songerein | { something steamy }

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{ something steamy }

SOMETHING STEAMY

This log is open to everyone and doubles as a "Character Intro" for new characters who were just accepted this round. As a reminder, new characters are welcome to carry over their TDM threads backdated to the last week of October (25-31) so that they're not really "new" if players wish to do so! Starting fresh is also acceptable.

I. REVEREIN HOTPOT

With the temperatures cooling down, some locals have decided to throw a huge hotpot party along the riverbank for no real reason other than to try and cook up some good food and meet new faces. While participating restaurants and farmers are happy to provide some surplus ingredients, others are welcome to bring their own. There are plenty of grills and pots to go around, but with so many people and…unique ingredients coming in, there's bound to be a little chaos. (Thanks to Mich for the idea!)

A. Hunt for the "Legendary" Ingredient. To spice things up, a challenge has been posted before the day of the party for those who want to add some unique flavor to the meal.

Golden Truffles. There are special truffles found deep in the swamps hidden within the Wildlands that are said to taste so divine that just a small bite would make one feel as if they are floating to heaven. No it's not poisonous!! While not exactly rare in number, they are notoriously hard to find and require special pigs to sniff and dig them out. Some truffle hunters have agreed to let anyone daring to look for the truffles to borrow said pigs for the hunt. However, they can be ornery and will only cooperate if you sing a happy song to them. The swamps themselves can be filled with some mild dangers, but the pigs should guide you. Probably.
Mandragora Leaves. There is a marked field where the mandragora have taken residence. They will give up their leaves if asked nicely, but if too rough or without showing respect, they will scream and attack instead. Even then you have to take care in clipping the leaves.
Rainbow Speckled Eggs. Some wild hens that live out in the Wildlands lay rainbow speckled eggs at this time of year and they are huge! Can't miss them. They are duds and won't hatch, so they are perfect for eating. The hens themselves won't mind them taken, but the roosters that guard them are a different story. Get past them and collect the egg!

B. Food Thieves. Attracted by the delicious smell and it being time to start gathering for the winter, a few critters and even some small fae try to sneak in and snatch a few pieces for themselves. Squirrels and chipmunks in particular like to swipe any chestnuts some people are trying to roast, and the birds are diving in for any free morsel. There are a few ways to handle this, from chasing them off to trying to create a designated "food try" for the animals to take to avoid them bothering everyone else.

C. Communal Pot Surprise. While there are smaller, individual pots available for more private use, there is a larger pot that suspiciously looks like a cauldron set near the center where anyone can dump in whatever ingredient they desire—even inedible items—and produce questionable yet somehow edible results. Here are some various effects that occur:

Anything green: Chances of turning into a frog—25%. The remaining chance is just having one's hair turn green.
Sour fruit: Everything will taste like lemons for ten minutes. No amount of sugar will help until it wears off.
Candy: Everything will taste super sweet for ten minutes and 50% chance of getting a sugar rush.
Alcohol: TIME TO SING A RAUNCHY SONG WITH GREAT FERVOR but think of the children or don't.
Inedible Objects: Why would anyone throw a shoe or sock in there—the soup will turn black and empty itself so now everyone has to start over.

This is not an exhaustive list or this prompt would go on forever—so feel free to come up with other effects with whatever item your character tosses in!

D. General Mingling. There are plenty of tables and places to sit, so grab some ingredients, find a spot, and start cooking! Just remember to share and greet everyone around! Be mindful of the pots and grills as well as they can be sensitive to emotions. Get too animated and the water or fire might shoot up in temperature. But dreamotion could also help enrich flavors, so everyone is encouraged to play around. There will also be a few spicy and garnish noodle dragons flying around to help season things. Just make sure they don't get too overzealous.

II. DRAGON ISLAND

The Hot Air Balloon Station set just outside some open fields beyond town are bustling with activity as the Dragon Island (name pending) has finally opened its borders and allow outside visitors to come in and visit the island. Its main attraction of course is the hot springs resort, "Draken Springs," where everyone has received a one time free voucher to test its amenities. There are other places guests can visit near the hot springs, and by helping the nearby towns and villages, favorability will increase as well as earn extra vouchers for the hot springs. For more details on the island in general, refer to the Mod Notes.

A. Dragon Riders. There's already a task written up on the Dream Board from farmers requesting help for harvest, but there is another request to help deal with some aggressive animals that have scared off some livestock and then corral the ones that have gotten loose. The beasts are a tough, armored, armadillo-like bear whose hide is resistant to dragon flame and can be tough to fight. Dreamotion works better to strengthen physical and magical attacks. The young adolescents are giving non-dragons the privilege of riding on their backs to fly around to help first find and deal with the bears, and then herd the livestock back to their respective farms and ranches.

B. Dragon Nursery. One of the neighboring villages is taking care of many of the new hatchlings that were recovered from the previous "raid" on Reverein. Despite a month passing, some dragons are still trying to figure out who the parents are, and there is a strong suspicion that some of the eggs were never originally from the island at all, leaving many orphaned. The dragons have a very strong communal instinct when it comes to raising their young, so some have been adopted but others are still waiting to be taken as arrangements are still being made. Thus in the meantime, help is requested to do one simple task: play and help feed the young hatchlings. They are basically toddlers so it might be quite the challenge for those unprepared, especially as their own magic is still wild and out of control. Calm dreamotion will help as well as using opposing elements to help balance the magic.

C. Hot Springs: Testing the Waters. Everyone has a chance to grab a towel and test both the indoor and outdoor public springs. For more private rooms, they will need to pay up as the voucher only covers the public springs. But they will still be provided with complimentary drinks, snacks, towels, and use of the showers to clean up before and after using the springs. As for whether it's mixed, separated, covered, or bare it all…well hopefully visitors are able to decipher the signs. There are also the saunas, just be mindful of how hot it can get.

D. Hot Springs: Special Snacks. There are some unique foods that the town and resort offers for anyone to try that can be only found on the island.

Dragon's breath peppers are hot, but these won't kill anyone (the dragons are too considerate for that). This particular species is safe to consume but as the name implies, will give one fiery breath for a while. Anyone who had the kebabs from the festival might recall a similar effect.
A spiked fruit that suspiciously looks like durian has a notable stench that will carry for quite a ways, but anyone daring enough to get past it will find the fruit sweet and seeds edible once boiled and the skin peeled away. It even has a bit of a rejuvenating effect.
Dragon fruits are a nice palette cleanser especially with yogurt or ice cream. Anyone who eats it will be able to relax more easily.

E. Hot Springs: Recreation Room. There is a sizeable recreational room where any guest is free to relax and lounge in. They offer a small snack bar, some board and card games, yoga mats, billiards table, and a ping pong table. The ping pong table in particular is set a little ways from the rest as the competition can get a little heated—literally. They even had to erect magical barriers to prevent wildly charged balls from hitting others outside of the containment area.

F. Hot Springs: Peeping Toms. Even the hot springs on Dragon Island are vulnerable to unsavory characters. Although rare, there are some unwelcome guests who try to peep into the springs, and while there are security personnel and magic devices that try to catch them, some still manage to sneak in. Especially the monkeys. Descending from the higher peaks, most wild monkeys use the other pools outside of the resort for their own use, but some are attracted to the food and other amenities and make their way into the resort pools instead. Some of them are respectful and can make for great bathing company. But others are clearly not and need to be kicked out without remorse. So whether it's an uninvited or unruly guest, or a wild monkey, if caught in the act either report or feel free to handle it. Remember, even if thrown off the mountain, they will not fall to their doom, and in this case will be caught by the magic security devices.

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[When the creature finally drops and she can relax her grip, she lets out a single triumphant laugh- which of course he won't hear- and steps down, leaving the spear and the bear lying on the ground.]

Hah! Too easy.

[...Oh, and he'd been upset about the fire, right? Ugh, fine.

She turns and gestures with one hand, and the flames flare blue and die out in a slow wave along with the movement. Extinguishing fires is so much slower and more tedious than igniting them.]

[ He might be able to hear it, but he sure sees it. He also sees the way she waves a hand and the fire just disappears. Not all at once, mind you, but still. Is that magic? It's gotta be magic. ]

O...ouh! Auh?

[ "Are you okay?" He calls to get Azula's attention and then signs to her, since that question should be easy enough; you don't really need to know sign to see someone point at you and make the O.K. with a concerned look on their face to draw the right conclusion. ]

[By an odd coincidence, he did spend a lot of time on roofs and in high places, partly thanks to her influence, but-]

It hardly matters, he's clearly not here anymore.

[What?

Oh, she understands the idea, alright, it's the context that's a little odd to her, and not just because very few people have ever really bothered to ask her. She rolls her eyes and retrieves her journal, scribbling in it hastily.]

I'll live.

[Short, flippant, dismissive. His concern just made her mildly uncomfortable. After showing him the first message, she writes out a second.]

You fear fire.

Auh...

[ That...yeah. He wouldn't pretend he isn't, but still. He feels a little sheepish about it all the same and nods after he's read it, fidgeting with his hands. Summoning his journal gives them something to do, sparing a glance or two at the down-and-out bear. Just to make sure it's...y'know. Dead.

"Fire scary. I see fire home. Eats everything. Building. People." ]

[There's barely any time to react to what happening and before he knew it, a net had fallen over his head, taking him by surprise.]

The hell? How's this supposed to help, yo?

[He tries to remove the net from himself with little success as the monkey who was caught with him does the same, frantically pulling against the cords.

Eventually, the both make some progress but not in the way that they expect with Beat finding himself at the side of the monkey who had just been harassing moments before.]

...Nice monkey.

[He doesn't even turn to look back, still caught up in his current battle with the rodent. The chipmunk pulls and tugs before Beat finally stands, dangling the chipmunk from the piece of meat in his grasp.]

I ain't plannin' on eating it. I just gotta show it who's boss! And it ain't him.

[Well, he wasn't wrong. ]

That's smart.

[And yet inconvenient. The last thing she needs is a potential asset panicking wildly every time she uses her abilities.]

I can control my fire. I won't burn you.

[Well. Not accidentally, anyway, but so far he doesn't seem like enough of a threat to warrant it even if he got on her bad side.]

[ Even if he was a threat, the fire would be enough to panic him out of being one straightaway. Assurances or not, he still looks dubious as he reads the words scrawled out on the page in front of him. Unnamed fixes her with the most Uncertain of looks.

"Your magic fire?" Like during the summer, when they visited the beach and the volleyballs burst into harmless (if horrifying) flames? ]

[It's much more fun this way. Still, that's quite a thing to boast about.]

Ah. Is that all?

[His voice is dripping with sarcasm. As if he really does have a death wish.]

[Hm. Well, bending wasn't exactly like magic, but somehow, writing a clarification- particularly one that could be understood by somebody with no experience on the subject and limited literacy- seemed like a waste of time.]

Close enough.

[In fact, it occurs to her that there's a more practical metric here.]

If the fire is blue, I'm still in control of it. And I don't use fire carelessly.

[Her eyes narrow suspiciously at that. Was he toying with her? The finest military minds in the world would have found that impressive. Either he was a fool or he was deliberately evoking one.]

I admit, it lacks the sophistication and grandeur of belching fire in a stranger's face, but I'll just have to settle for second-best.

[ Boy oh boy is it a good thing he isn't colourblind--

"Okay."

He still doesn't look convinced, but now that he's no longer being charged by an armadillo bear--

"Thank-you Azula." Gotta remember those manners. Mama Shige raised him right!! ]

...Hm.

[He looks as if her as if he doesn't like the idea of them separating...but it can't be helped.]

A few doors, windows, and fences.

[Which sounds odd until one remembers they're dealing with baby dragons.]

I may help them with hunting as well.

[It does seem a little easy, doesn't it? Link's not about to question their luck -- perhaps the Goddess is watching after all. Perhaps they'll be rewarded after this quest by the best omelette ever. Maybe even--

... His Big Omelette Plans are derailed by the sound of that rooster crow. And then another. Two more. Three.

His heart seizes in his chest, gripped for a moment by some primeval fear, something deep, bestowed by generations of ancestors upon whom similar feathery devils reigned terror down on. Toge heroically cries out with his strange Speech, and the main rooster stops, but Link knows it's only a matter of time before they're beset.]

Run. [His voice is small at first. He's only got one hand free right now, but he uses it to draw his sword. Only then does his voice seem to find volume.] Run!

[He'll be a few steps behind.]

[... yeah it. it looks pretty bad. Especially once he--]

... Uh--

[...starts blowing water out of his nose... And Link thought HE was gross.

Cautiously he tilts his head a bit at the implied question. Him? Is he okay? He's not the one leaking. Still, after a moment, he slowly nods, giving a thumbs-up. The OK sign is pretty universal, it's true, but he figured he should reply with a confirmation.

Then, he slowly points at Unnamed. You okay bruh?]

Thank you.

[Whatever else he may be, Link is blessed with an excellent poker face. Maybe eventually she'll be able to discern whether his responses are accidental stupidity or deliberate, or perhaps a strange combination of both...but for now, he casually shrugs.]

Don't worry. Second best isn't so bad.

Edited 2022-11-21 21:48 (UTC)

[~~Guess who still doesn't know he's undead rather than just weird and sickly-looking~~

At least he's not an ingrate. And he's not being difficult about the fire thing.]

Your spear was useful. Good work.

[That was sort of nice-adjacent. Ish. Maybe. Look, it was positive acknowledgement.]

[Her voice dips in volume again, this time with a laugh and a bit of a crooked smile.]

One thing at a time. Don't wanna be too tired when we head to the resort.

[Of course, as soon as they get there, she has a feeling they'll both be equally reinvigorated with excitement, but fixer-uppers can be a lot of strenuous work, and there's still quite a bit of walking to do to get there!]

We can meet back in an hour? I'll go see what they need in the kitchens...

[As both Red and Blue trot up behind them with inquiring screeches.]

....!

[ NOPE THAT WAS PRAISE, 100%. HE SAW IT.

It might not have come with a headpat or a smile, but he knows "useful" and "good work"!!

He is...surprised? Pleasantly surprised.

"First spear you keep," he prints for her, tentative. He can't use a spear; it requires more coordination than he's got. But if she liked it enough to praise it...maybe giving it to her as a gift could be okay. ]

[Whew, sounds like he'll be able to eat properly after all. Not that he won't try to use the chopsticks, he just wants an allowable backup.]

Ah good...I'm afraid I may not even be able to pick some of them up, though I'll try my best either way. That being said...I'd love to share a little bit of Snezhnayan culture with you tonight.

[He grins, regarding the seafood. But he doesn't know the implications of that Zhongli...he doesn't know.]

Oh, and I had something I wanted to share with you as well! It happened during that whole dragon fiasco.

I guess you have a good point there. It wouldn't be so bad to befriend new people.

[Although, he was trailing off a bit. While the idea of making new friends is good, another part of him was a little worried.]

...I have to admit, it is a little odd when I'm not too use to it.

[A smirk as he twirls the paddle in the air before catch it to then spin it in his hand.]

Hey, if it gets me a point. [He stops goofing off and gets back into his stance.] And now we're tied.

[And her serve.

WHO WILL WIN THIS NEXT ROUND AND TAKE THE GAME...!?!?!?!?!?]

[OH GOD—okay he has less of a revolted response, though he does jerk back forward in surprise because he didn't actually expect himself to bump into her. Whoo boy. He should probably be a lot more flustered about this, but pros for being the type of daemon he is!?!? So he manages to keep more composure—

Until she shoves him.

Rude??

He almost slips and kind of flails a bit before he grabs onto the side of the wall.]

I'm just trying to give you the towels, I'm not even seeing anything I haven't al—

[Ah.

......]

...Anyway, just gonna be leaving the towels over here—

[AND QUICKLY WADING AWAY.]

Singing again, huh? Not sure if I know any other songs that it would like.

[Most of the songs he knows are, well. Similar or more of the drunk tavern type.]

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Page 51 of 108

{ something steamy }

CAN'T THINK WHAT YOU M E A N

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