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

[At least Cloud has the good sense not to scold her, likely knowing that even if he did, Aerith does as Aerith pleases. Some of the time. Most of the time. Almost all of the time, honestly. Perhaps it is easiest to simply say that Aerith is a bit of a handful and has been on shockingly good behaviour since her arrival.]

I'm gonna make you do it all.

[She's teasing when she says it, grinning ear-to-ear. Waiting patiently until he's made space for the bulb in question. As she sets it down, she holds it, indicating that he ought to do the 'heavy lifting' and fill it all in. It might be a joint effort, but she thinks he might appreciate it more if he gets the chance to play more of a role in it.]

You're not bad at it. [She offers him an encouraging look, scooting in a little closer to gently bump her shoulder into his.] So keep going. I think they're warming up to you.

[The flowers, she means.]

[ There's a breath of exasperation--he's waiting, but Aerith offers that bulb up like he should take it, and with a shake of his head, he makes a show of holding up the dirt with one palm so that he can reach to take the bulb with his other hand. Their fingers touch, a brush of dirty nails to dirty leather; embarrassed, he pulls the bulb quickly, nestling it down firmly into the hole he's made before he starts to cover it up. His hands work careful, long strides over the shape of it; in some ways, it feels like tucking someone into bed.

The nudge to his shoulder is another touch that's unnecessary, and whatever it is that's come over him with her presence, today, it feels almost electric--he bows his chin, nodding faintly to acknowledge that he's listening to her, though really he just wants to hide his face from view. Whatever he's feeling is ridiculous: it's surely just the effect of something here. It'll go away by the time they're done.

He lets out a long, slow breath, lifting his chin to finally narrow his gaze at her, and then look back down to the dirt. He moves on to the next space. ]

Are they? Not really sure how to read them. [ Is he talking about the flowers? ] Tell me what I should be looking out for. To me, if they're so quiet, it means they're probably afraid of me.

[If he was really displeased about it, she would have relented. But maybe there's a part of her that enjoys getting under his skin a bit. Less a 'maybe' and more an outright certainty. He still puts up with it. He still puts up with her. So perhaps in one way or another, he doesn't dislike it as much as it seems he does. Maybe Cloud is a little dramatic from time to time.

And why shouldn't he be? Why shouldn't any of them be? Times are hard.

She's careful in the way she dips her chin and settles just a part of her chin against his shoulder. Not nearly enough to really disrupt him. (At least not physically. Mentally, emotionally—these are certainly up for debate.) Perhaps it is just enough to remind him that she is, in fact, at his side. Or maybe she needs it more than he does. She'd believe that. For all of her strength and resilience, she is far from perfect.]

Hm... I don't know that I'd say I can hear them. [Aerith begins slowly, wondering how she can describe it. To say they talk to her is not necessarily accurate. Sometimes it sure can seem that way.] It's almost more like a feeling? Here—

[Lifting a hand, Aerith reaches over with her other hand and she gently draws a fingertip over a petal and then a leaf indicatively, showing the way even a slight press of weight causes them to spring back.]

—you can see how full of life they are. It's almost like the plant's... happy. Get it? And when they wilt, that's sort of how we are when we're not feeling our best.

[ It's similar, in a way, to a conversation they had once before: so he believes it, though he won't say it out loud. Knowing what he knows now, there's something about the Planet, back home, that Aerith is connected to; could she become connected to this one, too? Is there something that he can do to encourage it, if she wants it, or sever it, if it would put her into danger? His lips press together, a breath through his nose, but he doesn't say anything; no matter what she says, he feels stupid about it, in a way, like his inability to connect with people extends to plants and animals, as well.

After all, all those cats ran away from him in the slums. Has to mean something.

His gaze shifts, though his body is resolutely stiff--it's less out of embarrassment and more that he finds, peculiarly, that he doesn't want to move away from her, doesn't want her to feel like he wants to sever the contact. Rather, it's a point of warmth that blossoms from his bare arm past the thick material of his shirt and boils around in his chest; he watches her touch the plant and decides he doesn't want to risk ruining the feeling by doing the same. ]

Sure. But you're making it sound so simple. [ There is a small sliver of humor in his voice, as his palm lays flat against the mound of the flower he just planted. ] Like those are the only two feelings. Happy, or sad.

Do they feel afraid? Or longing? It's... [ A soft breath. ] ...hard to tell, sometimes.

Oh, I know there’s all kinds of feelings.

[Aerith chortles softly as she watches him with a certain kind of fondness. He’s still trying his all. She could tease him if it wasn’t so cute to watch. He’d hate to hear it put like that.

Settling down to lean onto an elbow and cradle her chin in the palm of her hand, she gives his question the thought she feels it deserves. They aren’t questions people normally ask back home. The kids at the orphanage have asked questions like that, but it’s a little different.

She feels happy that Cloud’s willing to ask such things.]

I think so, yes. Again, if they’re as alive as us, why wouldn’t they feel the same things? It’s hard to know how to communicate with them, if we even can. But I think they appreciate the effort. I’m sure they can feel loss and sadness, confusion, and uncertainty. Probably everything that we can.

...Seems unfair.

[ There's a faint tilt of his head--and he realizes, embarrassed, that he's letting his thoughts wander, letting his feelings spill into words that he shouldn't be sharing. Aerith isn't really going to tease him about it later, he figures, but even so: it's uncomfortable, in a way, but something in him keeps propelling him forward to continue. ]

Things that are so pretty shouldn't have to endure so much, you know. They make people happy. They should...be protected from loss, and uncertainty. As much as they can be.

[ Is he still talking about the flowers, even now? Frowning, slightly, he pats his hand to the dirt again, and clears his throat. ]

...Anyway. Grab me another bulb. I think we have room to plant one more here. Shouldn't be too crowded.

[His words wash over her, a simple wave of proverbial ocean and feeling all at once. It’s a beautiful collection of words. In many ways she agrees with him. Ideally, it would be nice if most people, most things didn’t have to endure unfairly. A part of her thinks, however, that perhaps those words are as applicable to her as they would be to flowers.

…Cloud is not the sort to say such things lightly or without thought. If anything, it is when he says his heaviest words that he is his most serious. Looking over to him, she watches him in a muted silence, holding onto what he says. Taking it to heart. She wonders if he knows what she’s seen. What she’s up against. If perhaps, he knows more than she thinks he does.

All of this time, she’s wanted to protect him. To guard him from things he doesn’t know. Things she doesn’t think he knows. Yet…]

Oh…! Right. Oops.

[Her gaze turns back onto the small package of plants she’s brought with them. Aerith plucks up one gently and then reaches past him to gently rest it in the little place he must be indicating.]

Here. I’ll hold it this time. I think you’re right. They’re close enough to be good friends without it being too much.

{Mini Event} Day of Devotion

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