songerein | Owl Rescue

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Owl Rescue

✵ MINI EVENT: OWL RESCUE ✵

Late in the month, the blizzard has reached its peak and the skies seem strangely dark and ominous, a soft jingling of bells followed by deep, baritone voice echoes through the skies.

Gone away are the reindeer
Out to play are the dreamers
To lead their return, we gather in snow
All to bring the lost presents home

In the shadows we can build a snowman
To protect the sleigh that's full and bright.
Mimics will attack, and we'll say, "No, man!"
Only the real presents here will do!

We'll raise our mugs to the fire
Raise our voices higher and higher
Then we'll slash through our foes
From head down to their toes
All to save this Christmas Wonderland

In the city we can make some string lights
Beautiful and bright just like the stars
With a little magic, we'll be alright
And top everything off with just a Star

A star so big and bright
with magic all around
shining with all its might
making the world go 'round!

So come join us, all ye citizens
of this little festive town.
Guard your hearts with love and laughter,
and we'll bring this foul Grinch down!

With a mighty bellow the gusting winds clear and for a moment the morning skies seem beautiful and bright, as if the strange blizzard storm had never appeared at all. And then, in perhaps questionably late fashion, a large man dressed in red and astride a giant reindeer descends down to the central plaza.

"Ho ho ho! So this is where that bastard's been trying to hide, eh? I'll give it some credit—it chose a powerful world for its mischief…even if it could still use some work. And it's still just a baby—miracle it's lasted this long." The man, many of which will recognize as the fabled Santa Claus turns to look at the still run down buildings. For a man who is known to being "jolly" and full of holiday spirit, he looks as if he's about to head into war with the large axe at its his side and hardened expression. Just as he's about to say more, he clicks his tongue as a loud SCREEEEEECH is heard in the distance.

"But it won't be around much longer if you kids don't do anything about what's coming."

In the next moment, a large fiery owl large enough to overshadow half the town hovers in the air, the flames dangerously drifting from her feathers.

WHERE ARE THEY…

WHERE ARE MY CHILDREN!!

Her voice shakes the ground, the fire expanding outward as she gives one last heartrending cry filled with anger and agony.

PROMPTS

It's a confusing mess as two large figures have appeared at once, but it's clear that the owl's needs take precedence. With Santa's help, the owl will shrink small enough so that she can wait in the Plaza alongside and wait for those willing to find her eggs and owlets. But she watches over it with an anxious eye, the flames occasionally rising whenever there is a sound of one nearby. Everyone better work fast!

A. Talk with Santa. With Santa remaining with the owl, some may wish to speak to him while the others are working to find the baby owls. Although he plans to speak again once this is over, he will go ahead and answer any questions people may have. All questions may be asked in this thread, and as mentioned in the Game Notes, this will not be an IC thread. It is encouraged for questions to be asked now as it will help speed up dispensing information later.

B. Owl Egg Hunt. The eggs are scattered throughout the town Reverein, the nearby forests, and the lake. As if sensing their danger, the eggs have hidden themselves in various nooks and crannies, which can make it quite difficult to find. Hopefully no one accidentally tries to cook one. However, there are some clues. They will sparkle and will sometimes wiggle and roll out of their hiding place. They can also be "lured" out by friendly, positive emotions, or towards anyone that might exude a feeling of safety, security, and protection. However, if they're frightened the eggs will start to hatch. They sprout wings, legs, or even the beak to try and either escape or protect themselves. The eggs may also take on elemental characteristics, such as turning into a fireball, a block of ice, a giant rock, or a mini cyclone. Another threat will be the snoyotes as the sly buggers will follow would be rescuers to find the egg and try to snatch them and run off.

C. Owlet Panic. For the eggs that have already hatched, the owlets will be panicking and very emotional, causing a great environmental disruption around them. From fire storms to massive blizzards, the babies are out of control. Fortunately they're easy to spot—as well as hear. Their high pitched screeches can be heard from long distances. Calming emotions will be key in trying to soothe them, though dremoation abilities may be needed to get to them first.

D. Owlsitter. Whether already hatched or bursting out after returning to mother owl, the little owlets can be quite the handful. They're born already large enough to fly and while they aren't skilled, they will flutter about here and there. Essentially toddlers, they will get into anything that might interest them and cause mischief. With the owlets capable of casting elemental magic, that can pose a problem as sometimes it can go awry.

E. Snoyotes. The snoyotes are a cross between snake and coyote and they rely on their stealth skills rather than offensive power. They will stick to the shadows and can camouflage themselves well. When they do need to fight, they are tenacious and will try to sink their venomous fangs into their assailant. The venom is paralytic and is potent and fast acting. Although not always enough to kill, if enough venom makes its way to the heart then there might be trouble. As mentioned they will follow those looking for eggs to try and snatch them first, but some may be hunting other eggs. It's not necessary to kill them, driving them off to the Wild Canyons will do.

» BONUS: FANG COLLECTION. Although highly potent, the venom stored within the fangs of the snoyotes can be used in anti-venom remedies (and poisons). Collecting them will need some care. In addition, defanging a snoyote is one way to keep it away for those unwilling to kill. Their fangs will grow back so would be an effective way to farm fangs later.

[Mod Note: Details on this mini event can be found here and we request all thread submissions to be made here. Reminder that this mini event is opt-in.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That’s… actually quite sweet of you.

[ Thoma figures he can get away with a little open affection while it’s just himself and Diluc, with only a baby owl to bear witness. Thoma winces a little when the owlet shrieks again, stepping up beside Diluc to look up at the poor little guy. ]

I think you were doing a pretty good job, but maybe the two of us together can calm it down a bit better.

[ Which is to say he’s going to reach over to hold Diluc’s hand. Who knows, maybe the warmth of their feelings will help with this frost. ]

I'm simply being honest.

[Don't make it weird, Thoma.

(Although there's a clear softening of his tone when he says that, and he twines his fingers in with Thoma's when he takes his hand, so maybe it's okay.)]

We just have to convince it that we aren't a threat. If you think it's something we can accomplish together, I'll follow your lead.

[Right now the owlet seems rather wary of them. And everything around them, up to and including the frost and ice that its own elemental energy is producing. At least it's stopped shrieking for the moment.]

[ He’s not making it weird! But at least Diluc takes his hand without argument, and Thoma’s heart flutters pleasantly behind his ribs as their fingers slide together. ]

I’m just kind of making it up as we go along, but positive emotions usually do the trick so…

[ He leans over to press a gentle, brief kiss to Diluc’s cheek. Getting to dote on him like this is enough to make Thoma feel warm all over, and a soft glow starts to wash over him. The frost in his immediate area is already starting to melt. ]

Do you think your familiar would be able to comfort it? You know, like it did for Ori that one night.

...

[In hindsight, Diluc really should have seen that coming.

He's not sure how much of the warmth he feels is dreammotion energy and how much is his own self-consciousness. Either way, his hand in Thoma's tightens slightly in his own sort of affectionate gesture. If Thoma manages to get a glimpse of his face, there's a small smile there.]

I'm not always successful at summoning it at will, but it's worth a try.

[Diluc closes his eyes and opens his free hand in front of him, imagining the little firebird and hoping that he's able to give it form. It ultimately ends up being a relatively straightforward task; there's plenty of positive emotional energy surrounding them both, and that's when the familiar is easiest to summon.

The firebird needs no direct order. It flies up into the trees and takes a seat on a branch near the owlet, chirping cheerily at it.]

[ For whatever it might be worth, Thoma would never be so openly affectionate in the middle of a crowded street. He understands that out of all of them, Diluc needs the most time to adjust to these little acts of adoration, touches and kisses and whatever else Thoma and Ori wish to give. Even with just the two of them and a baby owl present, Diluc still seems embarrassed… but happy, and Thoma will gladly take it.

He watches with a broad smile of his own as Diluc summons his dreamotion familiar as easy as anything, and the little bird flies up to chirp at the owlet. The owlet seems to relax a little, finding something, well, familiar about the familiar. It hops a little closer to the firebird with a curious hoot. ]

[The firebird chirps again, clearly pleased as it hops a bit closer. The ice around the owlet melts a bit, somehow both quickly enough to be noticeable and slowly enough to prevent another startling dump of snow. It's most likely responding to both the owlet's curiosity and his own warm feelings. He knows that it's technically an extension of him, unspoken feelings made manifest, but he swears that sometimes the familiar has a mind of its own.

Whether or not it does, it's succeeding. That's good enough for him.

Although it does beg the question as to what, if anything, he should be doing to help the firebird along. It's not like he's used to harnessing its power--usually it poofs in, does what it wants, and takes its leave. Should he be feeding it more dreamotion energy to keep it sustained? And if so, how should he go about producing that dreamotion energy? He could draw it from within himself, but his success with that sort of thing has been mixed at best. It would be better to do something with a higher chance of success. Which means possible depending on Thoma's cooperation, as the other man is more naturally adept at using the energy of dreams and emotions.

And... well, there's already quite a bit of it just from the affection they're sharing. No reason not to use that to their advantage.

If Diluc seems distracted for a few moments, it's because he sits there for several moments thinking all of this through. But he does eventually lean into Thoma and turn to press a kiss to the side of his head--a touch awkwardly, perhaps, but no less sincere.]

[ Thoma is busy watching the owl interact with the firebird in the tree and doesn’t even realize that Diluc is running through a whole plan of action in his head. So, when the other man leans over and awkwardly, but sweetly, kisses the side of his head, Thoma’s eyes go wide for a second, a hint of color jumping up to his cheeks. He is surprised, sure, but he is also pleased. He warms all over again, from that simple point of contact all the way down to his boots.

Oh, he could get used to that. ]

What was that for?

To make sure there's enough dreamotion energy to sustain the familiar.

[The firebird chirps down at them as if to confirm as much before going back to making friends with the now-defrosted owlet. The owlet, for its part, is drenched from the melt and shakes itself occasionally in an effort to dry off.

After a pause, Diluc realizes how cold that must sound. It's not like the gesture was merely perfunctory. Even though he's still adjusting to the very idea this sort of relationship and the affection inherent in it, he does like being close like this. He's just bad at feelings.

Thoma's smart enough to figure that much out, he's sure, but he would rather not leave it ambiguous.]

And...because I wanted to.

[ True enough, Thoma doesn’t seem bothered by the way Diluc muddles through his show of affection and how to verbalize it. He shoots the other man a teasing, yet affectionate, little grin, nudging him lightly with his elbow. ]

Oh, good. I was hoping it was because you wanted to.

[ Above them, the familiar and owlet are chatting away, making fast friends it seems. ]

I think it’s working.

[Diluc wrinkles his nose and elbows him back--although he can't quite suppress the smile on his face as he does so. Thoma's lucky he's so damn likeable. (And really, DIluc can afford to be teased into lightening up every so often.)

A glance upward confirms that the situation with the owlet is much improved. They could probably climb up and retrieve it from the tree's branches without too much trouble at this point, given how relaxed it now is by the firebird's presence. They should go up and rescue the bird, as a matter of fact.

Diluc comes up with a different idea instead.]

Since it seems to be working so well...

[He reaches over and pulls Thoma in for an actual kiss. It may take awhile for him to relax into it, but he's not immune to flirtation and attraction. Surely, they can steal an extra moment for themselves here.]

[ It feels like Thoma’s been given something precious every time Diluc smiles, and he cannot help but treasure it. Slowly but surely, he’s finding ways to edge past Diluc’s defenses, to coax bits of joy from him, and hopefully in doing so, show him that he deserves these little moments as much as anyone else does.

Thoma’s fond glance turns away for just a moment, looking up to assess how best to get the owlet down, and in that time Diluc apparently reaches his own sort of conclusion. He finds himself being pulled suddenly in, their lips pressing together, and Thoma reciprocates almost instantly, sliding chilly fingertips into Diluc’s hair as he leans into the kiss.

Sure, it’s a bit surprising, but perhaps the relative seclusion has emboldened Diluc a bit. He’s certainly not going to complain.

But their affection has the added bonus of filling the space with even more warmth, and already the owlet’s feathers are starting to dry. ]

[The seclusion has definitely emboldened him as much as the warmth that's been filling the space around them. The chill of Thoma's hands in his hair cause him to shiver slightly, although he can hardly say he minds. As they continue to kiss, he wraps his arm more tightly around his waist to keep him close. Time stops mattering for the moment, as he'd be content to remain like this with him indefinitely.

A tiny hoot pulls Diluc's attention away from Thoma, and he sees that the owlet has somehow made it down the tree and is standing on the ground near them. Its feathers have mostly dried off, and the firebird--having completed its objective--is nowhere to be seen.

Diluc steals one last, quick kiss before pulling away enough to lower his arm for the owlet to hop onto, which it does easily.]

We haven't forgotten about you. I'm glad you're safe, my friend.

[ As easy as it would be to get lost in the moment, the press of Diluc’s lips and the way he tugs Thoma closer, Thoma remains vaguely aware of the owlet in their periphery. He cracks an eye open when he hears the soft rustle of feathers, smiling against Diluc’s lips when he sees the baby manage to glide down from the tree branch to land at their feet - where it calls out to catch Diluc’s attention as well.

The owlet must recognize Diluc as the source of the familiar and trusts him almost instantly, hopping onto his arm as easy as anything. The gentle way with which he addresses the baby bird instantly warms Thoma’s heart. ]

If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re a natural at this.

[Diluc doesn't respond to Thoma immediately, instead making sure the baby owl is stable on his arm before he sits up to his full height and gently strokes it chest. The owlet makes a noise that seems equal parts put out and pleased, which is about the reaction he expects.]

I have a lot of experience with birds like this, that's all. I have a falcon back in Teyvat that I raised from an eyas--a chick, in non-falconry terms. She's magnificent.

Just as this one will be, in time.

[Birds are to Diluc as dogs and cats are to Thoma.]

[ This is a side to Diluc that Thoma wasn’t even aware of, but it fills him with joy and affection to see it now. This, much like all the warm little looks and every kiss and touch they share, no matter how brief, feels like he is getting to witness something special. Something just for him. ]

I’m glad you’re here, then, because I’m not much good with birds myself. She’s really taken a shine to you.

Need I remind you that she wanted nothing to do with me until you showed up and helped soften the atmosphere? This is because of both of us.

[Don't sell yourself so short, Thoma!]

Perhaps I'll see if I can bring Vennessa here via the wishing well. [He pauses, then looks away and adds quickly.] And before you say anything about her name--I was thirteen when I first got her, and it seemed suitably... appropriate and inspiring, at the time.

[Yes, he's embarrassed. Even the owlet catches on, giving him a soft hoot as a measure to try and make him feel better.]

[ He's not the short one here Diluc! ]

Okay, okay. Maybe I helped a little.

[ He did arrive kind of early in Diluc's attempts to coax the owlet down, so who knows! Maybe he could have been successful on his own anyway. ]

Vanessa? [ The hawk, he realizes a second later, and he can't help but smile, resting a reassuring hand on Diluc's arm. The other man in embarrassed because of course he is, but Thoma finds the notion terribly sweet, a perfect name coming from an young boy who wanted nothing more than to live up to the legacy of his family. ] You don't need to explain yourself to me, Diluc. As if any Mondstadter would have done differently.

[Wow okay. :| ]

It's a bit childish...

[But he doesn't protest too much beyond that. Thoma isn't judging the name, so there's no need to belabor the point. They have more important things to do.

Careful not to jostle the baby owl on his arm, Diluc gets to his feet.]

I suppose we should get the owlet to its mother before we run into any additional danger.

[ Thoma thinks it's cute, but he won't bring it up, either. Diluc is a much, much different person from when he was thirteen years old, and something so blatantly idealistic probably stings him a little now.

So, he simply moves along with Diluc, giving a nod of agreement. ]

Good plan. The less we're out here, the better.

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Owl Rescue

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