expiationlogs | {Mini Event} Day of Devotion

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{Mini Event} Day of Devotion

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

🕊️ i. Uncanny expressions of love (Jewelry)

[ No matter how anyone can look at it—the majority of the textile options will clash with his usual attire. Which is not actually the reasons he avoids those actually. Yet it is how they say... When in Rome you should do as the Romans do. That mentality is how someone like Nikolai finds himself perusing through various sparkling penchants and meandering alongside crystal clear cases of jewelry.

The initial search for what he wants most is not very fruitful. Regardless of whether the nearest person is actually being employed to assist at the stall he pauses to address them. ]

Terribly sorry to interrupt. Have you seen many animal themed options?

[ Sounds like he's looking for something specific. ]

🕊️ ii. Now you see it, and now you don't! (Flowers)

[ As a matter of fact he should be lending a hand in handing out bouquets. For some time he did comply with that expectation but it was only a matter of time before that started to get stale.

With flick-like flourish a red rose that was once held in Nikolai's gloved hand swiftly disappears from sight. A shimmering gold engulfs the space it was in and in its place a spider lily appears.

The magic trick is quick, hard to follow. For most passers-by the trade will be too swift, and too abstract to check the first time. Yet the most observant may notice that the flowers are trading places. Where one is held between Gogol's fore finger and thumb the other lays atop a table to the side.

It is that spider lily that he offers for someone else to take. ]

Shall we make a trade?

[ what feels to be trapped in the unknown is a foreign sensation; a new place with its nuances and strangeness, dangers and secrets, should be compelling to someone of fyodor's intelligence. except, the devotion of his vast intellect has always been geared towards the destruction of things back in their world. theirs because he's not alone here having caught sight of a familiar nuisance on the network and congratulating himself on his precaution not to say a single thing.

guilty of mischief indeed.

stalking his former (or current?) member of the decay of angels is a simple enough task if only because fyodor is intimately familiar with the small details of the other. seeing him prowling about for jewellery, he knows exactly what gogol is looking for. like an asshole, he takes the next three stalls making sure to purchase anything and everything remotely birdlike.

then, circling back around he seeks out that outfit, that distinctive silver braid that makes fyodor want to yank on it before shoving him into the nearest source of water. (it is simply an urge he will have to live with). ]

I am afraid everything you seek is already out of stock, dearest friend. [ but fyodor doesn't stop to greet gogol, he doesn't stop at all, as if he's merely passing by and offering an observation. there are far too many people here for his liking. ]

Edited 2023-02-18 04:21 (UTC)

[ The moment Gogol recognizes that unmistakable presence is clear—his entire frame goes stock-still after he turns to look in disbelief. Shock freezes the jester's features in place. Eyes wide, pupils dilated, and mouth agape. It's just about as unfiltered as his expressions will get.

A light returns to his eyes that wasn't there previously. One that hadn't been there since he'd arrived in this unfamiliar world. A light that would sparsely appear even before that. ]

Ohhh Fedya~! [ Many emotions are encapsulated in that one endearment as he calls out to the retreating back. Relief most of all-- although it's far from the only one. The return to his usual animated disposition is swift, as it always tends to be. It's evident by the way he jumps into motion to stalk after his friend. Each long stride becomes jauntier than the last until he makes quick work of closing that distance.

Still, had he been any less laser focused on that familiar frame he might've lost this phantom image in the crowd. ]

What's this I see? It looks like you made it.

[ Made it as in "here"? Or as in "Oh, you survived"? Naturally, the answer is both. He chuckles darkly. ]

Ah, and you still know me so, so well!

[ the face nikolai makes is one he needs not see again to know it is present; the first time it'd surprised him, gloved hands cradling his own fearlessly— that unfiltered emotion, as if he's pleased to see fyodor, truly pleased. the eyes give him away, it's difficult to stomach, how to be free is such a complicated matter for his dear friend when he's already soaring close to his goal.

but fyodor is not here to school or scold nikolai for his foolishness back in meursault. to keep up with him is no easy feat but nikolai makes it look easy with the way he catches up and they both weave in and out of the crowd until it thins a little and they are not alone but less likely to be interrupted.

it is only then that fyodor stops abruptly and turns on his heel, beloved ushanka on his head. ] Would you expect me to know you any less despite being in prison for months?

[ from his bag of purchases a brooch is pulled out, the feathers made of incrusted white stones, the body a deep-jade tone, the eyes purple. he has the audacity of pining this trinket to his white shirt as if his dear friend has not been looking for this. ]

[ Shortly after Dostoevsky comes to an abrupt standstill so does he. As if he'd been watching for something like it to happen. Only someone much more naive wouldn't notice the thinning crowds passing by. From the start it was likely that Nikolai was being lead to a more isolated playing field.

The purpose of which is still unclear. Nikolai obliges regardless. ]

It would be very sad if my dear friend forgot all about me so easily! I'm sad just thinking about it!?
Good thing, then, that you'd never be so absent minded.

[ The appearance of such a beautiful birdlike brooch indeed makes him guffaw.
Now it's all a game and between the two of them he's been the one to be a lot more direct in pursuing physical touch. This remains true now as Gogol reaches out to curiously touch the trinket pinned to the starchy cloth. It's a scant layer or two between his finger tips and solid evidence that his heartfelt scheme to rid himself of the shackles of attachment has failed spectacularly. ]

What am I to do now, hm? Dos? I find myself in a very troubling predicament.

[ as expected, his co-worker always meets his expectations when others fall far, far short from them. that is why this meeting is happening and why the touch is tolerated with the same patient indulgence he seems to offer gogol and gogol alone. there are people walking past and fyodor pays them mind, a lazy glance here and there. no one recognizable from home—something he wants to keep an eye on. after all, people's goodwill tends to dry quickly if one is accused of crimes.

and his list from home is numerous even if here it seems more of a joke. ]

Do you? [ the mildest of tones, as if there had been no attempts made on his life back home. as if they were back in russia discussing ethics. ] Would you tell your friend all about your troubles then?

[ the weight of that brooch heavy on his chest. there is expectations of violence and fyodor is prepared but when it'll come he does not know for certain, gogol's whimsical nature keeps him guessing.

for his part, he's not planning on paying his dear friend back after that whole poison business. ]

[ Part and parcel of the issue is how Gogol is good at fitting into all those plans. This he has thought of. It's a shame, then, that on a whim he's so willing to engage in the subterfuge necessary to reach for his own dreams instead. Solemnly crushing carefully laid out plans underfoot like delicate porcelain dolls.

Yet he retains the inability to let go in the way he needs to. He looks to Fyodor and smiles, and smiles, and smiles in a way that says it's frozen on his face. ]

I will tell you because you are my dear friend!
My heart picks up when I think about all the cruel things you would've been subjected to! It must've been a truly magnificent game you played.

[ Unable to hold onto the manic energy surrounding him moments ago Gogol's expression softens. It's too dear of a topic for that right now. Regardless, he remains one for the dramatics so he spreads his arms outwards to reach their entire wingspan, palms up, as if to offer a prayer of praise. ]

It was my choice to let things play out! ...but I must confess that now that I'm faced with the result I'm not sure how to proceed. My attempt at severing the only bond worth keeping has failed.

[ and a part of him is consoled by it. ]

Nikolai Gogol | Open

wildcardish??? profit!!

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