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

( Caitlin gives him a sympathetic look and shakes her head as they walk. )

Come on, now. How were you supposed to know that the stupid thing would not only work but misinterpret your wish? Don't be so hard on yourself.

( She just hopes, for his sake at least, that it doesn't last terribly long. )

[ He gives her a half shrug. Back on the Waverider, he tries to be the one with the information, and sure, it often means fucking up - to fix things for the better in the end - but here, it feels... useless.

At least, it's also harmless.

They get to his building, and walk in, Nate opening the door to his apartment on the fourth floor to Caitlin without hesitation. There are books and papers and coffee cups everywhere, sorry. ]

Sorry for the mess.

( When they reach his apartment and he opens the door for them, Caitlin moves inside and, for the first time, starts to wonder if maybe she doesn't really belong in here. This is Nate's private, personal space. Of course he's invited her in, but technically it's just to help him out with this whole wishing well thing.

She tries to shake the feeling off because if he didn't want her here, he would've left her in the hall. When he apologizes for the mess, Caitlin looks around and then shakes her head, shrugging. )

Believe me, I get organized chaos, Nate. It's totally fine.

( Yeah, it's a little messy, but he hadn't been expecting anyone, probably. Besides, this is not too unlike what her apartment looks like when she's planning on no visitors, too, so it's not like she can judge. )

All right, so. Let's see if we can't get some clothes on you. Let's start with the easy part: where do you keep the rest of your shirts?

[ At least, it's lived-in, cozy. It's got books everywhere, stuff he's been reading and stuff he's been wanting to read, research for when he's back on the Waverider, notes strewn around, rings of coffee around some of the notebooks. But even if he'd been expecting anyone, he probably wouldn't have done much tidying. Organized chaos, indeed. He probably would never find his notes again if he tried to tidy them. ]

Oh, bedroom. C'mon.

[ He imagines she knows the layout of the apartment, as it can't be that different from hers, but he still leads her to the bedroom, kicking some socks off from around the bed towards the corner of the room and the bathroom door. Opening the wardrobe, he gestures for the range of mainly dark and plaid shirts. ]

Here we go!

( The invitation has Caitlin moving, following him through the apartment and finding it unsurprisingly like her own in its floor plan. It's kind of interesting, actually, to see how someone else has decorated the same space in a different way. Not that she's put a ton of effort into her own decor, but she's bought a few things here and there; wall art, knick knacks, and the like.

Nate opens the wardrobe and Caitlin doesn't hesitate to reach in for a Henley. She finds herself guiltily thinking that he'll look just as good in it as he does out of one, because she's seen for herself a time or two in passing. He fills these shirts nicely. He must know that, too, or he probably wouldn't have so many. )

Okay, arms up.

( Caitlin holds up a shirt and waits for his arms to raise so that she can pull the shirt on over his head and arms. He's taller than she is, though, and she blushes a little. )

Um, little lower...sorry...

[ It's all pretty embarrassing for both of them, honestly, the whole thing just making Nate wish for a hole to appear and swallow him whole, but. They might as well try, after all, and so he bends at the waist to help Caitlin put some clothes on him.

It might have been easier with a button down, but he is not going to start criticizing Caitlin's choices, when he has no idea what's about to happen. What if it works? ]

If it works, I promise I'll buy you a crown that says 'genius' on it.

( If it had been embarrassing before, when Caitlin tries to put the shirt on and her movement just sort of stops before she can actually manage it, it's definitely humiliating now. To someone on the outside, they would look completely ridiculous, Nate standing there in leather pants and no shirt while Caitlin fights with an invisible forcefield or something around him.

Several unsuccessful attempts getting a shirt over his head does not have her deterred, however. No, now she's determined. Caitlin drops the shirt unceremoniously to the floor and looks for a button down. If she can't get it over his head, maybe she can get it around him. )

I'll figure this out.

( She's not sure it's Nate or herself that she's actually trying to convince. )

Sorry, stand up straight again, arms out. I will make this work, dammit.

( ...she doesn't like failing, what can she say? )

[ He does as ordered, with an amused look on his face at how stubborn Caitlin is being. It's cute, actually, and Nate likes it - likes tat she wants to help and she's doggedly trying, even when it doesn't work.

So he stands with his arms out and looks around at his room and the mess he's left in it. ]

It's okay if it doesn't work out, Caitlin. At least - I'm very grateful you tried, at least. It means a lot.

( Her face scrunches with concentration. She will not be beaten by a damn shirt. No, Caitlin Snow will not be bested by a piece of clothing.

While she does manage to get his hands into the sleeves, she's left awkwardly flailing in her failed attempts to draw the rest of the shirt up around his shoulders. )

You've got to be kidding me...how is this even...?

( It's only when she realizes how stupid she probably looks right now that she finally stops, her shoulders heaving with a long suffering sigh as she looks up at him apologetically. )

It won't let me...I'm really sorry.

[ After a while, Nate sits back on his bed, a shirt hanging by the wrist of one arm, but not going any further. And then, he starts laughing, helplessly, little chortling noises as he runs a hand over his face. ]

It's okay - [ He manages between chuckles, eyes tearing up. ] It's okay. You tried.

( Nate's laughter is admittedly contagious and Caitlin laughs a little herself. )

Well, at least you're taking it well...

[ He throws a hand in the air, after wiping his eyes, baby oil smeared over his face. He looks up at Caitlin, vision a little blurry. ]

What can I do? This is what I've got to deal with. I'm sure it's temporary, but in the meantime, I'll survive. I'll work from home, until it fixes itself.

[ No point crying over spilt milk, and after all, it's his own mistake. ]

( Her smile is both amused and sympathetic and she reaches reflexively to swipe a thumb in the same trail his own hands had moved to wipe his face, trying to push away some of the baby oil so it doesn't get into his eyes. When she realizes that she's reached out and touched him without actually thinking about it, her face goes pink again and she lets her hand fall away. )

What if you get cold, I wonder if...

( Caitlin crosses the room and picks up a throw blanket lifting it into the air with her eyebrows lifted. )

Surely, it can't begrudge you being chilly when it's cold outside...

( She hasn't given up just yet, apparently. If she can get a blanket around him, then maybe she could fashion a toga around him, too. )

[ At her touch, he looks up, eyes meeting hers, a little surprised, a little taken. He swallows, but pushes right past it when Caitlin moves back, eyes following her around the room. ]

I don't really feel the cold, but I'd hope it'd let me use blankets.

[ He doesn't like sleeping with no cover. It's a thing, maybe, but it's not like it usually matters. Only now he might have to deal without any blankets or covers of any sort, and he doesn't like the idea. ]

Let's try.

It's worth a shot...

( Caitlin takes a deep breath and, without realizing it, holds it as she moves closer and then behind him, to try to drape the blanket around Nate's shoulders. She actually looks as surprised as she feels, huffing out the breath with a little laugh when she manages to get it to stay.

With her hands on his shoulders, she turns him toward her without really thinking and then pulls the blanket in around his chest. She's able to do that, too. Caitlin's face lights up. )

Ha!, take that, wishing well. I knew I was smarter than magic water.

( She beams back up at Nate and only then realizes just how close she is to him and her cheeks go pink again, because maybe he doesn't actually want someone that close to him just now. And yet, she feels kind of rooted to the spot, so that's...annoying. )

[ Nate laughs and cheers along with Caitlin when her trick works, the blanket heavy and soft against his shoulders. Yes, score, excellent, he doesn't have to become some sort of pariah until this whole thing dies down.

He sobers up a little when he realizes just how close they are to each other, his eyes drifting from looking into hers to her lips, his own parting on a breath. He's not exactly a subtle man. ]

Knew you were a genius. [ His words are soft, his voice low, a little husky, the mood changing immediately. ]

( Caitlin's breath catches when she notices the way Nate's eyes shift. She wets her own lips as she reflexively mirrors the movement of his eyes, hers lingering on his mouth as they form the words before she looks up at him again. The tone in his voice doesn't go unnoticed.

Caitlin's stomach tumbles with anticipation as she lifts her chin in a subtle invitation.

And then she decides screw it and throws caution to the wind, reaching up with one hand to draw him closer with a palm and slender fingers curled around the back of his neck so that she can kiss him. That's what this is leading up to, isn't it? God, she hopes so, or she's going to feel like a complete idiot... )

[ Oh, it's most definitely what this is leading up to. This is exactly what Nate was thinking about, her lips soft against his, her hand warm against his skin. The fact is - Nate hasn't exactly asked Caitlin out, not really, not in a formal kind of way, but every time they've been spending time together, it's been lovely, interesting, the chemistry definitely there.

So he might have wanted to do something like kiss her for a little while. And now he is, and he tilts his head back to change the angle just a fraction, tongue darting out to flick against her bottom lip, his breath burning in his lungs in the most pleasant way.

Yeah, this is absolutely what he's been wanting. ]

( Some part of Caitlin is terrified that she's miscalculated for the second or so that passes before she feels he gap between the two of them completely close. Her other hand moves up to cradle the side of his face gently and in spite of herself, Caitlin sort of melts into the kiss with a soft hum or approval against his mouth.

Admittedly, she's been thinking about Nate a little more than she thinks she probably should, since he's actually from Earth One, as well. That means that, provided they remember their time here, things have the potential to get complicated at home in a way that they wouldn't with someone from another Earth or with whom she'll never work.

...and yet, she can't find it in herself to care enough to stop what she's doing as the hand that was curled around the back of his neck starts to play absently with the hair on the nape of his neck, parting her lips at the physical implication that he'd like her to do so. )

[ He's been thinking about it, too. He doesn't plan on staying in Cadelle forever, he has things to do back home, a team to be a part of, and he's been toying with the idea of Caitlin and himself... testing the waters, back home. He has no idea how it would, or could even work, considering that he's outside of time more often than not, but. It's something he's thought about.

And it's something he thinks they should talk about, it's something that should potentially stop them in their tracks, right now, because it could make things so awkward, back home.

But right now, these concerns feel far away, when he feels Caitlin part her lips and he licks into her mouth, the kiss deepening. He curls his free hand around her thigh, a gentle touch, not daring to pull her directly to straddle his lap, even as the blanket falls off his shoulders as her hand stops holding onto it. ]

( Another little sound, a succinct and quiet moan, escapes Caitlin when Nate not only deepens their kiss, but touches her thigh. It's a suggestive touch rather than an actual draw, but it's enough for her impulses to propel her forward. He's incredibly handsome and they get along really well. Caitlin would be stupid not to be attracted to him and she'd be regretful if she didn't take her opportunities when they present themselves.

So that touch around her thigh is all she needs to drive her to lower herself onto his lap, one arm hooking around the back of his neck as she returns the deepening of their kiss in earnest, maybe even perhaps with a touch of hunger and neediness within it.

It occurs to her unsolicited that Nate wished to be sexy and here she is sitting on his lap, kissing him like her life depends on it. The irony of that is not lost on Caitlin and, in fact, the next sound that bubbles up and out of her is a hum that would be a giggle if it weren't for the fact that she's busy moving her tongue against Nate's with eagerness. )

[ For sure, something he can admit, right now? Looks like the wishing well's trick worked, after all. He didn't expect it to, but he's not going to deny that it's obviously working, since he's got a beautiful woman in his lap now. Sure, he could put it on the fact that they've been slowly inching this way, and that they've done most of the work. It wouldn't be wrong, but it'd also be denying the fact that current circumstances are helping, and very much so.

It doesn't really matter. At the end of the day, what matters is that Caitlin settles on his lap, and Nate's hand shifts, from her thigh to her ass, the touch barely there. It's not that he's trying to push them both further, happy, for now, to just be kissing her, but if he's got the permission to touch...he is going to.

He pulls back, a while later, grinning against Caitlin's lips. ]

Gonna get baby oil all over your clothes...

( Having him pull back a little, Caitlin leans to chase his mouth reflexively before stopping herself. She, too, pulls back a little bit so that she can look him in the eye.

His statement earns him a breathless laugh and Caitlin shakes her head, leaning in to steal another quick kiss. )

Yeah, I can live with that.

( She'll think about the potential consequences of this encounter later when she's not starving for the brand of attention she's getting right now. This feels too good to be bothered ruining it thinking about that.

Without necessarily meaning to do so, Caitlin rocks slightly in his lap, just once as she deepens their kiss to pick up where tehy'd left off. )

[ Nate just laughs against Caitlin's lips, amused as she just leans right in for another kiss, which he is all too happy to give her, a hand sliding down to touch skin, fingers flirting with the hem of her shorts.

He groans when she rocks her hips, his other hand moving to her ass, pulling her down even tighter to him, only breaking the kiss again to breathe, panting hard as he brushes his nose against Caitlin. ]

I don't want to be a pain or anything, but I think, um... soon enough these pants are going to be the worst.

( A surprised little moan, succinct and quiet, but there all the same, escapes Caitlin when Nate pulls her closer against himself. There are a million and one reasons, probably, why they should not be doing this, but at the moment, Caitlin can't think of a single one.

Her lips are kiss swollen when he pulls away again and a soft whimper of indignation slips out before she realizes what he's actually said. )

So take them off. Just take them off.

( Her voice is breathless with need and she huffs softly to catch her breath, starting to move as if she's going to climb back off his lap so that he can do just that. )

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