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

[ Clara pauses, and then she nods. ]

That too. We're sort of space-slash-time travelers. He's the professional, I'm just along for the ride.

[ It's more than that, of course, and there's a small smile tugging at her lips. ] For someone like that, he deserves something nice. He'll never admit it or think it.

[ He isn't that humble, it would just never occur to him that anyone, even her, would think to give him a gift. ]

I'm positive you'll meet him at some point. He's...[ What's the word? ]...curious about everything and everyone.

[ Space and time? Mizuki blinks, and looks like she's maybe trying to parse that little nugget of information, but with "Date" and his memory issues, by now she supposes it's not all that strange. Her fingers freeze of the scarf as she thinks, and she catches Clara's eye again when she continues.

...Cute. Damn. ]

You haven't met Peter, have you? He apparently traveled space, too.

...Never mentioned time, though. Except when he told me about Mantis... [ Did he? Do we have multiple time travelers here? And when's it gonna be her turn??? ]

Star-Lord? [ She laughs a little, remembering their meeting. ]

Yeah, we've met. Nice guy, we're from the same planet. I think he might be from a different universe, though.

[ Clara rifles through a few more scarves. ]

I take it that's not so common where you're from?

[ Mizuki lets out a laugh, shaking her head. Must be his super-hero name or something. She idly starts to adjust some of the placement of the scarves when she notices that some of them are a bit displayed a bit crooked. ]

No, not exactly. Just plain old Earth, but time travel is the stuff of movies and books. Or so I thought, anyway.

[ Her voice lowers slightly, and she trails off, like she might not be so sure anymore. ]

'Til I woke up here, I guess.

I thought so too, until an alien knocked on my door.

[ Clara grins, she can't help it. But she does sober a little at the mention of being here, in this place. ]

If someone can bring us here, then they can send us back home, too. We just have to figure out who it is and how they did it.

. . . Right.

[ Mizuki played herself. Though at the very least, Clara makes it sound easy. Suddenly she finds the scarf she's looking at very interesting as she's averting her eyes. Thinking of it like another case, it's pretty discouraging that she's gone this long without any leads, but... ]

Heh. So aliens are your type, huh...

[ Does she have reason to believe she's shopping for said alien? Not really. But nevertheless, she reaches for a scarf that apparently catches her eye. ]

Well, it's not green, but how about this red one? ...It's kind of fancy.

[ Clara turns a shade of pink and clears her throat. What does she even say to that correct assessment? ]

We aren't—I mean yes, maybe? But we aren't together. Not like that.

[ Thank God Mizuki pulls out the scarf when she does, because it's a perfect distraction. ]

That's it! That's the one.

[ She knows it as soon as she sees it and reaches out for it. ]

[ What, they're not? Mizuki looks almost disappointed, but then she's surprised by how quickly Clara takes to the choice. She lifts her hand off the scarf and allows Clara to take it. ]

It is? Oh.

[ Try not to sound too surprised or excited, Mizuki. ]

......Cool!

[ Nailed it. ]

I dunno how I know, I just...

[ Clara turns it over in her hand, running her fingers over the silkiness of the material. ]

...know. You're better at this than you thought, and with not very much to go on. You didn't even have to stop to help, so thank you. My name's Clara, by the way. I was too focused on finding the scarf to have manners, I guess. Also, you stunned me with your super strength.

[ Mizuki goes full typical anime girl and smiles, committing the girl's name to memory as she scratches at the back of her neck. She lets a chuckle escape. ]

No worries, Clara. I'm Mizuki. I hope your guy likes it.

[ ...... ]

If not, just send him my way. I'm pretty convincing. [ Mizuki, no. ]

[ Clara turns a full shade pinker at the use of your guy. Should she correct Mizuki? Maybe. But is she going to, is the real question. ]

I'll keep that in mind. But I think he'll like it.

[ In fact, she feels sure of it. And apparently, she isn't going to deny him being hers. ]

Have you always had super strength or did it just happen one day? [ A pause. ] Sorry, was that a rude question? I'm still getting used to everything that's new to me, here.

[ That old man better.

But ah... This is actually the first time she's been asked outright about her super strength. Rude isn't the word, really—she would be curious too, she thinks. Yet she continues apprehensively, like she's not quite sure if she should be making up something. ]

It's okay. I've... I've always had it. But would you believe I didn't really find out until I was 12?

I'm a teacher, I wouldn't be surprised if any of my students were suddenly able to hurl a desk across the room at any given time, considering the amount of hormones that freak out around that age.

[ In short, yes, she would believe it, because 12 year olds are wild, but mostly loveable, monsters. ]

How'd you figure it out?

[ Mizuki looks at Clara. In hindsight, now she can see a lot of Hitomi Sagan in her features, so that definitely checks out. ]

Back home, there's a shrine I like to visit sometimes. It's quiet... Peaceful, with a lot of trees around.

I sorta kicked one down when I was training one day. [ With that guy... ]

Whoops, I guess?

[ Clara tosses Mizuki a smile. ]

Was everything okay in the end?

[ Whoops! On the bright side, his reaction was it to hilarious, at least. ]

Well, I didn't get in trouble or anything like that. But... it took me that long to realize I could use that kind of power to stand up for myself.

[ A pause. Another thing she's finally realizing is that she shouldn't have needed her powers for that, but she digresses. ]

...If you're a teacher, you probably saw a lot of kids who could learn to do that more.

{Mini Event} Day of Devotion

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