this is Salem, a land filled with magic and maladies. It is a place where witches and their elemental familiars gather, a home to legend and
lore that predates time itself. Yet of all the wicked and wonderful stories the past can tell us of, the most magical are the ones yet to happen.
This is Salem - this is the start of your very own journey. Welcome to starfall
Starfall is an animaga witch roleplay set in mostly modern times. Members play as witches in a world plagued by monsters, where the only safe spots are walled cities. Starfall strives to be a character-driven roleplay with expansive lore and a highly interactive plotline. We want to allow members to
create and look back on a magical journey, and mold the site and its plot as their characters grow.
[attr="class","wonwoo"] It was almost creepy how he could feel his ears twitch. It was creepy that he felt his ears at all even. This mission was just getting worse and worse. After the reports has come in of magical spells and items going awry, Aiden had practically jumped at the chance to volunteer to discover the culprit. Better than standing around looking bored with the other knights anyway. But their leads had just led them to problem after problem. They’d split up to track down a particular moving stall and, in the process, the ginger had been jostled more than a few times. Something had splashed on his shirt, another had smacked him in the face with a rose bouquet. Before he even had a clue as to what was going on, he’d felt a strange breeze on his ears. Eyes squeezed shut, he moved to the side cursing at the polled in his eyes.
He had run his hands through his hair only to discover no ears, but what hare ears. Long ones, and they were fake. He tugged at one before hissing at himself. More of the defective products. If he had known, he would’ve confiscated it. But his lead? Where was the cart they’d been trying to find? He rubbed his eyes stumbling forward as he cried out the irritants. “Right, the cart.” He said to himself squinting as he looked around. He stared for a moment, before stepping in a certain direction with renewed purpose. Right. The cart. That cart. He stopped, glancing at another customer once, then twice before looking back at the wares. The glitter sparkled on a purse and he briefly thought of his adopted aunt. Would she like this? Would she want it?
He stepped closer towards it, now keenly aware that he was getting closer to the customer next to him. It was weird, normally he didn’t care. The knight inched closer, eyes on the purse still. He lifted a hand intent on picking it up to examine it put instead his hand landed on the clothes of the person next to him. Awkwardly, but still with purpose he inches even closer. He felt a shiver of cold before he found himself leaning his weight on the man next to him, nuzzling his face into the side of them. “Ah, I think I’m feeling a bit faint…” he stated as if it would excuse his unnatural behavior.
Post by maddox rothscus ✨ on Feb 18, 2018 10:23:18 GMT
it takes three whole laps around the bustling festival for him to finally admit, with a sinking feeling in his stomach, that he has no idea how to buy gifts. despite the chaos that had unfolded over the festival, pranksters running amok, a generous amount of stubborn customers and equally stubborn vendors remain on the streets, maddox included. a stall owner eagerly advertises heart-shaped necklaces; too much, he thinks. he turns, sees a florist and considers, briefly, if flowers send the right kind of message.
( then, a second thought -- what is he trying to say? whatever they have is a grey and nebulous thing, tied together by mission requests and spontaneous invites to group events. he’s walking on thin ice, though perhaps the metaphor strays slightly: having had that experience before, he can very much say that walking across a frozen lake is not half as enjoyable as the time he spends with sirius. )
he wonders if there are flowers for ‘hey, we’re friends, kinda, but i’d date you if you asked.’
right now, the cart before him offers neither flowers nor necklaces, but a miscellany of accessories ranging from hairpins to startlingly shiny purses. he considers the selection, his search cursory at best. it’s not bad, per se, but there isn’t really anything that particularly stands out to him either. in fact, maddox is just about ready to continue his search elsewhere when a hand catches his sleeve.
a hand, at first, and then the weight increases; maddox finds himself staring down at someone who is pressed far closer to him than any sense of personal space would allow. “um.” he can’t exactly move away, and instead clears his throat, regarding the stranger with brows furrowed in mild confusion. “o-kay, then.”
he considers his situation: there is a stranger with bunny ears who is feeling faint and has decided to use him as a pillar of support; and with a bitter taste in his mouth, he realises upon a second’s closer inspection, that the stranger is a knight.
moosely, the ever helpful familiar, only laughs at his misery.
he hisses out a breath through a clenched jaw, and does his best to muster up a civil smile. “let’s get you to that bench so you can take a seat, okay?”
[attr="class","wonwoo"] Aiden listened to his victim’s reaction with half lidded eyes. He was pretty sure the sudden rush of warmth in his chest wasn’t just the stranger’s fault. He feels the ridiculous ears lower a bit, embarrassed at his current situation but he finds it difficult to pull himself away. In fact, that’s completely opposite of what he needs to do. There’s a feeling of worry from McKenna but she doesn’t materialize to help. Aiden was attached, and he wanted to stay that way. She knew there would be no persuading him. He glanced back at the purse he’d intended to give to his aunt and while his body heavily protests moving any body part off of the witch next o him, he finds himself slowly removing himself to pull out his wallet. He spoke quietly, distracted by the whole affair. He felt flushed and upon receiving his change and the gift he looks up, which is even more embarrassing. “Sorry for the wait. I almost forgot.”
He barely glanced at the bench Maddox spoke of before nodding. Of course. The bench was perfect. It would make his position more comfortable. His ears perked up, a strangely visible sign that he liked the idea. Without asking he once more clung to the witch, this time wrapping his arms around the man’s own arm and resting his cheek there as well. The discomfort quickly disappeared, and he began to feel more and more natural. Like, this was just how he was supposed to be. He just needed to be here, attached to this strange man. He followed without hesitation, and a little voice inside him screamed that that was not how we conducted business regularly! Aiden found this reminder annoying and simply pressed himself further to the man.
He still seemed to retain some sensibilities though. Once seated he found courage and loosened his grip on the witch. “W-Were you going somewhere? Before I mean.” He frowned, part of him didn’t care and part of him was eager to know. He would follow of course. It was no issue. But he had to know how long they’d be seated. After all, benches weren’t the best place for cuddling. Perhaps the park would be better. The idea of it was embarrassing and he felt his cheeks getting redder, but the idea flowed about his thoughts so naturally. Of course, that was what they were going to do. Never mind that he didn’t know this man. What did it matter in the end? “Oh, sorry, what’s your name? I’m Aiden.” He stared intently, looking over the stranger he’d clung to.
Post by maddox rothscus ✨ on Mar 12, 2018 3:23:28 GMT
maddox doesn’t have a tendency to plan, but he is rather fond of having a vague idea of where his day is going. this situation -- a knight with bunny ears attached to his arm, somehow -- is decidedly out of place. for a moment, the stranger shifts away, pulling out his wallet to pay for a gift. he is hopeful, for a second, that perhaps the red-haired boy has changed his mind, magically recovered from whatever bout of dizziness that was, and he can make his escape. but then aiden speaks again, his words not quite the goodbye nor apology maddox was hoping for, and resignation reigns.
he’s been raised with manners, because being polite and while simultaneously being able to break a man’s knees are both important qualities to the rothscus household. but manners be damned, he’s regretting not having just walked away.
“i was,” he says, but offers no further elaboration. he’s got a funny feeling that if he tries to go anywhere, he’d have an additional companion along for the ride. “i’m madison.” he’s not particularly sure what to say, but makes full use of his height to put as much distance between them as possible, straightening up in his seat in a motion as naturally as he can manage.
[attr="class","wonwoo"] Fanciful ideas like laying in sunshine with someone big floated about his head as he examined his companion. He had never had these thoughts, in fact, he had never had anything remotely similar to these kinds of thoughts in his life. He was certain it was all knew, but at this point it felt so natural. It didn’t feel obtrusive, and so, despite being a little flushed he carried on as per usual. After all his goal was simple, and so very close.
It’s a little disappointing to hear his companion was on a mission, however that’s followed shortly after by relief. Was. As in, past tense. As in, not anymore or at least not right now. Aiden can’t hide his excitement, the damn ears poking straight up out of his hair. “Oh, I see then.” He replies as he tries to keep the conversation going. There’s a part of him that’s sad he’s mad his companion a little uneasy, but perhaps they just aren’t used to showing physical affection and that’s alright. “Nice to meet you, Madison.” The knight adds.
He knows he’s staring but can’t look away. It’s actually impressive how much taller the man was even while sitting down. It dawns on him that they haven’t cuddled in two, maybe three minutes tops yet. Time to remedy that. In the silence, the redhead had no issue scooting himself closer and closer to Madison. Aiden doesn’t bother holding onto his arm either, already with a different target in mind entirely. Yes, of course. This was far better. It had to be. There was far more to cuddle if he did it this way! So calmly, Aiden carefully tries to move the man’s arm, so he can bury his face. He doesn’t do that of course, but he does seat himself as close as possible to the stranger. “So how have you liked the festival so far?” He asked in a blatant attempt to distract from his current actions.
Post by maddox rothscus ✨ on Mar 12, 2018 4:07:29 GMT
he’s partially certain he’s fallen down some sort of terrible vortex of time and space, because the seconds inch by painfully slow. he wants nothing more than to get up and leave, preferably abandon aiden to sort out whatever he was going through by his lonesome self. there are opening sales going on, discounts offered at various vendors, and he really doesn’t want to miss them. ( and it’s not like he’s poor, per se, but he tries to save where he can, especially when furniture repairs seem to be in no shortage wherever he goes. damn you, moosely. )
“nice to meet you too,” he echoes, more so out of habit than any genuine pleasure, and he tries not to think about how aiden’s eyes are unerringly fixed on his face. it’s not that he minds attention -- welcomes it, in fact, when it comes from certain people -- but this is unsolicited, and he’s just plain uncomfortable.
the distance between them is already smaller than he’d like, but aiden inches closer; maddox attempts to move away ever so discreetly, only to reach the edge of the bench. damn it.
“it’s been eventful,” he says warily, making up his mind to stand up if aiden so much as inches a hair closer. “pretty nice stalls, though. what about you - how’s it been treating you?”
[attr="class","wonwoo"] Aiden is undeterred in the slightest. In fact, with a flicker of his eyes he sees he’s got Madison exactly where he wants him. He’s so close, so very close. He flashes the man a genuine smile as he returns the conversational courtesy. The boy considers it a good sign that the answers are coming out longer now. He’s wearing him down, slowly but surely. “Yes, it has.” The knight concurred, nodding his head. The ears twitched as if to draw more attention than usual.
“Someone got their valentine’s flower pollen in my eyes. It doesn’t sting anymore though.” Aiden replied, the anger from the incident subdued. “It’s been a little hectic but not anything that can’t be handled.” He added with a shrug as he watched attendees pass on by. The few mishaps so far weren’t actually dangerous. But, tracking down the causes of these magical mishaps had been far more fun than standing around on guard duty. Well, whatever. Not like he was even following his original mission after all. “Were you looking to get something out of it in particular…?” he added after a moment eyeing the man again.
He waited a moment, feeling his heart panic as the urge to snuggle up to his victim strengthened form lack of, well, doing that. It was getting harder and harder to hold back and be casual. At some point he tuned out the noise around him. His understanding of Madison seemed to slow as he prepared t latch himself on like a tick. When he felt Madison was even remotely not paying attention, the boy leaned his entire weight onto his side. His hands raised to latch onto the man’s clothes and he nuzzled himself into the most comfortable position he could. The relief was incredibly evident as he couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief as he quelled the mighty urge to cuddle. The bunny ears, pricked up with attention beforehand slowly lowered back as he relaxed. While he had felt a little guilty before on making the witch uncomfortable, he didn’t feel any remorse now. His discomfort was nothing compared to the horrible pounding in his chest and the twitching in his fingers before he’d cuddled. He couldn’t even question why now of all times he craved physical affection. He’d gotten more than enough growing up.
Post by maddox rothscus ✨ on Jun 29, 2018 14:14:13 GMT
flower pollen? his brows draw closer in mild confusion. did those explain the odd ears too, or was that smome aftermath of a transfiguration spell gone wrong? perhaps there was something there. surreptitiously, he launches the athenean interface, carefully making sure that it is invisible to all but himself. he can sense moosely now, borrowing his sight to filter through the information that coalesces on the screen, traces of odd mana where there really shouldn’t be any. he doesn’t exactly know what may be at foot specifically, not without a proper investigation; but he has his suspicions.
his eyes vacant, almost as though focused on something behind aiden, his only response to aiden’s question is a half-hearted shrug and an off-handed, “just looking to buy something for a friend, maybe.” he seems distracted, thinking of how to get his way out of this situation without resorting to physically prying the boy from his arm. then the pressure suddenly increases and -- he looks down, torn between alarm and horror, for a moment stunned into silence and inaction -- there’s an entire person somehow glued to his side like a terribly unwelcome parasite, and he really doesn’t want to deal with this today.
“okay,” he says, immediately abandoning all attempts of a subtle retreat by grabbing aiden’s shoulder and pushing him firmly away, “how ‘bout no.” he’s smiling through a clenched jaw, a expression that ventures rather close to a grimace.
“look, this is a magically-induced effect, alright? you probably tripped into something just now and it’s making you act like this. so just sit there -- for the love of god don’t move -- and let me try to think of something that will fix this, okay?” he may very well be grabbing at straws, but frankly, it’s a far more reasonable and palatable explanation than having to think that he may have simply caught the eye of a very forward knight.
[attr="class","wonwoo"] If Aiden had any dignity left, it wasn’t showing. In the few moments he’d latched on he’d grown entirely too comfortable. Somehow, he found the stranger’s scent and warmth pleasant. A stranger, of all people. How was it that he’d felt so awkward around Charani when it came to physical affection, but this was entirely fine? The vague semblance of the thought floated through his head only to fade away as Aiden ignored it. His eyelids droops immediately and it almost looks like he’s about to get his cuddle-nap in the sun until he’s abruptly pushed off and held at arm’s length. There’s visible panic and alarm on his face as his eyes flutter open and widen. What happened? Why this? Why now?
”No.” The word makes him seize up. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t cut him off when he was this close. It felt awful. Embarrassing. Rejection.“How about yes?” he asks though it comes off as entirely too childish and too whiney, but he flashed those big, green puppy eyes anyway. His days of begging hadn’t been forgotten and he could beg good as any other kid from the slums. His ears also, visibly droop at the denial of comfort he so desperately was beginning to crave now that he was so close. The knight fidgeted in place, looking very much like a scolded child. This was so unfair.
As Madds’ began reasoning with him he calmed down, only slightly. Aiden blinked, confusion gripping his thoughts. It was hard to focus when he was so intent on stealing affection form someone he didn’t even know. He ran shaky hands through his hair, surprising himself as he touched the rabbit eats once more. He’d almost forgotten he’d acquired these somehow. His attention had been gone completely. “Uh- ok.” Aiden replied, unable to get another word in as the other witch tried to figure out what was going on. Was something going on? Did it matter? Why couldn’t he have this? He wanted this so badly. So why? It was temporary right so what did it matter afterwards. His heart thumped in his chest as he considered what to do. He squeezed his hands with his knees, trying to keep still, a part of him begging for the end of this humiliating persona that had overcome him. Maybe, a different approach was needed.
“Fix it then.” Aiden tried to stay perfectly still, even scooching away a few millimeters from Madds. Still trying to keep a hold of his grabby hands he sat for a total of maybe 30 seconds, before dropping onto his side towards Madds. His head landed on the other witch’s thigh. A tiny, tiny voice inside his head howled in fury as Aiden visibly relaxed in this position, tired from having to hold back for what had been maybe two minutes, tops.
Post by maddox rothscus ✨ on Jun 30, 2018 6:02:25 GMT
of all the things maddox had anticipated today, this had not been one of them. he is somewhat at a loss, only half-believing that he truly has to deal with this trainwreck of a situation. moosely is not helping in the very least -- the familiar is laughing uproariously at the back of his mind, his glee not masked in the slightest.
firmly, maddox keeps his arm outstretched, hoping that this at least will keep aiden a somewhat respectable distance away. he turns his attention towards the interface once more, refocusing the scan on the knight, and watching as the information of whatever magic is affecting him spills forth. it takes some time, but maddox is suddenly grateful for the clear sight that his early alchemy training had granted him. while not familiar with what he thinks this may be, he has a clear enough idea to attempt something and hopefully put a stop to...whatever this is.
"alright, so i think-" he is only half-way through his sentence when whatever shred of dignity that had been holding this poor boy upright suddenly snaps, and maddox has to fight to stifle an indignant squawk. instead, he hisses out his words, decisively scoots off the bench and kneels beside it instead, where he is, hopefully, somewhat out of reach.
"five seconds, alright? holy shit, dude." he scrambles for a purge spell and casts it without ceremony or flourish, focusing on the strands of foreign mana and yanking it away with slightly more vehemence than necessary. with any luck, aiden should feel the effects beginning to fade.
Post by aiden emerson on Jun 30, 2018 20:29:12 GMT
[attr="class","wonwoo"] Sweet relief only last a couple of seconds before his victim recoils from him. Aiden refuses to make it any easier for Maddison, remaining immobile until his head slaps the bench under him. At the man’s exclamation he flashes a pouty glare. Why was he being so difficult? It wasn’t like he was doing anything out of the ordinary. Had he demanded money? No. Had he copped a feel? NO. If it were a stray this type of behavior would’ve gone unnoticed. Lucky for the stray. He felt frustrated that the witch kept dodging him. As the purifier reached towards him he sat up nervously, backing up into the bench’s back. What- What was he doing?
His heart pounded. Madds was close but not because he about to be affectionate. Before he can really ask what’s happening, too stupid at the moment to recognize his own affinity, his thumping heart seems to slow down. He hadn’t realized he’d been breathing so quickly until he began to calm down, breathing deeply. The ears, thank the gods, receded as well, disappearing from his scalp completely in a matter of moments. The knight blinked slowly, his thoughts no longer muddled by intense desire and pining. “Maddison.” The name was spoken clearly as Aiden ran his hands through his hair and tugged as his clothes. He sits up before his right-hand darts out towards the purifier and he angrily grips his shirt collar, face flushed in humiliation. “You could’ve done that the whole. TIME?!” he hissed loudly as all the pent-up shame came rushing back. He had a sense of pride now and by the Gods was it hurting. How horrible. Had anyone seen him? Had anyone seen them? What was worse is that he couldn’t have done that himself either. A purifier in title only. Useless. And it stung just as much. “What part of a teenager attaching himself to a thirty-year-old looks normal to you Maddison?!” he added, his embarrassment fueling his anger. This afternoon had been absolutely disgusting.
Post by maddox rothscus ✨ on Jul 1, 2018 4:28:57 GMT
he watches the spell take hold, but relief only lasts for a split-second; it is replaced almost instantaneously by frustration and indignation. "what the fuck do you think i've been trying to do?" he snaps back, voice sharp. "haven't been listening, have you? i just figured it out -- if i tried something without finding out what exactly went wrong, it wouldn't have worked."
"shouldn't you know that-" glances surreptitiously at the invisible interface, where observatory runs dutifully, "-purifier?" he straightens up fully, crosses his arms; scowls down at the boy, abandoning politeness with a delightful lack of guilt. maybe he should have let moosely deal with him. in retrospect, that sounds like a brilliant idea.
he can't remember the last time he's been quite so annoyed at someone. but he is now, partially at himself for even having bothered to put in any effort to help the boy, mostly at the boy himself for having blundered into such a mess. time and sensibility some time down the road would remind him that such an incident isn't quite aiden's fault, and perhaps his opinion will soften, but that is later; now, there is little denying his indignant glare.
"you're welcome," he says, pointed, words barbed and jaw set stubbornly. and without further ado, turns on his heel and leaves.
