for help in the distance. And yet, the source sounds as if coming from the stone itself. Attempting to listen to what the stone is saying won't bring any clarity, but it will cause the listener to begin crying profusely, overwhelmed by a feeling they won't be able to explain. Those who are affected are encouraged to leave as soon as possible, as the full effects of this ayakashi's curse are not known. What is known is that those who cry when listening to the screams of the yonaki-ishi will become more prone to crying whenever they become upset in the future. How long this effect lingers is also unknown.
OOC Notes
Welcome to Jikan's July event! Please direct any questions to the Question Thread in the OOC Plotting post.
• The slides can be as dangerous as you want them to be, but no fatalities, please! They don't have a great reputation for safety, but they're trying.
• Visitors are not allowed to retaliate against the lifeguards. Doing so will result in being removed from Itabashi Gardens all together. Splashing back doesn't count as retaliation.
• Feel free to get creative with what underwater wildlife exists in the aquarium! Siren jellies can be found swimming throughout, for example, but you're not limited to what exists on the Flora and Fauna page. However, due to their dangerous nature, any aquatic ayakashi such as Fukugyo will be kept in sealed tanks with no swimming access.
• If you are unsure whether your character would be able to afford basic amusement park entrance fees, you can assume someone at the NRL bought them a ticket!
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Alphen | Tales of Arise
[ Alphen takes the helmet when he's directed to, even if he knows he won't feel the pain he also understands that it doesn't mean that what happens won't cause damage. And he really doesn't want to have to get healing when he's trying to relax. Still he definitely checks out the dangerous slide, glad when he manages to catch himself on said wall.
He can only hope someone doesn't come shooting out after him because otherwise he'll be forced to try and catch them. Let's hope he's got fast enough reflexes. ]
--
Late Night Hot tubs:
[ Later that same night is when Alphen lets himself sink into one of the hot tubs, drink in hand, and just relaxes. If his eyes aren't closed in relaxation they're looking around at the various people around him. Sipping from his cocktail he's enjoying himself more than he thought he would. It's a lot quieter at night when only the adults are allowed out there, he definitely likes it. ]
--
Landshark:
[ Alphen is too busy admiring the large sharks that swim in the aquarium. They're so majestic, moving like blades through the water as they cut their paths. He doesn't even pay attention when he catches the dark shape from the corner of his vision, doesn't notice as his own shadow cast by some random light crosses over the dark shape in the water and the thing seems to move like it's attacking something.
He only notices because of the sudden pressure he feels, it's like a zuegle had clamped down on his arm and bit through his clothing straight into flesh. He knew that what ever it was should hurt but lucky for him that isn't a factor, however he knows that sensation and it should mean he was in trouble, however when he looks at his arm there's nothing there. No giant bite, no blood. It's only then that he catches sight of the shape as it disappeared around a bit of coral.
There's no way something from inside the aquarium could have bit him right? He's imagining things. Just like he must be imagining the tightness in his arm and the way it pulses like it should be a bad injury, something that would be causing him a LOT of pain were he to feel it.
Still there's nothing.
Curious. ]
--
Fruits of Temptation:
[ When he finds the orchard of wine fruit trees Alphen can't help but pick a few and find himself somewhere to sit and relax. Taking in the wonderful earthy aroma and nibbling on the sweet fruits happily. The shade makes everything just that much more perfect.
He may get up to grab a drink but for now he just wanted to relax. He can't help but wonder if he should save the seeds for Dohalim to use. Maybe he could plant them? ]
Fruits of Temptation
[having lost both Kisara and Law to the strange magic and timeloops of Nippon (and not trying to get too upset over it, considering that there were things the both of them needed to do still on Dahna), seeing Alphen was more than just a pleasant surprise. in fact, Dohalim was ecstatic to see the man, despite also noticing the mask half covering his face still; Dohalim made a mental note of it. there are things that maybe he should mention at a different time and place, if Alphen is willing to hear it. perhaps it would soften the blow coming from a friend rather than his memories coming to him in a rush. Dohalim has had his fair share of that here.
those are thoughts for another day.
having picked several different fruits himself, after conversing with the bartenders mixing the cocktails (and maybe gathering ideas for beverages to serve in the shop), Dohalim gracefully sits down by the other]
Too much too quickly may end badly. [is he speaking from experience? possibly] I'd hate to lose a drinking companion so early in the day.
no subject
I wasn't planning on eating too much, no worries there. I just hope I can keep up with you.
[ After all he couldn't remember a time when he had actually had alcohol. ]
Enjoying yourself?
no subject
[placing the small dish of wine fruit on his lap, Dohalim leans back onto an arm; it's very clear just how relaxed he is in Nippon than back home. it doesn't seem like there's as much weight on his shoulders, nor is he as closed off as Alphen would remember him. there's a subtle softness on his face that also reflects that.
taking a bite of his own fruit, Dohalim savours the flavour for a moment; ah, strawberry. perhaps he'll grow some of these different flavoured wine fruits in his garden...]
How has Nippon treated you, so far?
late night hot tubs
He's not much of a drinker but he still orders something and sinks into the hot water with a happy sigh, right across from Alphen]
Man, this is pretty great, isn't it?
no subject
Sure is, feels amazing. I don't think I've ever felt so relaxed.
[ Sitting up he looks the other over before nodding. ]
Name's Alphen, nice to meet you.
no subject
I'm Zack, it's nice to meet you, too. I don't think they've got parks like this where I'm from - what about you? Or is it all brand new to you, too?
no subject
[He's not wrong. He was too busy helping an entire revolution and freeing slaves to just kick back and relax. The closest he ever got was when he had met Dohalim...and even that was tense.
Then there's the question about parks like this? ]
Are you kidding? Water was rare enough back in the kingdom I'm from.
[ Alphen laughed and shook his head before letting himself sink down further with a sigh. ]
There are hot springs but nothing like this place.
no subject
[though Alphen not being familiar with parks like this isn't too out of the ordinary. He's met a few people who don't seem like they're from modern places] We have an amusement park, but it doesn't have any water rides, I think?
[honestly, he had no clue what it had. Even if he had ever gone, he didn't spend long there]
no subject
[ There wasn't any way for Alphen of all people to really know anything about amusement parks or the like. That sort of stuff sounded like something only Renan's would have. Not "lowly" Danens. ]
I mean...at least we get to try them out here? It's actually pretty nice.
no subject
[Gongaga was hot, but the humid kind. He couldn't imagine what a desert village would be like without water, though.
But he nods, sinking down a little more into the water]
It's not too bad at all.
Landshark (Lucy)
But what was that strange looking shark? She squints through the glass, trying to make out any distinguishing features but it's as though the shark is cloaked by shadows. Her own shadow is stretching into the tank, not that Lucy pays any mind, even as the shadow shark swims towards it. The head of the kagewani snaps side to side erratically as though attacking her shadow.
Then Lucy felt the hot, searing pain in her arm alight, forcing her to her knees as she yelled out in pain. Yet when her eyes looked down at her arm, there wasn't any mark of a bite--not even a a little blood. Her gaze returned to the tank just in time to see the kagewani swim away to a place where she couldn't see it. Only then does she finally notice that she's not alone. Breath ragged, she shakily rises to her feet, holding her aching arm.]
Hey, you. Did you see that shadow shark just now?
no subject
I think so...I thought I saw something like that a minute ago but...
Are you okay?
[ He's back to looking down at the stranger with a gentle but protective look in his eyes. Even with all the summer clothes on he still seemed to hold himself like a fighter, his entire being on alert. ]
no subject
Yeah... It hurts, but I've been through worse.
[She did have to die repeatedly because of the timeloop in her world. Compared to having her body melt over and over, a single shark bite paled in comparison.]
It didn't attack you too, did it?
[She doesn't remember hearing anyone else cry out. He didn't look like someone who just experienced a phantom shark bite either.]
no subject
[ He looks around at his body and finds no marks, but then...she didn't have any either. ]
Kinda hard to tell...
[ Alphen.
Alphen. ]
I can't exactly...feel pain? But that's besides the point, we should probably find someone who knows what to do? Or...I don't know...find the thing?
no subject
[She's heard and read about people like that before, just not in great detail, and this is the first time she's met such a person.]
Well, believe me. This is not something you'd want to feel.
[She nods, still rubbing at the sore spot on her arm as she gets back on her feet.]
How do you kill a shadow, though? [The thought of shining a light on it does cross her mind, but Lucy has to wonder if it's that simple.] I hate to say it, but I agree that it would be better if we could find someone who knows what that thing is.
[She doesn't look too thrilled about it, though. Lucy's a woman who prefers to handle things her own way. Still-]
We'll waste less time that way.
[Versus them going through trial-and-error. But also-]
Ah, shit! [Lucy grimaces and clutches her arm tighter as she feels the pain flash up again.] Is it around? The pain came back. Feels worse than before.
[She looks into the tank as well, but neither of them would find the kagewami at the moment. It's a result of the curse: The longer it went unchecked, then the more painful the phantom bite would become.]