EVENT LOG: KITE FESTIVAL

[asgardmods]

KITE FESTIVAL( MAY 4TH - 6TH ) Intro Log New Wanderers who find themselves in Asgard will awaken in a brightly lit room. Though they are overcome with disorientation at first, it will soon subside. Frigg and Sigyn enter the room to greet the new face with a warm welcome. They both welcome the newest wanderer and let them leave the room at their own pace. Wanderers are allowed to leave their bed, meet the rest of the pantheon, and wander to the castle grounds as they see fit. However, they are warned that they must choose one of the deities to bind themselves to before the dawn of the following day. If no choice is made, one will be made for them. It is emphasized that this choice is of the utmost importance and must be made before stepping off the castle grounds. The sun greets the new wanderer as they step outside. A trail of, what looks to be, stringless balloons hover at eye level outside the palace door. The balloons guide each Wanderer to a wooden board that lists pertinent information. There are hand-written pieces of parchment that show how to access a city map on their bracelet, and where to find housing. There is also a notice welcoming new Wanderers to an upcoming event: The local Kite Festival! It beckons newcomers to join in Kite flying, celebrating the warm season and feasting. Kite festival may 4th-6th ↴ the kite festival Welcome to the Kite Festival! In celebration of warmer weather, the locals are throwing a festival in the open fields surrounding Asgard. Wanderers who attend will be greeted by colorful paper lanterns, streamers, and decorative kites that fly in the warm breeze. During the day, a constant stream of rainbow-colored confetti flutters down from some unseen source. The confetti disappears just as mysteriously as soon as it touches the ground. KITE-MAKING → Tucked under the shade of a lush tree sits a wooden crafting table. String, paint, brushes, paper, fabric, and other art materials are provided so that you can create the kite you've always wanted! Decorate your kite however you see fit, although the local children will implore you to include mysterious runes in your decor. They have found these runes from... somewhere and seem particularly fond of them. You'll find examples of the runes scribbled on parchment paper all over the long wooden crafting tables for reference. The children tell you that the runes are called Rendu (), Sil (), and Fyeer (). Their meanings are unknown, but they're interesting to look at, and seem to call to you when you look at them. KITE-BATTLING → If your more of the competitive type, why not try and use your kite to try and win a prize? Pit one kite against another in a contest of skill. You can win the battle by cutting the string of the other kite or by knocking the opposing kite out of the air. All contestants need to do in order to participate in kite battling is to challenge another willing participant who has a kite to a battle. Any location around the Kite festival can serve as their battleground! Winners of these battles will be treated to an enchanted flower crown which can be worn for the remainder of the festival. The crowns are said to provide the wearers with feelings of happiness until the flowers wither. FEASTING → The paper lanterns - which provide decoration during the day - are lit with candles of varying color at night. The exuberant celebrations of the day quiet as the locals provide soothing music with their ceremonial bells. Long wooden tables are piled with all sorts of delicious-looking fruits and vegetables. Each piece of food looks impossibly picturesque in both color and plating, inviting observers to take what they can. Fresh fish are also provided, sourced from the local rivers that very morning. Each table is bordered by several wooden barrels. These contain an assortment of easy-to-pour alcohol for those who are old enough to dabble. Wanderers are invited to eat all they can. And, if they feel so inclined, they can even partake in dancing under the stars.

Comments

ii. post kite

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan had considered, briefly, entering the competition. It was a ridiculous thing, no real stakes to the contest but the idea of trying to knock Wei Ying's kite down was a little tempting. Ultimately, however, there was no way he would risk having to wear a crown of flowers upon his head in victory.

It suits Wei Ying far better.

He drops a kiss on top of Wei Ying's flower strewn head and joins him with his own cup of green tea. "Congratulations on a hard fought victory." He does not mention that some of the competitors had clearly been children.

[yiling_laozu]

"It was fierce!" Wei Wuxian agrees, leaning into Lan Wangji's side as he sits next to him. In truth, he doesn't remember much more than racing across the grass, bashing the other kite with his own with all his ability, but it must have been fierce if he won.

"Would you like to wear my crown?" he asks, already halfway to lifting it off. "It will make you very happy, Lan Zhan."

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan leans away just a little as he shakes his head decisively.

"Think Wei Ying is much better suited to it," he offers, looking as if Wei Ying had tried to place a crown of snakes upon his head.

He shoves Wei Ying's rice wine a little closer, hoping the distraction will work.

"Keep it. Continue being happy," he says, gesturing at the bodies swaying softly under the stars to the soft music. He feels bold with happiness at the idea that they will go home, together. "After food. We should do that."

[yiling_laozu]

"Seeing Lan Zhan wearing flowers would make me happy," Wei Wuxian replies, bottom lip jutting, but the wine is too compelling to ignore. He pours more of it into his mouth, following Lan Wangji's gaze towards the people moving.

"You want to dance?" he asks, astonished, and leans over to inspect the contents of Lan Zhan's cup.

[lan_wangji]

He very nearly gives in, unable to resist that particular look before Wei Ying changes the subject. He is grateful. He has already been seen by members of the community dirty and in coarse clothing (not to mention the prior vomiting incident).

"Mm," he confirms, raising a hand to push Wei Ying's long, tangled hair off his shoulder as he smooths a hand down his back. He is indeed feeling very bold, tonight. "Want to dance with Wei Ying. Then take him home. Like in the castle."

[yiling_laozu]

"Oh," Wei Wuxian breathes. In all the chaos afterward - having his heart frozen in the enchanted storm, being cruel to Lan Zhan, then the pair of them freezing as solid as blocks of ice - he's almost forgotten the dancing. But it had been so nice, the thought of touching Lan Zhan as much of a miracle now as it was then.

He nods, smiling fondly before he leans in and kisses his cheek. "We should avoid dying afterward, I think."

[lan_wangji]

"Preferable," he agrees, ears warm at the kiss. He blindly reaches for some nearby puffed ball of pastry, wanting to reward Wei Ying in kind and holds it immediately up to his mouth.

"Spoke with Hector. Reminded him of the portrait. Told him we could hold a dinner, if you would like. Tradition here to host dinner in a new home for friends. Thought you might enjoy it," he says, already a little tense at the idea but wanting it for Wei Ying.

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian mouth opens for the pastry, a little slack as he chews, considering the thought of having guests. He loves the idea, though he's a little surprised it's Lan Zhan who's suggested it. He is a...private man, and remarkably territorial for someone so quiet. But if Lan Zhan likes the idea of people in their home, Wei Wuxian is thrilled!

"I would like that," he says, tearing off another bit of pastry to offer to Lan Zhan. "We could have wine and rice and vegetables and fish, and I won't make all of it spicy, only some."

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan accepts the pastry as he has already refused the flower crown and does not have it in him to refuse Wei Ying anything twice in one day.

"Wei Ying can have anything he wishes," he promises, as always deadly serious about such promises made to Wei Ying. He will have all the wine and rice and spicy food he desires, all that Lan Zhan can provide.

"Hector said something disturbing. Said guests will bring gifts. And we are not to know what they are or allowed to gift back in kind," he murmurs, dropping his voice even lower. "Must prevent this."

[yiling_laozu]

"They will bring us gifts?" Wei Wuxian asks, as delighted as Lan Zhan is mutely horrified. He wraps his arms around one of Lan Zhan's own and leans into him. "Getting gifts is wonderful, Lan Zhan. If one of your rules is against them, remember we are our own clan now. And," he adds, looking rather pleased with himself, "Lan Zhan has said I can have anything I wish."

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan barely suppresses a sigh at Wei Ying's antics. He is not wrong and Wei Ying knows this. He knows he holds all the power and Lan Zhan ought to count himself lucky Wei Ying does not abuse it.

"It is inappropriate. Did nothing to deserve gifts," he tries, albeit weakly and unable to quite look Wei Ying in the eye. He will not refuse Wei Ying gifts, cannot and will not. But it is so very undignified to accept them.

It is like the disastrous Christmas party all over again. Lan Zhan cannot get a handle on gift giving, outside of giving them to Wei Ying.

[yiling_laozu]

"Perhaps it isn't about deserving them," answers Wei Wuxian, even if he's never worried about it until this moment. "If they want to bring gifts, perhaps it is simply to celebrate. Thus," he reasons, "It is as much for them as it is for us, and we would be poor hosts to deny them."

[lan_wangji]

"Will not deny Wei Ying gifts," he promises smoothing back the unruly, wavy hair that frames his face. This is compromise. Lan Zhan must do this, must improve at this. He will have guests into his home and he will accept their gifts and his Wei Ying will be happier for it.

"I should transcribe these traditions. Like the gifts at Christmas. Then we will not falter in meeting expectations."

[yiling_laozu]

"And prevent ourselves making any threats should one of us receive a hair comb," Wei Wuxian agrees with a laugh. That had been a mess, but one that worked out gloriously in the end.

He tilts his head for the path of Lan Zhan's fingers, which have scarcely left his hair since his arrival. "Lan Zhan," he says, "Will you arrange my hair to suit the crown?"

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan's ears redden but he still feels his reaction was somewhat warranted. Courting gift or not, a hair decoration is decidedly intimate. Not at all the thing to give a man one is only friends with.

"Hm."

His eyes widen at the request, looking around as if perhaps Wei Ying does not realize there are people all around them. "Cannot arrange your hair in public. Indecent."

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian sits back with an overloud sigh. "You've already been touching it," he points out, though it's hard to feel too put out with the enchanted flowers filling his nose with their sweet scent. He tugs the crown from his head anyway, determined to manage something more befitting of his new adornment. "Am I missing anything?" he asks when he's gathered it up every strand he can reach into a topknot.

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan stifles a sigh nearly as large as he cannot, cannot deny that face and Wei Ying's attempts to put his own hair up in anything resembling a proper hairstyle are failing.

He reaches over and carefully extracts Wei Ying's hair from his hands until he has it all gathered in his own. "Would be more indecent to allow you to have messy hair," he mutters, fingers already smoothing and combing through the dark strands. "Deserve hairstyle as lovely as you are."

[yiling_laozu]

"Ey?" Rarely can Wei Wuxian allow an opportunity to tease him go by. "I never worried much after my hair." Even Jiang Cheng had had braids and proper hair pieces, where Wei Wuxian was content with a leather knot. "Gusu Lan always had such nice styles, though," he observes, eyes wide.

"I thought there were rules against noticing one was lovely."

[lan_wangji]

"Rules are against noticing one's own physical attributes," he says, fingers making swift work of tiny braids that he plans to pull up into the knot. Such a hairstyle will show Wei Ying's nape which is sure to drive Lan Zhan mad in short time but will undoubtedly look beautiful.

"Ought not to lust after others. That one was difficult for me," he admits in a very soft voice in case anyone has noticed the improper scene they are making. "Difficult once I allowed myself to care for Wei Ying."

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian laughs in open delight for the admission, reaching up from time to time to feel along the braids Lan Zhan is working into his hair. "Oh?" he asks. "You must tell me of your imaginings. Our home looks more like Lotus Pier than Gusu, but I'm sure we could make a number of them work."

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan gently flicks the back of Wei Ying's head before he starts gathering the tiny braids up along with the rest of his hair to make a high, neat bun.

"Imaginings were only allowed to surface in dreams. Prefer my imaginings, now. Allowed to imagine in detail," he says, resettling the flower crown on Wei Ying's head. He looks ethereal, like something Lan Zhan should not be allowed to touch.

"Now Wei Ying should dance with me. Then Wei Ying should come home with me."

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian reaches up again to feel the final bun, flushing a little when he realizes the style leaves the hint of bitemarks climbing up his nape visible just over the collar of his robes. "Lan Zhan," he breathes, astonished, laughing again when he takes Lan Zhan's hand to pull him up and towards the dancers.

"I don't want to go home too early," he says, still enchanted by the food and the festive laughter and the lights, but as he curls towards Lan Zhan for a first dance, he thinks he might change his mind.

[lan_wangji]

He likes that style, very much, today. He likes that all the people gathered here will see how much more beautiful Wei Ying than all of them and he likes that he is clearly claimed. He likes that he is clearly claimed by Lan Wangji.

Today, at least. It is like the robe, like the idea of Wei Ying walking through the town wearing nothing underneath that sheer robe. It is for special occasions.

He pulls Wei Ying close, positioning them near the fringes of the dancing so they are not too much on display. "Wei Ying looks very good to me. Only have so much patience."

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian grins, though his fierce happiness softens as he leans in, pressing his cheek to Lan Zhan's own as they move together. "Then do not look," he murmurs, determined to get at least a few dances out of Lan Zhan before he demands they flee the public eye. Chances to flaunt him are so rare, and Wei Wuxian will have every chance he gets.

"Lan Zhan is very handsome, too. My own rare and unequaled piece of jade."

[lan_wangji]

"Ridiculous," Lan Zhan huffs even as he presses a kiss to Wei Ying's temple. To be warm and full of life like Wei Ying is far better than cold a cold piece of Jade. Wei Ying is the sun and nothing else can measure up.

"Harvest will be completed, soon," he says as they sway, thinking that a piece of jade would not have unsightly callouses on its hands. Lan Wangji, the farmer, is still a very strange idea indeed. "Will be making you wine entirely your own. Will make it exactly however Wei Ying likes it."