tramitem_log | EVENT LOG: Strangers Waiting

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EVENT LOG: Strangers Waiting

✦ STONE FESTIVAL SOIRÉE ✦
... And when my good dream came to an end, I woke up more than ready to bend ... Full Game Navigation

Watch on YouTube Who: All player characters What: The Stone Festival Soirée that marks the end of the celebration When: July 4th Where: Krajina Božstiev Rating/Warnings: Warn in subject lines, please i. Arrival Everyone has been preparing for this day, fussing with hair and makeup, obtaining fancy clothes and shoes, and perhaps even finding a way to make their entrance in style. This is the night everyone’s anticipated, and some of the Different may even think it’s the night they’ve earned. Upon entering the grounds of the castle, the Different who are attending the soirée, along with all the others from this universe who are attending, are met by the court jester, who greets them with a tip of his hat. "Good eve to you, good personage, and welcome to the annual Stone Festival Soirée here in Krajina Božstiev! We do hope the amenities and the environment of the party will delight your senses and engage your spirit." With a deep bow, after the jester checks for invitations, he lets the invitee in. There are more performers and entertainers than just the jester here in this courtyard, the Different begin to realize. It practically has the same ambiance as a circus: trained elephants follow their trainers and perform here and there, standing on their back feet; sword-swallowers jeer with fire-swallowers as these entertainers vie for the audience’s attention; acrobats and jugglers perform from small stages at opposite corners of the courtyard. They are obviously proud of their craft, and happy the corruption has ended—their performances are delivered with genuine and grateful smiles. Hats or baskets are set in front of each performance area for tips. And the patrons of the party appear, so far, to have been generous. The baskets are overflowing with bills and coin. At the back of the courtyard, past the entrances to the castle, there is another jester holding court. The jester’s hat isn’t sitting out collecting money, however; no, the jester reaches toward the audience, where he is collecting the semi-precious teardrop-shaped stones that people collected earlier in the week, one by one. With a momentary sleight-of-hand, the jester makes the stone disappear. And should the stars align, the jester will grant them a wish. Between these pronouncements, the jester’s tricks include fireworks, rising into the air and popping with a delightful shower of sparks. The astute will notice that most of the wishes that are being granted are related to the soirée itself—wishes for dance partners, reunions, special treats to be consumed, or an emotional feeling of completion. Should your character truly desire something that would affect the soirée positively, they should choose wisely. Just one wish will be granted per customer. ii. Food It's when the people who have come to the party enter the castle that they find that the ambiance has become more formal and contained. This is the location of a sumptuous feast filled with delightful foods of all kinds; from finger foods fit for a charcuterie plate, to heftier cuts of meat—a boar with an apple in its mouth, a side of beef, goose, lamb, rabbit, and fowl; from fruits such as grapes, apples, oranges, and plums, to nuts, cheeses, and dishes of honey; from basically anything you could possibly think of to anything you could desire. This is the party to end all parties in Krajina Božstiev, after all. In addition to the food, the wine and mead are flowing. Settle in at a table after choosing whatever you want to eat and drink, and the party hosts will keep everything you desire coming to you. Whatever you need to sate your pleasures. iii. Dancing The dance floor is in the next room, and if decorations can be described as ‘sumptuous’ well, that’s what these are. Silken buntings festoon the walls, with dangling ribbons and flowers trailing from each join in between them. Crystal chandeliers dangle from the ceiling with candlelight bouncing in between them as the bodies move on the dance floor. There are many styles of dance represented here, from the more traditional, to the more interpretive, to the casual. And among the beaming faces, characters might see some familiar ones—Nádej and Strach and all the other gods. No one at the party seems to be taking any particular note of them. The gods don’t seem inclined to speak this time around—they just hand your character another of the teardrop-shaped stones and move on. The opportunity to couple up here is constant, and it’s important to plan ahead. Do you want to dance with him during the slow dance, and with her during the faster one? Make sure to choose wisely. iv. End of the Night Things are winding down now. One by one, the candles are being snuffed out, the plates and the glasses are being cleared—even the smiling performers in the courtyard are going home. It seems this is your signal to make your way home. Only one way for that to be done, at least until you make your way to New York City—you have to walk. So join your fellow travellers as they make their way—you might learn something new about them. *Points Bonus* Participation in this log will grant a special points bonus: Top-leveling: 2 points The first 5 tags in a thread in other character's top-levels: 2 points
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"He did. I had extra ones so I don't mind tossing away one for a chance to have a good bottle of wine."

Wei Wuxian didn't see any point in holding on to any more then the full set in his possession.

"What did you wish for?"

Lan Wangji blinks incredulously, then curious. "Do you like wine so much?"

At his question. He thought about it. "Oh. As for that, I wished for friends. Real good friends. I don't wish for much. It's hard to have friends when I could have everything I could ever want if I asked my father."

"I like all alcohol. I just figured with how this place looks, wine would be a specialty of theirs. I will find out if my wish comes true."

He looks at the other man and wrinkles his nose a little. He doesn't know much about family but it sounds like this one is a bit of a rich kid.

"You shouldn't really have to wish for friends. I mean you already have them with the rest of the different."

He couldn't be anymore right that he's a rich kid. "I can't drink. But I had a lot of vintage wines back home. My father has a collection of them in his cellar." He sighs. Still, he'll remember that this one likes wine and maybe he'll give one to him someday.

Lan Wangji shook his head. "No...It's hard to get to know the other different." He said wistfully. He realized he spoke too much and this one wouldn't understand either. "Money can buy a lot of things, but not happiness. That's why my wish."

Waving a hand, changing the subject, "Anyway, I heard there's a dinner inside the castle. Are you going?"

Definitely a rich kid. Polar opposite of the orphan who grew up playing on the streets. He shoves his hands in his pockets and looks towards the area where everyone seems to be heading to.

"I'm not one to turn away a party and free food. Especially considered we may have helped this party happen." They did free the one god after all. And although he wasn't around to assist with the second, apparently they were successful.

With a nod, "Let's go."

It's a simple matter of following the crowd to enter the castle. It was a festive, warm, and formal ambiance that has become more formal and contained. Laid out on the table is a feast. Lan Wangji frowns at the heavy meats, but there are dishes of fruits and sweets served as well.

"That's so much meat." It made his head spin as he looks around to search for a table.

"Are you a vegetarian?" That could make this feast a little less enjoyable, especially with the boar staring at them. There really is a lot of meat, but the question is..is any of it spicy and going to satisfy his pallet?

He wanders through the table, looking for one he imagines most of their people are going to congregate towards.

With a light shrug, "No. But I eat more of vegetables over meat. There was just so many." He remarked, eyeing the different dishes and meats. "It's completely different to what I used to. I guess the people here like to hunt game a lot."

Still, his question does bring up a good reminder. "Maybe I should stick to something familiar."

Anyway, he found an empty table with chairs and took a seat, and he quietly gestures that Xian is welcome to join on the adjacent chair across the table as company.

He plops down in his seat and like magic that wine he requested from the jester is brought to him. He grins as he holds it up, "Wishes do come true."

He pours himself a glass, "It might have something to do with this being a festival to celebrate the gods..or whatever it was. A lot of this is probably offerings the village makes. And variety is the key to happy gods, right?"

Seeing the wine bottle, eyebrow raised, he was amazed. "Really? That was a quick one for a wish. Tell me if it's any good."

Anyway, how to start? Might as well start with the offered meats. Using a crude-looking knife, he'll help himself cut into a roasted bird and carved a small piece to put on his plate.

"I think so. I studied more about this place from the library. It seems this civilization believes in the power of the old gods, so it's a polytheist society. Each god has a different function and their power is linked to this place."

"And they balance each other..which is why they all had to be released, right? Well..whatever it all means, they are happy now and dancing with the rest of the villagers so that is a good sign."

He didn't care much about history or gods or any of that. But this is the most food he has seen at any one time so he is definitely interested in trying a little bit of everything.

"Mn. Balance is restored." At least, that's a part of the mission the group has accomplished.

Wangji tries a bit of everything from the platters being served and offered. It was quite a heavy meal until he becomes full and drinks juice to wash it down. The music is festive and most of the locals are dancing. Wangji even noticed some of the Different from their group joins in the festivities, dancing the night away.

Being a wallflower. "...It seems the people are dancing too. I don't dance, so I'll stay here."

He looks over at the dancing, still in sampling mode on all of the food and about halfway through his bottle of wine.

"Obviously I like to dance but I've never really danced with a partner like that before." That is going to take a little studying to see just how it works because he is sure it won't be anything like what he is used to.

Lan Wangji eats very slowly. He finds his meal quite heavy in seasoning and flavor. It wasn't anything he has eaten before, but he does find it a bit heavy and gamey. But it was very tasty.

Lifting a cup, he washes it down with a sweet drink, but he finds it's a very sweet, alcoholic fruity wine and figured out the drink is called mead.

"I think I had seen one of your shows back at the nightclub. Is there a difference between this dance and the dance number that you do?"

"I'm used to backup dancers or dancing alone. Dancing with someone else and making it look like you are together..probably a lot harder then it looks. The moves themselves don't look that hard at least." Just very fluid and in time with the music. Some of it almost looks choreographed to the music but most of it just looks like people enjoying themselves.

he shrugs and continues to eat, "Something to investigate later maybe." He does so much dancing during the week that he isn't necessarily drawn to doing it on his day off but he isn't opposed to at least checking it out.

With a nod, listening to his tale. "Ah, that's interesting. I don't dance. I mostly have my nose in the books and study a lot, so there isn't much time for me to learn dancing."

He continues to eat and drink until he can't eat anymore, and just sit and be content as the party goes on in their revelry.

"Anyway, I think at the end of the night, we will leave together to go back home through the portal. No one will be left behind."

And now that he is done eating it is time to sit back and enjoy the rest of that bottle of wine. No sense in letting any of it go to waste.

"I imagine that is the plan. I don't think any of us really want to be stuck here permanently." He definitely doesn't. it's a nice place to visit but he'll take his own bed and job any day over this for the rest of his life.

With dry humor, "If we're stuck, then it will be entirely on the bureau. I don't think I'm that keen to stay. I have to go back home and study."

A few hours passed and the party winds down. The residents of the castle snuffed the candles out and castle becomes dark. The tables being cleared and most of the performers went home. It's a signal the party is over.

"I think the Different are gathering near the portal. I'm going to the Portal to go. So, let's go." True to his word, no one is left behind.

Wei Wuxian managed to finish his entire bottle and is pleasantly content and barely noticing that the party is ending. He looks around at that mention and manages to push himself up and out of his chair.

"It seems it's time for bed. What a shame. This place definitely knows how to have fun."

Feeling sleepy, rubbing at his eyes. "It sure does." He looks around, but it seems most of the Different are gathering to meet up at the castle's lobby.

Call it a hunch, but he waited for Wei Wuxian to rose from the table and stand. "I can't wait to go back to the city. It's familiar territory. I think one or two weeks is more than enough."

A few moments later, when he notices he's stumbling. "Did you drink the entire bottle? Can you make it home?"

"I did drink the whole bottle." And he is feeling rather pleasant because of it. "But that is nothing compared to what I drink at work." He practically gets paid to drink so having a low tolerance wouldn't be good for him. And he has made it home with far more in his system.

"I'm not worried. I'm a big boy and know how to find my way home." He grins as he starts heading towards where the rest of the Different are going towards the portals.

With a gentle shake of his head. "You're a bottomless pit, aren't you?"

Accompanying him with the other Different, they waited a few moments in the lobby before the others join the group.

"All right. I was thinking of calling an Uber and we can carpool if you need a ride home if you want. It will be on me."

He shakes his head, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I prefer to walk anywhere I need to go." He looks up towards the sky once they step through the portal back into the city. Only a few stars visible against the night sky above the sky scrapers.

"You can't see the stars in a car." He turns and lifts his hand in a wave as he starts down the street.

Once everyone gathers around and they made the jump through the portal. They're back in the city. "Ah, the city. This is much better." He gives himself a stretch as he sees the familiar tall building and skyscrapers, and the cars on the road.

"Are you sure? All right." He lifts his hands to wave good-bye. "Stay safe." Until they meet again.

Eventually, he did call that Uber to get his lift and ride to go back home.

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EVENT LOG: Strangers Waiting

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