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[starfelled]

A mist settles in over the monastery.

Is it morning? Night? Who can say? Today, the day feels endless. The sun is nowhere to be seen — or had it been at all? Instead, a curious green glow engulfs Garreg Mach, like an eternal twilight settling in. Time seems to be paused almost, though the wildlife in and around the area continues to act as though nothing is wrong. As though this is perfectly normal. As though it is natural for the skies to be dark, with not a single star in sight, and for the sun to be forgotten in the mist that lingers. The paths are at least lit by small orbs of light, fireflies flitting about.

However, should one come into contact with one of those fireflies, a memory of the past will be projected for all in the close vicinity to see. Joyous occasions, tragic events — they don't seem to discern one way or another. Perhaps it would be best to watch your step for now, though.

Of course, after lingering for about a day, the strange ambience will fade into what appears to be a normal night at Garreg Mach. It's as if nothing had happened at all. Did it? Or was it all simply a shared hallucination?

[ ● MEMSHARE POST. Coming into contact with the fireflies will share a memory of your character's with those around them. You can top-level with a memory to start out or have people tag you and determine it then, whatever. I don't make the rules (except I do and I say yolo). Have fun with it!
● Open posts like this one are flipping to a two week schedule instead of a weekly one.
● Because of the above, the last bit is there for people who'd maybe like to play out aftermath threads later on but don't want to wait for a new post or make a new one.
● Settings have been slightly updated. ]

Comments

[axepectations]

[ Hilda will mostly be around the dining hall, going from the courtyard, through the hall itself, and to the fishing area past it. She walks slowly, eying the area with trepidation as she makes her way over.

Outside, she glances up at the sky every now and again, frowning with concern— ]

Hey. It— is day time, isn't it?

[ — while later, she'll try to calm her nerves by keeping busy inside the dining hall, trying to gather up candles to get some sort of light going that isn't, well, green. It's only moderately successful, and not just because her hands are shaking just a bit. ]

[[ hmu for any memories! let me know if you have a preference; otherwise, I'll pick something from the Verdant Wind path. ]]

[azuremoon]

[Even with this very concerning phenomenon that Dimitri suspects of being a hallucination, he does still have to eat. So he heads out to the dining hall despite his trepidation, pursing his lips with discomfort as Hilda asks for confirmation on the time of day.]

I believe so? I may not be the best person to ask, truthfully...

[But it is a relief to hear that she's seeing what he's seeing. Maybe he's not hallucinating it after all.]

[axepectations]

I don't think anyone is, really.

[ She'd heard whispers about the goddess herself being around, but the thought of actually seeing her and speaking with her seemed, well— out there. Besides, if even the goddess was stuck here with the rest of them, would she really know much of anything?

Hilda rocks on her heels, gaze drifting off to the side as another firefly buzzes past her. ]

It feels like it should be daytime. I mean, I think I've been up for a few hours, at least . . .

[ Her voice trails off as her eyes follow the soft green light. ]

[azuremoon]

It should be. I had a little difficulty sleeping last night, so I cannot be entirely sure, but it surely is not late enough to be this dark.

[Yes, that absolutely is code for "I didn't sleep", but he won't burden Hilda with that. She already seems troubled, anyway. Why make it worse? Dimitri wanders back toward the door frame, glancing up at the eerie sky.]

If not for the fact that it has remained for so long, I would wonder if this is an eclipse... but the animals are acting normal, and I have never heard of an eclipse lasting for this long.

1/3

[axepectations]

Eclipses don't normally look like this, right? With the fireflies and everything.

[ She lifts a hand, tapping at the one that flits by her— ]

2/3 vw chapter 18 spoilers

[axepectations]

[ The scent of smoke and ash from the fierce battle across Gronder Field lingers, the flames slowly dying out as the Adrestrian forces retreat. Hilda sweeps out her axe once more, sending the last few stragglers racing down the hill and then sighs, slinging it over her shoulders.

"This is hard work, you know," she remarks to Seteth, who merely shakes his head in response as he takes to the sky on his wyvern.

She'd meant to watch after him, really — keep an eye on him from below while he looked out from above — but her attention is pulled abruptly by a scuffle to the south, to where the Adrestrian forces had been retreating. Hilda snaps her head over, a sharp frown crossing her face and her brows crease at the sight. Or rather, at the bloody path that Dimitri had somehow managed to carve through Edelgard's army.

Step after step, he presses forward, her name a howled curse from his lips. Was it even Edelgard's name at this point, or the guttural howl of a rampaging beast? Hilda couldn't tell; she could only stare, transfixed, watching as Dimitri pressed onward after the emperor's back, even as the spears pierced him again.

And again.

And again.

One more agonized cry — "Edelga—rd!!" — before he finally collapses, before the soldiers swarm in like a flock of vultures. ]

3/3

[axepectations]

[ — and recoils back in horror as the scene plays out before them, breath catching sharply. ]

[1x1]

[ Though Felix has only been present in the dining hall for a short period of time, he’s quickly noticed the less-than-optimal state that Hilda seems to be in. Initially, he minds his own business and ignores her; they all have their own demons to deal with, after all. But after several minutes, he’s unable to banish the mental image of her obvious discomfort from his thoughts. Annoyed with himself, he goes over to her. ]

Careful, [ he chides, tone not nearly as harsh as it usually is. ] You’re going to drop one at this rate.

[ Without waiting for an answer, he gently tries to take the candles from Hilda if she’ll let them go. ]

[[ ooc | This Felix is also VW! I'm up for anything though. ]]

[axepectations]

— ah.

[ Hilda starts at that, snapped out of whatever daze she'd been in. She looks up as Felix takes the candles from her, allowing him to do so. Slowly, she pulls her hands back, clasping them together in front of her. ]

Oh . . . haha, thanks for that.

[ It's a half-hearted laugh, but she's trying her best. ]

[1x1]

[ Felix arranges the candles to rest in the crook of one tucked arm, leaving his dominant one free in case he needs to draw a sword; old habits die hard. With a frown, he considers Hilda closely before averting his gaze. ]

It’s fine.

[ Something is obviously upsetting her. Given the current state of the monastery, he can hazard a guess as to what brought this mood on. He’s not sure if he should push her to discuss things, however. Maybe, if it seems like she’s open to it… ]

Just tell me where you need these.

[axepectations]

I was thinking of spreading them out? One or two at each table, maybe, since our regular lighting is . . .

[ Her voice trails off and she gestures at their surroundings. It's not great is what it is, really. ]

courtyard

[cynicfelixity]

It should be.

[Felix presses a hand to the side of his forehead, frowning at the green light that flutters past them.]

I'm sure I managed a few hours of sleep after midnight or so. [For a change.] And it's also been a while since I've been up.

[axepectations]

That's what I thought.

[ Her brows crease with concern as she clasps her hands together. ]

Just to check — this isn't normal for you, right?

[ Look, maybe there's some timeline out there where darkness and fireflies are perfectly normal, ok. ]

[cynicfelixity]

[Felix scoffs.]

No way.

[But ridiculous as it is, he'd rather not dwell on it. Instead, his attention is drawn to the balls of light floating around. Which, upon closer look, seem to be... insects of a kind?]

Any idea what those things are?

[They seem to be fireflies, but as far as he knows, they don't glow that color...]

[axepectations]

[ She shakes her head slowly, shifting her gaze back to them. ]

No clue. It seems like they're everywhere, though.

Dining Hall

[cethflayn]

Hilda? Did you want some help with the candles?

[Oh! Look! It's Flayn, who is definitely trying to steer clear of every green light that flits remotely in her direction.]

Felix recently enlightened me about lighting things with Fire spells, though, candles might be too small a target to do that safely...

[Don't you dare try that Flayn]

[axepectations]

Oh, Flayn!

[ She perks up immediately at the sound of Flayn's voice, but—

yeah, that's a no on the fire spells.

Instead, she shifts the candles to one arm, producing a tinderbox. ]

That's okay. I figured we'd do it the normal way instead.

[cethflayn]

Ah, that would probably be for the best.

[Where had the tinder box been when she'd been looking for it?? Oh well, at least it exists.]

How are you doing today...or...tonight?

[axepectations]

Oh, you know. Hanging in there!

[ To put it mildly. She was shaken, of course, by everything else, but she couldn't let it show around Flayn. ]

What about you?

fishing area

[crestfalls]

[When the lights go out when you were just about to fish...

But it's obviously not a huge cloud of some sort -- or even a wyvern or pegasus momentarily blotting out the light... This is... just -- darkness?? Marianne fumbles with her fishing rod -- momentarily panicked that she might drop it (and then where would they be!!), but manages to at least try and reel in her line...

The glow from the fireflies? now surrounding the area gives her just enough light to recognize Hilda though, thank the goddess for small blessings]

-- Hilda? Um, please be careful! I left a bucket out on the dock...

[a bucket of some fish, that will hopefully NOT impede Hilda's progress. come through, fireflies!!

ooc: im down for anything!! hit me with a VW or a headcanon memory of hilda's childhood... spreads arms]

1/3

[axepectations]

Marianne! Okay, yeah. Let me just—

[ Hilda carefully makes her way over towards Marianne so she can guide her back to the safety of the dining hall. At least, that was the idea, but the darkness slows her down. Enough that she brushes against one of the fireflies as she moves and— ]

2/3

[axepectations]

[ "Hilda! Are you even trying?"

A young girl of maybe ten looks over at an older boy — her brother, no doubt — and tips her head to the side. "Well . . ."

Exasperated, the teenager throws his hands in the air, scratching at the back of his head roughly. "How are you going to get better if you don't try?"

"Is that what Father says?"

The boy pauses, looking over at her. "Huh?"

The young girl scuffs her foot against the ground, considering quietly. "He never seems happy, even with you."

"Well, that's—" The boy is at a loss for a moment, frowning, trying to piece together what he wants to say. "Father has very high expectations, you know."

She chews at her lip. Does he, though? The uncertainty is all too apparent on her face. "If you say so," she says reluctantly.

"I-It doesn't matter! Nothing comes from being lazy, you know. If you keep this up—"

His voice fades; she's already tuned him out. ]

3/3

[axepectations]

[ Hilda stumbles back, staring over in surprise. ]

What—

[ What was that? ]

[crestfalls]

[Marianne's first thought is, maybe predictably, GHOSTS!!! Except of course it's not ghosts it's -- Hilda? A younger Hilda speaking to a boy who Marianne guesses must be Holst. She's not had the opportunity to meet him, but it's easy enough to tell that they're the Goneril siblings.

She looks like the Hilda Marianne knows, of course, but her demeanor is so different -- quiet, and not at all like the girl she's come to know and befriend. She thinks briefly of what Lysithea said -- how everyone has troubles, even if they're not as obvious for some. It's that, and the fact that Hilda stumbles, that gets Marianne to abandon her rod and bucket and quickly approach,]

Hilda...! Are you alright?

[first, the sudden vision aside, Hilda has to be okay first!!]

[axepectations]

[ She quickly waves a hand to reassure Marianne. ]

I— I'm fine, I'm fine. But that was . . .

[ Her voice trails off as her brows furrow in concern, and she looks around for the source. Or something, anything. What was that? ]