expiationlogs | {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

[ That sounds like a fair enough division of labor, and Zhou Zishu takes a thoughtful moment to produce a flask out of one of his draping sleeves. There's still a bit of wine left in it, so he philosophically drains the rest as he turns to head back towards where food was being served. A bit of a shame to lose the last of it, but sacrifices must be made.

He's back before long, flask refilled with water. It should be just enough to fill the pot they have, but making another trip wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Maybe he could beg another proper drink out of them on the way. ]

Do you need a fire starter?

[ By the time Zhou Zishu wanders back over to him, the Doctor's collected a fair amount of sticks that look like they could work as fire starter. Unfortunately he's also made a mess of things in the process — from the way things are strewn about, it's clear he's gone about the process haphazardly and without much of a care or thought about who's going to pick up after him (spoiler alert: it probably won't be him). ]

Nope, got one.

[ He's putting the finishing touches on his little fire set up, rocks barrier and all, and pulls out his sonic screwdriver with a bit of a wave. ]

Well, maybe. [ There's a bit of a glower here. ] It hasn't been working properly since I've gotten here. If it doesn't work we'll do it the old fashioned way.

[ There's a brief pause as Zhou Zishu eyes the device the Doctor is waving around with polite skepticism, but he doesn't argue. Instead he moves to pour the water out into the pot, then stands to the side to let the other man deal with the file. Just far enough out of the way, in fact, that he probably won't get caught up in anything if there's an issue. Zhou Zishu may be curious about whatever it is that the Doctor has, but he's also paranoid. ]

What is wrong with it?

[ As if he'd be able to help. But he has always had a fascination with mechanics. ]

[ If the Doctor had noticed the distance Zhou Zishu was putting between him and the small little fire he doesn't acknowledge it. But then again, the likelihood of him noticing is slim considering how hard he's concentrating on trying to find the right setting. ]

There's some sort of interference in this world. I suspect that was why the technology here was malfunctioning when we arrived.

[ There's a moment where the whirring sounds more like creaking gears and then finally a spark ignites and a triumphant smile stretches onto his features. ]

And then there was light! Or fire. You get the idea.

[ He gives the sort of polite blink that disguises the fact that Zhou Zishu has no way of understanding anything of what was just said, though he does file the information away anyway. Technology malfunctioning?

And then his attention is very much taken by the strange device actually managing to start a fire, so there's no time to worry about anything else. ]

How did it do that?

[ There's an eager sort of curiosity there, moreso than even for the strange little experiment they're running. ]

[ There’s plenty of social cues that the Doctor misses out on, but sparks of curiosity in something is not one of them. There’s something like an odd mix of smug pride that settles in his voice as he gives his sonic a little toss in the air. ]

The sonic screwdriver mainly works with the various waves around us. Sound, radiation, electromagnetic, chemical — you get the idea. [ Which probably doesn’t answer Zhou Zishu’s question whatsoever. The Doctor can’t help but look a little bit puzzled at what he says next though. ]

It doesn’t normally work on wood but then again it wasn’t working on things it should have worked on so maybe something here changed the software settings.

[ All of that explains exactly nothing, but Zhou Zishu is getting the feeling that trying to get any further clarification will keep them there all day. The whole thing gets filed in the back of his mind under 'technology from a different world', and let go for the time being.

Instead, he moves to collect the pot and set it over the now-burning fire, eying the setup to make sure it isn't all about to tip over. ]

It will take some time to boil. [ And then what? Who knows, he's making this up as he goes. The flowers are at least collected and ready for whatever this little experiment is.

But while they're waiting, he can't help but cast the Doctor another quickl look. ]

Do you do this often?

Do what? Boil flowers to see what happens or get dragged here from a different world and finding myself with absolutely nothing to do?

[ It's moment's like these where he's reminded about how awful linear time really is. With nothing else left to do but wait, he seats himself back onto the ground with a bit of an annoyed huff. ]

[ Well now that he mentions it... ]

Either. [ So very dry. ] But I did mean the experiment.

[ Is getting dragged into other worlds something that can be done often? Is this a new thing Zhou Zishu has to worry about? ]

[ Ah, that dry tone. For some reason he can't help but find it a little amusing. ]

Not this sort of experiment precisely, but ones that have been similar. It's a little bit of a slower process than just scanning it but sometimes you don't have access to those sorts of tools.

[ His gaze skips towards Zhou Zishu. ]

Do you do this often? Either to clarify.

[ He meets that look evenly for a second before one side of his mouth quirks into a faint smile. ]

Experiments...sometimes. Not quite like this.

[ Usually he has at least something to work from, some idea of where things are likely to go. But leaving his old life has made him increasingly more likely to take risks, and if you can't do stupid things while stuck in a different world, when can you? ]

I didn't know there were even other worlds to be dragged to.

[ He can draw some vast assumptions that the experiments Zhou Zishu did were of the herbal sort based on what he had said before. Whether it was healing or not is anyone's guess, but he prefers to give the benefit of the doubt if he can. ]

Bit of a mind boggling experience, isn't it? You seem to be handling it well all things considered.

[ Of course it's easy for the Doctor to say so with such levity when he's grown up knowing this. It's incredibly tempting to nudge the water molecules along, but there's something about watching the water boil that is soothing to him. ]

What do you make of it all so far?

[ Is he handling it well? Very few things about the situation aren't confusing, but years of being adaptable have to count for something. Zhou Zishu shrugs slightly, which is probably enough of an answer. Either he moves forward or he locks himself in his room and frankly there's only so much drinking even he can do.

Besides, the other question is much more interesting. ]

We've been brought ostensibly as criminals, but there's been no mention of sentence and the people here make for poor jailers. [ He flicks a wryly knowing look at the locals going about their business, most of them quite happily ignoring the nonsense happening here. ] So either that was a lie or there's something bigger planned.

{Mini Event} Day of Devotion

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