❪ event ❫ harvest valley

[natha]

THE GREAT HARVEST     While change is inevitable and those on El Nysa have always been adaptable, it’s clear that some things do not change. Citizens in both cities have began finding ways to return to a sense of normalcy, and most have done this by partaking in seasonal traditions and celebrations. With the heat of the previous months finally simmering down, the cooler air signifies the passing of the summer and the start of the great harvest. Though many crops were destroyed in the battle that preceded this event, those that have survived seem to have grown healthier in light of their hardships, and many believe this to be an unspoken blessing. In Wyver, festivities begin earlier in the month. Copious amounts of food are prepared from the first, and refugees will find that the people of Wyver are always hungry. The daily contests of strength are easily turned into contests of appetite. Not partaking, like many things in Wyver, can be taken as a sign of weakness. Losers will find themselves expected to do the bidding of those who win one of these contests. But it's all in good fun, right? Outside of contests, Wyver is keen on creating a festival-like atmosphere. Throughout the month there will be multiple food stalls open featuring food made from the harvest and game available to the city. Due to its popularity, many of the stalls will feature Shanrian’s favorite meat jellies. Refugees will be encouraged to assist in preparing delicacies for the stalls and will be rewarded for their efforts by being given specialty ingredients. When consumed, these foods can heighten one's senses for a period of time, so they're perfect to eat before heading on a quest or hunt. I. With their emphasis on cooking enormous portions of food and gorging themselves for days, it should come to no surprise that a lot of the age-old Wyvern traditions revolve around the act of eating. Particularly, of dining beside their scalier brethren. It isn’t uncommon to see the people of Wyver feed from the claws of dragons, or to mimic the act of a dragon eating on all fours— often sharing the same game (not always cooked either!). The trick to this is knowing how hungry the dragon is and finding the appropriate timing to take a bite without offending the creature. Some dragons are known to be a little more disciplined in this regard, while others are loose cannons. It’s important to be able to gauge this, and the people of Wyver are more than delighted to teach the refugees the tricks of the trade! The bigger question is... does everyone have the stomach for this? II. Maybe from all the eating they do and all the grooming, the dragons tend to avoid people during this time of the year, but some also start to look like they need a bit of help. During this time, native Wyvers use their free time after the steady and grueling days of harvest to maintain and care for the dragons. They help wash them up, take a look at their claws, and even pull some decayed teeth. However, precisely because this is such a tedious process, there's always a need for a helping hand or two to get the job done. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Wyverns are extra keen to grab a refugee or two for the job. They say pulling teeth is easy, the trick is simple after all! Don’t get bitten and don’t let the smell get to you! Seriously though, they advise that the work goes more smoothly in pairs. One person is typically in charge of making sure the dragon’s mouth remains open, while the other does the actual dirty work. While experts can mix this dynamic up a bit, or even work between those roles, it helps to have a starting point at least! III. These months are crucial to the people of Wyver as many of their dragons lay eggs in the later half of winter. In preparation, they believe now to be the most essential time for establishing bonds and building on pre-existing relationships, either between one another, or with the dragons. As they are a people who are proud of strength, Wyverns often display this in every aspect of their lives, including their blood exchange ritual. During this process, they will physically show the closeness between themselves and their companions by using a ceremonial knife to cut into their flesh. The wound they make on one another is meant to act as a symbol of the impact they have in each other’s lives. They are then meant to smear the blood of the individual they cut and mark some part of their body with it. Due to utilizing the specially crafted ceremonial blade, this streak of blood will stick to their skins for the duration of the month— a constant reminder of the bond they’ve formed. There are some variations to this, and there are no rules to how deep the incision must be… some Wyverns are known to take this a little too far, and so this ritual is certainly not for the faint of heart. In Olympia, the celebrations will begin a little later than they do in Wyver. The focus in Olympia seems to be their fruit liquor. Considering their newfound interest in “Thesaens,” it’s no surprise that refugees will find themselves target #1 for trying these various flavors. Additionally, as this act of liquor-making is often experimental, those brave enough to try it will find that the vintages' tastes and their effects will vary in extremes. As these fruits are produced from a vine with magical properties, it won’t be unusual to discover oneself overtaken by a series of strange inclinations that typically amplify whatever positive emotions the drinker is feeling. If they're feeling open and friendly, for example, they'll find themselves oddly handsy and affectionate. If they're feeling inquisitive, they may find themselves oddly invested or overly fixated on something— maybe it's that stray hair on that stranger's face or their unusual eyebrows? But, while the city is full of life and action, this is also a period of time that Olympians celebrate some of their oldest myths. According to their ancestors, this season marks the time of reunion and connection with those who have passed on. It’s said to correlate with the appearance of the constellations that best fit their most notable heroes. For Olympia, this is a time of coming together as a community and displaying a sense of gratitude for the harvest and the people of the city who make it all possible. I. One staple of the season is wine sharing. A form of showing closeness and intimacy with ones’ companions, people often will share a drink together, though, not exactly in an orthodox way. As an icebreaker for joining in a number of gatherings (especially those near temples), people are often seen transferring beverages mouth-to-mouth. The act of swallowing shared wine is meant to display acceptance and tolerance. Even rivals and old foes occasionally partake in this ritual to show mutual respect for one another. Declining can be seen as offensive, however with everyone swiftly becoming intoxicated, it may be easy for the more reserved individuals to bluff their way out of this. II. Food isn’t the only thing harvested during the season. The special magical vines that thrive during this period of time can be utilized as a material for weaving protective accessories. These accessories are traded between friends and lovers all throughout the month. They have a small energizing effect and will permit the wearer to exhibit a little more strength than they normally exhibit. The only catch is that the accessories must be tied on by someone else and be kept for at least a week. When the wearer feels the effects fading, the vines must also be removed by the same person who tied them on. If anyone wears the accessories past this period of time, they will find that they often feel restless and be prone to experiencing sleep paralysis and night terrors. Some Olympians claim that during that state, you can sometimes hear the voices of loved ones from beyond the grave. But, that’s probably just an old wives' tale... THE (IM)POSSIBLE MAZE     Midway between the cities, a vast maze of corn has been erected. Its purpose is twofold — to demonstrate a camaraderie between Olympia and Wyver and to be harvested by each side at the end of the celebrations. Both the Olympians and the Wyverns agree that the first maze of this kind was created in recognition of a treaty from long ago — decades ago, when the treaty was first signed, representatives from each city went into the maze together to demonstrate that they could work in tandem, but instead of emerging victorious, dead Wyverns were found on the Olympian side of the maze, and dead Olympians were found on the Wyvern side of the maze. Depending on who you ask, the specifics of this slaughter vary — some claim that those found dead were killed in self-defense, while others insist it was merely a misunderstanding, and others tout the theory that the truce was deliberately sabotaged. What the people can agree upon now, however, is that with the Thesaens among them, perhaps they can try it again and bring in a bountiful harvest together. Locals are charged silver to enter the maze, but refugees are allowed in for free to experience the tradition for themselves. I. The maze itself is long and winding, with overgrown stalks that block out most of the sky. It is, the promoters insist, not an easy trial to overcome. Those who enter the maze are given sparklers to signal their position for extraction should they become hopelessly lost — but if you manage to make it through the maze, the sparklers can be surrendered to those waiting on the other side for a modest sum of 30 silver each. Team up with someone to make it through… and don’t get lost! II. While this is a time for celebration, there are always some hooligans who don’t quite get into the spirit of things — or who, perhaps, get too much into the spirit of things. Unofficially, some of the locals have taken it upon themselves to sneak into the maze in costume and chase the participants through it. The motivations behind this vary — some are in it for a laugh, some insist that they’re doing it to help strengthen the bonds between the people they chase, and some claim that they’re doing it to prove a point: that the Olympians and Wyverns will turn on each other at the first sign of adversity, and they will even draw blood to show it. Will you make it through the maze despite these unexpected setbacks? Or perhaps this sort of mischievous thing is right up your alley…? III. Of course — and unfortunately — there are also those who get in over their heads. Midway through the festivities, on both sides, parents begin to notice that their children have gone missing… and that there are some decidedly child-like screams coming from the maze. It seems the kids have decided to sneak into the maze themselves and now require some rescuing — luckily, there are plenty of Thesaens around to lend a hand. FINAL OOC NOTES     As a reminder, REP will now primarily be given for completed QUESTS that are available throughout the month, and will not be offered through this event log. Additionally, as stated in the monthly outline, Nadril will still need the assistance of the refugees and there will be an IC call to action for that later in the month. Then as a final note, our Test Drive Meme will be up on October 24th! Thank you! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs ● bestiary taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp ● quest bulletin calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

QUESTIONS

[natha]

Ren Suzugamori | OTA

[thedarkbond]

[A: Wyver]
(i. feeding with dragons)

[It's probably a good thing Ren's been working with the dragons in this world, otherwise he'd be a lot less cautious about this whole feeding with dragons tradition. Even so, he looks much more excited about the opportunity than anything, and he watches one of the dragons for a little while before deciding it seems like a less territorial one and bouncing rather enthusiastically up to it. It watches him closely as he gets closer, and he offers it a cheery wave as it rakes its claws to dig a chunk out of what appears to be a substantial side of...possibly beef. At least it's cooked?

The dragon's claws are far enough out after it takes its next bite for Ren to take the opportunity, and he doesn't hesitate to lean in and take a small bite from its hand before taking a polite step back, still looking rather pleased.]

What a cute dragon... [At that point, he glances over to anyone nearby with a bright smile.] You should try it too!

(ii. grooming)

[Ren is perhaps not the best person to be trying to hold any dragon mouths open, but he's definitely going to try and help with cleaning, since he at least has slightly more experience than your average person there (though he hasn't been working at the Fields all that long). It might not look it, though, considering he looks somewhat like a chatty hairdresser the way he's talking to the small dragon he's currently cleaning, which unsurprisingly harbours no secret notions of answering.]

--your scales are really shiny, too, you should take better care of-- [As soon as anyone gets close enough to hear that much, Ren points a finger at them somewhat dramatically (which might involve flinging soap suds at them, considering he's elbow deep in those right now).] Oh, can you help me for a moment? This one's a bit restless, I don't know if he'll stay around long enough for me to finish if I'm the only one cleaning...

--

[B: Olympia]
(i. wine sharing)

[Over in Olympia, Ren's manner is a little more casual, and he's even changed outfits, with a dark purple sweater that's threatening to fall off his shoulders given how oversized the neck is (and the sleeves, which are so overlong they cover his hands), white pants, and a slightly different skirt with taller, higher-heeled boots and some necklaces joining his usual collar. He doesn't come with the knowledge of what the traditions are, but he's only too happy to listen to the locals explain over some of the fruit wine.

Of course, that turns out to be a little more of an unwise decision than he thought, but...really, he doesn't mind too much. He can feel that he wants to be a little more affectionate than he normally is right now, but he's normally pretty bad anyway when he wants to be, and why not use the traditions to mess around with some people a bit too? He certainly knows some who could stand to loosen up...

As such, if he sees someone he recognises - particularly someone he knows to be grumpy, though he'll do it with anyone he knows if he's given the chance - he gives a light, innocent smile and holds his glass of wine just under his mouth, as if preparing to take another sip.]

Do you want to share with me? It's a cute tradition, don't you think~? [With his free hand, he points to a couple of locals partaking in said tradition nearby...and it's definitely very much mouth-to-mouth. Clearly Ren's intentions are nothing but innocent, though. Clearly.]

(ii. friendship vine bracelets)

[Corny friendship bracelets are exactly the kind of thing Ren considers cute enough to be all over doing, and despite the warnings from the locals about potential side-effects, Ren's just wandering around with a handful of the vines braided into cute accessories and approaching anyone who looks remotely amenable to being approached. With a rather absent, innocent smile, he offers one out to them, holding it between two hands with the others draped over one arm.]

Do you want one? It'll look nice on you.

--

[C: Maze]

[While Ren's sense of direction makes the corn maze a bit troublesome for him, he likes the spirit of it. And hey, if he wanders around for long enough, he'll have to find a way out eventually, right?

It doesn't take him long to realise that there's people taking it upon themselves to chase others through the maze, though. It's the kind of thing he'd find pretty fun, but it'd also take a lot of effort...at the same time, there's definitely still something fun he can do that takes a lot less effort on his part.

Anyone wandering the maze may hear a couple of surprised screams, and encounter a small group of the costumed locals fleeing past them a moment or two later. Following the direction they fled from will reveal Ren around the next bend of the maze, an innocently thoughtful look on his face and one finger held delicately against his lower lip.]

Hmm...I guess it is pretty fun to do that sort of thing, isn't it? [What exactly he did is perhaps best left to the imagination...]

--

[D: Wildcard]

[[Feel free to hit me up at reviseleviathan for other ideas! I'd be interested in potentially doing the Wyver bonding ceremony with Ren's stronger CR.]]

o u know

[stuns]

[ juno is a stranger to revelry. he's more of a "sit in the furthest corner of the bar and drink 'til your tab makes you go cross-eyed" kind of guy. the wine loosens him a bit, however - whether it's how sweet it tastes on his tongue, different from the red light districts haphazard sour-sting, or just how much he's been encouraged to have, he's observing the very mouth-to-mouth tradition the olympians have with a somewhat slack-jawed sort of observation. ]

Huh.

[ it's the only word out of his mouth at first before he glances at ren with his lips just hovering over the rim of his glass. there's a war going on inside of him, a very brief one that says he shouldn't deal with these weird traditions or get himself tangled up too much in the culture of a place that isn't his own, that likely doesn't want him there.

but he's never really been one for good ideas in the first place. and this seems like one that at least won't get him killed, at worst will add to his hangover in the morning. inhibition, tonight you've gone and changed your name. ]

Not sure if cute's the word I'd use for it.

[ but he's not balking, he's stepping up. congrats. even putting his own glass on a nearby table because he feels like he needs both hands for this to keep from the two of them making some kind of... weird mess. right? ]

How you wanna do this?

( c )

[fabrications]

[ Akechi can play well with others on the surface, but the reality of the situation is that he prefer to fly solo. So he's going at the maze alone today, treating it like a puzzle (because it is) and enjoying the challenge.

Though it's hard to stay immersed when people dash past him screaming at the top of their lungs. Akechi shuffles out of the way, glancing over his shoulder to watch them pass. Well. Only so many things could cause that. He proceeds around the corner to find... a totally normal person standing there. Immediately, he's intrigued. ]

If you're having that much success on your own, no wonder it's fun. Those are the loudest screams I've heard so far.

B. i.

[quintessent]

[When it comes to being part of an intergalactic race, it’s important to keep an open mind. There are countless numbers of civilizations out there, and just as many traditions and social mores that make sense for that society. Allura has participated in plenty of strange ceremonies, eaten mysterious foods. When in Rome, and so on. But there are lines. Lines such as human sacrifice, or, in this case, swapping wine by mouth. Absolutely not.

So, it’s when Allura is trying to make an expedited escape from the festivities that someone pipes up next to her. The man from the subway. With his carefree grin and a gesture to a duo nearby partaking. Her face turns a shade redder, averting her eyes from the couple as if they were doing more than just smooching in public.]

It's a little bit crass, in my opinion.

[Congratulations at finding one of the most stiff and unapproachable people for this particular activity!]

Annie Walker | Covert Affairs

[smithsonian]

THE GREAT HARVEST (olympia)—

[While fascinated with the different people in this new place she's found herself in, Annie's not entirely sure how the native wine sharing works; it feels a lot like maybe a slow kiss with something in her mouth and she's not sure she's spent enough time with anyone to even try it. While she's not one to back down from trying new things, this one might be awkward, unless someone she knows is nearby.

To that end, she can be found with a glass in her hand, something she's sipping, just in case.]

THE (IM)POSSIBLE MAZE (walkthrough)

Let's do this.

[Annie says it with delight to the person to her right, whether she knows them or not. Dressed down in jeans and a loose shirt, she's finally found something that makes it easy to move and she's got some experience working through tall mazes.] It'll be fun and we'll even have sparklers that'll lead someone to us if we get lost. [Her smile widens.] I promise, we won't get lost.

THE (IM)POSSIBLE MAZE (where are the kids?)

[Standing outside the maze, contemplating whether or not she wants to go through it herself, the decision suddenly seems to be made for her when she hears cries that sound like children. Glancing around, she doesn't seem to be the only person who's heard them.]

You heard that, right? [Upon confirmation, she looks around, then asks for a sparkler.] We can't leave them in there. We need to go find them.

[The 'and then figure out how to get out' part is left unsaid.]

WILDCARD

[If you have another idea, hit me up in a PM or on Discord @ spycraft#8441! I'll go with anything.]

[milesedgelord]

[He was contemplating trying out the maze himself as he heard those screams. When Annie spoke to him he nodded.]

Yes, let's go!

[With that he rushed in headlong into the maze. Those screams sounded as if they were in distress.]

I think the sounds were toward the right side of the maze. Good thinking on the sparklers.

Rodney McKay | Stargate: Atlantis | OTA

[doubledoctornocitrus]

Guest in the Kitchen (Wyver, early month)
Look, he's never been intrepid, but he hadn't gotten to where he was by ignoring avenues of investigation. And Wyver was on his list. Though now that he's here, its too hot and he's probably going to die from a disgusting tropical disease, and these people who've roped him into helping prepare food for one of these ridiculous eating contests are...really nice, actually, and he's allowed to nibble while hes helping, and maybe he'll stay here a few more days if there's really this much food that they're intent on sharing. On the one hand, he now has weird magic mushrooms that make him feel like he can hear and smell everything (which is terrible, but maybe useful for later), but on the other, this place is positive primeval and there are dragons...everywhere. He's just passing one of eating contests, intent on finding a place to stay for the night (and maybe a couple more nights), when a 'helpful' local grins at him, shoves a towel and a bucket into his hands, and pushes him stumbling toward the recent contest winner with bright 'This fella will help you clean up while he waits his turn for the next one!'

Vintage Connoisseuring (Olympia, mid month, cw: tipsy Rodney)
Every single one of the glasses, mugs, and jars of wine that he's been handed have been very good. Weird, some of them. And there was that one that was terrible and he'd had to spit out. But he was at the point where they were all some manner of good and he was feeling very warm and a little bit floaty as he sat at one of the celebrations watching the entertainment with a bit of a glazed look on his face. He's not drunk, certainly not, but he might have had one too many and it's a lot of trouble to try and find something to eat, so he's momentarily content to stare at the refugee sitting nearest to him and admire. He's not shy about it, either, his admiration.

Overdeveloped Startle Response (Maze, mid month)
Okay, look. Rodney wasn't going to go into the maze. But it was free. And a challenge. And why on Earth (...or whatever the hell this planet was called again) would he back down from a challenge. And he'd been doing very well, thank you very much, as he ran his algorithm and wandered, until something had lept out at him and chased him halfway across the maze. It's really not his fault that he's easily startled. It's a hazard of his job. Well, his former job. His former life. Whatever. He's got his hands on his knees, his sparkler clutched in a deathgrip and the fading green of his personal shield rippling across his back, as he's bent over and panting and swearing loudly about hooligans and alien lifeforms. Still bent in half, he waves a hand in front of the next person to walk by to stop them, and pants out a wheezy, "Better idea to do this in a groups."

Settling-in Hiccups and Shenanigans
Wildcard!

OOC
Rodney's plotting post is here. I'll match prose or brackets, and I'll pop up personal starters if you wanna plot. :3

how 'bout that wine?

[smithsonian]

Frankly, it was amusing to Annie the way that people tended to 'share' their wine with the people closest to them. And though she didn't know anyone quite that well, she didn't see the harm in making new friends.

Spotting a man who was clearly well into his cups (and enjoying himself, if the way he was talking to those around him was any indication), she set her empty glass down and watched him for a moment longer before stepping around the bench and sitting down next to him with a smile that was possibly a bit mischievous. Biting her bottom lip, she lifted his glass from his hand, then took a healthy swallow before leaning in and, sliding a hand into the hair at his neck to pull him close, planting her lips against his.

It wasn't quite the way the sharing of wine was meant to go, but Annie thought she'd start small.

TJ Johansen | Stargate: Universe

[stargatemedic]

THE GREAT HARVEST (wyver) —

Excuse me, can I borrow you for a minute?

[TJ says 'a minute', but in reality, it's probably going to be a few more than that. Honestly, she's not entirely sure how she got roped into grooming dragons - actual dragons - but after taking a look at some of the ones that the native population were keeping as pets, she understood the need that they had to keep them well taken care of. Currently, she's got one that seems almost docile sitting on a table in front of her, just waiting for scales to be brushed and a tooth or two to be pulled.]

Apparently, these two teeth here-- [She attempts to show.] -- they didn't come out and now they're blocking her incoming teeth. She needs them pulled.

THE GREAT HARVEST (olympia)—

[There's something to be said about harvests in different cultures and where TJ has seen several different ones on different planets before, she's never quite indulged in all of the different... offerings. Something about wine sharing, the way the locals do it, feels a bit more intimate than she's willing to be with almost anyone she's met so far.

To that effect, she can be found milling about the stalls, trying different wines and feeling really good about life. Or very curious about people. Or extremely handsy. Say hi - who knows what'll happen next!]

THE (IM)POSSIBLE MAZE

[Who doesn't love a good puzzle? Granted, the origins of the great maze seem a little, well, morbid, but TJ is always up for something new and opting to go through the maze seems like it could waste a few hours.

Turning to the person nearest her that she recognizes (or even if she doesn't), she'll make the offer.] Have you thought about doing this? It could be fun.

WILDCARD

[Also up for the blood ritual of Wyver with some discussion, but other than that, hit me up with any other ideas! I'll roll with anything.]

The Great Harvest (Wyver)

[doubledoctornocitrus]

[Rodney's second day at Wyver's festival being plied with food and treated a little bit like a god (or godsent? or whatever delusion these people were suffering) has Rodney seriously considering moving there despite the muggy heat and the certainty of giant bloodsucking insects he's sure he hasn't seen yet but are probably lurking just out of sight, waiting. He's wandering the city after a nice, solid meal, and his path takes him close toward the dragons.

The lovely blonde woman asking him for his help draws him closer, pretty much out of the sheer novelty of being asked. There's something to say for anonymity. He admires her, then the dragon, and it's only after a good beat that he finally registers the meat of her request.]

Pull it's teeth?

[He makes no attempt to hide his horror, no matter that she's pretty. And maybe vaguely familiar?]

Phoenix Wright | Ace Attorney

[objectionattorney]

1. Here's One Person Not Complaining About All The Alcohol - Olympia

Ah! No I couldn't!

[Knowing the tediousness of previous festivals, Phoenix was a bit hesitant when he had heard the harvest season was coming around. But then he had caught word of Olympia's famous wine-liquor and, suddenly, the event didn't seem to be that bad after all.

Surely one little taste-test couldn't hurt, right?

Or two... Or Five.]

Ahahah! I mean! No but I've already drank so much! Well, I mean, if you insist.

[Right now he was doing his best to turn down one of the local brewers who wished for him to sample their work, and he was failing miserably. Five more drinks already in his arms as somehow, yet another was shoved towards him.]

Oh, all right. All right. I'll make sure to tell you how it-- Oh! Oops! So sorry about that!

[And so, half-drunk on various alcohols he accidentally found himself backing up into the person standing behind him. His cheeks red in embarrassment (or so he would claim) as he turned to face the person and apologize, only to accidentally spill one of his many drinks upon them!]

Oh... dang it.. um... You... Would you like one? There's plenty to go around. I really am sorry about that.

[Hic.]

2. What Goes Up Must Come Down - Olympia

[Drinking so much could never bode well. Doubly so if so much of what had been ingested was filled with various magical properties. Phoenix should have stopped when he first noticed he was feeling a little funny... And not just drunk funny either. No, it was almost as if the heavy burden he had been carrying over the extent of the year had felt suddenly lifted. It was as if the weight of the world was no longer on his shoulders, but instead a warm feeling, as if he were suddenly lighter than air. All that had happened... All that he did wrong... All he could have stopped... The memories of each and every screw-up he made just didn't feel like such a big deal to him anymore.

So it was perhaps a bit surprising reaction when he ended up planting his face firmly into the table he was sitting at, one of the remaining glasses that still had some liquid in it falling over and spilling due to the force of the impact causing the surface to shake.

He wasn't making any noise at first, in fact, he was barely moving. But if any curious passerby happened to look close, they would notice his hands were wrapping around his stomach. And his body shaking slightly as a stifled chuckle made it's way past his lips. He didn't even seem to notice as the spilled drink began to circle around his face, he was so caught up in the emotion.

Why was he so certain his life was over? Why was it that he wanted so hard to believe that everything was messed up because of him? It wasn't! It was stupid to blame himself! He was just a lawyer after all! What control would he be able to carry in such action-intense high-stakes situations!? And so, just when he thought his body had felt too heavy to even move, just when he thought he lost his breath due to his chuckling, did he suddenly shoot up straight in his seat. Unaware of the gross ugly tears that seemed to be streaming down his face as he let out a cackle of laughter.]

Oh my god how could I be so stupid!?!?!

[Yep. Phoenix Wright, under the influence of magical alcohol, has officially lost it, it seems.]

3. Come Get Lost With Me - The Maze

[Of course, there had been rumors of what had happened in the past. But the way the maze had been advertised to the public made it all come across as great fun! Sparkling flares and walls that went up higher than anyone could see. It was just like the corn mazes during the holidays back home-- but bigger!

Now, of course, the real question was finding someone who'd be willing to go along with him. The Olympian size of the maze was crowded and jovial and filled with stalls celebrating the harvest. Various people all with different skills walking about in attempts to show off their abilities and bravery before making their way towards the entrance.

Phoenix wished he was good enough to travel such a thing on his own. But he knew his own capabilities better than that.

And so he wandered about, looking somewhat lost as he searched out for anyone else who seemed both as nervous and as excited as he was.]

Ah! H-hey!

[Trotting over, an unlit sparkler in hand, Phoenix approached the first person he could find who looked amiable. A sparkle in his eye as he grinned out, trying to catch his breath as he waved his new potential partner down.]

Hey! I just... noticed you seemed a bit lost... You wouldn't happen to be, that is, are you looking for someone to go in with?

4. WILDCARD

((OOC: Wish to do something else? Wish to plot before starting? Hit me up at chohakkaifan or leave a toplevel! I'm up for just about any and all shenanigans!))

2

[milesedgelord]

[He was wandering around on his way home from work taking in the festivities, it certainly was a nice change from the way the last few months had been.

On top of that, the fruit wine that was offered to him at various stalls was fantastic. He held a glass, nursing it as he walked when he heard a very familiar voice.


...Good god, was he drunk?

The lush.


Shaking his head he sat down next to him.]

Alright, enlighten me. What makes you think you are stupid? Or any stupider than usual?

Genjo Sanzo | Saiyuki

[smithandwesson]

A. You Know, There Are Some Religions That Consider Gluttony A Sin - Wyver

[Sanzo had always a bit picky with food, but it never meant that he was against indulging every now and then. But this-- This was something else entirely. Surely if a certain one of his accomplices had been awake for this event they would have considered it absolutely heavenly. But Sanzo, watching all these assholes engorge themselves nonstop on food, frankly felt a little sick.

How was it that people were capable of eating that much?

Of course, walking around the fair judging others for their way of celebrating was bound to come back and bite him in the ass. And so, when a particular stall attempted to grab his attention and he politely turned them down ("Like hell I would make a fucking pig of myself like you assholes are"), tensions rose high. And before he knew it he was surrounded by about five gruff looking men all seeming to be up for a fight.]

What? Just because I ain't planning on making a fatass of myself I went and hurt your feelings? Talk shit if you like but I ain't the one who's going to be stuck in the bathroom all day regretting my life choices later.

[And with that one of the bigger guys moved in, slamming his fist right into Sanzo's jaw. Which of course, caused Sanzo to elbow the guy in the gut as hard as he could in retaliation, causing the guy to lurch out and quickly run off to vomit his meal. The other four only growing all the more aggravated as they took the moment to pile upon him all at once.

The scuffle escalated and grew to a practically unmanageable degree until, finally, a large shot rang out. Sanzo had been aiming his gun at no single person in particular, but instead fired it towards one of the nearby stalls, almost hitting any nearby passerby who happened to be watching along.]

You wanna get on my fucking bad side today!? If you're so damn hungry why don't you eat some fucking lead!?

B. You Start A Brawl In The Middle Of A Festival And You Have To Deal With The Repercussions - Wyver

[Let it be known that Genjo Sanzo was never much of a good sport when it came to losing a fight. Even more so when he happened to be called out for his bad sportsmanship by the city guard and taken off to compensate for his reckless behavior.

And so here he stood, his face as bland and unenthusiastic as ever as he wore a large white chefs hat and apron while he stood behind one of the local food stalls.]

Come one, come all, and enjoy a Wyver favorite. Delicious meat-jelly beloved to the great King Shanrian himself. Imbued with a special home-brewed recipe to give boosted stamina. Just imagine the benefits it could provide.

[He sounds so enthusiastic. No he really doesn't.]

Surely you would love to have this delicious jelly tantalize your taste buds. Oy.

Oy you!

C. Maze of Horrors

[Sanzo had mostly used the excuse of the maze as a way to avoid as many people as he could. Choosing to enter the event by himself, he almost enjoyed the quiet meditation that came with getting lost and finding his way around. The twists and turns that came with wandering through the night with no real goal causing a relaxed sensation. Really he was in absolutely no rush to find the exit, instead seeming to enjoy the cool night air and the sight of the stars above.

In fact, upon hitting a dead end he had found a rather comfortable looking rock. Taking a moment to sit down and pull out his cigarettes and enjoy a smoke, allowing the distant sounds of the festivities lull him into a sense of ease. Until, just ever so slightly, he closed his eyes. Just to relax and savor the moment of course.]

....zzzzzZZZZZZzzzz....

[Surely he'll get back to enjoying the maze soon.... Hopefully... At least he will stir enough to remember that the cigarette was still dangling in his mouth?


Maybe?]

b

[planetary_bonds]

[Yusei looks unimpressed by Sanzo's...salesmanship. And he clearly doesn't believe that Sanzo's doing this out of the goodness of his heart, or because he genuinely likes the stuff. And he'd definitely put more of an effort if he was getting paid for this.

He doesn't even sigh when he raises his eyes from the plate of jellies to look up at Sanzo, even if everything about his expression and his posture implies that he would if he could.]

What did you do.

[It's not a question.]

Ianto Jones (Torchwood) | OTA!

[torchwoodteaboy]

THE GREAT HARVEST - OLYMPIA
These festivals are really beginning to be a problem. They wouldn't be so bad if it was just food and drink and entertainment. But Olympia, Ianto has noticed, has a tendency to take things a little too far. Maybe it's the whole planet, then again. Ianto's not exactly spent enough time in Wyver to get a good feel of the place. Maybe it's better that he's here after all.

He'll just have to keep telling himself that, as he dodges the next cup of wine held out in his direction. This is starting to feel like deja vu. At least there aren't any prostitutes this time, he thinks to himself, as he reaches up to do his best attempt at fending it off.

Best attempt being the key word as he finds himself with a cup in hand despite himself. The native Olympian smiles and motions for him to try and he offers the man his best smile back, raising the wine in something of a toast in return, but he turns and quickly flees the scene before he's forced into anything more. Playing with the cup in between his gloved hands, he slows once he thinks he's made it a safe distance away and raises it to take a cautious sniff. Well, it smells like wine, at least? But that hardly proves anything, knowing this place.

It's at this point that Ianto realizes he has an audience.

"I, ehm," he begins, smoothly. "I don't suppose they've forced any of this on you too?"

THE (IM)POSSIBLE MAZE
II. Ianto's pretty certain he's seen this movie before and he knows the ending isn't good. At least, it wasn't the last time at any rate. Not the last time that this maze was constructed, apparently, when dead natives were found at each side, and even more recently, the last time they attempted such a gesture of peace with the exchange of cultural artifacts. It's what had triggered the raiding of the caravans and set about the business with Raysc and Ysverai, after all. He has to wonder what might happen this time, now that peace seems to have settled again. (At last?) Perhaps that's what has him setting off to attempt the maze himself.

Of course, while he's hoping not to encounter anything in here, that doesn't mean that he isn't jumpy. He keeps -- hearing things. Uncertain whether the sounds are natural, simply the noises of other wanderers in the field with him, or whether there really are others out there amongst the stalks with less innocent intentions. Every once and a while there comes the sharp scream or cry of another adventurer through the air, and it's impossible to determine whether they're in distress or just having a little too much fun. It really has him on edge.

To the extent that when he narrows the next corner of the maze and encounters another figure there, he does his manly best not to jump too high or yell (not scream, excuse you, it's a manly yell) too loud in surprise.

"Jesus!"

III. This time the next scream that cuts through the air is decidedly real. So much so in fact that it has Ianto's blood running cold and his hair standing on end. Not just because it's a scream, but because this scream is decidedly child-like. Children in the maze. Children in distress. Ianto doesn't have children of his own of course, and he can't say that he's particularly drawn towards them. He's an awkward person and they seem to be able to smell that on him. But that doesn't mean that he wishes any harm to fall on one. Especially not anything that might happen to them while they're in a corn maze. That really is straight out of a horror movie.

Ianto is instantly (more) on edge, rushing to the end of a path and glancing back and forth down the way, holding his breath as he listens to see if the cry comes again.

"Which way did that come from?" he asks aloud, turning aside to meet the eye of the nearest person. Someone else who has to be alarmed by the sound of screaming, terrified children too.

((ooc: i default to prose but feel free to write in action and i'd be happy to match the style! also if you want something in particular that i didn't put up here just hit me up on lycanthropy101 or on my plotting comment here!))

Party Bonding

[doubledoctornocitrus]

When Ianto approaches while Rodney's packing away festival foods, he really can't do anything but stare as the man sniffs at the wine. The man is deeply odd, but really that can only be expected taking into account where he'd come from.

"I wouldn't say forced," he says. He jabs his fork at his own wine sitting on the table in front of his plate. He's not actually displeased to see Ianto, he just sounds impatient and maybe a little bit cranky. Being interrupted by sniffing and dubiousness is not really his favorite. But he has to be nice to Ianto.

Him making an effort to be nice, though, is pretty hit or miss. "Why the sniffing?"

Asseylum Vers Allusia | Aldnoah.Zero

[versianvirtue]

AMAIZEING FUN!

I. Once she learns of the symbolism enshrouding the maze of corn, her enthusiasm for the vast sea of stalks redoubles. All you have to do is bring lofty, utopian ideals like harmony and accord and Asseylum is readier than Easy Mac is done in 3 minutes. To her, participating would be like a ritual issuing her best wishes for the relationship between Olympia and Wyver. (The latter part of the story is a bit... unsavory, but that is exactly why she must participate!)

That, and it plain just looks like fun! The Vers Empire in all its cold uncultivable glory could never facilitate something like a corn maze, much less one that is purported to span across nations!

But she doesn’t want to just dive in alone, especially not if it’s her first time… But since you’re over there, maybe she can enlist you as her buddy-system-buddy?

“Have you ever gone through a corn maze before?”

II. Aaaaaaand she’s lost.

The princess traipses through the maze, wondering whether she already turned that particular corner or not. Is she closer to Olympia? Or has she been wandering long and far enough that she’s breached the midpoint and neared Wyver? She can always rely on the sparkler if she loses her spark for this game, but… she can be pretty stubborn. Only as a last resort!

A scream tears through the walls of crops and travels along with the swish of plants, the stomp of feet, and growl of… of what? What was that?

Instinctively, she backs up and considers heading the other direction, trying to tune out her heart jumping to her ears. But maybe she bumps into you? Or maybe you chance upon her in her wild bloom of fright? Hopefully you don’t go spooking her all over again!

III. Or maybe you find her among the Lost Children instead?

She has amassed a veritable flock of them: some crying, some 3, some 6, some somewhere in between. She doesn’t have more than ten, though. Where did she get them all? It looks like she’s escorting them on a field trip! They’re a bit of a handful, though. As she holds the smallest one, she crouches to another, dabbing at his blobby tears and trying to get through to him in a sweet voice.

“There’s no reason to cry, now. We’ll find mommy and daddy soon, alright? We already found Hansel’s grandpa, didn’t we? ...Hey! Peter, just where are you going?”

Peter, the youngest of the bunch, toddles off to who-knows-where, unconcerned by his parentless situation and distracted by something. A grasshopper? A used-up candy wrapper? Or maybe it’s another refugee?

2. AN ENTWINED ENCHANTMENT...

Another festivity that wound its way around her heart is the idea of imbuing someone with strength by crafting something of a charm bracelet or amulet with plants. An acolyte of Thesa Temple fervently explained the tradition to her, and once he did, happily bestowed upon her heaps of vines to play with. Asseylum took to her newfound activity with zest, perching by the side of a fountain to weave the materials together into different wearable accessories. Some of them she wove with people in mind to give them to, but others are fashioned for just about anyone she might come across.

So you may either chance upon her:
-threading vines together into bracelets and crowns and the like
Or
-approaching you with something in her hands.

“Have you heard of the special vines they harvest here in Olympia?” she asks you brightly, subdued ardor gleaming in the expectant gaze she sends you.

((ooc: If you want to do anything else, let me know! Or if you want to tailor a prompt to fit your character, that’s also possible. Feel free to PM me or hit me up on plurk at wingything.))

Maze II

[fiendennor]

[It would be easy to cast a spell and locate the exit, honestly, but where's the fun in that? Diana is enjoying the mental challenge of trying to find her way through the maze, and if all else fails, well, she has her trusty broom strapped to her back.

The scream that echoes through the air is mildly startling and more than mildly concerning, though. Not because she's scared (she isn't), but because there's the possibility that it's someone in here who genuinely needs help. So Diana begins trekking through the high corn rows in the direction she heard the scream--

--and, rounding a corner, collides directly with Asseylum.] Oh!

I'm sorry, are you hurt? I didn't see you.

Bree Randall | Outlander | OTA

[givingback]

[ the great harvest ] | Olympia festivities and inquisitiveness.

[ Throughout her stay planet-side so far, Bree hasn't shied away from any sort of alcoholic beverage. She doesn't typically over-induldge, but she's no prude, either. She's managed to dodge (so far) the invitations to share wine (she isn't against it so much as can't even imagine participating with a complete stranger) and has instead had plenty on her own. Which has made her curious to the extreme about the place she now calls home. She stops anyone she sees to ask them a series of questions with flushed cheeks. ]

Hi! I'm just curious, but how long have you been here? I mean awake and not in stasis or anything? Has it been weird or hard to adapt? Do you like it?

[ It's possible you just wanted to share some wine. Maybe if you get her to stop asking questions you'll have a better shot? ]

[ the great harvest ] | II. friendship bracelets are magic.

[ When she's not helping her mother at the clinic, Bree's weaving together friendship bracelets, the type she used to make with her friends when she was younger. Her fingers are practiced and sure, and she might be smiling to herself a little as she lets herself think about much simpler times.

Of course, she has no idea the effects.

Later, if she tied one onto you, feel free to find her and get her to take it off. ]

[ the impossible maze ] | II. (not so) independently making it.

[ Of course she goes into the maze alone. It's a maze. She can get through it, and Bree isn't worried. So she doesn't wait to find a partner as she brandishes her sparkler of distress. She's going to get her silver and buy something fun with it.

Except, of course, that's not how it goes at all, and as soon as someone starts chasing her she takes off running, getting turned around easily. She runs right into another someone's chest and screams in fright, clearly afraid that person is definitely going to murder her. ]

((ooc: wanna do something different? go for a wild card or hit me up on plurk at babybokchoy))

busted

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Claire doesn't really mind Bree partaking in festivities here. It's not Boston, and there's a lot she'll be exposed to, and she trusts she has a good head on her shoulders. For the most part. But it's when Claire catches sight of her daughter with cheeks that are far too rosy and pelting some poor soul with questions that she steps in and does The Mom Sleeve Pull to rescue her victim.]

Bree. There you are.

[She wasn't really looking for her, but she'll make it seem that way.]

Here, let me show you something.

[Escape, random person, escape!]

juno steel / the penumbra podcast

[stuns]

The Great Harvest, Wyver (Grooming) | A helping hand.

[ the few days that juno spends in wyver during the height of the great harvest is spent primarily with dragons. he hasn't had a decent chance to get a good look at wyver beyond the undergrowth, so it's nice to actually spend some time learning about the various dragons that roam freely around the place and are treated with such reverence. hell, they seem pretty much like citizens themselves, being fed and cared for and held highly.

after being pulled aside by a local wyvern, he's taught how to clean scales in such a way that some of the smaller dragons will tolerate, though it does take two people - one distracting by means of soothing, pleasing touches to little spots on the dragon's throat and behind its jaw, while the other takes to scrubbing against dull scales and pulling at ones that are ready to shed themselves. they move from tail to nose, taking care of scales, horns, and eventually teeth.

he's been doing pretty well with his wyvern guide, but eventually they have to go, leaving juno to try and find a new partner to help with the next dragon that deigns it alright to come close for a little scrub down or some teeth checking and pulling. if you aren't looking too busy - ]

Gimme a hand with this one - she's got something rotting in her mouth that needs a good tug.

The Great Harvest, Olympia (Wine Sharing) | I got a sight for the sorest eye, when’s the last time you saw the sky?

[ juno isn’t normally one to share much of anything, especially a drink. so at the start of the festivities, it’s fairly easy to avoid an invitation to let someone mother bird some wine into his mouth. the fact that so many people are doing it is weird as hell, but then again who is he to criticize tradition when he’s the stranger in a strange land here. he drinks his wine, he keeps to himself mostly, watching people get more and more sloshed as the night wears on.

he joins them eventually, of course. the wine does flow freely after all and the firelight is warm, the stars oddly bright and the atmosphere cloying with the scent of lush fruit and candle wax and something far more natural than anything they could get on mars. no sim winds smelling stale and recycled, hot on his cheek. instead the breeze is cool and refreshing, enough that he strips off his jacket, undoes a few of the buttons on his shirt and rolls up his sleeves to get a good feel of it on his bared skin.

the night wears on and so does juno, sitting with a cup full of wine on the end of a table. hardly ladylike, but he likes his perch here and no one’s complaining. he’s wine-warmed and looking up at the brightest of the stars, swaying just a little bit and tipping the remainder of his wine to and fro around his cup. they say you can see mars or venus on a good night from some planets. so he can dream, can’t he?

if you happen across him at this point, he’s more than likely to be a little broody, but not.. wholly averse to finally indulging in that good old olympian tradition, tipping his glass in your direction with a slightly lifted brow, withering smile, and deep green eyes. ]

Hey, you. Want a drink?

Wildcard

[ if there's something else you'd like to do such as friendship bracelet-ing or getting lost in the maze... or if you'd like me to write you a personal starter, let me know at shibes @ plurk. You can PP me there. ]

dr. draco DDS (helping hand)

[planetary_bonds]

[Yusei looks up from where he was putting away some brushes and pliers into a bucket, apparently done working with another dragon nearby. He rotates his arms, loosening his shoulders before nodding.]

What do you need, then? Helping her keep her mouth open, or...?

Diva | Blood+ | OTA

[colorature]

EATING COMPETITION - WYVER

<sub>[All Diva needed to know about the celebrations happening in Wyver was that there were multiple food stalls boasting all sorts of tasty goodies. Really, that's all she'd needed to hop on the nearest train. Now that she's here, the sights and smells are overwhelming, so much so she finds herself drooling like a Pavlovian dog. How sexy.

Dressed in a simple white dress with black mary janes on her feet, Diva wastes no times hitting up each stall, willing to try whatever samples are being offered. She only has so much spending money as it were, Solomon having given her an allowance of sorts to blow on whatever she wanted. As eager as she is to spend it all on food, one stall in particular catches her eye. It's a contest of sorts - if you could finish eating one of the massive meat jellies on display in under an hour, not only did you not have to pay for it, but you would get a prize! How great was that? Even better is you could attempt the feat with a partner.

So naturally, Diva turns to whoever is closest to her who seems to be interested in meat jelly just as much as she does.]</sub>

Hey-! Wanna try this with me? If we eat it all we get a prize!

DRAGONBORN - WYVER

<sub>[The natives seem to be impressed with her fortitude and lack of fear when it comes to eating like a dragon. Diva has no qualms when it comes to getting down on all fours and eating raw meat with one of the scaly creatures. On a few occasions, at least at the start, it seemed as if the dragon wanted none of it, but something about Diva's presence had the creature backing down so the two of them could enjoy their bloody meal together.

She's finished now, but she's kind of...a mess...and definitely needs to wipe her mouth clean. It's bloody (naturally) and isn't exactly the best look to have. If you aren't there to offer her a towel or something to wipe herself with, she'll go to the nearest barrel containing runoff rainwater and just...dunk her entire face into it.

Yep. Splish splash.

Such beauty and grace from the Chiropteran Queen.]</sub>

BLOOD PACT - WYVER

_{[Blood is always going to be something Diva's drawn to, and while she hasn't indulged in the ceremony herself, that doesn't stop her from watching others do so. Of course she's subconsciously licking her lips as she does so, sighing here and there. She feels wistful and antsy all the same.]}

It's pretty romantic, don't you think?

_{[Smearing blood on each other, that is. Sure...okay Diva.]}

DRINK UP - OLYMPIA

<sub>[Not one to turn down an offered drink, Diva's had quite a few glasses of fruit wine over the span of a couple of hours. Sure, her tolerance is high and so she's not really drunk per-say, but the effect the wine has on her leaves her feeling overly affectionate. You may just find yourself with a pair of arms wrapped around your middle as she seeks out an embrace or if you're sitting you might find her shamelessly climbing into your lap, intent on making herself comfortable.

She's been watching what the natives do as well, swapping wine (and spit in turn) with their mouths and wouldn't mind getting in on a bit of the action.]</sub>

Thirsty?

A MENACE IN THE MAZE

<sub>[Letting Diva dress up and participate in the festivities probably wasn't the smartest idea to have, especially since she's wearing a horned mask, her long black hair draped over her shoulders. Her fangs only add to the 'look' as it were, her white dress contrasting with the black of her hair as she chases people, hands out in front of her as she giggles, the sound sing-songy as it echoes through the maze. If she's picked you as her target and you try to run you'll be shit out of luck, for she'll catch up to you easily. If you try to hide? She'll sniff you out. Those fangs and nails of hers look rather pointy and sharp (because they are).

Someone's enjoying this way too much.]</sub>

Ehehe...won't you let me have a bite? I won't kill you, I promise~!

_{[She's just...hamming it up...really...]}

WILDCARD

_{[I'm down for anything...let's go. Hit me up at thirdimpact or throw me a starter and I'll roll with it!]}

eating contest

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket's disdain for meat jelly should be known far and wide by now, because he was certainly not having Shanrian's bad taste when it won that fucking contest. However, this presents a conundrum.

He likes winning.

And he knows Diva is a fucking bottomless pit, so it's a surefire win.

Dammit.] D'you really need two people? Maybe I could coach you through it. Be like a-a manager or something. And then we split the prize.

[Yeah, okay, Rocket.]

Loras Tyrell ✿ Game of Thrones

[triplerose]

[i. MEANWHILE IN WYVER]

[ The idea of a harvest has Loras in impossibly high spirits. It reminds him of home, of the harvests in Highgarden. Though the festitivies are ... Different. To be sure. Loras isn't much for dragons so he avoids any of the practices of mimicing them or grooming them, but he finds himself amused by the eating competions. Regardless of how he'll be perceived, he politely declines any participation in them.

Though if he does happen to be coerced into one, then you'll find him feeling a little sick afterwards. Look out for your shoes.

Or maybe you'll meet him as he wanders past those undergoing the blood exchange ritual. He watches them with a quiet fascination, but finds he doesn't enjoy it. Not because of the blood, but because it makes him feel unbearably lonely. ]


[ii. THE MAZE]

[ This is fascinating. It's unlike anything Loras has seen before, and he can't not try it out. Luckily, it probably doesn't involve too much cleverness, and he's always been very brave so heading into an overgrown puzzle doesn't faze him much.

Perhaps you and he will come across some people trying to scare maze wanderers, or maybe you'll end up getting turned around. But it's still fun, isn't it? ]


[iii. WILDCARD]

Choose your own adventure or get at me for some plotting, fritzwinky.

the maze

[nineteenfortyfive]

[30 silver isn't much in the grand scheme of things, but Claire can be stubborn--so, she's lost as hell, but she's not about to give up her prize. Whose bright idea was it to enter the maze alone, Claire? Hers. Probably. She's muttering under her breath, turning around and walking backwards, very much not looking where she's going.]

Did I come from this way, or...?

[Maybe? She thinks so. She's about to swear when she bumps into none other than Loras.]

Oh, thank God. Please tell me you've a good sense of direction.

Fergus Fraser // Outlander

[claudel]

[i. OLYMPIA]

[ Look, wine and liquors are two of Fergus' favourite things. He'll never say no, especially when the natives are so eager to have the newcomers try it. Also, it's just rude. At first he thinks maybe he's just a little tipsy as the effects start to trickle in, maybe that's why he's overly friendly or overly flirtatious or overly ... Whatever this is. But what's a little friendliness between new pals, right?

Or maybe you and he are fortunate enough to share a drink, the traditional way. It's maybe not proper where he comes from, but here it's normal. So no harm. He's all too eager to participate, swapping wine mouth to mouth. ]


[ii. THE MAZE]

[ A maze? Made of corn? Fergus knew that the arisocracy of France had similar things made of hedges, but perhaps not to this scale. And not made of corn. His fascination is what brings him to it, and he stands outside with no small amount of admiration on his face. ]

Will you go with me?

[ He asks, turning to the nearest person to him. ]


[iii. WILDCARD]

Do what you want, or hit me up at fritzwinky if you want.

i. OLYMPIA

[companioning]

[At first Inara didn't even want to go to the festival because she knew it would have been something River would have loved. But, it was that exact reason that she decided to go, and she's glad she did.

Inara adores wine, and though she was trying not to drink too much of it, it was hard when glass after glass was pressed into her hands. She's probably had three or four glasses but the time she finds herself sharing wine with those around her in the traditional way.

She smiles at the young man she finds herself next to and then taking a sip of her wine, she leans into him and presses her lips against his. It was tradition after all.]

Grantaire | Les Miserables

[winecasks]

1. Olympia

[ Wine is Grantaire’s forte, and it really is unfortunate. He’s a man of many faults, but some of his biggest stem from his love of wine. Olympia is not the place he should be, not when he already feels so blue, but he’s come regardless, hoping to ease himself back into good spirits.

He does not manage to do as much, but he does manage to cause a ruckus when he grows too intoxicated and suddenly decides that the rules of this event are not for him. After all, he isn’t feeling nearly as positive as those who surround him. ]

Tradition? Tradition is dull! Tradition is meant to be broken! Should we not share wine the way we please, friends? Ritual means nothing to me. I am not a ritualistic man, as I have never believed in rituals to begin with. I should like to show my acceptance and tolerance by purchasing an entire bottle of wine for those who desire one, not by offering a meager mouthful. It is what I would like done for me, so why should I not do it for someone far more deserving?

2. The Maze

[ He seeks the maze out later in the month, when he’s less intoxicated and in a slightly better mood, though no easier himself. Whoever dares to partner with him will get a grim smile, and some self-criticism: ]

I should apologize, my friend, for I am the worst you could have chosen to accompany you. But only Theseus himself would do in the case of a labyrinth.

3. Wildcard

[ Catch him around, come up with anything you please, or find me at muttonchops for plotting if you prefer! ]

2

[hellzone]

[ The problem with being criminally unlucky is that sometimes, when you're looking for a maze partner, the only option is the downer drunk guy who's a bit of a jerk and somehow spent the entire month not seeing ghosts. Yoshiko just has this 'why me' sort of expression on her face as she looks at Grantaire then looks back at the maze.

That expression only lasts a moment though before she schools it back into something dramatic and over the top. ]

Fear not, my little demon. Yohane's dark powers and spiritual sense shall help us overcome the horrors of this maze. Tis but a trifle!

[ And she strikes a dramatic pose.

yeah, they're getting so fuckin lost ]

MOLLYMAUK TEALEAF | OTA

[mollymocked]

𝐚. 𝐌𝐑. 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐄 𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐑 | 𝐎𝐋𝐘𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐀

[Molly is learning very quickly that he enjoys Harvest Festivals. This one is a little less exciting than the one in Zadash if only because he's mostly alone, but he's making do with what he has.

And what he has is copious amounts of alcohol.

Molly's playing up the whole stars and myths thing with his fortune telling and the Olympians are eating it up and paying him in silver, but mostly fruit wine, and he is quite thoroughly soused. His cheeks are flushed a little bit pink as he leans over his makeshift table. He has not been this wasted since Hupperdook. It's delightful. He's definitely going to throw up later.

But first, draped as he is over what used to be where he was turning cards, he waves people over with enthusiasm. What does he even want? We just don't know. It's probably not a free fortune.]

𝐛. 𝐌𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇-𝐓𝐎-𝐌𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎𝐗𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 | 𝐎𝐋𝐘𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐀

[Molly has not learned a lesson from his previous day partaking in the fruits of the vine, though to be fair this time he wasn't looking to get drunk. He was just checking out the bloody temples, really. And he's not going to offend anyone and risk getting in trouble over a little mouth to mouth.

Besides, it's adorable. It's the cutest tradition he's ever seen. Olympians are amazing and his kind of people. He's at least not wasted this time, but he has imbibed a few sips of shared wine and has gotten to the "get louder" stage of his buzz.

So with enthusiasm, he raises his glass and shouts, giddily.] I have a goblet of respect and tolerance right here, and I'm more than happy to share it. Step up. Be bold. It's tradition.

[He's 100% doing this just because he's cuddly and affectionate right now- seriously that wine does him zero favors when he's already a personal space invader on a sober day.

Also it's funny to see people's reactions. A lot of people are trying to find ways to pretend they didn't hear or see that, because that is a lot of tiefling over there.]

𝐜. 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄'𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐑 | 𝐌𝐀𝐙𝐄

[As various Thesians saunter up to the maze free of charge, Molly stops at the person manning the entrance, shakes their hand and gives them an enthusiastic thank you for a lovely adventure. When he steps away, the man is holding two silver, and Molly has sauntered into the maze without a word about it.

He doesn't seem to be too worried about getting lost or what direction he's going. His strategy seems to be just enjoy the ride and carry on in whatever direction feels right. There's no clear danger so it's not like it's going to be an issue.

But if some person does get lost, you can probably follow the sound of someone with a baritone voice singing some random song. Depending on who you are and what your experience with the maze is thus far, you might not like what you find. Purple devil-looking people are not exactly good omens in creepy mazes.]

𝐝. 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐋 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 | 𝐌𝐀𝐙𝐄

[There are a group of teenage hooligans in the middle of the maze. There is also a disappointed tiefling and someone who was either an unfortunate victim being chased or someone who was about to murder these idiot kids for scaring them. Either way, the result is the same- no one is getting bloody here.

Just scolded.]

I mean, really were you even thinking? Is this how you want to die? In a bloody corn maze? [He turns to the person he's just intervened with, tsking.] They're just idiot children. That's all it is. This is what happens when parents don't take the time to raise their kids right.

𝐞. 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐃

[other things that aren't listed here!!]

[stuns]

[ everyone is calling this tradition cute and juno can't understand why. granted, he is about as sober as anyone else - which means he's not sober at all and seated on the steps of the temple that molly has chosen to call out from. he's just been people watching for the most part (there's a guy juggling knives nearby and juno's got a front row seat on these stairs, trying to decide on when the poor sucker is going to accidentally drop one straight onto his foot or accidentally decapitate himself.)

hearing his voice gets him to turn his head, leaning back on one hand while the other holds a woefully empty glass propped up on his knee. he's comfortable where he is, so instead he raises a brow and gives a shake of his head. there's a whole street spinning just below him. wine is messy stuff.

not that whiskey's any better, but there's a lulling sweetness to wine that lures you in too fast and too deep. whiskey's got a bite, it's a warning over a crooked finger pulling you all the way in. ]

I'm not getting up from here. [ he gestures sloppily ] You can step down.

Theon Greyjoy | A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones

[reek]

1. Olympia, being a giant buzzkill

[ Theon isn’t here for festivities. He’s not even sure why he’s here at all. Perhaps he needs to get away from the house for a time, or perhaps the fact that there’s alcohol is alluring.

His hair is no longer white, having been dyed back to the dark color it was before it had been shocked white, but he doesn’t smile, and he doesn’t partake in the ritual. When he’s told that it’s offensive to reject it, he shoots the speaker a withering glare, fills his own glass to the top, and leaves to sit away from the crowds.

A large black hound accompanies him. Despite her vicious appearance, she seems to like Theon well enough, worrying at his hand as drinks and looks completely miserable. But be warned if you approach—she actually is vicious, and she only likes him. ]

2. The Maze, being a cheater

[ Theon makes for a poor partner. His health has improved over the last few months, but he still walks slowly and with a limp. Beyond that, he’s stubborn, so he enters the maze on his own, looking for something of a challenge.

When he meets a dead end, he rolls his eyes. ]

Seven hells, it’s just corn.

[ He mumbles to himself. He’ll have to make due with a bit of grass on his clothing, so he pushes right through one of the walls of corn. When he breaks through on the other side, he runs right into another maze-goer. ]

3. Wildcard

[ He’ll be around, moping. Catch him where you please! Find me at muttonchops if you want to try to plot, but I’m easy. ]

2

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Claire might be here to get away from the silent treatment she's been getting at home, so of course, of course, Theon barges right into her path. And into her. There's a very undignified eek! as she stumbles back, catching herself before she can actually teeter over. Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ. He's gotten grass on her, and when she realizes who it is, she busies herself by plucking some of it off her skirt.]

Hello.

[She's not been going out of her way to give him the silent treatment in return, but she wasn't going to waste her breath on him after several encounters and well-meaning conversation starters went ignored. If he was going to be a child, fine. He could be a toothless infant for a while.

Still. She knows she can't sink down to his level. She is the adult, after all.]

Hope nothing was chasing you.

Slaine Troyard | Aldnoah.Zero | OTA

[terrantrash]

PROHIBITION

<sub>[Nope. Not this time.

Slaine has had one too many bad experiences with wine here in Olympia that adding one more is something he's not keen on doing, especially with Asseylum in his life. The last thing he needs to do is embarrass himself in front of her or end up drunk on his ass and do something irrevocably stupid. No. Absolutely not. He will not drink what's being offered to him-

And yet a bottle has found its way into his hands.

Visibly cringing he looks around, almost desperately, in an effort to find someone to pawn the bottle off onto. As long as your hands are empty and you're not a literal child, he'll be offering it gingerly.]</sub>

Um, would you like this? I can't drink it so I don't want it to go to waste.

_{[Take it. Please. For the love of god.]}

CHARM BRACELET

<sub>[Like a crazy groupie, ever since Slaine had found himself with a personalized vine bracelet tied on him by Asseylum, he's more or less sworn to himself to never take it off. It's something to cherish, after all, and the fact she went to the trouble to make him one is a fact he won't downplay. The only downside, unbeknownst to him, is that he's kept it on long past its best before date, and it's having rather...odd consequences.

Or well, they might be odd if it wasn't Slaine and he wasn't kind of a low-key basket case to begin with.

While the bustling noise and festivities are now nothing really new to him, he does feel himself more on edge, this pent up anxiety building until it reaches a tipping point. He's on his way back from the market, a small brown paper bag in his arms filled with a dozen eggs and a few other essentials. The murmuring from the crowds and people who run by is like white noise, hissing in the background of his brain, only to be interrupted by a voice he hasn't heard in years.

Not since the man died, that is.

It stops him dead in his tracks, blue eyes becoming impossibly wide as he whips his head around to locate the source of his voice saying his name. Blood chilled he grips the bag tighter to his chest, breath uneasy. There it is again, his name whispered in his father's voice.

He's not looking where he's going, face pale. Whoever he bumps into he doesn't see, doesn't register who they are, but what he does notice a moment later is that he's dropped his eggs, the bottom of the paper bag beginning to stain from a few that had fallen out of the carton and had cracked. Out comes a string of apologies as he kneels to deal with the mess he's caused, but he definitely doesn't look...well. He seems haunted. Disturbed.]</sub>

S-Sorry, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-!

A BAT IN A MAZE

<sub>[The problem about being trapped between rows of corn for a prolonged period of time with no idea of how to locate the exist is that it doesn't do one's nerves any good. This is especially bad for Slaine, who has an unfortunate habit now of turning into a bat when his anxiety spikes through the roof. Having been spooked by one of the natives chasing him in a mask with a rather large stick, Slaine had found his arms becoming wings and the rest of him transforming into a fuzzy bat. Erratic flaps of his wings dictates his flight path, which isn't straight or coordinated at all to begin with, and if you find yourself in his way you might just end up with a bat tangled up in your hair or crashing into your back.

Whoops. Please don't kill him???]</sub>

WINGING IT

<sub>[He's stuck, and has been for hours.

This bat business is becoming rather tiring, even more so since Slaine found the thumb joint of his wing caught in the groove of a wooden fence he'd flown into. All the flapping in the world can't seem to dislodge him, despite his efforts. Won't you help unhook him? He almost looks half dead just hanging there...]</sub>

WILDCARD

_{[My prompts...are kind of sucky...I KNOW THIS so if you want something tailored to you just let me know @ thirdimpact or leave me something here and I'll work with it!]}

( A BAT IN A MAZE )

[unos]

[ Slaine really could not have picked a worse person to crash into. Ignoring the fact that Katsura is dressed up as some sort of space pirate despite not being in the maze to scare people, he has a lot of hair to get tangled up in. He lets out a yelp that sounds more startled than hurt when Slaine crashes into him, which quickly turns into frustrated hissing when he feels Slaine start to tangle himself up. ]

Hey, hey, what are you doing?! Cut that out!

[ Hopefully Slaine actually holds still, because Katsura's going to have a hard enough time detangling him as it is. ]

Moira O'Deorain | OTA

[tellmehowthisfeels]

Wyver - Grooming

[The teeth may be decaying but you can be sure that Moira wants to get her hands on one. So Moira volunteers for the task. Whoever her chosen partner is, she obviously has them focus on the task of holding that mouth open. If you're not quite sure how she talked you into it, it's really too late now as you are now holding open the mouth of this creature that obviously doesn't want the tooth removed.

Moira for her part is just leaning forward with the tools necessary for the task.]

Hold it still now. I will have the tooth in a moment.

Olympia - Wine Sharing

[As cold as Moira can seem, she's surprisingly not opposed to the little tradition of wine sharing. One might have caught her partaking in the activity once or twice before she went to fetch herself another glass. Even scientists enjoy some relaxation, you know. So there she'll be in a finely tailored pants suit with a new glass in hand.

Having another sip, she looks over to someone approaching her.]

Yes?

[She's here to enjoy herself so pardon her for testing the waters to make sure you're not going to spoil the mood.]

Through the Maze

[Seeing no reason to waste a chance to get some silver, Moira has decided to partake in this little maze. They highly recommend going with someone but she's obviously ignored that fact to go straight in on her own. She's confident in her own abilities, after all. And honestly? She's doing quite well on her own.

Not only does she not appear to be lost but she's calm and collected as she studies the walls around her before making a decision to turn a corner. No dead ends for her.

Does she run into you along the way? It's possible. It'll be up to you if you want to join her.]

Iskandar | OTA

[conqueredhearts]

Wyver - Grooming

[Well who better to help hold the head of a dragon than Iskandar himself. He grins as he does it, even talking gently to the creature through the entire process.]

That's it. Just a little more, my friend. You are doing well here.

[Then he'll look to his chosen partner. If you're not calm then don't worry because he's got enough for that for the both of you.]

Go on. If it is to bite anyone then I will make sure it is myself and not you.

[So reassuring...]

Wyver - Ritual

[Well, Iskandar honestly has no problem with this. In fact, he watches the ritual with fascination as others partake in it. There's something so intimate about it. Honestly he's in awe of the fact as the knife gets passed around.]

Do you think you'll participate?

[It's not for everyone but he's certainly considering it.]

Olympia - Wine Sharing

[Now did you really expect Iskandar to not partake in this tradition? If you did then you clearly don't know him very well because here he is having the time of his life. Anyone who wants to share wine is getting some from him. In fact, based on the number of cups around him? He's been sharing A LOT.

Somehow he doesn't look drunk though as he raises a cup your way.]

You there! Come and share some wine with me! It's a wonderful tradition!

Wyver- Grooming

[kikoku]

[Law had made some half hearted protests that his medical skills were neither veterinary nor dental, but in the end he's wound up helping with the dragons, anyway. He supposes pulling teeth isn't horribly complicated, but he's still visibly having a horrible time. Still, the fact that he's sticking it out definitely maybe has something to do with who's assisting him.]

I can use Room to move out of the way if it tries to bite me. If you get bitten I'm the one who'll have to fix it.
[He pauses midway through getting the tools he needs, frowning minutely. as he remembered the exact nature of Iskandar's existence.]

Actuall, can you be injured? Do you even have blood?
[His attitude is a mix of annoyed and curious here, as it is with all the new medical hurdles he's encountered in El Nysa. He supposed that magic core that Iskandar has in lieu of a heart could circulate blood, but he has to imagine the details of the system would be profoundly different. He's not waiting for an answer before moving to inspect the dragon's mouth, but he does expect an answer.]

Richie Tozier | It

[summertimeblues]

OLYMPIA

I) Red Red Wine

Oh boy, no one's heard of Hepatitis A, B or C, have they?

[Not that such macabre thoughts are slowing him down. Richie takes a swig of fine red turns to his seat partner with a waggle of his brows and a pucker in his lips.

Then he hits their cheek with a fine jet stream of red. Tsssst!]

II A) Mighty Vines

[He's done a fair share of grousing about slapping on more haphazard hexes, but the merits become clear when he spots the bearers of vine bracelets hefting wine barrels like beach balls. And let's face it, any leg up if the shit hits the fan is a damn fine leg.]

It's not scratching you, is it? [He's opted to fix up his partner first, braiding the green with less than deft fingers. He's never been the crafting sort.] I'm not one to take to this whole hocus pocus shebang, but it seems harmless enough. Just don't go thinking we're picking out curtains after.

[It's a tradition between lovers after all. Let's lean it to the platonic side, shall we?]

II-B) Mighty Vines 2: Ghost Whispering

[It started out so small. A little hiss. Just his imagination, some pipe gurgle that flowed like human speech and slapdashed together a human name. "eddie cocoran..."

He'd glared at the sink drain and washed down the last of his tea.

Then he'd been at work and he could swear that somewhere among the revelling din of Shades Darker, there was a child crying. He'd gone to swap a keg and he jumped at the whisper in his ear. The voice of his father. "Bit of a pile of bullshit." His mother. "Spare me the vulgarity at the breakfast table, if you please."

Another day later and he's at the festival, grin bright but his pallor cold and pale. The noise can't drown out the sweet nothings from folks long dead. That's when Georgie Denbrough joins the mix — just loud enough for the next soul over to hear. A six year old boy who peered down a sewer grate nearly thirty years ago, now piping up in the blank seat at the bar as if kicking his heels and waiting on an ice cream float.]

I guess so. How did you get down there?

[Richie slaps a hand down on the bartop. The vine bracelet is dessicated at his wrist but still holds a tight grip on his bones. His grin shines like the piercing glare of chrome at high noon.]

Another! Double scotch, barkeep, keep 'em coming, I don't want to see daylight until three tomorrow!

Maze

II) Roadblocks

[Remember how he'd wanted to be ready for the shit hitting the fan?

This isn't on the scale of the riots, definitely not the hostage situation, but going co-ed on maze solving was going to be a golden chance for bitter opportunists. Much like the ones who've cornered him at a dead end. They haven't got much ear for his placating jokes, big dumb dragon buffs they are. Every one of them could be a stand in for Boris Karloff should a remake for Frankenstein see the green light.

Richie catches your eye as you turn the corner (with some difficulty, he's gotta peep over shoulders far too high) and beckons you with a titter.]

Heeeey! Buddy old pal, I've been looking all over for you!

III) Babes in the Woods

[Worse still are when the defenseless catch the bad breaks. Richie's foregone the solo excursion now, chattering your ear off about one thing or another. The thought halts midway when he hears the cries.

He takes pause.]

Did that sound more man than mammal to you?

[Because if so... ]

IV) WILDCARD

[you know this drill. Whatever you want, hit me up! Wyver, olympia, maze shenanigans, I'm down for it all! Pm me if you want to plot or comment for a custom starter.]

roadblocks

[deadthenred]

[ Bucky doesn't recognize the voice right-off, but he can play along with a prompt when it comes to him, so he strolls over, mumbling an excuse. ]

Sorry, I dropped something. I had to go back pick it up, and then I got kinda turned around, and…

[ Look, he's improvising. At least the thugs are flanked now. ]

[ofseraphim]

Wyver: Dragon Grooming
[ Truth be told, Sorey has been here for well over a year now, and one mainstay he still hasn’t quite adjusted to are the dragons. To this day, it’s still hard to see them as creatures that weren’t once seraphim, now something to be purified. But! Maybe this will help.

He’s tasked himself with aiding the beasts with their grooming rituals this time around -- and he’s prepared for whatever that might entail, no matter the task. Trimming claws, cleaning teeth, helping them to shed scales, you name it! Put him to work, or help him on a tag team for a tough job. ]

Impossible Maze
[ Those at the front of the maze promised a challenge, and he’s not one to back down from that, no matter what the stakes. Or stalks, in this case. It wasn’t even a bother to go in alone, aaaaand quickly get turned around. Whoops. But he’s not lighting that sparkler just yet! Just gonna retrace his steps and--

--that’s right, smack near-headlong into someone else. ]

Whoa! Sorry, I didn’t see you there!

[ Or anything, really, in this relative darkness.

...Including where that scream came from. ]

Did you hear that?

Olympia: Wine Sharing (closed to Mikleo)
[ Sorey’s not a drinker. To be accurate, he’s never had a drop in his lifetime, that he can recall. What he is, however, is respectful -- so when someone pushes a beverage upon him with hope in their eyes, and the implication of upset over a declined offer, he accepts. How bad could it be, anyway? It smells sweet, and looks about as intoxicating as it’s bound to be, for a first-timer.

...He’s not aware of the mouth-to-mouth transfer part of the deal until after his first sip, and it makes him swallow harshly. Ultimately, a bit of alcohol should make the act that much less awkward, shouldn’t it? Even so, there’s only one person in this world or the next whom he’s locked lips with long enough to feel comfortable with such a gesture.

If Mikleo isn’t willing, of course, they don’t have to partake. But, Sorey would be lying if he said he wasn’t a little intrigued... ]

[circulets]

[ It's the same with Mikleo - he never had a reason to drink before. But, considering how rude it would be to say no - he's not about to say no to it. Still, he does look to Sorey - eyeing him for a moment before speaking. ]

Make sure you don't overdo it.

[ They're both bound to be light weights... He hasn't tried his yet, but the drink's in his hand. ]