{Mini Event} Day of Devotion

[expiationmods]

DAY OF DEVOTION

This is an entirely opt-in very casual event that has nothing to do with overarching storyline and is just an additional introductory log, and a means for characters to meet. We hope you've all had a very happy Valentine's Day week however you've chosen to spend it!

SCARVES OF LOVE

     

The season of affection and love of all kinds falls upon Aldrip in the wake of their festivities for Those Who Were There. As part of the celebration, what's referred to as the 'Day of Devotion,' local merchants carry a variety of wares, but none so coveted as their multicoloured scarves available in a variety of prints, designs, and fabrics. Perhaps consider picking one up and giving it to someone who's important to you. No money? No problem! Whilst Aldrip doesn't exactly work on a layaway system or akin to, you'll find the mercantile business owners are quite open to trades and other means of bartering. Maybe they'll give out a scarf or two in agreement for running some errands...

Lucky recipients of these very fashionable scarves will find themselves suspiciously open to sharing positive, warm and fuzzy, or perhaps downright amorous feelings toward the person who gifted them the scarf to begin with, regardless of whether you've known them for years or even just a couple of weeks. But don't worry—the feelings are temporary! Once the Day of Devotion comes to a natural conclusion, your feelings will return to something like normalcy and you'll still wind up with a new fashion accessory. Of course, if you've always been amorous with that special someone, you likely won't notice any sort of change.

Take the opportunity to embrace the celebration, maybe embrace one another a little bit, too, and begin forming some potentially everlasting bonds with others.

BRING PROTECTION

     

Not everyone is choosing to celebrate the Day of Devotion in the same way. Due to the heightened popularity of the pretty scarves, some of Aldrip's jewellers have been bitten by the green bug of jealousy. In an attempt to compete with the sales of scarves, jewellers are advertising pendants, brooches, and other assorted charms that are meant to serve as warding and protective trinkets. What are they protecting one from? It's difficult to say and the merchants aren't inclined to give a straight answer. But whether you need protection from love, personal feelings, or perhaps something more physical, they've got you covered!

If you choose to give these amulets to others, recipients of them and their related will be compelled to share their true feelings with those around them in addition to the person who gave them the protective charms. This sounds like it could be a good thing, however, that means it covers the array of positive, negative, and every shade in between, without a filter in place. Consider these accessories a potential test of friendships, familial relationships, and more.

Like the scarves, this need and desire to be truthful with your feelings will be temporary, lasting until the Day of Devotion celebration is over. But at least you'll be protected. From something. Maybe. Probably. Or not!

FLOWERS FOR ALDRIP

     

By now, you may be well familiar with Aldrip's variety of fields that are filled with vegetables and fruits that grace the dinner tables of the town and local cuisine. During the Day of Devotion and weeks leading up to it, you'll find that they're clearing another field and preparing the soil. What for, you won't find out until the actual day of the celebration. Once it arrives, there's a collection of simple carts filled with flowering plants. Locals and newly-arrived alike are welcome to lend a hand in planting them along the neatly tilled rows.

You may find plants that resemble or are identical to plants from your home world. You may find plants that you've never seen in your life. They come in a variety of colours and are accompanied by a lightly pleasing scent that shouldn't be too overpowering, though may still disturb those with allergies.

All who help out with the planting, watering, and other tending, will be rewarded with a bouquet of flowers that can be passed onto others to show your appreciation and other forms of affection. You may even find yourself making a good and lasting impression on the locals by offering some assistance.

Comments

[fatalism]

[ oh, this man is delightful in fyodor's books so far. the smile he offers is a smidge more genuine and he shakes his head. ] No, I am not a gardener though I am familiar with some of the mechanics.

I am particular about my tea so I thought it would be a useful thing to learn.

[ again his mouth twitches at the blunt declaration, you know what? he can get behind this completely. ]

You don't seem surprised by the attempt to piggyback off of our free labour.

[yeshou]

[ Wen Kexing nods in agreement. He also doesn't have any particular mastery in skills, but you do what you can to survive. He learned all kinds of things just because he had to. It must be the same thing. ]

I don't know that much about tea. I can brew it, but only basic teas.

[ The whole cultured, expensive tea plants are far beyond anything he's even seen, let alone been in contact with. ]

Tsk, of course they want to take advantage of us! What can we do but go along with it? The good and righteous are always the ones that have the most need of the unfortunate.

[ He's still not over his anger, despite how he keeps planting. Some things don't heal. ]

[fatalism]

[ those words catch his interest, and he smiles briefly in silent commiseration. oh that is very much true, in this world and any others out there. humanity is unable and unwilling to change unless forced. ] Don't worry, perhaps between the two of us we might come up with a way to get properly compensated for our labour here.

[ though ultimately material anything means little to an individual like fyodor, he will never turn down a fine cup of tea. and so that will be what he will seek to extract after they're finished here. there must be at least one decent brew around. ]

And we are doing well on time, we are more than halfway by now.

[yeshou]

[ Does he want compensation? The assurance makes Wen Kexing quiet at least a bit as he chews on that. Technically he really has no use for anything from the people here, but the principle of being used still rubs him the wrong way despite that. Somehow, the calm suggestion from Dostoevsky does help. He draws a short breath and huffs, settling into a dry satisfaction that someone else agrees with his ranting. ]

What should we do? You mean rob them? They don't have anything good.

[ At least he got to complain, though. That's something. ]

Maybe I'll keep some flowers. You said they could be useful? Maybe there are plants that we can use.

[ Surely Zhou Zishu at least could turn them into something. ]

Do you like tea that much? You'll crawl willingly through the dirt for the promise of it?

[fatalism]

[ fyodor snorts, amused: ] Robbing them isn't 'proper compensation' but if there were different circumstances, robbery is never off the table. One has to survive, don't you think?

[ soon, the end is in sight. he needs to return to his world to see it through, but also the end in sight of this flower-earth-planting. he feels everything begin to ache, unused to manual labour as he is. ] Keep them, I don't think they would protest.

And yes, I do like tea very much, one of the few pleasures in life. I could kill for a well-brewed cup.

[yeshou]

Well, it's not like they'll miss it.

[ He sounds like a petulant ten year old when he says that, but there really isn't a reason to steal something like flowers. Wen Kexing knows he's being petty, and part of him does want to shrug it all off, but every time someone tells him to give people more of a chance, it feels like a mistake. ]

We have to survive. I guess we don't need to do anything now, but why do they act like we should do this? It's not like we know them or owe them anything.

[ Neighborly kindness? What lies. ]

There are probably some plants in the fields that grow wild you could make tea from. But there's also a chance they're poisonous. Never mind killing, you could die for that cup.

[ He's mostly given up on even planting, with the flowers sticking up at weird angles and not entirely straight, but at least they're in the dirt. ]

You still want to try?

[fatalism]

[ those words make him smile. if they are poisonous and kill him, isn't that part of the fun? though he doesn't think he will die that easily, it seems like fate will not let him. even here... in this half-lost purgatory.

the flowers are not well planed but it will do. who cares in the end? he's not going to chastise his companion for his lack of affinity for horticulture. ]

Of course, I'd happily die for a good cup of tea.

[ because he's so normal like this. i'm sorry. ]

Though some would argue we do owe them, given we are sleeping under their roofs for now.

[yeshou]

[ He also doubts that anything they've planted is that toxic, but he can't say they wouldn't kill him either. Things cultivated to be beautiful often have deadly side effects that are only discovered by the poorest timing. Maybe some of those flowers do have deadly extracts--should he take some and ask Zhou Zishu after all?

Wen Kexing does smile at that answer, though. ]

Would you? Then I'll find you good tea. You can give me your life if you're that happy to offer it over.

[ He raises his head to look at the people around them, happily planting the offering garden with careful attention to each plant--much nicer than the mess he made. ]

They never said anything about a price. Who agreed to that? I can live in the woods just fine if they have complaints.

[ It's petty, but he's also being honest. He'd rather fend for himself than owe anyone. ]