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expiationlogs2023-02-17 07:53 am
{Mini Event} 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.
no subject
And then it dawns on him again. Right. His face. Bad cop face. There’s an attempt at rearranging it into something a little less furious and Marianne might catch that before he bends down to retrieve his lost but now found package. ]
Ah. Perfect. Thank you. I’m sure that [ He glances at the name, half scrawled on the brown packaging. ] Gustav will appreciate it. [ And then he pauses. ] You don’t happen to be them, right?
no subject
Oh. No, I'm Marianne.
[ She dips her head, feeling a bit scrutinized. That name, though. It rang a bell. She hasn't been here long, and she's mostly kept to herself, but the nice innkeeper who's provided her a room is a real gossip and... ]
I think I might know who you're looking for. [ She says slowly. ] But, um, I could be wrong. [ There could be more than one Gustav. What if she wasted his time? ]
no subject
He's about to draw a breath in, tell her that well it was nice of you to pick up my dropped package and leave when — ]
Do you? [ He seems to perk up considerably at that. ] Well, lead the way. Even if it's wrong it's more than I know. [ And before they start, he realizes after a minute he hadn't given his own name back in return.] I'm the Doctor, by the way.
no subject
[ After taking a moment to orient herself, Marianne starts down the cobblestone path in the direction of the bakery the innkeeper had boasted about. Apparently Gustav's pies are to die for, so even if this were the wrong man, it wouldn't be a complete loss. ]
It's nice to meet you, doctor. [ It's not everyday a mailman introduces himself as a doctor. So does that mean... ] Is that your usual job?
[ Hopefully that wasn't a silly question. ]
no subject
Being a doctor or being a delivery man?
[ Asking for the clarification is nothing but a poor and (super) lame attempt at a joke on his part even if he thinks it's the height of comedy. We're so sorry you have to suffer through this Marianne. ]
Yes and no. It's a little complicated. I'm not really a medical doctor.
no subject
Ah, I assumed you were a healer.
[ Knowing what she did now about different worlds and different times, it doesn't come as a complete surprise that conventions were different. ]
What do you do as a doctor?
no subject
[ Unfortunately that one is very serious. ]
And that one depends on who you ask. [ He has to mull that one over though; he's only recently come to the realization that he's just an idiot sans a TARDIS. Thankfully he's got enough sense to understand that that isn't the answer Marianne is looking for either. ] Mostly solve people's problems. Or try to. The problems usually find me accidentally. Although — [ He casts a side long glance towards her. ] I did receive a doctorate in cheese.
no subject
[ What does she say to this barrage of odd information? The 15th century? A doctorate in cheese? What is a doctorate, exactly? Marianne's not sure she's any clearer on what his job actually entails, either. It would seem he's a man with many different skills. ]
I'm not sure I follow. I think it must be that our homes are very different. Our healers use herbs or magic.
[ But generally no leeches. Blood was too precious to be let. ]
no subject
[ The look he gives Marianne is hopefully an encouraging one; eyes sparking with curiosity particularly a bit at the magic bit. ]
Magic doesn't exist where I'm from, for example. [ Science, logic, and perhaps a tiny bit of wonder ruled. ] Tell me more? How is magic used where you're from.
no subject
There are different kinds of spells. Ones to light fire, call wind, freeze water...These kinds of spells we learn by studying the world around us. Healing magic is different, though. Its power and protection is granted to us by the goddess. If that makes sense.
no subject
[ He thinks he's following, and he looks to her for confirmation. The latter sounds not so dissimilar from science and transfer of energy from one form to the next, but he knows that that very well could be his brain creating similarities where he can find them in order to make sense of an otherwise abstract thing. ]
Are you able to do any of that here?
no subject
[ The thought hadn't occurred to her. There was no war here, no reason to hurl spells at incoming troops, pray to the goddess for forgiveness, and hope for her friends to see another day. If she lost her magic here, it would only be fitting punishment. ]
It's probably for the best.
no subject
[ For a man so smart, he is completely oblivious to any inner turmoil that Marianne might be beginning to spiral down. Well, maybe not. There is the telltale hint of something wistfully sad in her voice, but he's spurred on by the prospect of testing magic out and seeing it done in front of him that he doesn't pay too much mind to it.
There's a bit of a twist of his lips and a slight raise of his eyebrow. ]
Why it would be for the best? We should test them. Packages can wait but you have to know what to be prepared for in case you need to use them. [ Now. Apparently he means now. ]
no subject
[ But the packages... Marianne looks rather uncertain and put on the spot, but she recovers and shakes her head, her voice pained but firm. ]
Some of the spells I have can be destructive. Fódlan was at war.
[ Aldrip is peaceful, and she's grateful for the reprieve. She hopes there is no "in case" and the days go by as calm as ever, forever. ]
Maybe I could conjure some snowflakes for the children in town, but I have no interest in fighting anymore.
no subject
[ They were all here, presumably, because they had committed some sort of crime so proving that assumption probably wasn't a good idea. That and unnecessary loss of life at the hands of chaotic fun isn't his cup of tea either. ]
Have you ever tried to make lightning in a bottle? It's harmless. Mostly. Apart from the slight electric shock you might get from it.
no subject
[ She looks confused by the application. No one in Fódlan has tried to put thunder in a bottle, or they'd have invented electricity by now. ]
I haven't, but if it's harmless, I don't mind showing you.
[ Seeing him so interested, Marianne relents. They're coming up on the bakery now, a small store that smells of goods fresh out of the oven. Speaking of bottles, there are also jars of jam on display. ]
no subject
[ The answer seems like it was something he was hoping for and with that in mind, the smell of the nearing bakery seems to remind him about the task at hand. Good thing too — it’s entirely within the realm of possibility that he would have walked right by it. ]
I’m assuming this is our stop?
[ If the answer is in the affirmative, he’ll breeze in, waving the narrowly lost package around and shouting out Gustav’s name. A short interaction later and they’ve left with an empty jam jar, some aluminum and a bag of a freshly baked pastries, one of which he offers to Marianne before extracting his own croissant to take a hearty bite into. ]
I’m surprised you haven’t done the lightning in a bottle experiment before — It was common even for loomlings.
no subject
[ Marianne accepts the treat offered to her and takes a bite of it, savoring the sweet filling and the nice feeling of a task accomplished. Her eyes go to the jar that the doctor's returned with. It seems they're going ahead with the demonstration, and with no time to waste. ]
Let's stand a little aways from the crowd.
[ Not because she thinks she'll lose control of the spell, though it's always good to be safe, but because one pair of eyes on her is more than enough attention. ]
Do I, um, just cast it inside the jar?
no subject
He's happy to comply with the space thing, and he rustles around in his pack for a pair of safety goggles he got from one of the smithies in exchange for delivering a package. Affixing them on his face he realizes there's another set he's got and hands it over to her. ]
Safety first. And not quite yet. That's where this comes in. [ "This" apparently meaning the aluminum foil. It gives a little metallic crinkle as he shakes it before gleefully ripping off a rather large piece that he folds to fit into the bottom of the jar that is promptly capped up with the metal lid. ] Now just channel your magic at the top of the lid and [ His fingers wiggle. ] lightning in a bottle!
no subject
[ Marianne accepts the eyewear, surprised that he has this kind of gear on hand. Just what else might he be carrying in that bag of his? Wasting no time (because it feels like they're in a rush?), she follows suit and secures the safety glasses around her eyes. ]
Okay, I'm...
[ She touches the lid delicately and concentrates, calling thunder to her fingertips. The air shifts around them, gathering static energy. She doesn't have a tome to help with precision, and she isn't the prodigy Lysithea is, but she isn't launching the spell across the battlefield. All this asks for is a small and and contained Thoron spell which comes quickly and easily - but also very bright and hot. ]
no subject
[ He says it so casually but it's the truth. The fact that he's got one set of googles let alone two is nothing short of a miracle.
The overall effect of the goggles and hair make for quite a look for the both of them although Marianne probably veers on the side of looking far more normal than he does. The Doctor looks every bit the part of a mad scientist thanks to his hair. And when Marianne's magic shoots through the top of the lid and catches on the aluminum? A small but undeniable bolt of lightning appears captured and preserved in the jar.
His smile is the icing on the cake for his mad scientist look. ]
Brilliant! You're brilliant, look at that. That's far more impressive than just using a balloon.
no subject
The lightning zipping inside the bottle makes her recall simpler times back at the academy when she had first cast a new spell, and the way the Deers had cheered on her accomplishment, however small. It had surprised her then and it surprises her now. ]
Is it what you imagined? How did you capture lightning in your world?
[ They couldn't have tried capturing it from thunderclouds...surely. ]