I saw Mommy kissing Samba-Claus (KISS BINGO EDITION) 💋🌿

[beleos]

QIASU (HIGHSTORM)

On December 15th, the marker of the latter half of Takiltu, Kenos comes together to celebrate unity and togetherness, to come together with friends and family, to be kind to others and share in one’s wealth - whether that comes in the form of knowledge, monetary gains, or the exchange of gifts and one’s time. This celebration is an amalgamation of many worlds’ winter festivals, and as such, is known in the two cities as the Year’s End Festival, or Qiasu as Highstorm calls it.

This part of Takiltu is when Highstorm truly starts to hit winter. Snow is a frequent occurrence, but it’s one that the city welcomes, since with the snow comes a few of the most beloved traditions of the city. By far the most popular is heading to Greenwood Yards. The gardens themselves may be either dormant or showing their simpler winter gardens, but you may have noticed an area by the bathhouses left in surprising amount of disrepair… This is because during the winter months, this area fills up with a natural outdoor hot spring! Take a swim under the moonlight, and even explore some of those ruined old manors, now with their first floors warmly flooded. It’s a tradition to bring in your favorite drinks and spend an evening sipping it in a parlor with friends, and to make new ones by sharing your drinks. Of course, do watch out for the ghosts. They’re mischievous more than malicious, but this is their favorite time of the year too!

You can also head to the Great Tree, which is decorated for the season with glittering glass orbs and is the current roost for the pale Moonbugs of Highstorm. Write a wish on a slip of paper and hold out your hands, and one of the Moonbugs will come sit within them. Whisper the wish to the Moonbug and it’ll take the paper and fly away to find someone to fulfill it. Of course, this also means that a Moonbug is likely to come find you! Besides it being good karma to fulfill the wish, you’ll be given a brief vision of the person whose wish you fulfilled and be blessed by the tree for the duration of the month depending upon your Aspect:

• Advocate: People are more likely to buy you meals/rounds and every recipe you make turns out perfectly.
• Exalt: Animals seem to think more kindly of you, and you'll find them much easier to befriend.
• Harbinger: You're given a more silver tongue as your arguments seem to be better at persuading people.
• Iconoclast: You won't be effected by cold weather in any way.
• Savant: You heal much more rapidly from any injury and are generally the very picture of health.
• Stargazer: Your indulgences (whatever they may be) are both easier to find and are of higher quality.

And of course, there’s one more well-known practice in Highstorm, though it’s more of a tradition of Kowloon’s… The Gävle family is a well-known family who has lived in Highstorm for a long time, and they brought a tradition of building a festive Yule goat made straw in the square outside of their businesses. However, it also happens to be outside of Yura Szczepanski’s home. He’ll never do it himself, of course, but if you manage to burn it down? He’ll reward you, obviously. It doesn’t make it any more legal, so those that try generally spend some time in a Highstorm jail, but it’s an enshrined enough practice at this point that not only has it burned down more often than it’s survived, but there’s even a betting pool in Kowloon for whether it survives or not.

Of course, if these traditions aren’t quite your vibe, you’ll also find the city just generally set up for a metropolitan winter. The Antiques & Baubles Market is rearranged to make room for a large ice-skating rink, Tasseography (the coffeeshop by the Tomes) has a seasonal special for a hot chocolate that will fortify you from the cold for a few hours (and make you fire resistant? Weird,), and the city also hosts a full-size gingerbread house that you can indeed take a bite from, to name a few things. Generally speaking, if it’s something you could do in a snowy city at home, you’ll probably find an equivalent somewhere in the city of moonlight.

Be warned, however, if you are visiting from out of town. Highstorm's reception seems just a touch bit chiller than the weather!

YEAR'S END FESTIVAL (SPRINGSTAR)

Springstar will never turn down a chance to celebrate, but eternally Highstorm’s opposite, this is the warmest time of year. With the sun always shining, some days can get near sweltering, but that just means you have a different set of traditions to have fun with it!

The ivy-like vines that decorated the city in the beginning of the month (November) are now in full bloom, and you’re now likely to learn why the Meri consider them sacred. Wherever the flowers bloom, they encourage feelings of warmth and slightly higher inclination for physical contact within those that encounter their magical pollen*. Holding hands with someone by the flowers will give you feelings of liveliness and happiness, and for a few hours, the positive traits of the person you’re holding hands with become more prominent in you and vice versa. These effects do linger a bit longer, since for a month, you’ll also find that being around this person also gives you both a little boost in energy. It’s very sweet! This also comes with a bit of a further game, if you’re at all a frequenter of Psychagogía...

Madame Dee’s hosts a very popular competition simply called Kiss Bingo. Approach the booth set-up outside the brothel and touch your Shard to a special card, and names will appear upon it. From there, the rules are simple. Just give that person a kiss! It can be on their hand, their lips, their [redacted], all of it counts, and once you do, a little kiss mark will mark their name out. Get a bingo, and you can pick from a variety of prizes such as a ticket for a week’s worth of visits at a local buffet, a shopping spree at a nearby store, or a box seat for a day at the Coliseum. Of course, if you’re really an overachiever, fill out the whole card to get multiple prizes. Madame Dee might just give you a job!

With the promise of home that the Meri deeply believe in, they have their own gifting tradition. The Shard-Bearers know best that it’s possible to receive gifts from the Timestream, and for Year’s End, it’s tradition for the Tribune to pull out all the stops. For a week of the Festival, the Tribune works just outside of Heliopolis, and with the help of priests from the Church of Helios, reaches into the Timestream to produce a gift for anyone that comes to ask. This year, however, he's asked Quetzalcoatl and Samba's elves to deliver gifts, but you might not get anything you asked for (or maybe you did!) but they're all gifts the timestream spit out!

On rainy days (or simply the unbearably hot ones), you can also go to Starlight Park, which offers a reprieve from the weather. Inside the dome, you’ll find a idyllic, snowy valley where you can partake in all the natural joys of winter. There’s (highly) competitive snowball fights, sledding, and skiing to partake in, though you might be cautioned away from one slope. Head down that course and about halfway down, you’ll be chased by… a yeti? Luckily it doesn’t seem to be able to harm you, but it’s still shockingly fast and will catch you no matter how quickly you ski. You can also spend a bit of money to rent a yurt along the river for a relaxing and exceptionally cozy glamping experience. Some Yurts are even adorned with the sacred vines. You know, for no reason.

You’ll also find the Meri heading away from the city of Springstar a bit to head down to some of the beaches that surround Springstar. Being an island within an Island (capital ‘I’ meaning the Kenos kind of island), Takiltu is the traditional start of Springstar’s summer season and all the fun that comes with that. The beaches are bustling, but the cool and crystal-clear waters of the ocean surrounding the city make it worthwhile. Surfing, diving, and sailing are popular activities, but just make sure to stay within sight of the shore. It doesn’t take too long to hit the end of the Island and sailing outside the magical barrier that keeps Springstar floating in Kenos’s starscape generally isn’t survivable.

Just be mindful, if you're trying to escape Highstorm's chill for some summer fun, as attitudes are shifting toward bearers in general, and it might not be as easy as it once was.

NOTES

Weather summary for the second 30 days of Takiltu (NOV & DEC):

• Highstorm is out of fall and into winter. While there are some milder days, snow (and heavy snow at that!) is getting more common.
• Springstar is hot and humid, and it's not uncommon for brief thunderstorms to roll through in the afternoon.

Notable city changes:

• Both cities have experienced changing attitudes toward shard-bearers. You will need to be mindful if you want to travel to a city that doesn't house your faction, as things might not be as easy when it comes to getting around.
• Springstar has had an increase in attacks toward it's citizens, and they are often fatal and destructive. Rumors travel among Springstar's seedier types that these are escaping from Ryad, and they aren't being reigned in. That always comes with a flicker of worry.

CODING

Comments

[damnpire]

[Once Yuri is inside, D follows without any reluctance. They are a bizarre duo to waltz into a dessert shop: the two of them create the funniest conjoining of pastel goth. Just two guys out on the town stopping in for a treat.

Carefully, D sidesteps out of the way of the door in case other people find their presence peculiar enough to drum up interest.

To whoever is working, D very faintly tips his hat into a nod of greeting.]

[wolfish]

[ The gesture is prompt for Yuri to glance toward the employee and offer: ]

I'll make good and buy something in a minute.

[ With his intentions announced, Yuri turns his attention back to D, necessarily tipping his head to look him in the eye. They make for a rather odd couple, but he pays it no mind. ]

So, I know a cleansing spell. It works on my allergies [ He will admit to the fact that he has them, if only because he has the means to deal with them now. ] even when they're in full swing, so it should do the trick. The effect lingers a few hours.

[ He lifts a hand, concentrating the energy for his spell. The result is a soft, white glittering light. This he doesn't delay in practically tossing up at D's face, the spell washing over him in the moments that follow before it disperses.

Yuri waits a few moments, watching for any signs that D is still compelled to reach for one of his hands, before he inquires. ]

...How do you feel now?

[damnpire]

[D does not eat much food, but Yuri has a good idea. And a polite one.

He waits with the strangest amount of patience and manners for Yuri to cast the spell. Somehow, it does an excellent job to sweeping the heady, warm, full feeling out of his noggin. The expression on his face lifts slightly, surprised, and then smooths out into well-mannered stoicism.]

Better.

[Wow. He hates the pollen making him weirdly attach to other people.]

Thank you.

[wolfish]

[ Thanks to months living with Byleth, Yuri has become a connoisseur of subtle changes in expression. He notes the change in D's countenance, brief though it may be, doesn't escape his notice. Accordingly, he offers the man a smile.

It's a little sharp around the edges, but that's just Yuri. ]

Pleased to hear it. [ His smile fades then, into something more sober. ] Bit of a pain how often our surroundings force our hands.

[ ...Hand, in D's case, but between them the hands are plural. It's fine. ]

[damnpire]

Yes.

[He isn't a fan, but only because he is a quiet, to himself young man who doesnt want to impose himself onto others.

Though in a way... there is a sense of chilly loss now that the wholesome feelings are gone.]

I'll try not to stay out too long. So you won't have to waste your energy on me again.

[Hmm. The thanks feels lacking. He peers at Yuri.]

Do you like sweets?

[wolfish]

It wouldn't be a waste, so long as it helped for a time.

[ He punctuates the statement with a shrug, as though to reinforce it's no imposition. Though Yuri understands the sentiment, it costs him little to cast such a simple spell. ]

But I do indeed favor sweets.

[ Which may explain his earlier stab at humor. ]

[damnpire]

[Even though the bizarre hand-holdy and affectionate feelings have momentarily dissipated, D is still appreciative of Yuri's troubles. Hopefully, Yuri won't get caught up in his own pollen predicaments.

He glances around Yuri to the counter again.]

I'll buy you some to take with you.

[This feels like a better trade than simply saying thanks. Also, it's food and not something useless. If Yuri doesn't want it, Yuri can... give it to someone else.]

[wolfish]

[ Yuri turns to follow his line of sight, only for the suggestion to prompt him to turn an owlish stare back up at him.

That didn't sound like it was a suggestion. Even so— ]

A little spell's no big deal. It's not as though I had to put time into teaching it to you.

[ Even as he says this, he recognizes the hypocrisy of it, well aware of how much he hates to owe anyone for anything. ]

Not that I'd mind, but I did also get my hand back in the bargain.

[damnpire]

[Yuri's downplay is sweet. Unfortunately, D's insistence on thinking even the littlest effort someone would go for him is greater. There is absolutely no reason Yuri should have had to do that for a monster like him.

See, Yuri understands. Uh, the owing part, at least.]

I know. [About the hand, he means.] If they aren't to your taste, you can give them away.

[As long as someone is eating them, D doesn't mind.]

[wolfish]

[ D's self image why Definitely not a suggestion. Yuri may not know why it's important to D, exactly, but he knows a pointless debate when he sees one.

Usually. Probably. ]

Alright, but I don't need anything much then. It truly is a simple spell.

[ And being overly compensated would be its own issue. ]

[damnpire]

[It's bad. Just ignore that.

He takes half a step back and motions toward the counter. Yuri can go first since Yuri is the one he is treating for the help.]

It wasn't necessarily the spell.

[Just the fact Yuri bothered to offer to help him at all. It means more, Yuri won't know, to D... who has spent many centurie with people being especially unkind to him because he is half vampire.]

[wolfish]

Other people give you a hard time about the hand-holding bit or something? Not like you could help it.

[ If only D knew that Yuri's only frame of reference for vampire anything is his friend's erotica collection...if only...

For the time being, Yuri follows D's indication and strolls up to the counter, eyeing the baked goods on display. A fair few are new to him still yet, despite all the time he's spent in Kenos.

After a brief survey, he glances up at D. ]

You going to get something too?

[ Look, he...he's Faerghan. Eating while the getting is good is very important. ]

[damnpire]

Most people are a little wary of unsolicited attempts to hold hands is all.

[Some of them were a lot more jumpy and reactionary than Yuri, but he doesn't blame them for it. People should not be wandering up to touch someone's hand without asking? He really should have asked...

Is this place destroying the sanctity of his manners? Big questions...

Once Yuri moves for the counter, D falls in line to follow. Or haunt, as would be appropriate to call his very gothic, silent tailing. Normally, he'd reject the offer since he does not really eat food... but he thinks about Dokja, and Eustace, and Gray instead. He could probably get them something to make up for the fact they are allowing him to live in the house.]

I will, yes.

[wolfish]

Oh, I'm no fan of being handled without my consent. But you did make it obvious that it wasn't of your choosing either.

[ They may be two beautiful men, but that wasn't reason enough to hold hands. Had the situation been different, Yuri may have pulled a knife, but that pollen's been floating about. D wasn't intruding on personal space because of any odd motivation — his hand was forced.

Yuri hums as he scans the display, a quiet sound trapped behind painted lips. Whatever he gets, he's liable to share with his fellow mercenaries when he returns home. ]

Personally, I think a treat's always more enjoyable when shared.

[ He is, however, keenly aware that this is on D's budget. What doesn't look too expensive, while being easy to split? ]

[damnpire]

[If Yuri has a spell for allergies, surely Yuri has a spell to... blow a whole guy away. Maybe. D is glad he would not be that guy which is funny for a young man who thinks he should not exist.]

Mm.

[He glances at Yuri briefly. This is a sentiment he can agree with, though he rarely takes any opportunity to be around others. It's already wild he has let himself live in Dokja's house for as long as he has. Sometimes, you're just a drifter.]

You may get as many as you'd like. I don't mind.

[While he may not have amassed quite the amount of money here as he had back home, he is still extremely generous with wealth. It's not difficult to do when there are a lot of things you can usually do on your own. One of the single of the rich that shouldn't be eaten maybe.]

[wolfish]

That's a dangerous thing to say to a man like me.

[ Yuri and his men are known to "eat lords out of house and home", as a certain king had once aptly put it. Granted, those nobles deserved what they got. In the case of decent people, Yuri would never.

Still, he'll toss the comment out there just the same. Someone without his standards could and would take advantage of such an offer. ]

But those pastries there— eclairs? They seem to have a fine discount if you get them as a set of three. Sound alright by you?

[ He's never had them before, so he'd wager the others he lives with haven't either. ]

[damnpire]

[THIS........... actually amuses D surprisingly? He does not have wildly expressive emotes, but he does sort of turn his head away when the corners of his lips betray him in an attempt to smile.]

That's fine.

[He will do Yuri the honor. He steps forward so he can order (this is maybe partially to enact his own plan).]

I would like nine eclairs, please.

[He probably just obliterated their entire baked stock, and now they will have to make more. BUT! Now they have money, which he places down on the counter without any complaint or hesitation.

Now Yuri and the gang can have six eclairs because they are strapping young men.]

[wolfish]

[ Did he catch perhaps a twitch of lips before that pointed glance elsewhere? Perhaps. Yuri doesn't comment upon it either way, by now well accustomed to reading Byleth's often subtle changes in expression and body language. He's become something of a connoisseur of such minute indications of mood or condition simply by exposure.

Perhaps D is like him? They even both favor predominately black apparel.

Yuri doesn't have much time to dwell on this, effectively diverted by D ordering the bakery's entire ready stock. He does little more than stare owlishly for a beat, long enough that he hastens to smooth his shock away. ]

You must have one hell of a sweet tooth.

[ Or perhaps people of his own to feed. ]

[damnpire]

[Byleth and he got along so amazingly well, and it is, in fact, because they are carbon copies of the same type of person. Minus the writing maybe (even if he had written a little something to Byleth as a gift).]

May I have two bags? Six in one, three in the other.

[What's funnier than ordering nine eclairs is perhaps the reaction he gets once he has appeared at the counter: logistically, there is a reason he is covered from head to toe in black, leather armaments which Yuri would probably understand, the addition being protection from the sunlight as well... but it's unfortunate the one this he can't really keep covered is his face, and the person manning the counter seems to be completely enamored with him. Shy, bashful.

D either does not see this happening, or chooses to not acknowledge it. He waits patiently for the two bags instead.

Once he has them, he says thank you and turns to Yuri again. The bag with six is held out to Yuri.]

I hope you enjoy them.

[He still has not admitted he won't be eating any of these himself...]

[wolfish]

[ Striking as D's features are, Yuri can blame no one for being taken with him. He observes this without comment, though it does inspire some amusement. Is D excellent at ignoring obvious interest, or is he oblivious to some very obvious infatuation? Yuri can only speculate.

Not that he has long to do so. When D offers him one of the bags, it's clearly the one with more eclairs. Yuri spares it a look, then points to the other bag. While it's too simple a mistake to make, he has difficulty believing he's being given so many. ]

You sure you don't mean to give me that one?

[ Surely D isn't giving him the lion's share for something so minor... ]

[damnpire]

[As expected, he does not offer Yuri the one with only three eclairs inside.

Instead, he keeps holding out the one filled to the brim patiently.]

This one is yours. You have others you can share them with if it's too much for you, don't you? That's fine.

[wolfish]

[ Did D figure out he intended to share with others all along? Yuri can only wonder.

Almost cautiously, he accepts the bag. ]

This is a bit much for just the one spell, you know.

[ Filing D under the nice guy category. ]

[damnpire]

[The excutive decision to say someone like Yuri has to have some friends here. Maybe it had also been the joking about eating a lot of sweets. The spell had been simple, but his love language is acts of service and gift giving.

This is the only way he knows how to say thank you and have it mean something.]

On the Frontier, not many would even waste a spell on someone like me. It's food and useful, so I don't mind.

[wolfish]

...Someone like you, huh?

[ Yuri's heard this sort of talk all too many times, though he can't begin to guess what D means. He's a tall, hauntingly beautiful man. It could be to do with his origins, like where he happened to be born, or something of the sort. Any speculation he could make would be blind. ]

My people, back home, they're all like that. [ They'd all been let down by society, one way or another, living on its margins. It's his fervent hope that will come to an end soon. ] I'll never consider it a waste, so you can call on me if you need a spell or two.

[ He raises one hand to tap his temple, indicating what he means. ]

Besides, you helped Dark a while back, yeah?

[damnpire]

[Yuri's guess isn't too far from the truth of it, honestly. Close enough. He's not sure if he's sad hearing Yuri's people are like that. Is it weird he hopes all that would come to an end, too, even if he didn't know them?

Fire Emblem: D Hopes.]

I'll keep you in mind.

[So Yuri doesn't think he isn't appreciative of the offer. As if Yuri would ever think any of that after all of this. He pauses long enough to consider what Yuri means.]

Yes. My name is D.