{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

[makemeasong]

I honestly think I've met people from everywhere but Earth at this point.

[ Clara grins, full of dimples followed by amusement. ]

The Lord of Stars, huh? [ She gives a perfect half-curtsey, but there's only gentle teasing in her eyes. Her genuine curiosity does get the better of her, though. Now she knows two people who go by something Lord, and she's definitely gonna have to ask the Doctor if they've met. ]

It's nice to meet you Peter Quill. How did you get such an amazing title?

[starguy]

For real? Almost everyone I've met here seems to come from Earth. It's weird being anywhere without any Kree, or Xandarians, or anything.

[ He almost laughs at her curtsey. Ohhh no, Clara has opened the door for Peter to show off. Abandon ship, I'm embarrassed for him. ]

Picked it myself. [ He points towards his back with his thumb. It says Star-Lord on the back of his jacket. ] Earned it by saving the galaxy with my friends, no big.

[makemeasong]

It's funny how that works, isn't it? Now I bet I'll meet a dozen people from Earth after this.

[ Clara immediately likes his vibe, and she finds herself drawn in by his nonchalance. ]

You've saved the galaxy, I've helped save planets. We should swap stories. I mean, saving the galaxy a hundred percent gives you the right to make your own nickname.

[ She believes that too, saving a galaxy? No small feat. ]

[starguy]

Hah, well hopefully I'll meet all the people who aren't. It's weird hearing about Earth after being gone for so long!

[ It weirds him out! Just a bit. He's put that part of his life behind him, but it keeps coming back. ]

Dude, totally! That's what I said, too. When we started, my friends and I were trying get the team name "Guardians of the Galaxy" off the ground, but Rocket typoed the registration form so we kept getting called "Gardeners" for a while. But we got it to stick in the end!

[ He grins, pleased with himself. He has business cards. Don't get him started. Then again, the flowers make it kind of ironic now, huh. Don't tell Rocket that Peter's making him look bad... ]

We should totally swap stories, I wanna hear what planets you've saved! That sounds awesome.

[makemeasong]

[ Clara has to laugh softly; not at him but in amusement of his enthusiasm. ]

Actually, in all honesty, it's mostly Earth. It's shocking how many other planets want to destroy Earth. Or, it was at first.

[ Nodding at the flowers, she rests a hand on her hip. ]

Have you got tulips yet? I can show you a pretty rainbow field of them.

[ And maybe they could talk more, too. ]

[starguy]

Yeah, I'm not surprised. Earth has all those heroes and stuff, so trouble sure finds you guys. The Chitauri would've probably wiped the whole place out if it hadn't been for me on Mercury, too.

[ He winks. You're welcome! But, uh, yeah someone's gonna have to tell him that Earths aren't all full of superheroes. Citation needed tbh. ]

Ooh, yeah I remember tulips! I'd love to see that.

[ If there's one thing Peter loves, it's talking. ]

[makemeasong]

You know what? I think we might be from two different Earths, mate. We haven't got superheroes. Just one bloke who happens to really like our planet.

[ Clara looks up at him as they walk. ]

Did you know that, that everyone here could be from a different version? I've never have heard of the Chitauri at all. Might just mean they haven't made it to us yet.

[starguy]

Aw, really? Guess it wouldn't be the first time.

[ He shrugs, only a little disappointed. Looks like Mr. Knight is an outlier who should not be counted. ]

Oh, yeah! That's my go-to theory right now. I thought maybe we had at least a little more in common, but I guess different universes probably don't overlap that much... trust me, you're better off not know the Chitauri though. They suck. And I'm not a guy who likes generalizing, but Chitauri flarking suck.

[makemeasong]

Then definitely don't ask me about the Cybermen, because they also flarking suck. I like that word by the way, flarking. I can't swear in front of my students, but I think that'd fly.

[ If she ever gets to be a teacher again. ]

Anyway, they've tried to take over Earth. A lot. But the Doctor somehow always manages to stop them, even though he's not even from our planet. He just likes it that much, and sometimes I happen to be along for the ride.

[starguy]

Hah, yeah. We had to come up with a curse that won't translate funny in a million languages. Flarking won. Scut's another good one.

[ He smirks. Hey, at least she'll probably get it. It's definitely not about getting a T rating, it's about space! ]

That's so cool, though! I mean, not the part where Earth keeps getting attacked by aliens, but that's cool that you and this Doctor guy have managed to save it a bunch. What kind of doctor is he? Centurian? Xandarian? Ooh, Shi'ar?

[makemeasong]

As in 'oh scut?' [ She thinks she's catching on. ] I like that one, too.

[ Clara realizes her mistake and shakes her head. ] My fault, that's not his title. Although I guess it could be? But it's his name. Like Cher or something.

[ She doesn't mention Time Lord, thinking it's best she let him divulge that part when, and if he wants. ]

[starguy]

Yep, exactly! My buddy Rocket likes coming up with new ones. Plus we have a... very literal-minded Katathian on our team. He'd probably get the wrong idea if somebody told him to "fuck off."

[ See, real reasons! But he's actually kinda pumped alongside her excitement. This is how people should respond to space scut! ]

Ohhhh, gotcha. [ Who's Cher? He won't ask, he just nods. ] That's cool that he's helping Earth even though he's from off-planet. And if you guys don't have all those superheroes, then the planet probably needs all the help it can get.

[ Earth just seems disaster-prone. ]

[makemeasong]

[ Clara has to laugh, because she honestly wonders what the Doctor would do and how he would react if someone told him to fuck off. She's almost positive it'd finally be the thing that made him go speechless, but she can't be sure. ]

Yeah, Earth is weirdly targeted. Is it because we're so useless on our own without superheroes or the good kind of alien to help us? Is it because of our land-to-water ratio? I'm so curious to know, but then most of the time it boils down to wanting to be the superior being in the universe. Or something. Is it like that for you, too?

[starguy]

You know, I'm not really sure. Most other species leave Earth alone where I'm from, but it's mostly because they don't really want to bother with it. Earth's considered to be kind of a backwater planet, since space travel isn't the norm or anything.

[ There's a reason people see Peter's Terran face and immediately think he's trouble. Well, and because he is. But that's not a Terran thing. ]

The Kree are the ones who're obsessed with being 'superior' but they're always fighting with Xandar so that keeps 'em busy. Plus, last time we had a Galactic War it was just about some guy wanting to get a date with Death. Literal Death—like, the god/concept or whatever. He just thought if he killed enough people and caused enough destruction, she'd notice him.

[ Fuck that dude, tbh. ]

[makemeasong]

Backwater!

[ She looks mildly offended but then she huffs. ]

...Maybe. Admittedly, Earth is probably the least advanced of every place I've been to.

[ Except for the places that avoid it on principle or something. But she's fascinated listening to Peter; she's never heard of anything he's saying but she's keeping mental notes. ]

Why would you want to meet death? Is there a 'death' to meet? Like the Grim Reaper, a scythe and a black robe? What I'm hoping is that you stopped him before finding out, even though I'm still super curious.

[starguy]

[ Peter chuckles. ]

Trust me, I've heard way worse.

[ And most of the time those insults are directed at him! He's so used to it. ]

That's what everyone else thinks, too! Thanos was whacked up -- but he had the galaxy in serious trouble with how much firepower he built up between him and the Chitauri. It's so weird, but yeah, he literally wanted to get a date with the physical embodiment of Death. Who didn't even give him the time of day, by the way.

[ At least that part's funny. The rest of the Galactic War wasn't so fun, though Peter tries to keep it light. ]

But I wasn't the guy who stopped him. [ Wow, humility? ] I mean, I helped out on Mercury, sure, but, Drax is the one who killed Thanos. And Richard Rider was the guy who led the Resistance and finally ended things on Chitauri Prime. That was twelve years ago, but the galaxy's still recovering from how bad it got.

[makemeasong]

That was bold of him to assume Death wanted to date him in return. Could've just killed him for his trouble. Guess in the end it's what happened anyway.

[ It sounds like that was an awful time regardless, and she has to give it to UNIT, they've done a great job covering up things to keep people from asking questions after the fact. so much so she doesn't even know her mum was killed by aliens. ]

Sounds to me like you and Drax, and everyone else involved were heroes.

[ She smiles up at him, and when they make it to the flowers, she crouches down and carefully, at an angle so it will grow back, cuts the stem with her thumbnail before handing it to him. ]

There. Fit for a Star Lord?

[starguy]

This is Thanos we're talking about. I don't think he was capable of thinking something might not go his way. And most of the time, it did... right up until it didn't.

[ He smirks. Good riddance to that guy! Hope he really is dead though. He's dead, right? He's definitely. Definitely dead. Oh, no, Clara... Peter could relate. ]

You'd be right about that. [ He chuckles. ] It was such a huge war, basically anybody who survived should feel like a hero. And back home, Earth doesn't even know they were this close to a Chitauri invasion! It really makes you think.

[ He is eating this up. Being called a hero? Getting a flower from a fellow space-farer? It's a good day for Peter "Star-Lord" Quill. ]

Of course! [ He takes the flower very carefully and tucks the stem behind one of the many pins on his lapels. That oughta keep it in place. ] Pretty fancy, huh? What do you think?

[makemeasong]

[ Everything he's telling her is fascinating, she can't wait to tell the Doctor. Especially about this Thanos character. He sounds so much like Davors, it's uncanny.

At Peter's question, she grins happily. ]

Honestly, it's perfect. Flowers suit you, you should think about having one all the time.

[starguy]

[ Peter honestly takes that complement, because he is a sucker for compliments. Plus, he loves talking. It's a win-win for him, really. ]

Hah, I dunno if it goes as well with my Star-Lord look, but I'll take it.

[ He shoots her a wink with his grin. He is so lame I'm sorry. ]

[makemeasong]

Ah, who cares, it's a bright spot.

[ Clara laughs softly. ]

Maybe I've got a new calling: Fashion Flowers with Clara. What d'you think?

[starguy]

Totally. It's a nice touch.

[ He grins. ]

Oh, yeah, I think you might be onto something here. And with all these flowers, you could really get a business started... even if it only lasts about a week.

[ Alas, the shelf life of flowers... ]