expiationlogs | {Mini Event} Day of Devotion

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{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.

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They have all been infuriatingly evasive about what exactly it is they protect against but— [ he holds up a bird with jewelled eyes of a purple shade and a green jade for a body. a few minutes ago this asshole had spotted an old friend trying to shop along these same stalls and so he's making it his mission to purchase everything that might be to the liking of said friend.

honestly, doestoevsky is such a good friend. ]—they are all rather lovely pieces, don't you think so?

[ he offers the brooch for her to inspect. ]

I was noticing that myself...

[Kisara begins thoughtfully. The open-ended way that the merchant leaves it open is not necessarily a cause for concern, but it does make Kisara wonder. Her attention turns onto the piece that Fyodor shows her. It's actually incredibly beautiful. Looks like something way too fancy for Kisara, at that.

When he offers it over, she accepts it with a moment's hesitance and consideration. Taking it with reverence, her gloved fingertips brush over the details. She doesn't need fingertips to feel how ornate it is. Crafted by hand, she's certain. Maybe a joint effort by many of them in Aldrip.]

It's beautiful. [She assesses easily before she offers it back over.] I guess they don't have to necessarily protect. Sometimes it's okay to have something just to have it. I never really had trinkets like this back home.

[Ah. Truly, the life of a slave.]

Thank you. h[ e takes the brooch back and holds it in his hand as his eyes turn from her to sweep along the other figures on the table. he picks one that is feather-shaped next, and oh after that there is an egg within a nest set of earrings. he's clearly going for a theme with his choices. ]

Your life back home was limited then? There is nothing wrong with modesty but only if it's a choice and not a forced one.

[ a glance in her direction as he considers her words intending to piece together who, what, where, why— integral questions that will help dostoevsky understand her. ]

[She watches his touch move from piece to piece to piece. Birds...? Maybe he has an interest in birds. And the related. She doesn't know very much about him, but perhaps there's a symbolism behind them she isn't aware of. At his question, she looks over to him, wondering how to put it.]

It was a little complicated. [Kisara begins thoughtfully. It's better not to go into too many details.] Didn't have the option to be fancy. When you don't have the knowledge that things could or should be different, then you don't know what you're missing out on.

[With a small smile, she leans over to get a better look at some of the other designs. There's a variety of them. Animals. Plants. Flowers. What she suspects is probably the ocean. Fish.]

I see. [ a little complicated usually means there is a lot more to dig in there but for now he is content to let be. ] It is a shame you didn't have the options or opportunities to be fancy. [ though he supposes that such things keep people humble, but more than anything the lack of anything keeps people hungry. ] Not sure that not knowing what you're missing out on is better.

[ isn't it just unfair? but he's not interested in fairness, he's interested in what catches her eyes from the offered pieces on the stand. ]

They're all very impressive designs, even the ones which appear plain on the surface have a lot of work behind them.

[He doesn't press or pry and she appreciates that. Kisara would not consider herself necessarily good at evading conversation topics, and social grace is not exactly something on her list of talents. Her smile is sheepish. He has a point. To her, it's just logical, but knowing better, she always wants a better life for her people. Herself included. The very same thing Alphen and co are fighting for.]

They are. My guess is that they're made here.

[Because really, where else are they going to get this stuff from?]

I don't know how to make anything like this, so I respect the effort. I was thinking about getting some for some friends of mine. There's a few of us, so I want to get something unique and special for each one of them. Looks like there's plenty of options for me to choose from, too.

[Looking over to him, she pauses a moment.]

I think you were looking at birds, weren't you?

[ were birds his own preferred choice he might have hedged around the answer; as they're not he gives it up without hesitation. ] I am, I find myself feeling a little bit like a magpie about these sorts of things. Have to make sure I purchase them all, you see? [ he picks out two and offers them to her for inspection: a nest with a bird perched—an engraving on a locket, and then the second, a pair of earrings like feathers. ]

You say a few of you are here? From your...hometown? [ your world, he means actually but there are so many pieces still missing as to who is here and why and the crimes and judgement. it seems delightfully ironic to be accused of a crime and to be awaiting punishment as he is now. ] A unique piece for each one might take awhile.

[...Because he likes to collect shining things? That seems to be the inaudible guess as she looks over what he offers her. They're both as impeccably crafted as everything else she's taken a look at. Although she wonders if he may be doing something similar as she—shopping for others. She seems to approve, though it's very likely she might have approved of any of them.

They certainly are lovely.

She smiles as she turns over the locket for a moment's scrutiny, then the earrings, before she returns both to him.]

A handful, if even. One from my region. The others from the same world. [Brought together by circumstance. Some of them, many of them, closer to her than she is to them, and they are all victims of... distorted time, it seems. If what Dohalim has said is true.]

I don't think it'll be too hard finding something for each. I was planning to pick out something that makes me think of them all. It'll be unique regardless, because it's based on my thoughts of them, not necessarily what they think of themselves.

[ then that means there could be more than a handful of people from his world here too. ready to reveal themselves and cause fyodor problems.

...but not here, not yet. ]

I hope you are planning on getting something for yourself. [ he takes back the pieces he offered and puts them aside to purchase once he's finished perusing this stall's trinkets. ] You are also part of the group so they probably think you ought to.

[ but who is he to monitor other people's habits? especially in regards to shopping. though he can appreciate the logic behind her reasons. 'something that makes me think of them all'. ]

For me? [Judging by the suprise in her voice, evidently Kisara absolutely was not considering getting anything for herself. Should she? What would she even get? Why? She has no idea what to do with finer things in life, honestly.] I don't know about that. I'm not really good with stuff like that. Besides, I'm pretty sure I'm good with what I've got.

[And honestly—]

I'm sure if they want me to have something, they'll get me something. That's the way they are. Wouldn't be surprised if they already dropped by to do that, actually. If not yet, then they probably will. That's just the kind of people they are.

[Maybe not Shionne with her somewhat reserved, but deeply kind demeanour, but definitely people like Alphen and Law.]

[ he isn't surprised by her response but it does, in an odd way, fill him briefly with melancholy. perhaps it is the confirmation of a difficult past, and despite all his actions and decisions and goals, it has always seem unnecessary to have suffering to a degree that seems to stunt someone's growth. it could be a mistake but regardless, he presses on: ] You're not in your world anymore, surely wanting something for yourself now that you have the choice is acceptable?

I don't mean receiving from someone else, I mean picking something for yourself.[ he is not doubting that her friends will, of course, get her something. that's just human nature towards those held dear but to purchase for oneself... well. ]

I don't think you're wrong.

[And she doesn't. After all, when she really thinks about it, she's often done so many things for other people. She deserves to do something for herself. The fact of the matter is, however, that habits are difficult to break. She's had at least fifteen years of doing the same thing. She isn't sure a month in this place is going to make that any easier.

It's a work in progress!]

I'll think about getting something for myself. If not this time, then next time. I'm sure they have all kinds of things here from time to time. Or maybe I'll eventually come into something that really speaks to me. I wonder if they'll be willing to make some trades for some of this stuff.

[Because of all things, Kisara can't stand spending money.]

[ dostoevsky nods; he will not press though he is tempted to. some things are better left alone, and you can't push someone into realizations they aren't ready for. ]

I suppose we do have time while we await...judgement, I guess? Or whatever it is they have in mind.

[ he hopes maybe she knows something he might not. ]

[Ah. Right. All of that.

Kisara pauses for just a moment. To others it might seem as nothing, but to the observant, it may be more transparent than she'd like it to be. She continues to have some very intense feelings regarding the crimes they've all been accused of, though she has largely kept them to herself. Because it has to be that way. At least for now.]

Hm...
Makes you wonder how much time we have. Pretty sure we're all asking ourselves that, even if we're not coming out and admitting to it.

[As she speaks, Kisara carefully draws her fingertips over the various trinkets before them both. She's still putting aside ideas on what to get the others. She has some in mind already, thanks to this conversation with Fyodor.]

Of course, the time thing could just be a trap, an attempt to make us nervous. Many people have difficulty thinking and acting at their best when they're under pressure. It's possible that's intentional. There might not be a time limit at all.

I do not believe we will be kept in the dark for long. [ the justice system here or in other places were held up due to bureaucracy that didn't mean they were less energetic in wanting to enact punishment for those guilty of crimes (and in many occasions even those who were not guilty). ]

If we are to be punished or if this is part of a greater plan, either one is not a particularly desirable outcome.

[ he looks thoughtful, sets the jewellery down. ] Well, I believe there isn't anything here that particularly catches my eye, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance though.

[That's likely to be an unfortunate truth. It's hard to spin any of this in an optimistic view. Kisara appreciates optimism, but she also appreciates realism. She's not inclined to say anything to fuel hope where she thinks there shouldn't be any. At the same time, however, she doesn't believe in leading people with fear either.

What a precarious between morale boosting and truth.]

It's hard to find a glass half full situation here.

[But he's given her a lot to think about. When he admits he's not found anything, she almost considers asking about the pieces that he'd shared with her before. Maybe they weren't for him, in the end. What kinds of things does a guy like him find favour with?]

Oh—likewise. [With a smile, she offers something that's similar to a somewhat stiffened bow. Old habits die hard, evidently.] I'm Kisara, by the way. Your insight's been useful. I'll have to make sure I get myself something while I'm shopping.

[Because in the end, he's still right. It's important that she think about herself from time to time.]

[ he offers a half-smile at those words; glass half-full, half-empty is such a human sentiment. hearing it is unexpected but not unwelcome, realistic expectations aside, not knowing much is a state that disquiets the mind. even his own. ]

Fyodor Dostoevsky. [ he has never been shy about giving his name, always benefitting from having a name sort-of-not-overtly linked to the punishment he brings upon ability users. but, still, he's out in the open: vulnerable, disadvantaged, easy to kill.

he's going to need to build some goodwill with strangers. ] Perhaps you can show me next time we meet what you bought, yes?

[Such a long name. The only people who have names like that back home are Renans. Dahnans aren't special or important enough to have family names. Or any significance in most ways, it seems. Although talking with Fyodor, there isn't much about him that makes her think Renan. Certainly doesn't act like one and she'd like to say she's been around enough of them to know.]

I'd like that, Fyodor.

[She can agree to that easily, sheepish though her smile may be.] I guess I better make sure I get something, then! [What has only begun as a possibility seems to become a little more concrete. She should get something that makes her think of Migal.]

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{Mini Event} Day of Devotion

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