cerebralbleu

[cerebralbleu]

Don't mind the fact that he's watching a complete stranger tear apart a building that is made entirely from sweets. This is like a fever dream-- one that he can't entirely complain about. Does anybody realize how long Legato has dreamt of a world where everything is made from sweets and treats????

After watching this guy pull off a building tile, he rips off the rest of the door with his bare hands. Pinch him, he must be dreaming, that's made of gingerbread as well.

Incredible.

" This is the best thing that has ever happened to me, " he mutters under his breath.

" I hope that not only the prison is made from this stuff, but everything else. "

❝ Hey, if I get arrested for property damage, is the jail candy too? ❞ While holding a gumdrop doorknob with one hand, Vanth uses the other to rip off a gingerbread tile from the same vandalized source.

❝ 'Cause I think I can handle that just fine. ❞

[cerebralbleu]

I'll be prioritizing starters over on @luxrevelation tomorrow, after that I'll pluck away at a few things here as well.

[cerebralbleu]

Sugar Quest IV

Legato Bluesummers

HEART STEALER (Thief)

Weapons: Candy Cane Daggers

Armor Flavor: Dark chocolate

Character Skills:

Sleight of Gummy Hand: Every thief needs to know how to steal! With this knowledge you can easily sneak treats out of any distracted person’s cookie jar. It can be very useful in battle too, if the big boss you’re facing has an important item you’ll need to get through to the next level!

Candy Shark Infestation: From your wand, a hoard of bright blue candy sharks will shoot towards your target; each and every one of them capable of dealing damage! Sure, they are the size of the actual bite sized treats; but they do wonders in numbers!

Oops! All Beans!: On your utility belt, you’ll find a bag of magic jelly beans, with properties that will aid your adventure! This bundle of flavours all have different abilities– when thrown to the ground, the marshmallow bean creates a smoke bomb, obscuring your enemies vision and leaving you with a way to escape. The green apple bean creates a powder blast that can knock back your foes, while the lemon bean stuns and paralyzes anyone it hits. Last but not least is the spicy bean, that can melt the locks off of doors and treasure chests!

Sugar Glass: You’re so good at tricking people, you can even make them see things that aren’t really there! Of course, these illusions will be completely made out of candy, but they will let you conjure items, monsters, or even change your own appearance. The candy people might fall for it a little easier than your friends, however.. especially when you suddenly have a beard made out of sour belts.

Character Stats:

Strength: 4

Magic: 8

Endurance: 6

Speed: 2

[cerebralbleu]

Our epic tale began on a cold, wintery eve. Under the dim light of a moon hidden by snowy clouds, the city transformed. Walls creaked and crumbled, rebuilt in an instant in new shapes; new forms. The modern metropolis was replaced with a realm crafted from sugary treats. Gingerbread walls, gumdrop roads, cinnamon stick trees, candy castles. For this was now a fantasy candy land: the realm of the Candy Witch.

"AWAKEN, WOULD-BE INVADERS!"

The witch's voice would boom, a thunderous sound with a tinge of familiarity to it. "You dare encroach upon my land? The Candy Witch's kingdom? Well then, I challenge you. Find me at the tippy top of my castle tower, but not before my trials are passed! Only then might you challenge me and, if you win, I may consider a way to send you home!"

In front of every non-NPC entity in the city a holographic paper appeared. A character sheet. "But the witch would not leave you without a means of accomplishing your tasks," Another voice spoke. It sounded similar to the witch's, but was much gentler. Almost as if there was a singular actor playing two different roles. "Will you take up a blade as the noble HEARTBREAKER? Perhaps you would prefer to cast the spells of the PASSION CASTER? Does the healing power of the LOVE DOCTOR tickle your fancy? Or does the path of the thieving HEART STEALER beckon to you? Fill out your character sheets and review the attached quest list, and let your journey begin!"

THE VOICE GOES SILENT

While the people of Spirale would hear nothing else for now, in a dark lab a young woman turned off her microphone. "I'm an android, I'm not supposed to be an actress..." Ofiuco rested her cheek gentle in front of her keyboard. "Oh well. I've always wanted to try LARPing, so why not give this a go? I think everyone could use something a little silly for a change, especially with Valentine's coming!"

═══════════════════════════════════

OVERVIEW

Welcome to our 33rd event, SUGAR QUEST IV: THAT MOMENTARY SWEETNESS! This event was inspired by a mix of old RPG games and silly mobile game events. So what's going on?

The people of the city are awoken to the sound of a familiar voice claiming to be the Candy Witch who issues you a challenge: pass her trials and find her at the top of the castle tower.

Everyone will fill out a quick character sheet that can be found on this page, which will determine your stats, class, and abilities!

The wards of the city have all been redesigned with a candy fantasy aesthetic, and you can find these changes listed in a section below. For the duration of the event you cannot access the branches.

Trials will be offered in the form of quests that can be chosen at your leisure. Participating in a quest is not mandatory for acquiring participation, but you will receive a flat 200 Stars for your character's account. You can only claim this 200 Stars once, so doing multiple quests will not net you more.

If you're just interested in event participation, any interaction will count regardless of whether it's in a quest or not! We'll also be offering Oficucotot, Bringer of Love as an exclusive event reward! She's a six inch, Ofiuco-shaped drone that follows after you and shoots tiny arrows at your foes. Not lethal, but very annoying! The item description reads: "Watch Your Eyes!".

YOU CAN FIND ALL OF THE INFORMATION ABOUT CLASSES, LOCATIONS, AND QUESTS HERE.

The event ends at 11:59:59PM on Friday, February 28th.

F.A.Q.

Will this event have a part 2? No! There is only one part to this event. There will be a raid battle during the last week of the event where everyone can face off against the Candy Witch, however.

Can we use our regular powers and weapons during this event? Unfortunately not! Your character has been stripped of their powers and had their physical abilities reduced to that of a normal human. You can only rely on the abilities and weapons provided by the class you choose and your character sheet stats! For non-humanoid characters, please reach out to the masterlist for accommodations!

Are the listed monsters the only ones in the setting? Nope! Those are just suggestions. You can design your own monsters to face, and even the ones listed alongside the locations are open to visual interpretation aside from the traits already listed.

Will my character undergo any visual changes during this event? Your selected class will grant you specific gear and weapons as part of that selection. Otherwise, nope! At least unless you disturb the fairies in the forest...

Are we required to use the quests for our threads? Nope! You can use them if you want the 200 Star reward, but it isn't mandatory to do a quest to get participation and the Ofiucotot, Bringer of Love. You can just do a different thread in the setting!

[cerebralbleu]

Kindness was never afforded to Legato Bluesummers. Mercy, perhaps, but a genuine expression of care and softness was something that was so completely alien, that he was struggling to wrap his mind around it. This comes so suddenly, without him asking, without him doing anything to deserve it-- everything about life was transactional for him, give and take, there was no such thing as unconditional help.

He purses his lips, chest clenching as his eyes well up with tears.

Her small hands were as cold as a morgue, but Legato did not care. He doesn't flinch away like he normally would.

" I do not understand, but, I suppose that is a part of learning, " he mumbles, blinking as a few of those tears drip down his face. The small sticker is popped onto his hand, and Legato tilts his head somewhat.

Such a childish gesture, yet Legato Bluesummers takes it very, very seriously.

He should give her something in return, but what? There is only one thing that he is good at, and it's violence--

" Thank you. I cannot give much in return for your kind gesture, but allow me to offer you my eyes. "

Legato reaches with his other hand, one finger twitching. Metallic thread is wrapped around his fingertip, and he reaches in, tapping Chihiro's hand. She would feel the most subtle of pinches, but it vanishes very quickly.

" I can help you. All you must do is think of me, and I will be able to hear you, " he taps the side of his head a few times.

" Do you understand how spiders are able to feel when flies fall into their web? I work like that. If someone brings trouble to you, well-- you could call upon me, and I will bring trouble to them in return. That is. . .

What friends do for friends, yes? "

... The corners of her smile fall a little. He sounds so sad.

"It's nice to meet you, mister Legato!" she chirps. Her hand wraps around his, and she giggles when hers is too small so she takes out her other hand and holds his with both of hers, giving it a little shake. She's cold to the touch.

"I like sharing kindness. It makes me happy to share it with you," Chihiro reaches into the pouch holstered around her waist and takes out a tiny little thing - a sticker, which she taps onto the back of Legato's hand and gently presses it into his skin with a finger. It has a shell design on it.

"And I hope you can find others who'd be happy to share it with you, mister Legato. I'll help you look! But in the meantime, I'll share food with you whenever I get my hands on some."

[cerebralbleu]

Oh. She is quite funny. Legato assumed that this was going to be a pointless conversation once he discovered what she was doing-- and perhaps in the long run, he was not going to get much out of entertaining a clearly unhinged young woman.

A lesson he learned from home was prevailing though: rogue individuals were valuable to keep in contact with.

" I see, " he raises a brow, considering her words.

" Then, everyone here is living based off of merit, or they do not want to stand in the way of the psychopath throwing explosives everywhere. Either way, it's ideal compared to living in a lock down situation-- " it means that there was potential to break out of this damned place.

-- Another good point is brought up, and Legato huffs.

" I haven't been able to vent my frustrations due to my power being dulled, " he looks down at his hand, fingers twitching. Maybe he had lost his mind completely, but the idea of hurling a bomb did not sound half bad in the moment.

" . . . Show me how you do that. I want to try. "

'Uh yeah duh? Not like they gave a pamphlet taped to our face saying "Oh noooo don't kill our residents! We're good people we promise! We just kidnapped you!" and all of that stuff."

Of course she might've held a bit of resentment towards the Stars and certain other people. But the more he talked the more it seemed he began to realize what she was all about. A far cry from the usual crowd that tried to understand her, but one she enjoyed nonetheless.

"Ahaha good one! Authority figures here? If any are actually here they are doing a pretty shitty job at it." Or were busy with more larger threats then just an android with a rocket launcher. "That's coming from someone who had to swap sides about a couple dozen times just to make sure I don't end up on a scrap heap. But you didn't hear that from me.~~" She could hear half her own squad and the Commander just sighing a world apart.

But at least she was honest, maybe a little bit too much.

" 'Sides you had to have that feeling before right? How else are you gonna vent all those frustrations? It's the gift that keeps on giving far beyond what you could ever expect."

[cerebralbleu]

He wasn't sure to make of this entire process. Legato had been told that 'therapy' would help him acclimate into this new society that he'd found himself in; at his current trajectory, he was going to crash and burn.

And so he finds himself opposite of the man who was meant to be his new guiding hand.

The palpable silence is cut through with a dull knife as Hannibal speaks, and Legato lifts his head, golden eyes flickering across the room to consider his response to the question.

" Yes, " his voice is dulled, but it lacked any and all hostility for the time being. It's replaced with a dose of hesitance, which is quickly picked up on by the doctor. Legato frowns lightly, not too keen on lowering any of his protective walls at first.

He had no choice in the matter though, did he? It would be ridiculous to assume that anybody could offer him help if he refused to give up his skeletons. An introduction was far from that-- he should be able to do something as simple as that.

" There is not much to introduce, I'm afraid, " Legato exhales slowly, one leg crossed over the other. He slouches forward, his hands idly fiddling with one another, as if he were playing with pieces of thread between his fingers.

" Like everybody else in this city, I'm here for unknown reasons. I was a meager man of godly devotion, carrying out my work. And now, I no longer have that purpose. It has left me feeling incredibly lost. God has abandoned his plans and vision, and in doing so, I do not know what to do with myself. "

" so, legato, " hannibal finally begins, after a few moments of silence. " is this your first time in counseling? "

a bit of a simpler question - it's something that will hopefully soften the start of his patient's first session with him, rather than jumping directly into questions about legato's childhood. they're helpful, of course, but it is rare someone is coming into therapy with the desire to discuss such things on their first session. legato clearly isn't - since he came in, he's been brooding in the seat opposite to the psychiatrist's own. hannibal had been quiet for a couple minutes, observing the man, waiting to see if he'd begin the conversation.

" there's no need to be hesitant. i promise you i do not bite. " a grin, polite, calm. " perhaps you could start with introducing yourself. i have your file, of course, but those are merely words. we should never replace conversations for documents. "

@cerebralbleu liked for a starter!

[cerebralbleu]

Someone is going to have to explain the concept of Valentine's Day to him, and it isn't going to be a comfortable experience for either party involved.

[cerebralbleu]

They weren't getting anywhere like this. And likely, if Legato were to try and encourage the child to eat, they were going to remain as stubborn and distant as possible. For good reason, of course; strangers were not to be trusted. A starved, clearly petrified child was not going to come closer, not accept a helping hand so easily. He understands this well, he has been that child before.

Therefor, he'll simply talk, and prod at them out of curiosity, until an appropriate time to leave reveals itself.

" I see. There are hardly any flowers where I come from. Flora itself is a rarity that humans are undeserving of, " Legato drones, recalling the very few times he was blessed with the opportunity to see greenery for himself. Geo Plants were divine beings, and to abuse their power for natural growth was a mortal sin.

" It is abundant here though. I believe most residents of this city take it for granted. Do you have a favorite flower? What about a least favorite? And what do they look like? "

FIGHT >ACT ITEM RUN

why is he still talking to them.

CHECK AGREE TO TERMS TELL HIM TO GO FUCK HIMSELF FOR TRYING TO MOCK YOU >START YAPPING

“— ha ha ha ha! There is no need for that! I am a connoisseur of gardening and botany! I am happy to give this knowledge for free!”

they start laughing.

they can’t stop.

“Did you know that many plants underneath the ground that grow in the darkness are actually leafless? They conserve their growth for the buds and the stem, rather than producing more than what they can handle with what little light they get. Buttercups are particularly Hardy, though! They can survive most anywhere… hee hee hee …”

[cerebralbleu]

" Space station? I haven't heard of something like that before, " Legato admits, sitting up from were he was partially submerged in the water.

" There are a lot of things that I'm unfamiliar with in this place, actually. "

Most forms of technology. Nearly every aspect of human community. None of this was available on Gunsmoke.

" The best place to look at the stars at home was usually at the top of wreckage from downed space ships. I have a sense that isn't what space station is, though, " he remarks.

" Would you be willing to accompany me there? I've been finding myself incredibly lost in this ward. "

"Peaceful?"

Mira murmurs out when he uses that as a means to describe what he thinks of what she does. And in a way, it could really be as such, as she remembers the times she'd guide various souls back and forth from one place to another. And she's hit with how much she misses being up there again.

"That is indeed a vast difference compared to the skies here. It makes me curious, what such a sky would look like with two suns and five moons."

She hums out for a moment, before she's pondering on something he's said and she's turning to face towards him again, a curious look on her face.

"While it still won't be the same stars, have you tried visiting the space station that is here? I have visited it some time ago, it makes viewing the stars that are available here much easier."

[cerebralbleu]

SLAMS MY FISTS ON THE TABLE. . . . . . .

Legato is making friends, oh my god. . . . . . . . . . .

[cerebralbleu]

Under any other circumstances, an interaction such as this would had fueled Legato for weeks, or even months going forward-- perhaps even a life time. With his devotion acknowledged, and his undying dedication laid out before his master's feet, Legato should rejoice as instructed, he should feel accomplished, he should consider this a celebratory milestone.

Instead, it rings hollow inside of his mind.

It's as deafening as the bullet that had cracked through his skull.

" I have been informed of the duplicate's existence. The Crimsonnail and I have crossed paths since my arrival to the island, " Legato drones, hands in the pockets of his coat, fumbling with whatever contents had been left there.

" -- And I intend to leave him well alone, he is none of my concern, master, " he remarks plainly, lidding his eyes and turning his head to glance back at the door from whence he came.

His quarters. If it was anything similar to the dilapidated ship that Knives occupied on their home planet, then he knew what to expect.

" Yes. Of course. "

"I would expect nothing less," Knives says, finding a surprising amount of pleasure in how predictably obedient Legato is. It was almost tempting to test the limits, and perhaps he would have in the past, but now he tries something new: leading with the carrot, rather than the stick. "Rejoice, Legato," He continues, spreading out his arms to the side somewhat, "Your years of dedication have borne fruit. You've earned your place in my home. An honor shared only with my duplicate."

A pause as he considers that, that might be a little more information than the human can process at the moment. Ah, well. Better to overwhelm him now than have him be set off by finding the other plant roaming the halls.

"But that can be a conversation for another time. You must rest to be at your best and serve me well. Shall I show you to your quarters?"

[cerebralbleu]

Truthfully, that was the warmest smile that Legato had ever been regarded with, and it takes him by surprise. Generally, he was looked upon with disgust, with revulsion and terror. And reasonably so: Legato was a dealer of great torture, and looked down upon strangers.

Was this the first time that someone had looked Legato Bluesummers in the eye, saw him as human, and did not register that fact as--

Horrible?

" Good to meet you as well, Balduran. "

A smile lingers on the disciple's face for a little longer than it usually would.

Boarding the boat was an unusual experience. He could feel the sway of the vessel on the water, moving side to side in a hypnotic manner. From here, he could see further out to the rolling blue sea, blue like his name sake, like his hair that he hid behind. Oh, how wonderful it must be to conceal oneself beneath those murky waves. He envies the fish momentarily, before turning to look over to his company.

Admittedly, he missed most of what Balduran had said.

" I trust that you will take us however far is appropriate-- ah, forgive me, this is incredible-- it's similar to moving across the desert on a sand steamer, but much more picturesque. Have you encountered anything strange or magnificent while sailing? "

Legato Bluesummers, the man introduces himself as. He's nervous, clearly, or maybe he gives off that air because this is something completely new. Balduran remembered the first time he had gone out on a boat with his father- to catch fish to sell at the market- nothing compared to what he'd do in his future ⎛ to sail the seas of Toril, to be the first person from Faerûn to reach Anchorome. To brave the wrath of the sea to reach Yal Tengri- through it all, he had loved her, even when she hadn't loved him. ⎠ - he'd been so eager to learn back then. He'd asked so many questions. He remembered his father laughing and ruffling his hair.

❝ Legato, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Balduran. ❞ With a warm smile, he leads Legato to the docks.

He's a familiar face to the sailors there- he has no trouble getting a rental boat. It's a comforting feeling when he's aboard, but he's not alone this time. Legato has never sailed before. He'd never seen the ocean before his arrival in Spirale.

❝ We won't head out too far, since this is your first time out. In time, if you enjoy it, we can sail further from these shores. ❞

[cerebralbleu]

" Offering the first move to a stranger? That could be confidence, or it could be foolish, " Legato remarks in jest, amused as he settles in his seat and looks over the board.

Pinching one of his rooks between his fingers, Legato moves it forward. He crosses one leg over the other, silently mulling on whether or not it would be appropriate to take a game with a stranger too seriously-- or if a casual mindset would be insulting.

Truthfully, he thinks too deeply into interactions like this.

" I'm far from a genius at chess, but I understand the basics of the game, " he explains, pulling his hand away and gesturing for the stranger to make his play.

" I find it interesting, you can learn a lot about your opponent by simply seeing the strategy that they choose. For such a simple game, it requires you to be honest about the type of person you are. "

Glancing across the board, Legato props his chin in his palm.

" I haven't seen you here before. Are you a new arrival? "

Maxwell's stony expression softens into a smile, and then sharpens again, his grin all teeth.

Finally.

"Waiting for one to fall into my lap, rather."

As expected, his time here in Spirale has been nothing short of paradise. His mind has been blessedly devoid of Their whispers and demands, he has been provided with all the necessities and none of the dangers he offered his own captives, and he has even found his Codex returned to him for what he can only assume was good behavior.

He's happy. Content.

...bored.

That's the true price of peace, he's found. No risk means no reward, and no challenge means no satisfaction of beating it. He's thriving, yes, but is he living?

"Your move, my friend." He gestures grandly to the board. He has already set it up in anticipation of a game, and has placed himself on the side of Black.

"I have no timer with me, so please, don't rush. Consider your moves as carefully as you'd like."

"Do you require an explanation of how to play? I'd hate to begin on unequal footing."

[cerebralbleu]

@allhesaid

Skullrender.

The room radiates the anarchic energy of his desert home. A cacophony of voices, shouting over one another with enthusiasm and adrenaline fills the space. Legato had gone looking for the establishment after he heard murmurs of a club where guests tore into each other for entertainment-- something that took him by surprise, considering how 'lawful' the city as a whole was.

Legato lingers near the bar counter, taking in his surroundings. Rather than participating in any of the club's matches, he was more interested in understanding the type of people that frequented a place like this.

After all, despite the fact that he no longer had the Gung-ho Guns to direct, Legato could never fully remove himself from the underbelly of society.

His eyes flicker over to, presumably, a server, as he settles on one of the bar stools.

" I did not expect a place of this nature to be so busy, " Legato speaks up in a neutral tone; idle conversation was not his preferred way of communication, but it was a necessary burden if he had any intention of making connections in this strange city.

" Sanctioned fighting. I understand the appeal. You must have an appealing view of the violence on a daily basis, yes? "

[cerebralbleu]

😈Worst thing you’ve ever done to your muse? 

Mun Talks About Muse // @minteyed-messiah

Well I'm about to get him killed by TriMax Vash.

And TriStamp Knives is probably going to maul him once he finds out that Legato killed TriStamp Vash.

Yknow. Life is hard for Legato. He doesn't even get dental.

Yeah. Those are probably the two worst things I've done to him lately.

[cerebralbleu]

💡📷📝 !!

Mun Talks About Muse // @amoirsetpacis

What inspires me to write my muse?

I'll just yap some more. Thank you for giving me more excuses to yap.

There's an artist by the name of Emilie Autumn that has written some of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE songs for Legato. She completes the "core four" of Legato musicians for me.

The ones that give me the most muse inspiration are:

I Want My Innocence Back

Thank God I'm Pretty

Gloomy Sunday

Favorite screencap of the muse?

The one where he MLEMs like my gecko.

Favorite headcanon for my muse?

I already brought up my favorite headcanon, so I'll talk about my SECOND favorite one:

Part of the reason he is able to knit himself together so quickly with his threads, is because he also happens to have EDS. Bendy guy. Guy with hypermobility struggles. Guy who is probably double jointed. Guy with neuropathic pain because of his connective tissue problems. Chronic pain girlie.