INTRO LOG: THIRD TIME'S A CHARM

[asgardmods]

Who: Our NEW CHARACTERS and ANYONE that wants to come up to the castle for lunch
What: the Third Time's a Charm mini-event to introduce our new characters
When: evening of July 5 (optional), afternoon of July 6
Where: in the stables or the library with the wrench at night, Gladsheim Palace in the morning
Rating: PG-13ish for gore, please take anything above that to a private log!

late night horror

content warning: gore, death

Late into the night, far after the sun has set and many have gone home for the night, anyone staying late in Skjóta Oddr in Honir's district or Fregnahöll in Odin's district will be met with a very strange, rather disturbing sight. Within a matter of seconds, a complete stranger (or someone terribly, horribly familiar) appears out of thin air, Honir appears less than a hearbeat later, and after a series of violent mess, bright light, and dawning horror, every drop of the interaction disappears from sight. You are left there standing alone - or perhaps in the company of other equally confused and vaguely mortified witnesses.

afternoon delight

The next morning is bright and sunny, with a few wispy clouds playfully dotting the sky. It's comfortably warm and the natives are in good spirits, excitedly talking about some "new Wanderers" and eagerly inviting everyone to join the gods for lunch up at Gladsheim Palace. The main courtyard has a number of tables with white clothes and comfortable chairs seated in a circle around them, seemingly unassigned and free to claim at will. Natives bustle around offering tea, sandwiches, and sweets to anyone that would like some.

The gods are seated at their own tables, some looking a little more weary than others, but they are all otherwise pleasant and welcoming enough. This is just a casual lunch to welcome new Wanderers. That's all. But if anyone has any... questions, or concerns, the gods are available. Do enjoy the cakes.

[ OOC NOTE: this is our mini-intro log for July! You can find the details of the Third Time's a Charm event here, but anyone is free to come to the castle for lunch whether they witnessed the new Wanderers' arrival, want to greet their new compatriots, or just want some free food. Let us know if you have any questions! ]

Comments

NPC TOP LEVEL

[asgardmods]

Please don't respond to this comment! :)

HONIR

[asgardsflight]

[ To anyone already familiar with the God of Travel and Whimsy, they might notice that today's affair has him in rather rare form. Honir is sitting at a table next to Mimir with his hands in his lap and just kind of... staring off into space. His face is kept perfectly neutral from any discernible emotion, but he's definitely Not Quite Here right now.

If anyone approaches, however, he'll snap back into place with the smallest startle of surprise, blinking rapidly and inhaling once before breaking into an easy smile. ]

Yes! Hi! Hello, can I help you?

[ ??? ]

[zombra]

Uh, yeah. I'd like to know what the hell was that thing that happened last night.

[ She's straight to the point on this. Somebody straight up exploded last night and Honir popped in to catch her explodey bits? What even? ]

[lethechained]

[ Despite having been in the city for a few weeks now, Naminé's sense of time is not one that cleanly aligns with a normal schedule. Spending a rather late night in the library hasn't been wholly unusual for her, but what happened this most recent time certainly was. Still, despite appearing quite promptly at the luncheon, she doesn't immediately approach anyone, god or otherwise. She spends a little while observing things, and as such it's no secret to her that Honir seems... distracted.

Which is understandable, considering what she's pretty sure she saw yesterday. When she finally does make her way over, she comes to a stop at a polite distance, hands folded together. Her expression is a bit apprehensive but not unkind, and her shoulders rise in a flinch of her own as he startles. Her eyebrows lift at his smile, though she doesn't think to smile back right away. ]

Hello, [ she replies instead, looking momentarily surprised herself, though she recovers quickly enough, lips flattening into a line. Can he help her? ] Maybe. I do have a few questions, but...

[ Having seen his state, she hesitates to put them forth right away. (She's not in Sigyn's house for nothing.) ]

I guess the first one I should ask is if you're alright.

[skittering]

❰ lalli doesn't answer right away. instead, he gives the 'god' a long hard stare, something like shrewd appraisal in his eyes and the knit of his brow. then: ❱

You found my cousin. ❰ it's not a 'thank you', but an acknowledgment is as close as lalli will ever probably get to one.

he turns his head just enough to peer over toward the buffet and catch tuuri in his peripheral - making sure she's out of earshot - then lowers his voice to continue. ❱ She died in Denmark. Drowned. ❰ how can she possibly be here? but that question doesn't quite come out. instead, he swallows and shakes his head a little. ❱

You're the Icelander's gods, not mine - but mine never would've brought her back. ❰ not to mention the way this one specifically pulled him out of... whatever he found in the depths of that cave. ❱ Tell me how to help your tree. I'm a mage and I can scout. I'm not afraid of the woods or anything in them.

TYR;

[asgardsguide]

[Alas, Tyr is not here for this event-- but nor is he gone entirely! There's a lovely little-- well, let's call it an illusion. A vision. A figure that looks almost exactly like Tyr sprawling in one of the seats, idly waving his fingers as he conjures little lights and sparks. He stares aimlessly out at the crowd, occasionally smiling as he catches an eye. It's really very realistic; it'll even walk and talk if you ask it to.

Still, it's definitely on automatic: anyone watching long enough will notice the illusion isn't perfect. After about five minutes, the loop starts up again, the motions repeating, the same smirk flashing.

But the illusion will answer what questions it can. Try not to break it?]

SKADI

[asgardsartist]

❰ of the god tables, skadi is sitting as close to the fringe of the gathering as is possible, between njord and what is likely a deliberately empty chair.

she sits with her elbows on the table, chin resting propped on her clasped hands. her expression is generally casual bordering on disinterested, but there's a certain glint of tense intrigue in her eye as her attention flits from one of the new arrivals to the next. almost as if she's seeing not their new bodies, but the various ruptured bits of them sewn elegantly back together into a functional whole. putting aside that only two of them exploded, not all three - that only ruins the narrative.

regardless of where her attention might lie, she can absolutely be approached and spoken to and will converse in return! ❱

Frigg

[asgardsmother]

[Not the most auspicious start to the day, knowing that more of these souls had been torn apart as soon as they appeared in the city. Still, they've managed to keep one of them from suffering the same fate, and that's reason enough to feel some relief. Even if this means her worries were not unfounded--how many more of them will appear, and when?

Frigg makes the rounds, keeping an eye on Honir, and the Wanderers who've come, both new and old. In fact, she'll make the occasional stop, offering some sort of plate of food to those closes to her.]

Take some, I insist. [Can you blame her for worrying, when she's had to help piece you all together again?? Please nourish yourselves.]

NEW CHARACTER TOP LEVEL

[asgardmods]

Completely optional for use! But if our newbies would like a top level here, please feel free.

[skaldish]

[ As far as strange happenings go, this hasn't been too bad. Tuuri had fallen asleep one minute in the cat-tank, woke up in a stable, had a splitting headache (and the vague impression of someone reaching out) and woke up in the fluffiest of beds. Her intuition tells her there was something wrong with that headache but denial and obliviousness run deep in her for that particular situation. It was just a splitting headache and nothing more.

That being said, she'd so far taken her appearance in Asgard in stride. In fact, maybe even a little excitement. Excitement that was only compounded by running into her cousin Lalli and getting a rough rundown (the scout wasn't much for words) and about choosing houses. Not that it wouldn't have been exciting on her own.. But it was comforting to know that she wasn't alone here - That Lalli and Emil were also in this conundrum. She of course did hope that everyone who wasn't here was okay still, but then again it was Sigrun and Mikkel, they knew how to take care of themselves. Oh yes, and Reynir too.. But he was with the other two, he'd be fine.

But fast forward to the present. Having been informed that the delicious feast before them was for new arrivals including herself, she had (Lalli in tow) decided to make the best of the situation and well... Feast. Right now she's admiring the pastries especially - commenting to no one in particular. ]

These cakes are huge. [ Sugar was scarce in Keruu so seeing this amount of pastry for the taking was more than a little overwhelming. And so much bigger than the one she'd had in Mora, and so much better price wise - Free. ]

[ To those who saw her literally explode into a million...bits...the other night, well... She looks pretty well off right now. And if you care to notice, the color on her bracelets glow the reddish hue of Honir's house. ]

[callidus]

[ he'd been attempting to time travel with his family, save them from the end of the world that was seconds from killing them as well as everyone else. that was the last time he remembered before waking up in a library alone. no siblings, just him. five didn't have any time, however, to consider what being here without his family might have meant before a sharp pain in his head made it hard to think about much of anything.

and then he was waking up in a bed. a significantly nicer bed than any he's slept in in a long time, at that. five didn't allow himself long to enjoy the luxury of the comfortable bed, however. quickly, he'd gotten to his feet and started to search around. for answers? for his siblings? anything, really.

though it was of little comfort, he did manage to find some answers.

since waking up, he's made his way out to the courtyard where a lot of people seem to have gathered. a feast for new arrivals like him. so waking up in who the hell knows where (asgard, he's actually learned. that's not the point, though) comes with the whole welcome wagon, huh? seems normal.

even still, he takes one of the offered sandwiches while shaking his head when one of the natives offers sweets to accompany his food ] Thanks, but no thanks. Now go away. [ five smiles up at the native, though it's not exactly hard to tell it's not meant to be a friendly gesture ]

[captainmaterial]

[ midnight witching - Skjóta Oddr ]

[Finn was honestly just walking through on his way to Frigg's district and his bed. And maybe just...trying to get over his "horse" fright. But we're not talking about that here.

We're talking about the sight that brings him to an abrupt halt and in the few moments of uh..."explosion" he activates his Shield ability. Hopefully...maybe...shielding himself and whomever is near him from the possible spray?

Yet after he opens his eyes there...isn't...anything...???? Finn's mouth moves a few times before words actually come out.]

Di—did that...?

[ tea time ]

[Not much here. Finn's just kind of...sitting with his hands in his lap, clasped together. In front of him is a plate that's been piled high with sweets and some regular finger foods.

He's not sure he has much of an appetite right now?]

Tea Time

[madcuriosity]

You know, sir, tea doesn't drink itself. Which is a very good thing because tea is delicious.

[She leaned towards him, her hands clasped behind her back.]

What's wrong, sir? Oh uh, is something wrong? [She corrected, not wishing to be rude.]

Tea

[faithfulson]

[ Finn looked like how he felt after witnessing the events at the library, so he could only imagine something similar happened elsewhere. He sits beside him after a moment, offering him a faint attempt at a soft smile. ]

Are you okay, Finn?

[forcelight]

[ Rey slides down into a seat next to Finn, a plate of her own, also piled high. Noting his absent look, she sneaks a few morsels off his plate and pops them into her mouth. Not even last night's violent scene can shake her appetite. ]

You should really eat some of that.

[ A way of urging him to touch his plate, or something. Also, a warning unsaid, because if he doesn't - then she will. ]

Tea Time

[skaldish]

[ How's your day going Finn? Because you're going to get to meet the incredible exploding girl in the flesh. Said girl is laden with sweets right in front of you and gesturing at an empty seat next to you. ]

Um, do you mind if I sit over here for a bit? I've just been on my feet this whole time and I could use a little break.

[enflame]

ONE: SECOND SCENE OF A TRAGEDY

( That was certainly something.

After what was very likely an awkward conversation, Emil is left with a very sad tale on his hands: The Ballad Of The Awkwardly Fallen Cake Piece.

All he wanted was to have a nice, uneventful day, and the cake was a bonus! Now the former is absolutely not true, and the bonus cake that could have saved everything was lying on the ground, glazed and curved top glistening in the sun.

It wouldn't be so bad if there were more cake at this table, and maybe he could find a God to give him some more, but none are currently around. In fact, this little table has suddenly cleared out...

Should he? Risk his sense of sanitation and put his dignity at risk...? Surely no...

Well, only part of it is on the ground. In fact, the part touching the grass is basically a minority percentage of the cake! After some very quick glances around, Emil squats down, eyes still nervously trailing around before he assumes he has the all clear.

It won't hurt to just...scoop a bit off the top...no one would ever notice him doing something this disgraceful, his luck can't be that awful. )

[skittering]

❰ lalli, meanwhile, has spent much of this event holed up under the dessert table, occasionally pilfering treats. the exact dessert table that emil just nabbed a cake from, in fact - though lalli doesn't quite realize it's him. not until after his attention is drawn by the distinct sound of cake hitting grass and his hand has reflexively darted out to snatch it -

but oh, he recognizes those shoes. lalli lifts up the tablecloth enough to actually meet emil's gaze, fully intending to say something... but the swede looks so awkwardly furtive as he reaches for the cake that lalli's at once disinclined to interrupt whatever he's just emerged into.

(as a result, poor emil is halfway through reaching 'stealthily' for his fallen treat when lalli seems to emerge from under the table just to watch the embarrassment occur. whoops.)

but to his credit, the finn brushes past it before emil has time to fumble an explanation. he has more important things on his mind right now. ❱

Tell me you see her, too. ❰ they're the first words he's said to emil (to anyone but tuuri, really) since honir pulled him out of that cave, and they're quiet and a tiny bit rough with unuse but there's a contained sort of urgency to them. ❱

[channellings]

[sorry, emil, but your luck is that awful, especially when it's klaus who sees.]

Wow, I cannot believe this.

[to be fair, his voice isn't all that loud, raised just enough to announce his presence while he stands a few feet away with a hand on his hip, the other palming a plate that's got an untouched slice.] Now we've both eaten something off the ground, [klaus snickers, shuffles forward a couple paces, crouches down beside emil and offers his cake.]

Here, you can have mine. I've eaten at least half a dozen cookies and three cupcakes, so. [he shrugs, gently nudges emil with his elbow.] Promise there's no catch.

[theprezident]

[ Is that--?

Rhys is halfway through a cupcake, just standing here, minding his own business, and there's a guy he knows just casually picking up a piece of cake that he dropped on the ground. Which is, uh. Gross. ]

Uh. Dude. What are you doing?

lalli hotakainen (honir), ota!

[skittering]

❰ in truth, lalli isn't quite ready for crowds just yet. he hasn't been entirely himself since honir salvaged him from the depths of the dragon's cave - hasn't felt right, hasn't felt entirely stable and in control of the things he's thinking and feeling, not like usual anyway. but the god of travel once again swept in to fling his world into disarray and tell him that tuuri is here.

it rocked him back into something like normalcy, at least enough to go in search of her and to offer his first words in over a week to tell her how stupid she is for something that, as it turns out, she doesn't even remember. but that's fine. anything is fine right now. tuuri's here, alive (or at least seeming as much), in flesh and blood reality... and there's no way in this world or the next that lalli is about to leave her side so soon after she's arrived.

that doesn't mean he has to be right by her side, though.

anyone perusing the assorted sweets table might spot the occasional hand slipping out from under the edge of the tablecloth, reaching up and over the edge of the table to seize upon some kind of food item (any kind, the hand doesn't seem to discriminate) and disappear back under the table with it. when and if those reaching fingers find nothing in range, there's an audible huff of irritation before the hand withdraws, reappearing a few seconds later on the opposite side of the table with the same general tactic. ❱

[hantale]

[ Fran had a slightly different reaction to the caves, more reserved, certainly, but they were already sketchy about crowds and the like. They felt insecure, like they couldn't protect themselves, instead spending more time with the wanderers they had met over the last month and half-clinging like some lost sheep.

They had been talking to Tuuri about travels and spirits for a bit now, eyes occasionally. Perhaps without noticing, they might roll a sweet or two towards it and watching curiously as the hand disappeared once again.

Once their conversation was done, and Tuuri was distracted with some other Wanderer, Fran ended up sliding off their seat to slip beneath the table cloth, now blinking at the slightly familiar boy. Another of Honir's house, the mage they had met.

No words were exchanged, yet at least. The nymph just folded their legs, small enough to comfortably sit up beneath the table and offering Lalli a simple wave and gentle smile. Compared to their last meeting, Fran seemed much more... tired? A likely side effect of their rescue not too long ago. ]

[mindseer]

[Huh? Why did the pastry she'd been reaching for disappear? Terezi blinked behind her blindfold and tapped the table with her hand, cocking her head. That was odd. She was about to indulge in something that was only a little sweet when it just poofed. Had she knocked it over? She got down on her knees to feel around.

So, hey, Lalli, there's a girl with a blindfold right there in front of you, feeling around for the lost pastry. She's going to find you eventually...]

[tealeafs]

[ Chizuru has no idea that there might be someone not quite as much in plain sight who's also trying to grab some sweets for themselves. So here she is, just innocently looking over the assortment, trying to decide which one to take..

.. when the hand suddenly appears on the table. It comes so much out of nowhere that she doesn't even see where it's coming from right away, and Chizuru just lets out a shriek. ]

[channellings]

[surprising even himself, klaus doesn't immediately go for the sweets table like he might do any other time. living most of his life in a house where sugar was heavily frowned upon, he's always about getting it however possible, whenever possible. this time though, he spots cucumber sandwiches and has to gather as many as he can hold.

he downs one within a few bites, walks around with two in one hand for a while until he comes back around to the sweets table. while contemplating some triple chocolate-chip cookies, he's pretty damn certain the tablecloth moved. there's no alcohol to drink and certainly no drugs to take, so he's far soberer than he'd ever like to be, but he waits, watches—

sure enough, it happens again and a hand reaches out this time, aiming to take the cookie klaus had reached for. he plucks the treat up, tucks it into the hand still holding his sandwiches, reaches for the table runner,] How dare you try and snatch my shit, you little— [then is promptly disarmed at the sight of lalli] —gremlin. Hang on, Lalli?

Why are you snatching things from underneath the table when you can, I dunno, come out and take whatever you want? Pretty sure no one's gonna care how much you eat.