EVENT LOG: Strangers Waiting

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✦ 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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Comments

[howkickassiam]

York grins.

"You know what? You're right," he says. "Thanks for being so thoughtful."

There's plenty to see out here. It reminds him of the circus. He nods toward an act a couple stages down and wanders over, taking hold of Xian's hand. It's a magician, prancing the stage with hoops and scarves. He causes the hoops to pass through one another, or so it appears, and more scarves to appear out of midair. If this had been a magician back in New York, he would have been wearing a black suit with a top hat, but this man is dressed in local finery.

[chenqing_player]

He gives that hand in his a little squeeze, following after York wherever he decides to go. As they stop in front of the magician he watches with interest.

"It's kind of funny..you could see a performer like this in a hundred different places at home. But somehow, seeing it like this, with this atmosphere just makes it more..fun? Interesting? I don't know..just better I guess."

[howkickassiam]

"It's amazing," he says in agreement. "Kind of makes me want some peanuts, though. Or popcorn."

[chenqing_player]

He laughs and looks around, "I think all the food is inside. A shame really. Some street vendor should be taking advantage of this."

[howkickassiam]

"Maybe they know there's better food inside," he says. "Or definitely."

There's got to be better food inside than peanuts and popcorn, right?

[chenqing_player]

"Doesn't mean they can't be catering to those that would rather have a snack and a show then a full four course meal." Wei Wuxian could go either way. Give him a cold drink and a snack and he'd be content to sit outside and enjoy the show all evening, just as easily as settling down at the big table and pigging out.

[howkickassiam]

"True," he says, shrugging. "Anyway, I suppose it's supposed to be a big deal to get an invitation to come here." That's probably why.

[chenqing_player]

"A big deal and yet they still let us outsiders in. We did help save the world in a way I guess." He doesn't necessarily feel like he did much other then help with a little information.

"But hey..It gave me an excuse to get all dressed up so bring on the party!"

[howkickassiam]

York grins.

"Let's check out the inside," he suggests.

[chenqing_player]

"Ready to eat, drink and be merry?" He grins as he pulls York towards the entrance that leads into the main dining hall. "Or do I get to see your dance moves?" It's not like any kind of dancing he has ever tried before but at least people seem to be having fun.

[howkickassiam]

"Oh, definitely both," he says.

They wander inside, where candles flicker and illuminate an incredible spread of food. The place is packed.

"Hope you like people," York remarks. He doesn't think that's a problem for either of them, though.

[chenqing_player]

"I wouldn't be very good at my job if I wasn't." He laughs and walks over to one of the tables to study the array. "This is the most food I think I've ever seen in one place."

[howkickassiam]

"Right?" York wanders down to the end of the buffet and takes a plate. There are servants putting the cuts of meat on people's plates and York inquires as to what a couple of them are, then receives a small cut of each.

One of them is unmistakably a boar with an apple in its mouth. York stands before it for a few moments, awed.

"So, this is kind of morbid maybe, but I wonder how they killed that thing."

[chenqing_player]

He walks up to the boar and makes a face. That's something he is used to seeing in movies about vikings or something and not what he ever thought he would experience in real life.

"Really rough round of hog wrestling?" He goes to collect a plate as well and will gladly take a little of everything available. No better way to find out what the best foods are then to have everything on your plate to try.

[howkickassiam]

York laughs at that.

"I wouldn't want to have to fight that guy," he says. "He'd be some kind of Goliath."

[chenqing_player]

"I wouldn't either and if that is the kind of sport they like to play here..I'll stick to the city life." He is not about to play the hunting game, and certainly not going to wrestle an extremely large pig.

[howkickassiam]

York chuckles again.

"Not a farm person?"

Not that York is either. But he's had plenty of jobs now where he has gotten his hands dirty.

[chenqing_player]

"I don't mind the country, but I certainly don't want to be a farm hand." He holds out his arms and does a turn.

"I mean..do I look like someone who would do well on a farm?" He doesn't think there is any inch of him that could handle living that country life for very long. He needs the excitement and fast paced and colorful world of the city.

[howkickassiam]

"I try not to judge a book by its cover, but eh...no." He laughs.

[chenqing_player]

"When a book cover looks this good, it's okay to judge." He grins and straightens his jacket before taking his plate over to an empty seat at the table.

[howkickassiam]

York sits down beside him.

"Not to brag about your own taste, or anything," he adds with a chuckle. It's good taste, so York doesn't mind.

[chenqing_player]

"There is no shame in being confident or bragging once in awhile." Wei Wuxian has never been one to be shy about anything and he certainly knows he is at least moderately good looking with a small flair for fashion.

"At least we now get to enjoy this food that we did not have to kill ourselves."

[howkickassiam]

"Hey, now. You were supposed to compliment my style, too," he teases.

[chenqing_player]

He smirks, "You mean I'm not allowed to simply quietly admire any longer?" He rests back against his chair. He had already given his approval of the attire when the man first arrived but he certainly doesn't mind doing it some more.

"I think if you dressed like this at the club I would have to protest because I would be too distracted to do my job."

[howkickassiam]

York grins.

"Good thing the whole bouncer gig means I have to look tough."