Event Log: December, A Friendly Competition & Modranicht

[faileas]

Event Log: December, A Friendly Competition & Modranicht

I. A Friendly Competition (14th - 16th) To those who spend their time with Aefenglom's Wilders, they'll notice them quite excited as the day of the Not-So-Annual Grand Scavenger Hunt approaches. It's set to be Wilders vs Mirrorbound, and even those who aren't participating are discussing it like a spectator sport and placing bets on one side or the other, based on whose wilderness skills they think will win out. At noon on the 14th, participants meet at a small outpost just outside the city to check in, where those without partners are paired up, and each duo or trio is given a bundle of items: a list -- on a paper enchanted against moisture and tearing -- of the challenges to be completed, in no particular order; a map of this area of the Wilde marked with general locations for where each challenge can be found - not small area by any means!; three emergency flares, should they find trouble; a small med-kit with basic first aid supplies; and a bag to hold their retrieved items in, which can be turned in at the same outpost at any point during the 48 hours of the competition. You are responsible for your own camping gear if you stay out overnight. At least it's summer out there! Once everyone has been given their kits, the event begins, setting participants scattering off into the woods to track down and complete any of the listed challenges. The Wilders are highly competitive, wanting to bring a win to their side in the first Scavenger Hunt in a few years, and some of them will do anything (short of murder or grievous injury - they don't mean anyone true harm) to nab more points or sabotage the other side. Watch out for your opponents trying to thieve your item bags, trick you into getting lost, or setting off natural obstacles that will slow you down! All's fair in love and scavenger hunts though - it's not against the rules for you to sabotage them back! Mirrorbound Witches need to watch out as well - the competition takes place during the new moon, and this month, it's going to be difficult for even experienced Witches to control their super-charged magic. Backfires, fizzling out of spells, etc. are all expected - from you, but not from the native Witches on the other team, whose magic is only weaker on the new moons. a. Challenge 1: Pearl of Wisdom A broad lake can be found some miles to the east, the water glittering and inviting, if dark enough that you can't see the bottom of it even on a clear day. The brief outlines a species of clam found at the bottom of this lake, numerous, big as dinner plates, and bearing massive, iridescent black pearls, prized for beauty and their properties in illusion spells when ground into dust. One of these pearls is your target. The clams are uninfected and generally safe to handle, protected by their hard shells. The brief does not warn, however, about the troupe of white-eyed Merrow Shades that live in the lake and jealously guard this treasure. They use their shrill singing voices to muddle minds and urge trespassers to drown themselves, and they're viciously adept at fighting both on land and in the water. b. Challenge 2: Willow Bark The bark of a willow tree, infused with magic, has some fair pain relief properties. The maps are marked with the location of a willow grove, largely untouched by Cwyld, where participants in this challenge are required to collect at least a hand's length worth of bark. The main problem, not mentioned in the brief, is that the real willow trees are interspersed through a grove of numerous toxic Impostor Willows, which look exactly alike, but whose bark has opposing properties - it causes horrible pain when prepared and consumed, and causes ugly rashes when you peel it from the tree. Find the bark of the real willows using observations of the area - insects and small creatures tend to avoid the impostors - or, less recommended, by... testing them yourself... c. Challenge 3: Track & Observe You have been given an enchanted tracking collar in your item bag for this one. Without harming the creature, place the collar on a Neeklur; these will be used for tracking purposes to study their movements and behaviors. The Neeklur is a breed of small, nocturnal marsupial. They have developed a unique relationship with a type of bush that grows into tall hedges, which spread across sparse, open areas where there are few trees and plenty of sunlight for these aggressively spreading plants. Neeklurs make their nests in the heart of such natural hedge mazes, where they can sleep safely during the day, when the hedges quite literally move around on their own, rearranging the paths between them in, it seems, no discernible pattern, making it quite difficult to find your way around if you aren't careful to mark your path. Without direct sunlight, the hedges are dormant, but be warned that the timid, sleepy Neeklurs transform into long-clawed, screeching little beasts at night. They are extremely territorial, and defend their home as a horde. d. Challenge 4: Tree Elk Antlers Tree Elk, found in the lush woods, are sporting flourishing green-leaved antlers during the Wilde summer. Retrieve a branch from a Tree Elk's antlers with the leaves still lush and intact to win this challenge. Hurting the beast in any way, even emotionally (they're easily traumatized by a small fright) will cause the leaves to shrivel up, turn brown and/or fall right off. You'll have to figure out how to gain its trust and get close enough to it to take a small branch as a willing gift. Don't worry, breaking off a small branch of antler won't hurt it, and these intelligent, if timid, creatures are happy to bestow them as gifts upon those who have earned them. e. Challenge 5: Singing Shrooms At the base of an old, sprawling oak, deep in the forest, is a symphony of mushrooms. Literally. These fungi come in all shapes, sizes, colors... and keys. They sing. In fact, they never shut up. You may find them easily enough by their eerie, discordant song, but finding the right one in that cacophony is a difficult task. Many different types of singing mushrooms cluster together, and may or may not be infected. Cwyld doesn't affect their outward appearance, but it does change their tune - we're only looking for the uninfected ones that sing a particular song in a particular key. Pick the right type of mushroom off the tree and bring it back. Though, watch out for the ones with teeth. And the ones that emit poison spores. Or hallucinogens. There are so many mushrooms on that tree. All retrieved items must be stashed in the given bags and turned in to the small outpost where the event started by Deceuer 16th at noon. From there, Rilla Sparks and her organizers will count each team's contributions and tally up points. There will be back-slaps and congratulations for a job well done, and drinks to celebrate! Prizes will be mailed out to the winners within a couple of weeks. The prize list will go up on January 1st and each participant who submits an in-progress or completed thread tackling at least one challenge will get to pick what they want for their character!

II. Modranicht (21st - 23rd) Modranicht proper begins on the 21st, and the days leading up to it are a frenzy of festivity. Homes are often decorated with sprigs of greenery and, less traditional, ribbons, and many shops begin holding sales on their giftable wares. This holiday is celebrated as a time spent with family and other loved ones; traditionally, all meals should be taken with others, and those who eat alone are said to find bad luck in the coming months. Those who can are delighted to pull strangers in to have lunch or dinner with them, should they seem like they're a little lonely around this time of year. Especially in the neighborhood adjacent to the Haven, those people who came over from Dorchacht over a year ago, who are doing fairly well for themselves these days, are thrilled to have their Mirrorbound neighbors over for a hot drink or a meal and a spot of catching up. They heard what happened with Morgana a couple months back, nasty business, horrible woman, that, and for the most part, they seem quite comfortable with the idea that she's dead now. "I wouldn't move back," most say, "but it's good to know they're really free of her." The ones most in need this season are those orphans in the Harbor District, though efforts by the Mirrorbound Council and others to better care for many of the parentless kids there have improved spirits, making kids playing and laughing a more common sight. Still, many of those rascals haven't lost their mischievous streaks: some little ones are quite likely to try and pickpocket you as you pass through, or pelt you with snowballs, but gifts or candy can perhaps soften their demeanor. They're just kids, after all. a. Kiss-tletoe Redux While many of the decorations adorning shopfronts and houses are simple wreaths and garlands of pine, holly, and ivy, enchanted mistletoe is absolutely littered around the city, dangling in doorways, hung up on walls, hanging from the eaves of rooftops. Strings of it zigzag over the streets, hung from lampposts. This is a festive tradition that will be familiar to some. When two people pass under a sprig of mistletoe together, they're supposed to kiss, and the enchantments on many of those sprigs encourage it. Some will stick the pair's feet to the ground until they do so, some will just very lightly compel a smooch, whether it's on the mouth, the hand, the cheek, the forehead, or anywhere else. It's all in good fun, though - none of the enchantments are difficult to break, should one really not want to lock lips: you just have to destroy the mistletoe sprig you're under. Careful about getting stuck in public, unless you enjoy being the center of attention in a crowd! Other passers-by will loudly cheer or jeer you and your mistletoe-mate on until a kiss is had! Be wary too, of pranksters who will actively push two people under a sprig, laughing all the while. b. Craft Fair Gift-giving is an important tradition during Modranicht. It's considered only proper to present something to each of your loved ones, as a token of your care and affection for them. Handmade gifts are still widely regarded as the best, because it shows your effort in creating something just for them, so while shops may be having sales for purchased gifts, they're also trying to drum up more business again in the form of crafting lessons. Most businesses will set up tables in their shops, and for a small fee at the door (to cover materials), an instructor will show a group of people how to make something related to whatever the shop offers for sale. All materials are provided, and attendees get to take home what they make to give to friends or loved ones. Some of these even include small enchantments, such as carved wooden birds that actually fly, or timepieces that announce the time in funny voices. Witches are encouraged to learn the spell and help their Monster friends by enchanting their creation for them, but the instructors will do it as well if needed. If you have a crafty talent of your own, it's easy to make some good money this season by setting up your own lessons on how to make whatever you're good at. Space is available, though it's up to you to source your materials and decide your fee. All the rage in the Western Residential District, where Mirrorbound are generally regarded as friends and neighbors, is objects and styles that come from other worlds. They absolutely want to learn from you and be able to give their loved ones something new and exciting. c. Eat, Drink & Be Merry All meals during Modranicht should be eaten with another person, according to tradition. Many families and groups of friends have their own feasts during the holiday, but all are invited to a city-wide feast as well, on the 23rd. Located in a park enchanted to be more spacious than normal, long tables piled with food rest beneath festively-decorated, open tents, and every resident of Aefenglom is welcome to come and have a plate, from the richest to the poorest - all except those often-infected residents of the Outer City. It begins at noon and goes well into the evening, and people come and go as they please, enjoying the food and the holiday cheer. It isn't required, but many citizens bring a dish to add to the tables, meant to be shared - usually a special family recipe. Mirrorbound are encouraged to share traditional food from their own homes (or close approximations of it), if they want to - many are highly interested in customs from other worlds, and some challenge each other (or you!) to try every single dish on the massive tables. The festivities don't extend past the Bright Wall, unfortunately, but the people of the Outer City, who don't have much to begin with, can be found having their own feast on hunted game and pilfered vegetables, trying to scrape up some cheer for themselves. Most groups won't turn Mirrorbound away as long as you've brought a big enough dish to share, welcoming you into the fold to bad-mouth those hoity-toity inner city folks, but some rare clusters of residents can be hateful at this time of year, made somewhat bitter by your privilege and their lack.

Welcome to December's events, A Friendly Competition and Modranicht! As always, feel free to make your own logs, wildcard different prompts on this one, etc. It isn't too late to join in the scavenger hunt still, for those who didn't get the chance to sign up! That prize list will go up on January 1st and will only require an in-progress or completed thread to prove participation. As always, if you have any questions, please direct them here, and happy holidays, Aefenglom!

Comments

viren / the dragon prince / ota

[bloodwit]

i. mistletoe;

[ it turns out that trying one's luck at navigating for the craft fair is a dangerous affair -- viren's just dipping beneath an eave of a rooftop, the bustling noise of others enjoying their shopping near, when his feet stick. his eyes widen as he hears the ringing laugh of a spectator coupled with unwelcome encouragement. his gaze drifts upward to catch sight of the mistletoe -- ah, this again -- and then back down to whoever he's been temporarily trapped alongside. ]

While these plants aren't my doing... [ viren's mouth deeps into a frown, intent on ignoring any spectators. this is embarrassing. ] ... I do feel compelled to apologize for our onlookers' behavior.

ii. craft fair;

[ the craft fair, even if viren had kept his standards horrendously low, isn't yet a disappointment. there is something gratifying in the idea that he can either purchase or create something both magical and wholly unique for someone -- he hasn't been particularly mindful of traditions here, at times wholly due to forgetfulness. ]

[ but this year could be different. he's among many, eyeing the various wares for crafting oneself or for purchase -- and he noticeably spends an agonizingly long time perusing. he needs, must find the absolute perfect gifts. he displays an eerie level of attention as he picks up various items, studies them, replaces them -- so much so that he does end up bumping into the occasional passerby, or generally seems to have a complete disregard his surroundings. ]

iii. snowfight;

[ viren's had a day as he ends up feeling everyday when he has to suffer the season that is, unfortunately, winter. it's on his way back from the fair, having been jeered at by those that seem to enjoy the spectacle of unwilling mistletoe participants a little too much, that he'd ambled into contested snowball territory. a child smacks him in the back of his head with a snowball, and oh my god. he's had it. ]

[ he wheels about on the spot, wings flaring, a fire in his eyes. ]

[ and then there's several seconds in which viren scoops up a load of fresh powder, struggles to pack it into a proper snowball, and instead has it fall apart between his fingers. he ignores being pelted by more snowballs in the meanwhile, snow getting in his hair and coating his furs. his second try is more yielding: it's mostly a clump of icy old snow.

weakly, aimlessly, he chucks it into the air. ]

Hahh-!

[ poor enough is his focus in this weather that it's ultimately lobbed in an unintentional direction, missing his prey. apologies to anyone that may inadvertently a target instead. ]

iv. wildcard!

( hit me with whatever! )

Craft Fair

[fuelingfire]

[Lahabrea needs no lessons on how to make things. He could once upon a time, actually create things, not simply shape matter this way or that. Which means he has some level of disdain for mortal craftsmanship - but that hasn't kept him from reluctantly leaving home at the behest of his neighbors to see what this craft fair is about.

And by now he's picked up several small and very specific items he intended to repurpose. The crimson mask is ever in place, but now simple black hooded robes did just fine, of a rough but sturdy fabric that hid most but not all of his changes. The long reptilian but exceedingly feathery tail saw to that, a vivid and ever-moving splash of crimson and brass.

As Viren examines an item and puts it back, apparently having decided it isn't good enough, Lahabrea plucks it up - there's a small chip of amethyst at the heart of it, and that he's interested in. Just interested ... there's no signs of the keen hoarding hunger of a dragon that's found something they WANT.]

Have you seen more of these?

[His voice isn't exactly pleasant to the ear, a little gravelly and a touch hoarse. Viren's a dragon, no mistaking that. Lahabrea would be, in time, but if there's any instinctive hostility to another of his 'kind' it's very well hidden. The small item is held in a gloved hand, the tiny amethyst flashing.]

The little stone.

[bloodwit]

[ as one who's been fixated by the sudden dragonic call of want a number of times, viren would certainly know its signs. having been moving onto to studying the next crafted item, its handiwork and its materials, it's the unique pitch of the stranger's voice draws him from his focus. ]

[ lahabrea receives a look. ]

An amethyst?

[ his gaze skirts over what he's already seen, recalling each - eventually, there's a minute shake of his head. ]

Not many. I'd imagine you would have better success at a jeweler's.

[fuelingfire]

[The sound never really changes. Some people simply don't have pleasant voices to listen to, as a stark contrast to all the smooth, alluring tones that exist in the city. Unfortunate that the changes he experiences did nothing to help.

If he takes offense to being looked up and down, there's little sign of it. Maybe he's getting better at masking his ongoing humiliation! Small victories!]

Cut and polished ones aplenty, yes. I require the raw stone, and somehow none are about.

[Disappointing, by the sound of it. But an uncut crystal makes for a charming addition to many small crafts. He'd have to start shaking down craftsmen to find their dealers.]

One of the most common of minerals and yet, frustratingly difficult to find. I don't suppose a reassurance I won't run off with the entirety of their stock would help.

[bloodwit]

That might seem a... suspiciously specific assurance, yes.

[ his own serpentine tail flicks gently near to the ground. lahabrea's visible plumage is beautiful (and thankfully, still attached to the man, or else viren might make an embarrassment of himself); he could mistake him for a harpy, if he weren't already aware of dragon variations.

[ his eyebrow's arced, because despite himself, now he's curious, of which tends to be an unfortunate ruling factor of his attentions. ]

For your own personal collection, a spell, a gift for another--?

[ all rattled off suggestions. ]

mistletoe

[stopfen]

[Mikasa just wanted to shop. Why this? She doesn't even realise who was caught in the 'trap' with her at first. Mouth opening to show clenched teeth as she hissed. She'd just wanted to pick up some food, it was all in the paper bag she was clutching to her chest like a lifeline. Fortunately, there was nothing fragile other than a now squished loaf.

Though the voice finally makes her look up and... up. The dragon being this close really showed off how tall he was huh?

Then as soon as she meets his eyes, she frowned turning her head to scowl at the wall. She'd been caught a few times by this dumb kissing thing, she knew how it worked. Kiss and move on but... they hadn't and she could pull her foot from the ground. Even if her wings fluttered, she was glued to the spot.

After that attempt of flying away to freedom.]

...I wonder if they'll get bored.

[bloodwit]

[ he may be tall, but even grown taller as he is, he too frequently finds himself no longer the tallest in a room. oh, poor viren. he does happy to think less poorly of that when, yes -- he could be a fae..... ]

[ the one of which before him has his frown deepening further, fangs pressing into his lower lip. he tucks his hands behind him at the small of his back. ]

They could. Or any wait might only increase their suspense -- and wanting.

[ and then his eyebrows furrow, and he does look uncomfortable for a moment, if only because someone had had the gall to whistle. the look that particular onlooker receives is one of fire. he does feel bad for mikasa, actually; enchanted to be drawn to kissing as he now is, the root of it is far from pleasant. ]

No. I think it'd be best to get it over with, if it's anything at all.

[stopfen]

[Really they were both fortunate. Given that some fae were less than 4 foot tall.

That whistler, he's getting double the glare at the moment. The fae's was withering, unnaturally black eyes narrowed into slits. The onlooker took a step back before realising, neither could move the get them. Though they eyed the dragon's tail and the fae's second set of arms that were lightly stretching out.

After a few seconds of this, Mikasa snorted. Turning her attention back to Viren. The glare not shifting.]

Right, if you say so... [And with that. She just stood there. Staring back at him. Because there was a slight issue here... Namely that she was more than a foot shorter than him. Even if she tiptoed, she'd be reaching the bottom of his chin.]

[bloodwit]

[ mikasa just looks at him, and nothing else, for good reason. he supposes she could jump and probably headbutt a kiss to his chin, but he's grateful that she didn't. ]

[ but alas, unfortunately for everyone involved here, viren is awkward enough that he like, -- ducks, and then hesitates mid-duck, as being prone to overthinking, another variable to consider has popped into his brain. ]

[ hm, ]

Where do you prefer..?

mistletoe-ish, now on the right TL, HAHA

[faithlikeaseed]

[Oh for the Maker's sake, is Myr's first thought on noticing his hooves are stuck to the ground.

Noticing his hooves are stuck to the ground in the worst possible way, namely, by trying to lift one and nearly plowing face-first into his Bonded when all his momentum goes one way and the hoof just...doesn't. He weebles, he wobbles, he--corrects before he can dump the packages he's carrying, but the set of his ears says his pride's been almost as injured if he'd been dumped on his tail.

Hmph.

He can't see the mistletoe hanging over them, of course, but between the jeering and having been through this before, he knows exactly what's going on.]

There can be neither excuse or apology for them, [he pronounces, with wry good humor. Mostly good humor.] Or their awful taste in decorations, so no need to waste the words.

Be a dear and kiss me so I can get up there, [he waves in one of the many directions the mistletoe is not, oops,] and eat the stupid thing.

[bloodwit]

[ ah. it's not precisely difficult to find another with equal loathing for this tradition, but that it's myr agreeing is especially heartening. viren can't stop in time from smiling when the faun greets him (and the befuddlement with the lot of packages that almost crash to earth), this brief glimpse of gentleness only saved by the fact that his bonded can't, you know. see this. ]

[ he could feel that, though. ]

I won't, then.

[ how completely their circumstances had since changed, the last time the people of aefenglom had suffered this terrible mistletoe affliction. mostly, he does recall him cramming mistletoe into his mouth (okay, it'd been a tentative nibble). he settles a hand over myr's shoulder. ]

[ reflecting some of that wry humor, ]

How will you do that? Fly up there?

[ packages and all?? ]

[faithlikeaseed]

Hm-mm.

[That noise is one-thirds "Viren has an excellent point" and two-thirds stalling so Myr can simply enjoy the hand on his shoulder and that feeling of fondness suffusing their Bond.]

If it's that high up, I suppose you'll just have to put me on your shoulders so I can reach it.

[packages and all]

[bloodwit]

[ you know who has hands and wings? viren, who is also well-aware of this! but-- ]

If it will really give you that much pleasure...

[ comes the dry acquiescence, with a put-upon sigh. tearing off that mistletoe and devouring it for its sins? sure, for that purpose he supposes he will allow a faun to climb him like a tree, in public no less. no one can ever say he's not completely magnanimous now. ]

[ he gives myr's shoulder a slight squeeze, before bending forward to kiss him. viren's not one for public displays of affection, particularly when he registers the high-pitched cheers that greet the action, but he'll permit this as an exception to enjoy -- gentle and lingering just a bit. ]

mistletoe... lmfao

[marmoron]

[ Since completing his vampire transformation, Keith has started carrying around an enchanted umbrella for extra shade from the sun and covers himself up from head to toe. It doesn't exactly feel right to be out and about during the day, thanks to being naturally nocturnal, but it's not like the stores in the city selling gifts share his preferences here.

Keith is just a pinch stressed trying to figure out gifts for people, and while he's definitely noticed the mistletoe hung up everywhere, he's too preoccupied to consider the possibility of them being enchanted.

That is, until, be finds he can't move. Seeing Viren in a similar predicament is instantly less reassuring when he spots the mistletoe above them. Groaning audibly and already looking like he wants to punch a cheering onlooker, he proceeds to not even remotely go along with the program. ]

Can't you breathe fire on that thing?

lmao god

[bloodwit]

[ wow, keith. viren thinks this is certainly a Look he is rocking, but can keep any comments to himself with recognition of the necessity of it all. his lip twitches, likewise annoyed, but casts his gaze back up toward the mistletoe. he gauges its distance, apparently mulling over the logistics of this. ]

Like a fireball. [ so he's concluded; he thinks testing this sounds exciting. ] I can do that.

[ but - ]

Should things go awry, however... You will also be implicated.

[ he is, apparently, otherwise willing to mistakenly light the roof on fire. ]

i'm laughing viren PLS

[marmoron]

...

[ Excuse him, he's having an inexplicable moment of deja vu. Weird. Why would that be happening. Keith makes another failed attempt to move his legs, then folds his arms. ]

Is that meant to be a threat.

[ Look, magic caterpillar man. He's not sure why he should be held responsible if you need glasses or something to improve your fire breathing technique. ]

[bloodwit]

[ why indeed???? ]

And a promise, yes.

[ he is unfaltering. viren smiles, in a way that seems to say that great things can await them with the unlocking of his fireball technique and probably being fined for that. alternatively, they could also handle this the more reasonable way, but you know. ]

Are we in agreement?

i

[heartmunculus]

[Sieg has a few small bags with him as he looks up at the plant and then back at Viren. Holiday shopping? Or maybe it's just his normal food run.]

... Are you embarrassed?

[It's his first winter, he doesn't know what's in store. And the gentle tug to kiss doesn't feel that awful to him.]

[bloodwit]

[ viren's face scrunches up, apparently now doubly-embarrassed that sieg should ask and point it out. a nearby spectator for, god knows why, makes a loud whooping noise. ]

Of course I'm embarrassed-!

[ hissed lowly, so as to not elicit any further raucous; better out with that particular confession than in, evidently. ]

What part of this isn't embarrassing??

[heartmunculus]

[His gaze does wander over to the person whooping and he just nods at them in acknowledgement. It doesn't seem like something with ill intent.]

A kiss is a sign of affection. There's nothing embarrassing about sharing that.

[bloodwit]

Not always.

[ sieg is levelheaded about this, which admittedly, has viren considering he might try to tone his reactionary stance down. he sighs his frustration, peering down at the witch with a more neutral frown. ]

Where would you prefer, then...? [ he does presume, being of the taller, that he's going to do most of the maneuvering, here. ] If you're amenable to it.

iii. snowfight

[silentsavant]

[ soren is already having a bad day. the last thing he wants or needs is snow launched in his face.

but that's exactly what happens.

he's trudging back from another hard day's penance, bone-tired and burnt out, when the icy projectile pelts him across the cheek like a cold slap to the face. the small dragon blinks and wipes the snowy residue away with a shudder, for the elements aren't his friend and his clothing enchantments are dimming, and levels a weary glare at whichever child perpetrated this harmless but...

oh. that's not a child. it's... viren. he readjusts the collar of his shirt and cloak. the delivery of his tone comes flat with a nip of annoyance. ]

I'm not playing.

[bloodwit]

[ oh. viren recognizes this one: the tiny, rude dragon from the masquerade (you're one to talk, viren...). viren shakes his furs free of snow and chips of ice, his expression pinched with irritation at the proclamation. ]

[ in the meanwhile, there's a delighted shout from one of the children having taken refuge beyond a snow mound: now there's not one, but two dragons! unfortunately, they've also seemed to take viren's retaliatory lobbing of a snowball as joining in on the festivities. ]

That's very cute of you -

[ he's smacked on the shoulder with another chunk of snow. he sputters. there might be another one being flung soren's way... ]

- that you think they care-!

[silentsavant]

[ where there is an abundance of overeager children, there is an abundance of snowballs stockpiled everywhere, and soren begins to think he should have taken another route, though he never factored snowball fights into his flightless journey home. big mistake, apparently! one of these freezing projectiles is indeed sailing straight for him, and he flips his wings out to protect himself. the snowy projectile crumbles against his membrane and collapses into powder, but he still gets hit in the chest by another, and then right on the top of his horned head. ]

H-Hey! Cut it out!

[ nope! they don't care! and they're not afraid of his show of anger, either! soren never harbored any illusions that they did, but he's still going to protest anyway! he hates people, but children especially can be vile. ]

[ their laughter crescendos. what great fun! pelting the dragons! soren can't even use scare tactics beyond baseless verbal threats right now... not that he would ever intentionally harm one of them that badly over volleys of snowballs, because that's just asking for more trouble. the bracelet on his wrist prevents even his breath from working, so he covers his face and tries marching forward in spite of it. but it's becoming a flurry, and now they're mobilizing to aim for his front to freeze his progress... literally! snow is so cold, and it's getting in his clothes! ]

[ come on! fight back! join in! they heckle. is there really no choice? maybe they'll stop aiming for him so much if he finally complies? shakily, very slowly, he crouches down to the snow and starts compressing snow together at turtle speed... ]

[bloodwit]

[ oh christ, this is dreadful. viren, too, feels his clothes becoming wet as the snow melts in droves, his furs only providing so much protection against this element. where it flecks against his face there's a slight sizzling, the contact of ice causing him aches. ]

[ and his face screws up as he just barely notes that soren - likewise doesn't seem to be on the offensive. ]

[ he snatches out a risky hand out to the young man's shoulder, giving it a desperate squeeze of claws to draw his attention, as well as hopefully stop his progress elsewhere. notably, he seems to stooping behind the other dragon so as to hinder the onslaught against him alone. he stoops, eyes ablaze, and in an vicious-sounding hiss beneath his breath so that it can go unheard by any eavesdropping children, ]

You, too, are a fire dragon--?

[ because what is his luck, if so - but if not, he thinks he might have an, erm, unfortunate strategy ready. ]