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

[yiling_laozu]

i. kite-making:

Wei Wuxian has some experience with enchanted symbols. He used to draw them all the time, and though he feels a familiar tug each time he glances at the runes, they're simply too intriguing not to paint on his kite.

"And where did they come from?" he asks the child who led him to the paint pots. "They are so strange, I've never seen writing like this before."

The young girl giggles in agreement, putting a brush in his hand. "They're so pretty, I wish mother would let me paint them on everything!"

It isn't...quite an answer to his question, but Wei Wuxian doesn't press, too eager for the prospect of battling with his kite to delay it any longer.

ii. post-kite battle:

Wei Wuxian has never battled with kites before - which is an awful shame, considering how delightful it is - but he wins a round to the surprise of precisely none who know him, or indeed, have observed him for more than a few minutes. Seated at a table now with a small mountain of food and an even larger jug of rice wine, Wei Wuxian doesn't need the enchanted flowers atop his head to feel happy.

"Ah!" he calls loudly at the sight of a familiar face, rosy cheeked already as he taps the seat next to him. "Come! I have so much, and this wine is too good to drink alone!"

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.

[keybearing]

Kite Making:

I'm not sure what the runes mean exactly, but why not?

[The kite is big enough. If obviously amateur, given Sora spent more time swimming and exploring the play island back home, or sparring and racing with his friends, than flying kites. Or, making them at least. He's not necessarily aware the runes would actually possibly do anything to the kite. He decides to draw one though, going with Sil in drawing that from copying the drawings on the parchment paper.]

Let's see....like that? We gotta go test the kites out now!

[He's...tried? Having never made a kite before. He does want to test it out. To see it fly!]

Kite Battling!:

[....yes, Sora is of course going to give in and play with the kids. Not that he's necessarily actually being serious about it, and he's never done this kite battling before. But he gives it a try, in trying to be some competition for the kids that clamor for him to join in with them in battling once he has made his kite.]

Feasting:

[Sora comes and sits down, crosslegged, admiring the lanterns and stars, the dancing as he reaches, offering some of the fruit he gathered on a plate to whoever is sitting nearby if they want some.]

This has been.....fun? I mean. I flew kites back home, but hadn't made one. And hadn't battled with them like that before. But this is nice. I could get used to this.

[wayoftheweird]

Arrival

One minute Stephen is re-absorbing Mister Misery, and the next he's on Asgard.

Ending up in another dimension, intentionally or not, is nothing new for Stephen. In fact, it's a regular Tuesday. But Asgard? An Asgard that feels...off. Maybe it's the part where he can't leave. Or the part where no one will let him see Thor. Or the part where he's expected to link his soul to a god?

Strange is no stranger (ha) to gods, either, but he doesn't tend to make a habit of soul-bonding with them. Still, he makes his choice. It seems to be the only way he can leave the grounds, and at least it will provide him with a connection to magic, even if it's not much.

Outside the weather is sunny and warm. Picturesque. Stephen doesn't take the time to admire it. Not when he swears he can feel the creature he created like an itch under his skin. Not when he has to find a way out of here.

Kite-making

What is it about Stephen, with his messy hair, blue tunic, and cloak of no-longer-levitation screams 'flock to me, children'? Yet here he is, newly appointed Babysitter Supreme, surrounded by five of them, pulling on his cloak, asking him to paint animals on their kites.

Without his magic to temper them, Stephen's hands visibly shake as he paints a frog onto a little girl's bright yellow kite.

"I told you this was gonna look like crap," he complains, but it only makes them giggle.

"Draw this next!" she says, showing him a set of ruins unlike any he's seen before.

"I didn't know that kids were into divination these days. What do they mean?" he asks. The children tell him the names, but aren't as forthcoming with the meaning. Still, the ruins are intriguing, like a puzzle that needs to be solved. Maybe a clue as to why he's here?

But as soon as Stephen has copied the wobbly shapes onto their kites, the children scatter with them, squealing as they head into battle.

Feast

The food looks good, and god, Stephen wishes he could eat it. But he can't, and he has a feeling if he's going to be stuck here it's going to be a problem.

He leaves the tables behind and heads into the castle. Surely there must be a kitchen, and a chef, and some magic-based monsters somewhere that said chef wouldn't mind him frying up on his stove? Or however this place works. So he looks for a kitchen, or for someone with some sort of culinary authority. Or a closet with a tentacle monster inside...

[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."

Kite-Making

[thequitecontrary]

The children are probably drawn to him because he looks like a magician or a wizard... which he is. Of course, Mary doesn't know that. She just thinks it's cute that all of the children want to spend time with him. Children don't naturally flock to her, as she tends to come off as cold initially, but seeing the man with them makes her feel a pang of longing for her son back home.

After the children run off, Mary approaches with a smile. She hasn't seen the man around Asgard before, which means that he must be a new arrival. As one of Tyr's ambassadors, she'd like to at least make contact with him.

"I can't say any of us know what the runes mean either, but apparently they are important to the natives. Hopefully drawing them won't result in something strange happening."

Asgard tends to be a place where strange things happen more or less regularly.

[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."

[hei_pao_shi]

Shen Wei has been similarly coerced into making a kite. He can stare down a foe be they alien, human or monster, can endure screaming, violence, and astonished surprise, but face him with a small gaggle of giggling children and he's entirely defenseless.

He accepts the paintbrush and the paper, still staring at it rather shellshocked when he hears someone else who's also failed to evade capture by the youths. He glances at the rune he's painted - it looks...wobbly in comparison to the child's drawing.

"What is this one called?" he asks, his eyes reluctant to look away, misshapen though it is.

FEASTING!

[dataset]

[ He isn't exactly at home in front of a table full of food given that he doesn't eat, but the ambiance was nice. Connor looks over when someone sits and starts chatting. He raises a hand to say 'no thank you' to the food. Oh. Hello. ]

It's been a nice change of pace to see everyone having fun.

[keybearing]

[Sora gives a shrug, figuring it's more for him. It's just kind of instinct to go to share after spending so much time with his friends back home and all. Eating together. But he does give a nod of agreement in watching the others mingle and dance in enjoying themselves.]

It is. I prefer moments like this, for sure.

[No danger. No fighting. No death or illness.]

[dataset]

[ He gives a quiet nod in agreement. ] 

My name is Connor, by the way. What's your name?

[wayoftheweird]

Stephen is brought out of his thoughts. He tears his eyes from the runes scribbled on bits of paper across the table and the peculiar longing to figure out what they mean.

"Do strange things tend to happen here? Apart from the fact that we're here at all," Stephen adds with a tiny, sardonic smile. The woman is young, but a far more welcome sight than the children. He wasn't getting any answers about this place from them.

[wayoftheweird]

Stephen looks up at the sound of an adult voice with something like relief. It's not that he minds the children, not really, he just doesn't have a lot of experience with them.

"Fyeer. But they won't tell me what it means," he says, pointing his brush accusingly at a little boy to his right.

"It's a secret!" the boy wails, causing the others around him to burst into giggles.

"Right. Secret ruins. Nothing suspicious about that."

[hei_pao_shi]

"Made up, perhaps," Shen Wei murmurs. It's been thousands of years since he was a child, and he so rarely associated with them at home. He has only an academic understanding of what goes on in a child's mind anymore.

He continues to stare at the rune before shaking himself. "They're oddly compelling."

Feast

[lan_wangji]

Lan Wangji has been watching this newcomer the entire night. A wizard. A wizard who must eat monsters.

He is not entirely certain what qualifies as a monster and in a place where they hold a walking, talking skeleton as a dear friend, he feels he cannot take any chances. He watches as the man looks over the offerings and then leaves to try and find something else. Something palatable, Lan Wangji supposes.

Something. In his white, sweeping robes and silver headpiece he is hardly subtle in his following but such matters are too important. He will not have any of his hard earned friends eaten.

[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."

[keybearing]

Connor. Alright then! I'm Sora!

[Cue Sora pausing in his munching to extend a gloved hand in greeting. In er, belated introduction. Or something. He tries at least. To remember his manners. Even if he does have moments of things like calling Maleficent a hag....

But he tries. in offering a hand in greeting to Connor to shake. Though it might be debatable if he's figured Connor isn't human and might not be familiar with such habits or not.]