[WORLD ONE | POST-UVI CELEBRATION]

[spellbindmods]

Who: Coven members and Palai
Where: In and around the Aimintas marketplace
When: Day 39
Open/Closed: Open to All

After an appropriate amount of time for mourning, the Palai have shifted into a more positive mood -- they're a very resilient species, though there is a bit of a muted tone to their celebration. The whole event is a little hodge-podge, mostly because they aren't used to having to celebrate with the coven members added to the guest list. The Palai have gathered together all of their people and have invited the coven members to a small, intimate gathering -- the purpose of the event is to thank them for their service in fighting the Uvi, and the success of freezing the Uvi in their home. While no one knows how long the Uvi will stay gone, any amount of time without the Uvi being a concern is fine by them. The event takes place in the very center of the marketplace, with the Palai interacting on the fringes of the party throughout the rest of the large building. The coven members have time to spend by themselves, but there's room for moving around on their own and also spending time with the Palai if they so choose. A ▢ One of the more noticeable editions to the food the Palai have provided is a large pile of sweet, sugar dusted pastries. You may notice that something about them seems...odd, to say the least. It looks as if the pastries are vibrating slightly, but they smell divine. If you're so inclined to ask what the deal is, these pastries are magically infused by Eltos, which somehow gives them a sweeter flavor and enhances the sensation of tastebuds. The Palai sometimes eat these before meals in order to better the flavor of their entire spread -- though adding this energized magic to an already magical being means magic powers may be a little off kilter. Don't be surprised if suddenly your abilities go a little crazy. B ▢ The Palai aren't participating the party for two big reasons. One, the purpose is to celebrate the victory of coven members. The other reason, however, is one that may be more interesting to outsiders. While previously the Palai were peaceful people, happy to exist submitting to the Uvi, the coven's show of strength and valor has inspired them to be more aggressive in their approaches. Grown Palai can be seen working on makeshift weapons, but the idea of smaller tools like slingshots have already been constructed and almost perfected. The Palai youth have discovered these tools and are playing with them gleefully, though occasionally hitting each other -- and potentially you -- with energized, paralyzing rocks fueled with Elto energy. Watch out or you might get zapped! C ▢ Other Palai youth aren't as fortunate to be so distracted and happy. While fewer Palai died during this attack, the casualty number wasn't zero. Most Palai children still have at least one family member to care for them, but they're still a little disconnected from their people by means of grief. Some are milling about with the coven members, trying to eat or pester them for attention. If you're good with kids this may be more your speed, but those bad with children can find this irritating. Some Palai youth are more muted, however, content to just sit and listen to stories or eavesdrop on conversations. D ▢ For some people, rain isn't that big an issue -- but it certainly puts a damper (get it?) on a party. The Palai seem a bit confused by the sudden shower that comes in heavy as the evening dies down. The Palai have never experienced rain before, using irrigation systems and existing ground water as their means of hydration (both for themselves and for plants). Because the rain is coming from the ocean, the drops are large and salty, and the marketplace quickly begins to flood. The Palai move the party indoors for the most part, but that doesn't mean you or the food aren't already soaked. It's much warming underneath the roofs in the marketplace, but that doesn't provide much relief since the ocean rain is warm and humid. E ▢ Wildcard! How will your character handle this violent and volatile situation.

Comments

[lohengrins]

[ he raises a brow, fingers combing through her fur, and opts to scratch behind her ears. ]

You're cold, aren't you? It'll be some time before we find shelter.

[ he sighs. ]

I don't have anything to cover you with. [ percival's eyes rove down towards his shirt -- or chest rather.

does she want to slip inside. it's better than nothing. ]

[guerrilla]

No, I lost track of my Master and found her freezing to death and liable to being crushed.

[Aside from that, though, yeah actually.]

[sealeted]

Pardon me.

[She still hasn't found shoes, so he doesn't have to worry about that as she carefully steps on and sits in his palm. Her tail might tickle his palm a bit, though.]

Thanks, for this.

[deem]

[His gloves serve as something of a barrier between them, but his hand is warm even through the pebbled leather]

Happy to help. I'm used to being the little guy.

[Once he's sure that she's settled, he murmurs an "up we go" and raises his hand to about chest-level so she can have a good look at their surroundings]

Where to first?

[sealeted]

[Hakuno's eyes have been there, once, maybe twice, maybe a few times, but she is not a rude passenger and does her best to keep her eyes a foot higher, because she is a lady and a scholar. If she were not, she might point out that it's a little weird being gently petted when she's more girl than squirrel, even in this adorable size. But she is—and also, the petting feels really nice and comforting—so she keeps her mouth shut.]

I have a change of clothes back... home? Well, where I've been sleeping, anyways. But, they're probably still normal-sized, and we'd both be cold and wet if I asked you to slog all the way back there. Um... maybe there's a dishtowel somewhere I could borrow?

[sealeted]

...let's be honest, this doesn't even rank in the top ten most dangerous or uncomfortable positions I've ever been in.

[guerrilla]

It ranks #2 in the top ten most dangerous or uncomfortable positions you've been in since contracting with me.

[Because fighting the Uvi, no matter how relatively successful it had been, was definitely #1.]

I don't want it to get to ten in the first place, get it?

[He puts her on his shoulder, attempting to bundle the folds of his cloak around her as a makeshift blanket. The cloak itself is a little wet from being out in the rain, but it's warm from Robin's body heat as well, so it's not completely useless.]

[sealeted]

Little like short, or is this more grunt solidarity?

[Should she start a running tally for high-fives...?]

Let's see... I think I saw some Palai gathering materials for something, before I started shrinking. Want to go see what they're doing?

[apatheia]

I've heard that the pastries aren't exactly safe to eat. [So she assumes that he usually has the fire hands under control. Probably.]

walks in 3 days late with starbucks

[guerrilla]

b. the archer class really is full of archers

[After being pelted with one too many electric rocks (so, one), Robin demanded a slingshot of his own. He's an Archer, so ranged weapons come easily to him, and it wasn't like he started out with an arm-mounted crossbow. He would easily hand the kids their butts if it came down to a contest.

Somehow it ends up coming down to Robin teaching the kids how to aim a slingshot.]

Up a little higher, kiddo. All you're gonna hit from that angle is the dirt. No, you can't use me as target practice!

[It seemed like he had it together at first, but the kids realize annoying Robin is really funny pretty quickly.]

c. this story sucks mate

[Some of the smaller Palai have isolated themselves, and if there's one thing Robin's good at it's hanging out on the fringes of a party. It's one thing for him to do it, but kids...they don't need to cut themselves off like that. Not yet. It's a simple thing, but he can be found crouching next to one of a handful of Palai kids at any given time, trying to get them to talk to him. Some of them he has more success with than the others, and he talks about anything they want to with them. For the ones that are a little more reluctant, it's up to him to shoulder the brunt of the conversation.

Robin lost his parents when he was young, too - and because the villagers he lived among had concerns that he'd been possessed by the supernatural, he didn't even have a village to fall back on. He leaves that second part out, not wanting to scare the kids too much, but...maybe it will help them if they know they aren't alone in this. Robin is hardly the idea of a successful adult, but the Palai all seem to think the world of the coven for helping them.

He might as well take advantage of that.]

e. wildcard, hmu

[i'm pretty much down for anything tbh]

[sealeted]

Don't feel too bad. Gilgamesh threatened to cut me into eighths while we were contracting, and probably would have gone through with it if I hadn't been thinking fast.

[Every day was an adventure. A horrifying, death-defying, frustrating adventure.

She snuggles down into the hood, tucking it around herself to block out any drafts that might make her damp clothes unbearable. She tries not to brush against the warm flesh of his neck as much as she can, mindful that he's doing her a favor.]

...really though, have you been having a good time?

[deem]

Could be a bit of both, come to think of it.

[Get a high-five queue going here-

But he's certainly curious, glancing around after she makes that suggestion]

Wonder what they're up to... [Once he's spotted a group some distance away, he nods] Let's have a look then.

[He turns and starts in that direction, plate in one hand and Hakuno in the other]

[apatheia]

[Here's hoping she'll live to fish another day with him...

And as she gathers more rocks:]

I think it has something to do with animals, but I can't be sure. [Given the lack of wildlife here in general. The note had been super vague and unhelpful, but after trying to "feel the instinct" in her brain like it suggested, animals came to mind for some reason.]

[actus]

That makes sense.

[ he gives them a weary stare and then looks back to his hands. yikes. ]

[sealeted]

Maybe repairs?

[Her tail curls and flicks as she considers it.]

It might be necessary, but they deserve a chance to relax too...

[deem]

[9S hums as he considers that]

Considering how difficult this conflict is for them... I think they could use the break more than we need it.

[But that's just his opinion as a YoRHa unit, which is on the whole pretty biased. He likes relaxing as much as anyone else, but he's used to being put to work]

[sealeted]

...definitely. They probably don't feel much like really celebrating, either.

[lohengrins]

[ percival's gaze shifts from side to side, and he hesitates for a moment. his cheeks begin to color, and well--...

he doesn't...have many options, so tucks her into his shirt, just into his cleavage window so her head can pop out for air. ]

This is all I can do. Where have you been sleeping? At the coven, or elsewhere?

[deem]

Yeah, I bet they don't. The casualties were fewer, but...few isn't the same as none.

[splinten]

[Uhhhhhh]

We should watch some more movies while we're here.

[nailed it?]

[sealeted]

[Woah.

Hakuno squirms just a little, her mostly-dry tail wriggling against his bare skin as she pops her arms out so she can properly grip onto his neckline.]

Um... yes, the coven. It's... well, I have a bed, and a pillow, which is great. If I sleep as a squirrel, it turns into something fit for a king.

[potentite]

[Jake blinks at him, then laughs.]

Well, yes, I'd love to!

[apatheia]

[Thinking about it, these are all concepts she vaguely knows of from different old archives she's seen. Even now, they're all still conceptual, but it's interesting to hear about them in more detail. From someone who's actually experienced it and not just an old record.

If she can, she thinks she'd like to see a storm for herself. And snow. And seasons, however those work.]

What are the other seasons?

[goodlistener]

Jeanne d'Arc.

[she mentions that with no hesitation whatsoever.]

[apatheia]

[REALLY.... TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY HE'S MAKING THINGS HARDER FOR HIMSELF......]

They must like you a lot. [For them to still be clinging onto him and all... Oh wait.] Is this a kind of game maybe?