event pt 1 | full moon & litha

[moustre]

Event Log: June, A Midsummer Night's Dream

I. IUNERIL 17TH - THE FULL MOONS The days leading up to the full moons are the same as last month: Monsters are a little itchier and a little easier to agitate, whether they mean to be or not, which becomes increasingly noticeable the day before the full moons. But of particular note is that this may be the second full moons that some arrivals have experienced, and with that comes greater risks, greater agitation, and further reminders to take care of themselves. Weather fair, despite the worries of the city, Monsters will find that the Sisters aren't blocked away by clouds this night. The moons cast their light down on the city, and the pull is strong for even the veteran natives that call the city home. The Coven is offering potions and charms, in an attempt to encourage those without a Bond to ensure that they will be able to keep their wits about them throughout the entire stretch of the Sisters' time in the sky at their fullest. They're always allowed to reject the offer, but it's with a warning: if they let their newfound instincts overtake them, then they might find themselves back in the Coven under worse conditions. But the Sisters rise framed in stark red skies, even as evening falls across Aefenglom, much to the discontent of the city. Streets that are rarely dim are lit up even moreso, now, in the face of this omen, lanterns and candles leading all the way to the Harbor District. Their colors flicker with shades of blue, green, violet - anything to offset the red. Boats that come and go along the river also carry a lantern or two with the same intent, and ships in the harbor are decorated with magical faerylights, strung across hulls, masts, the works. There's no place in the Harbor District untouched by light, with nary a sign of red in the midst of their goods. Tensions are already high, between the humans and Monsters of Aefenglom. It's especially noticeable on this night: full moons already cause everyone to be a little jumpy, but with the red tidings for Litha, they're more on edge than ever. Some blame the new arrivals, though never directly to their face, especially when they don't know who, or what, someone might be. It's always a there-and-gone whisper, it seems like. Gossip. Distrust. Unease. It doesn't lend well to the full moons, but there are still those that want to help. Many will notice that there's already activities and decorations up for Litha, some of them still under construction despite the fast approaching festival. The most notable of all are the hedge mazes that have been constructed, both by hand and with magic to encourage their growth. Behind the festival organizers' backs, a group of people - both man and beast - are offering Monsters a chance to burn off some of their energy by embracing their instincts in a more... constructive manner, with native Witches and Monsters alike prepared to intervene if things get a little too violent. In a sort of mockery of Litha's traditions, they're partnering Monsters up with a willing participant to run the mazes, with a variety of options that they will list. The partner - or partners, if there is a party looking to go in together - can be either Witch or Monster, and the people organizing this won't judge as they inform the interested individuals of their options: a. A-HUNTING WE WILL GO, allowing the Monster to either hunt a small livestock or game animal (a piglet, fowls, rabbits, the like) or to hunt down their partner through the maze they've chosen. This need not end violently, and can become more of a game of hide and seek meets tag. b. EVERYBODY WAS FIGHTING, where one maze in particular has been devoted to a makeshift fight ring at the very heart of it. The organizers hope, somewhat, that by making the Monster(s) in question run the maze first they'll be a little tired out already when reaching the ring. c. UNDER THE PALE MOONLIGHT, because instincts don't always call for violence, the organizers offer a more intimate experience here, whether it's sexual or nonsexual. Maybe you just want a good cuddle..? The organizers emphasize the idea of consent, and will not force anyone against their will into the hedge mazes, no matter which one it is. They also want to make sure that they will step in to help if called upon, in case someone gets a little too overeager. Witches looking to use magic this night will, peculiarly, find that their magic is a little less... cooperative. Many of the Coven Witches speak of how they specifically wait to cast powerful spells on the night of the full moons, to ensure that they have the greatest chances of success with the help of the Sisters. However, Witches of the new arrival persuasion are much weaker on full moons. Their magic is still there, and they can still draw upon it for spells, but they'll have to put greater effort if they want to cast a spell with any significant amount of power. Overexerting oneself while doing this is entirely possible, so it's best to try and find some sort of balance, lest you find yourself exhausted and without a means to defend yourself. We ask that any and all NSFW threads be marked accordingly, or otherwise moved to a locked post on the log community or an entry/inbox on a character journal. Remember to please be excellent to each other, and respect all limits that your threadmates might have, if you explore the more sexual or violent aspects of the offered prompts. If things get OOCly out of hand, please let us know; if things get ICly out of hand, please let Nessie and Mhairi know.

II. LITHA - IUNERIL 21ST TO 23RD Despite what chaos there might have been on the night of the full moons, and the subsequent day after as things began to calm, Litha still arrives as scheduled on Iuneril 21st, as the sun begins to set. The summer solstice reaches its peak the following night, and the festivities wind down the third dusk. While certainly still lively, it isn't as completely festive as Boaltinn, most certainly because of the red skies, and the natives are obviously trying to make the best they can of what they perceive as a poor situation. To say that the natives are on edge would certainly be an understatement. Whatever happened in those hedge mazes is untraceable, now, and everything looks pristine. Faerylights decorate every awning, overhang, and eave, magical and twinkling with colors to offset the red skies. There are no bonfires, this go around, but much like the fires it seems that the lights all lead to the primary area of celebration: in contrast to Boaltinn, Litha is celebrated in the Entertainment, Shopping, and Harbor Districts. Doors to businesses are wide open (with many even having large signs indicating VAMPIRES WELCOME HERE - those that don't make a clear statement), and stalls offering wares and foods and activities alike are set up at nearly every corner alongside preestablished businesses in the market. The harbor is especially lively, with many sailors coming and going as they prepare for setting sail. While ships themselves are always coming and going in the port, Litha is an important time for the more longterm voyages and those meant to carry some significance, and each ship departing is bid farewell with equal fanfare. Fireworks and celebration that is, at least in some part, genuine, but does carry a certain level of enthusiasm that borders on force of will. a. ASKING FOR A LITTLE COMPANY Though all businesses in the Entertainment District open their doors for the festivals of Aefenglom, the brothels of the city in particular are offering a warm welcome this Litha to anyone who might be interested in spending some time with someone - or, multiple someones. They have open rooms for mingling, lounges with floor pillows and low tables where customers can partake in spiced and unspiced drinks alike, where the unspiced are lacking in the potions and near-aphrodisiacs of the spiced drinks. Private rooms are also available for those seeking a more... intimate experience, however one may take that to mean. The brothel workers are more than happy to attend to any interested parties, but also aren't against randomly pairing individuals up, based on their specifications. And, after a little misunderstanding regarding their classes, the Head Madame of the guild has decided that they will be offering chances for individuals to perform at their establishments. She was rather charmed by the mishap, bless your souls, as were the rest of the guild, so the new arrivals have endeared themselves to the brothel workers. Dances, conversation, assorted busking - whatever skills that their quest-takers learned, whether it be of the more sexual nature or not, they'll provide whatever they might need to put on a show and attract or entertain clientele. b. I'M WISHING FOR THE ONE I LOVE Anyone interested in making their way into the Shopping District will find just as many open doors, as well as numerous stalls interspersed where they weren't before. Vendors hawking their wares and goods like always call out with Litha specials, and businesses set up temporary stalls to draw attention to themselves, with promise of greater bargains and products to be found at their main establishment. There are many that sell spiced foods and drinks, with varying degrees of strength depending on how one wants to feel. Others are selling candles and lanterns, offering a magitech version of a lighter at a steal, depending on how much you purchase otherwise. The largest stalls, and the biggest displays at storefronts, are the flowers though. Every single flower shop in Aefenglom has come out full force, practically painting the district in a myriad of non-red colors as they put their stock on full display. They offer deals for those who wish to buy bouquets for a sweetheart or someone they admire, as well as anyone wanting to make flower crowns for those they care for. Each of the seven largest shops are also handing out a single flower for those partaking in festivities to place under their pillow to dream of future partners, the flower they're typically most well known for; this varies from shop to shop, but the up and coming Rose Bush certainly isn't going to let superstition stop them, and are handing out red roses. It's a bold move, but one that causes the tizzy that they were intending it to. And if one is feeling particularly whimsical, they can go to any well at night, looking into the depths in a bid to see their future spouse and true love within. Perhaps making an offering of a flower would bring good luck..? Just don't linger for too long, as there's a rumor that someone is pushing unfamiliar faces into the well, likely targeting those they think are new arrivals. c. GET LOST WITH ME Though the Harbor District has some bleedover from the Shopping District in terms of festivities, their streets and warehouses are where the most room is available for the hedge mazes. Some are sprawling as they fill the streets and alleys, spilling into the towering buildings that have been empty to load the contents onto waiting ships. They create their own environments, with flowers from the flower shops blooming in the rows and creating archways at entrances and exits. Some are enchanted to seem neverending, although there always is an exit, if one can only figure out the puzzle. Each maze has a different method to its madness, and arrangements that those running them have decided on. (Some faces may seem familiar, to those that encountered them on the full moons; they'll feign otherwise, focused only on the now and refusing to draw attention to any recognition.) Some mazes send in the partners together, randomly selected and tasked with figuring out how to reach the end of the maze together. Others will send the partners in from different ends, with the instructions to find one another, whether in the center of the maze or in its winding path. Another variety offers something reminiscent of the hide and seek meets tag game, tasking one as the hunter and the other as the hunted, a game of pursuit meant to replicate the "playing hard to get" variety of courtship. There's no restrictions on how many times one can enter the maze, as it allows one to forge many bonds - and possibly Bonds - and replicates the process of finding your true love. Or, loves; no one here is going to judge anyone. They certainly won't judge, either, if participants opt to take a swig of something for luck in love before they go in. However, some mazes have been tampered with: rather than opening out into somewhere safe on the street or in a building, they empty out unaware participants into the port itself. Hopefully you know how to swim. Once again, we ask that if any threads take on a NSFW nature that they be marked as such, or otherwise moved to a locked post in the log community or an entry/inbox in a character journal.

Welcome to the event log, part I! While mingling on the log itself is highly encouraged, feel free to make your own logs; take the prompts offered and go wild, go crazy, go stupid, have fun. As ever, if your character is getting into any Shenanigans, let the mods know, and if you have any questions about the log, ask them here!

Comments

[fiddlestick]

[He makes a mental note to ask Mikleo on what he remembers about that music history later. He's fascinated to know the history of music in other worlds, okay.

But that's not now, because Mikleo's words are making him blush a little. It takes him a little from his music rush, bringing him down and reminding him just again how beautiful and close Mikleo is to him. ]

W-Well...then consider it payback. Or you know, I do like you.

[he clears his throat]

Besides! Music is a powerful tool for healing people. So I think you'll might find it coming in handy.

[reenforces]

['I do like you,' Elliot says, and Mikleo blinks owlishly beneath the brim of his hat.]

I-- uh, I like you too.

[As friends, obviously, though a little niggling informs him that Elliot is sweet enough to kiss.]

Like humming for your incantations?

[fiddlestick]

[That makes his face feel warm and causes him to smile sheepishly. Surely he meant it as friends, but his brain sure was tugging at the idea it could mean something else.]

Haha, yeah. Though that's partly because it's easier for me to remember songs than word spells.

But...music really speaks to people. It can soothe their pain, encourage them, share their feelings....mix it in with magic, and the power is astounding.

[reenforces]

Wow. I'm not surprised since music is your thing, but-- once again, I'm impressed.

[He leans in attentively, his hands on his knees.]

I think I'd like to see that in action sometime. It isn't too much different from an incantation at home-- what matters is intent, visualization, and focus.

[fiddlestick]

[Oh he is leaning in close. This is getting very real right now. Had he not drank that drink, he'd probably get very flustered and back off right now. But now, he felt more compelled to...stay. ]

Eheh...I'd like to show it to you.

[He gives a little smile at him, his hand moving over to touch Mikleo's knee. Very gently, he'll start singing the first few lines of an old popular song from home. All while looking into Mikleo's eyes]

♪ Brightly shooting stars, leaving trails in the skies
Like a guiding light, they show me the way to your eyes ♪

[There's no magic attached to this. He's just trying to woo you]

[reenforces]

[Mikleo is suddenly keenly aware of his own distance and the foreign hand on his knee. He's definitely feeling flustered but not in a bad way, exactly. Elliot's gaze feels... honest. It feels good to have those eyes on him, weirdly enough.

He turns his hand over so he can cradle Elliot's hand while he sings. Admittedly he'd expected a violin performance but this is so much more personal, and he realizes that Elliot is maybe staring a bit too intently to be innocent.

Oh.

Oh.

Mikleo breathes out shakily, completely entranced, lavender eyes wide and framed by a blush. He doesn't move, though, nor does he interrupt. He wants to see this to its conclusion even if there isn't a spell attached to it.]

[fiddlestick]

[The anxieties that would normally stop him from doing this have been deafened in favor of the spiced drink's effects. Mikleo is beautiful, and he has all his attention on Elliot - entranced. That hand cradling his own is a sign.

He wants him. It's a thought that's been in his mind for awhile, since they first practiced magic together. But there was something different about tonight. Desire was becoming need.]

♪ This yearning passion, tears my heart in twain ♪

[He trails off, now leaning close enough to brush his lips against Mikleo's. It's fleeting, even timid. He's not sure how this will go, but he needed to do it. ]

[reenforces]

[Mikleo hardly even notices that diminishing distance until Elliot is right there, soft lips on his own, both of them shaded beneath the wide brim of his hat. His eyes flutter closed as he presses back slightly, and twines their fingers together. His free hand settles on the redhead's cheek, all cool skin and soft fingertips.

They probably ought to talk about this, but Mikleo's feeling pretty good and he thinks Elliot is too. He breaks the kiss only briefly-- not wanting to taint it-- and dives in with a little more passion this time, his hand moving from Elliot's cheek to sink into the hair at the back of his head. He's eager to explore and be explored in turn with a tongue already tasting Elliot's lips.

They're sweet like he is. That is a wonderful bonus.]

[fiddlestick]

[Stopping and talking about this would be a good idea. The smartest, most rational idea you could do right after not doing all this in the first place. But Elliot is not really interested rational decision-making right now. His brain is too focused on the fact that Mikleo kissed back and how soft those lips felt, how good they tasted.

Elliot was fairly new to kissing, only having done it for the first time a few nights earlier. But he was very sure he liked it. It ignited a hunger in him that was fueled not only by the drinks, but by the loneliness he's been feeling since coming here.

And so, he follows along with that more passionate kiss. He kisses back, lips opening a little to let Mikleo's tongue into his mouth. His own hand moves to Mikleo's waist, gently pulling them two of them closer. His moments are clumsy, telltale sign of inexperience, but he's eager to learn]

[reenforces]

[This night is certainly turning into something interesting. He's only more experienced by a matter of weeks-- almost a 100 year virgin honestly-- but he's had a bit of practice and he knows what he wants. Mikleo seizes the opportunity to taste Elliot properly, to sample each inch of lip and teeth. He grows bolder as the kiss goes on, rubs his tongue against Elliot's with no amount of subtlety.

In fact, he responds very enthusiastically to the invitation. His back curves beneath that hand and he makes a low noise of contentment that only Elliot can hear.

At last he breaks the kiss again, and he's not surprised to find himself panting and red in the face. But he still wants. Mikleo's eyes are a dark, deep purple like a berry stain.]

Elliot, [he says very seriously,] you are way too cute to resist.

[fiddlestick]

[As Mikleo grows bolder, so does he. He takes his own opportunity to rub his tongue against Mikleo, to dart out to taste his lips. With two witches, there's almost like there's an energy that's building between each other, feeding off one another. Not as strong as it'd be with a proper bond, but it still felt so.

When the kiss breaks, his forehead rests against Mikleo as he has to pant as well. If his cheeks weren't already burning, that compliment would sure make them do so]

Ha...speak for yourself. You're stunning.

[He pauses, panting a little more. He doesn't want this to stop. He feels a fire and he wants it to keep burning. But he still has some awareness to where they are.]

Should we go somewhere private?

[One of their places, an empty room at the brothel, the first empty place they can find- it doesn't matter to him]

[reenforces]

Th-- thank you. [Mikleo definitely flushes at that remark, but he's pleased if the way he keeps holding onto Elliot is any indication. He gives a small kiss to the corner of the redhead's mouth in a sort of flirtatious gratitude.]

No objections here.

[It's a shame to pull back, to stop playing with the copper between his fingertips, but he needs to grab his package before he loses it. There are a couple of flower crowns in it and he worked hard on them.]

The brothel is closest, and they all have open doors tonight. I'm not sure I have the patience to walk halfway across town right now...

[He is definitely feeling closer to eighteen or nineteen instead of a hundred.]

And it's better than an alley.

[fiddlestick]

[Under normal circumstances, he'd balk at the idea of going to the brothel. Who wouldn't, really? But right now, it felt like a great idea. Because Mikleo was right, he doesn't have the patience to walk back to the barracks either. ]

Y-Yeah...agreed. Brothel it is.

[He'll give Mikleo one more intense kiss before pulling away. He gets up, grabbing his violin in one hand, and reaching for Mikleo's hand with the other. Elliot's ready to get to that brothel as quickly as possible.]

[reenforces]

[Mikleo loses a soft chuckle into that impulsive kiss.] Mmph.

[It's not classy but these places aren't run down either. A little... outrageous, perhaps, and gaudy in places. But they look comfortable like a tavern that has... beautiful people walking around in it...

That's what Mikleo thinks as he leads Elliot into the nearest establishment, fingers twined tightly. He wastes no time securing a key to a room upstairs. It's surprisingly spacious and well-lit, and it still has tasteful red decorations in place alongside accents of dark purple and gold trim. Not everyone is paranoid it seems.

Mikleo sets his box on the closest horizontal surface and pulls the redhead right up against him. His hands settle against the small of Elliot's back.]

Is this okay?

[fiddlestick]

[Continued here! NSFW in the link]