[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

[storyseller]

c; oh, I come from a land, from a faraway place, where the caravan camels roam

[Caster has a great sympathy for orphans and those who understand the loss of death. She naturally comes to them, and encourages the younger children, those who have suffered, to gather around her. She promises them a tale of magic and adventure, love and inspiration, hope, promise, and a diamond in the rough.

You might find it strangely familiar, if you grew up on Disney. The genie is blue, the orphan is named Aladdin, and there's a magic carpet and an evil vizier. It is a dramatic retelling of Disney's Aladdin, complete with magical special effects, a combination of a story and a play put on for the children's entertainment. There are absolutely musical numbers.

You may choose to listen, but you might also decide to help out with the performance. Maybe you really want to sing "One Jump Ahead." Or maybe you think you'd make a great Evil Vizier?]

d; maybe she should worry less

[Rain should not be concerning. But Caster has been listening to the Palai, and now, with her little flock of grieving children sheltered underneath a magical carpet, she tilts her head up to the sky. That (probably now familiar) frown of concern is on her face.]

Could the magic that sustains the water be collapsing? Perhaps our interference...

e; wildcard

[pm me or hit me up at mobiusloops]

[splinten]

a; mm watcha sayyy

[They're magical pastries that are possible electric. The electricity, actually, is why Dirk is curious about eating one. So he does, and he likes it. In a way, it reminds him of Jane. So he decides to eat another. And then more.

And then—

Maybe you find the object you're holding spontaneously destroyed. Or maybe some part of it is 'destroyed,' like the brokenness being destroyed (therefore fixing it) or its pigmentation. Or maybe it only gets partially destroyed. Either way, Dirk is left with no expression behind his shades.]

Oh. Fuck.

[That was him. He is sorry.]

b; wet blanket

[Dirk watches the weapon-crafting with some concern. On one hand, he wants the Palai to defend themselves. On the other, he can't help but feel guilty. Are they responsible for this? Did they push peaceful people to violence? Of those who fight the Uvi, some will die, and what is to say the Palai won't eventually turn on each other with violence? Humans always do.

Sadly, all this introspection is interrupted by an electrified rock coming Dirk's way. He flashsteps aside—but that may mean that YOU get hit with the rock. Even if you don't, you're going to see Dirk turning all his wet blanket monotone on the kids.]

Wow. Playing with dangerous rocks. Super cool. Just like it will be super cool when you kill or permanently maim each other with these things.

[Yeah they don't care, they just want Dirk to show them the flashstep again.]

e; wildcard

[pm me or hit me up at mobiusloops]

[rootandbranch]

A
[Geir is hanging back from the main part of the revelry today, unusually shy. it's been a heavy two weeks for him, and absenting himself from most of the doings of the coven for the last few days hasn't been quite enough to restore his normal frame of mind. he's glad to see everyone celebrating, but doesn't feel part enough of the group to plunge in, especially since there's not a lot of room for him...

on the other hand, though, he does keep sneaking looks of melting temptation at those pastries and the rest of the food that's been placed out.]

Hey... are those really any good?


D
[despite his reticence to join the main celebration, Geir is taking up an awful lot of the corner of the marketplace square, draped and coiled in a large heap. when the rain starts to fall, all he has to do to stay dry is spread his wings out and rest them on the buildings to either side instead of folded tight to his back. suddenly there's a waterproof tent of considerable size for anyone who wants to shelter under it -- if you don't mind sharing a dragon-wing tent with the head of that dragon.

he doesn't outright invite anyone to come inside, but he's watching everyone curiously and quietly as they scurry around to get out of the rain... it doesn't seem like he'd mind.]


E
[wildcard - just tag or pm, i'm game for anything!]

[actus]

a - stop, drop and roll

[ if there's one thing akira is guilty of, it's having a sweet tooth. it's only been exacerbated by being close friends with ann, and it's really hard to turn down a divine-smelling pastry. it's a cause for celebration and he's going to selfishly indulge as much as possible. it's nice to see something upbeat for once.

... except the side-effect of the pastry wasn't what he's expected. which means that no matter how hard he tries, his fingers keep catching on fire, even without a single joke uttered. it's becoming a minor problem. ]

-- hey, can you - uh - toss that glass of water on me?

[ yes, he's requesting that of you, friend! ]

d - don't rain on my parade

[ this is certainly a surprise. from what he had heard from the palai, rain wasn't exactly a thing. and no one wants rain on their parade. so he's going to try his best to help move some of the supplies under the roofs, hair soaked and glasses very much fogged up. for once, his curls are laying flat on his face. he doesn't seem all that bothered, though, and is bustling back and forth. alongside him is a shining bird that is using its large wingspan as cover for some of the younger palai, herding them to the shelter so they don't get wet. ]

Raining underwater kind of seems a little ironic. [ yes, he's talking to you as he passes by, holding a tray of (somewhat) soggy pastries. ]

wildcard

[ always down for this! ping me over on plurk intrepidly or PP me for a special prompt! ]

d

[talim]

[ jude peers at caster as she stares up at the sky and murmurs to herself, mindful not to sneak up on her as he tentatively approaches. ]

Caster?

[ he blinks when he has her attention and offers her a crooked smile. ]

It's not much, but...

[ she's underdressed; he slips out of his lab coat and offers it to her. it's not much, but it's better than nothing, right? ]

a

[rootbound]

Why is that even a thing you're asking for--

[is what Vern says, and thinks, up until he actually turns around and realizes that the asker actually has a hand on fire???

walks up and dumps the glass over it without another word]

[rebells]

i.

[Jay is milling around the edges of the party with a strange twist of a smile on his face, like he isn't quite sure what to think about this whole celebration. If you were involved with the organized effort to defend the Uvi, however--or even if you were just visibly fighting them--he'll approach you to say,]

Thank you for your help during the raid. We appreciate it.

[He seems sincere enough, although perhaps more subdued than one might expect. Either way, even if he doesn't come up to you, you can always come up to him.]


ii.

[Later in the night, Jay will . . . still be milling around the edges of the party, but if you look downward you'll see an addition: a small Palai child, maybe a toddler, is clinging to his leg. Jay appears to be paying this child no mind, but as he moves about, you'll also notice he makes exactly zero attempt to detach the little lizard from his person. If you make eye contact, he'll look at you with a perfectly level gaze, as though he's daring you to say something.

Go on. Say something.]

b

[soulcomet]

[WELP. she has fabulous timing as always, as she turns on her heels and walks over when she spots Dirk.]

[Madoka does manage to block the incoming rock with a thick notebook she had on her, so it isn't a direct hit, at least! and she has endured worse things than getting zapped.]

d

[rootbound]

That's a weird sort of causality, isn't it? Fight back and defend ourselves and the sky literally falls...

[...shifts himself under the outer edge of her carpet, looking apologetic; while he's brushed off attempts by any sad Palai kids to hold his hand or similar, he does have a couple who are hanging onto his sleeve and the hem of his tunic like sad ducklings without actually making skin contact. this gets them out of the rain too.]

a

[rootbound]

[Vern's sulking under Geir's sheltering wings and belly while he works up the nerve to wander out into the party, but, as if on cue, his stomach growls loudly]

...I mean, maybe.

[rootandbranch]

[Geir gives him huge, pleading puppy-dog eyes. no one has ever fed this dragon. he is a perpetually empty gnawing pit of various hungers. okay that's true but it's not why he's begging]

Vern, are you hungry?

d

[yancat]

[Akira approaches Jumin on one of his trips back to one of the covered areas in the market. Jumin's power has been of some assistance itself: any food he can't reach or towels he can't carry move at sound of his command. It's looking a lot more like Fantasia in here by the time Akira arrives.]

They say life is stranger than fiction. I suppose there's a scientific reason for all this...

[They're only talking about the rain. He's not so sure how he can explain angry flying trays of pastries with science.]

Were you with the recon team? What exactly did they do up there?

d

[soulcomet]

[Madoka had been standing off to the side, trying to wring out her pigtails, when he passes by.]

It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't so salty... [here, Akira, have a towel.]

ii

[splinten]

[Dare accepted.]

Nice accessorizing, Jay.

[He holds his hand out to the Palai child for a high five? High five him bro.]

[rootbound]

Nnnnnnnn...yyyyyyyyes.

[HE DOES NOT ACTUALLY HAVE THAT MUCH REASON TO BELIEVE THE FOOD WILL HARM THEM HE'S JUST BEING HIMSELF]

[talim]

c.

[ jude has always been rather good with children. as someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, he can greatly empathize with them and their sincerity, and so every time a younger palai tugs at his coat, he kneels down to their level and speaks to them with a soothing voice. whether jude simply humors them or participates in a quieter conversation with the shyer ones depends on the circumstances. he figures he can't help much — loss is loss, and children are especially vulnerable to the cruelties of the world — but he can do his best to take their mind off things, if only for a little while.

but when a small crowd, desperate for attention, starts forming, he's struck with an idea. ]

Hey, do you guys want to see a magic trick?

[ there's a playful glimmer in his eyes, a small smile on his face. the little trick up his sleeve is something that has even worked on milla and alvin, of all people. he's speaking to the kids, of course, but if curiosity is nagging at you, feel free to come on over and take a look. or join in! ]

d.

[ jude isn't remotely bothered by the rain, despite getting soaked to the bone, and there's a good reason for it. he nudges you in the arm before a rueful smile curves his lips. ]

Look on the bright side. At least it isn't raining fish this time, huh?

wildcard.

just go ahead and toss something at me or, alternatively, drop me a pm or pp me @ amarcian to plot something out!

c.

[thatdamnknight]

[as someone who lost both parents at a young age, flynn fully understands how the children feel. sudden loss of a parent hurts like little else. what to do to help their moods, though?

it's while pondering this question that flynn stumbles upon caster telling her tale. flynn stops a distance away and silently listens in. an interesting and engaging story, if one unfamiliar to him. the story, the characters, even the musical numbers all end up lively and fun. it's just what the doctor ordered to cheer up the children. seeing their spirits lift even a little brings a smile to his face.

once the tale ends is when he approaches.]

Your story telling abilities are impressive, Miss.

[rootandbranch]

[Vern can feel Geir's warm swell of amusement -- Geir recognizes that he's being cranky, and loves it. in a tone of innocent suggestion belied by the clear teasing in his eyes as much as by his emotions:]

You could go get us food.

d

[rebells]

[Someone has a little Palai child in his arms, half bent over as if to shield them from the oncoming rain--though that is clearly a coincidence. That someone, apparently looking for somewhere dry to lay down his burden, spots Geir, looks up at him, looks around, realizes he's getting wet, and then shuffles under said makeshift dragon-wing tent.]

. . . hello.

[rootandbranch]

[Geir peers back at him with interest, chin propped up on a loop of his own tail in the dry space; his eye is at least the size of Jay's head. he's impressed with how Jay is handling the child. the baby Palai just climb all over him, and don't seem to mind his instructions at all.]

Hello.

[hesitates, but he's dying to know, so he might as well ask...]

How do you get it to be so quiet?

Re: ii

[rebells]

[The Palai child looks quizzically at Dirk's hand and . . . attempts to shake it? High-fiving was evidently not in those waterlogged books of human culture. Or maybe they're just too young.

Nearby, Jay sputters.]

I--I'm not doing it on purpose!

[teratias]

A
One of the things Waver was unsure about was the pastry. It...it moved. It vibrated, and that to him spelled trouble. Between the entire first night of looking like he was on fire and then the weirdness that was grapes that taste like meat back on the hub, he could do nothing more than stare at the things with deep suspicion.

"I'm not risking anything until someone else eats one," he muttered finally, not caring if anyone overheard him having a conversation with a pastry. Whatever. He didn't trust it.

D
[Waver watches quietly as the salty rain begins to come down into the streets. Being inside is just fine, his clothes aren't too wet either, but watching the downpour feels like the right kind of mood. This isn't so much a party for victory as a way of marking a turning point of sorts. The Palai aren't just mourning, they're changing their way of life.

All because a bunch of strangers showed up and offered another way.

That's something he turns over in his mind slowly, arms folded over his chest and eyebrows narrowed. Oh, his mind is back home in Fuyuki, but his words are trying to stay focused on the present.]

If this becomes a constant, there has to be some kind of way to address potential erosion from all the salt water.

E
Wildcard!

d

[oneandmikleonly]

[Mikleo makes a surprised little noise at the contact -- he hasn't bothered trying to shield himself from the water either, though the Palai child he's holding looks suspiciously dry -- but returns the smile]

It's significantly less hazardous, yes.

a

[teratias]

[So much for the fork Waver was using. He pauses for a moment to register the fact it has begun to melt like a goddamn Dali painting, then turns when he hears someone swear. It sounded apologetic, but still.

Fork.]

What the hell?

[He's more surprised than outraged.]

[rebells]

[Jay gives Geir a long look, as though he's trying to decide whether Geir is mocking him.]

. . . Sweets.

[Well, sweets, a hefty dose of indulgence, and a half-whispered story about the exploits of the legendary Capoeiracco, but just "sweets" seems like a less embarrassing answer.]