cuddlecity | EVENT: WHEN YOU WISH...

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EVENT: WHEN YOU WISH...

With the slow but steady growth of the city, the demand for more grows every day — more housing, more retail storefronts available for rent, more space for businesses of every caliber and category. To create said space, the administration has begun the process of clearing a section of forestland on the southern edge of the city's boundaries. Far enough removed from the downtown area and the Welcome District, the sounds of construction should have little impact on the citizens' and volunteers' daily lives... that is, until construction is ground to an unexpected halt with the discovery of a long-forgotten glen in the woods.

The construction project is naturally put on hold while the administration begins to investigate the discovery, but in its inactivity, the space becomes a natural lure for the curious and the questioning alike. What's so special about an abandoned patch of rock and stone, or the nearby pool of softly bubbling water? As with any mystery, rumors abound as quickly as smoke from a fire, twisting and changing with each whisper from person to person. The game of telephone has never been a good way to communicate.

Some say the water is simply an extension of the city's springs and cave pools, nothing more or less than a shallow pool of water trapped by the stone walls that surround it. Others say it is a medieval mock-up of a reservoir, rain waters collected over the years and forgotten amidst tall trees and brush. Still others whisper of magical properties — waters once contained in a glorious wishing well that has since crumbled under the relentless march of time, waters that give impossible things to those that drink of it or that bathe in it or simply cup it in their hands. The rumors, much like those that visit the site, are many and varied; it can be almost impossible to know for sure which are truth and which are simply wishes.

Of course, should the allure of an unsolved mystery appeal to your inner meddling kid, there's plenty of clues to uncover and even more questions left to solve at the site.

▸ In the very center of the clearing, a pool of water gently laps at its stone surrounding. The pool itself is small, barely four feet across, but its waters are kept clean from the dirt of the forest floor by a carefully laid stone barrier, two inches tall, each piece hand cut and carefully laid in place. Though the waters are clean, they are not quite clear — looking in, it is not immediately obvious just how deep the water goes, and though brave souls who climb in will certainly float, those who attempt to dive to the bottom never quite reach their goals before the need for air pulls them back to the surface.

▸ It's clear from the smooth surfaces of the stone that surround the pool that this place was once somewhere of grave importance, though what purpose it may have served is murkier than the depths of the pool itself. Adding to the mystery are the three stone benches, surrounding the water on all but its northern boundaries. They are long and cool to the touch; the surfaces remain smooth even after untold years subjected to the mercy of nature, and still hold weight of those who may choose to sit on them.

▸ At its northern edge, where the water seems to lap most often, there is no bench to sit on. The stones here are well-worn, the faintest hint of footprints left on the surface, as if someone stood upon the surface here more than anywhere else. Just past the stone barrier rests a chest — stone as well, and obviously made with care. Its lid is heavy, though someone with exceptional strength (or a friend) may be able to slide it open, and bears what must have been something important etched on its surface. Time has not been kind here; though the letters were once legible, only a few remain so today: wishing and water being the only full words left to view.

What does it mean? Will you follow the rumors? Will you drink of the pool, or perhaps dive in? Will you, instead, dismiss it as fanciful dreaming? There are no wrong answers here, only possibly more questions to consider... and, of course, the wisdom of a well-known fairytale: be careful, dreamer, what you wish for.

Oooh, spooky! As you may have guessed, this event is our take on the popular wishing well trope. Unlike Snow White's well that offers to grant her dream of a prince who may or may not come, this pool of mystical water isn't quite so straightforward. (Is anything straightforward here?)

The wishing pool is here to grant your wishes. Or, more specifically, to try to grant them. Characters who touch the water and make a wish will find their wish (be it spoken out loud, thought only to themselves, or one lingering in the subconscious mind, unbeknownst even to them) granted within the next 72 hours — though, in most cases, the magic lingering in the water they've touched will be limited to short term effects only.

How your character chooses to engage with the water is entirely up to you! Maybe they'd like to take a hesitant sip, or they're a more brave sort who wants to drink of it until they feel sick! Perhaps they want to simply stick a hand in to test the temperature — cool, surprisingly, but not cold — or they'd like to dive in! There are no lifeguards on duty, though... so swim carefully. Stone and skulls don't often clash with good results.

Of course, we do have to warn: wishes made aren't always granted in the ways one might expect. The wishing pool is quite out of practice, and though it gets a gold star for effort, it's not usually very successful — unless, of course, your wish happens to be remarkably simple to grant! Wishing for something vague, like being happy, might result in wearing the face of a beloved storybook character or a friend of a friend rather than emotional adjustments or a sudden burst of cheer. Similarly, wishing for the knowledge to impress your date might bequeath the wisher with the knowledge of every romantic comedy known to man — while admittedly useful, it's probably not what you were hoping for.

If you have any further questions specific to this event, we encourage you to ask away on our QUESTIONS COMMENT here in this post. We're glad to give suggestions on ways your characters' wishes can come true! If you have general questions, or prefer a more private venue, our GENERAL INBOX (and SCREENED INBOX) is always available for you. In addition, if you've got an idea for a future event, feel free to drop us a line at our EVENTS SUGGESTION POST.

Have fun — we're wishing you all the best!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He gives her a dubious look when she starts pawing at him like he's an ill child, giving her a wary look before reaching out to gently take her hand off his face before this gets weird (no, it's already weird).]

Okay, so one, since when is it 'Vasquez' like we barely know each other? And two, it's indoors? People don't wear hats indoors?

[Besides, it hadn't been too sunny, so he'd left his flat cap in a drawer. Maybe. He can't actually remember the last time he'd seen it, but something in him tells him that he owns it.]

What do you want to eat? And stop touching me like you think I'm contagious, I'm fine, Claire.

[ She turns her hand in his, lacing their fingers together for a moment as she looks at him, worried beyond belief at this point. ]

Vasquez, you've never told me your first name. [ Her voice is soft at the admission. They've done plenty together, and yet, his first name never came up, nor did Claire ask. ]

You're obviously not contagious, and you're apparently not feverish. [ Something is definitely wrong, but he doesn't seem to think so. Maybe... yes. Pulling her phone out, she scrolls through her pictures until she finds one, from that time he found the dog. ]

Look. This is what I'm used to. Also, I'll have a cheese omelet.

[He frowns when she says that he's never told her his first name, because that seems beyond crazy. 'Vasquez' is for strangers and people who've just met him, why wouldn't he tell Claire his name? Lifting her hand to his lips for a kiss, he releases it so he can gesture to the seat beside him.]

That can't be true. But, it's Alejandro. Of course I'm not contagious, I'm not sick, carina, I promise.

[He settles in and orders himself a burger and fries, an omelette for her, leaning over to glance at the picture.]

I don't know what kind of funny joke that is, but that's not me. Or, it is, and you had someone photoshop this in. [Squinting at the picture, he makes a face.] Why would I ever wear something like that outside Halloween?

That's - a lovely name.

[ She sits, unable to shake the worry, even when he makes her smile softly. Whatever's going on, Vasquez is being very sweet - not exactly uncharacteristically so, but definitely unlike he usually acts in public.

But that's what he says that keeps her on the edge of her seat, the worry eating away at her. ]

You don't remember? Alejandro - [ And oh, how does that sound foreign to her own ears, but the name rolls off her tongue easily enough. ] - what made you decide to come to Cadelle?

[Of course he knows it's a lovely name, along with the other two ones that he doesn't use, but his full name is a mouthful that no one deserves. Why she's commenting on it now, after everything they've done, he doesn't understand.]

Why are we talking about this? My wish was...

[Only, what was his wish? It had seemed like it was there, on the tip of his tongue, ready to go. The trouble is that now that he thinks about it, he can't remember. Dragging a hand through his hair, he shakes his head.]

Maybe it's not important, maybe it just slipped my mind, it'll come back to me.

[ And there it is. Vas - Alejandro, damn, it'll take her a moment to get used to it - doesn't remember why he's even in Cadelle. ]

And do you remember how you got here? From where?

[ She presses on, even as he looks annoyed, just because she knows something is wrong, and maybe it'll click for him that something has changed, too. That he wasn't this way yesterday and there must be a reason why he is, today. ]

Don't get me wrong, I dig the look. It suits you, very hot, I approve. But it's not... normal. Retrace your steps, maybe, see what you've done that was out of the ordinary, in the last couple of days?

I was in California, working on someone's ranch, I think. Rose Creek?

[He's clearly struggling to remember, but it also seems like he's struggling on purpose. There's a part of him that's built up a wall, that wants to forget about everything else other than this wish he's made to understand what modernity is like. It's so much easier to be Alejandro, to shuffle off the old life.

The trouble is, Claire isn't stopping.]

I told you. Yesterday, I went out for a bit of a run, stopped by the pond thing for a drink when I got too hot, then came home and showered. It's not a funny joke, this, you know.

[What was his wish to come here? And why isn't it there? Why can't he remember?]

[ Her look softens, trying to move off some of the worry, masking it with fondness and sincerity. She doesn't want to upset him, or push too far, but she makes a note of what he's done the day before, to check that pond, just to reassure herself. ]

I'm sorry. I don't think it's a joke, either, but I'll stop asking questions.

[ She brings a hand up to his face again, this time just to brush her thumb against his cheekbone. This, apparently, hasn't changed. He seems to remember her, at least. ]

And I really, really do like the look.

[ She does. ]

[He cups her palm with his hand so he can turn her fingertips towards him and kiss them gently, giving her a worried look because he can't remember everything and she's pushing, but he doesn't want to upset Claire, either.]

I think maybe you like the look more with a few less layers.

[He's smirking at her, teasing, but he sits back down and tangles up his ankle with hers when he gets the chance, pulling himself in a little closer to enjoy the lack of space between them.]

Why do you think I can't remember my wish?

[He knows he should drop it, but the curiosity is going to get the better of him, he thinks.]

[ She chuckles, raising her eyebrows. ]

Are you saying I'm only interested in your body? [ She's not seriously offended, just playing along, trying to defuse some of the tension, especially when he pulls in even closer, making her want to lean in to him. If they weren't in public, she would. ]

I don't know. I'm wondering about that pond you drank from, though. Have you heard the rumors going around, about a wishing well?

I don't really listen to anyone's rumours.

[It only leads to disaster, if he's honest, but he ignores all the little gossips that run around town, because it would just drive him crazy if he did listen to them. Snorting at the comment about his body, he can't help leaning back a little and stretching so that his shirt reveals his torso before he lets it settle.]

It was just water, maybe a little not so filtered, but I've drank worse.

[Has he? Somewhere, he remembers, but where?]

[ Claire can't help but roll her eyes at his little tease, full of fondness. And she's not one to believe in rumors either, but this city is different, in what it can... do. ]

Remember the rain, that one time, and how it made us be so much more honest than we'd usually be? Because this could be something like that. Maybe I'll go by, get some of it and analyze it back at the hospital.

[ He most probably has drunk worse, but he doesn't seem to remember his life. ]

You think the water I drank made me honest again? No, I don't think so, I've been lying all day.

[Not about big things, of course, but he's gone and liked a few things on his feeds that he didn't really like, answered questions with the barest hit of truth. Leaning over his food, he strips off the top layer to get down to his t-shirt, not wanting to get a mess on it.]

You shouldn't go alone. I can call out of my shift, go with you.

[ She laughs, gentle about it. ]

No, not that. I just think it's possible that it's doing something else that's a little... peculiar. I don't know what, though.

[ Which is why she wants to look into it. His reply makes her frown, but she takes a bite of food before answering. ]

Why shouldn't I? Is it dangerous, out there in the woods?

[He gives her a confused look when she asks why he wouldn't want her going out there alone, wondering if he's really been that shitty recently to her that she has to ask.]

It's not dangerous, but if you're worried about something happening, then maybe something is going on.

[He believes her when she's so confident about it, he'd never insist otherwise.]

So I don't want you going somewhere maybe dangerous. If there's something going on with the water, what's the harm in having me there for backup? I mean, I do have fairly okay skills and sometimes, they even come in handy.

I just want to get some of the water from the pond and test it, back at the hospital. See if anything's going on in the water itself.

[ So she's not exactly worried about herself. She'll glove up, make sure she doesn't touch the water, and it'll be fine. But he seems determined, and she's not here to make him feel like he's not valued, or useful to her. Sure, she can take care of herself, but that's no matter. ]

If you're sure that you can miss your shift. I don't want to get you into trouble for the sake of my scientific curiosity.

Do you really think I'd pass up the time to spend with you?

[Even as he's looking at her and saying this, he's also texting in sick, citing a strange thing he drank because it's not completely off from the truth and he thinks that he'll be fine. It's just a small side gig, something he picked up to keep busy.

Leaning in, he kisses her cheek with a valiant, smug smirk.]

See? I win. Now you have to put up with me some more.

[ Claire smiles softly, something genuinely warm blooming in her chest at how sweet he's being. Not that he isn't when he is his normal self, but the gruffness is gone, right now, and his English is perfect, and he's texting like he's not scared of a phone. It's... different,
almost making Claire wonder if that's what it's like to date a history teacher. ]

The hardship, [ she replies, eating some more of her food, even if now she's so curious about the pond and its water that she's not even hungry anymore, just wishing to go now, right now. ]

You've got to promise me you won't touch the water again, though, okay? I'm just grabbing a sample.

I am an acquired taste, after all.

[He says this, pointing a french fry at her, with a big smirk on his face, like he actually in any way believes any of this, even though he doesn't. Giving her a wary look, he's not sure the water is anything but water, but he's also not going to argue.]

Yes, fine, I promise. No touching or drinking the water like I did yesterday.

Good, okay. In that case, I think I can bear having you tag along with me.

[ She gives him a grin before leaning in to bite at the french fry in his fingers, raising an eyebrow in challenge. ]

[He grins right back at her, reaching for a napkin to clean his hands, getting the milkshake next as he waggles his brows at her, not willing to change his mind.]

Maybe you can use all those brains of yours and tell me why you think it's strange. If anyone can, it'd be you.

I just - I don't know, I guess if stopping there and drinking from that pond is the only different thing you've done yesterday, and today you are... different, then. It might be connected.

[ She knows he doesn't think he's different, but temporary memory loss is a thing, after all. And to her, he is obviously changed. ]

[He still doesn't really see how he's different, if he's honest. After all, he doesn't remember anything else, but he also thinks that Claire wouldn't act like this for any old reason.]

Okay, then, so we go.

[He digs out some money to pay, sliding to his feet with ease and tucking away his wallet. Whatever is happening, especially to him (if it is), then he's going to try and help figure out what it is.]

[ Nodding, Claire stands as well, finding herself close to Vasquez - Alejandro, damn, it's going to take her a while to get used to - she wonders if he'll want her to revert back to Vasquez once he's back to his old ways. She looks up at him, smiling softly as she uses a hand on his forearm to steady herself. ]

All right. You don't - no hat, today?

[ Just making sure. Maybe, even as a modern man, he likes them still. ]

[He gives Claire a confused look when she stands and asks about his hat, taking advantage of her closeness to thread her arm in his.]

I thought about wearing my flat cap, but it's not too sunny. I think it would've just looked silly, probably.

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