songerein | { something steamy }

Entry tags:

{ 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ go back to sleep and starve ]

I'd at least ensure you don't drown, if that's your concern.

[ So, yeah, sure, he won't let you die, Kaeya! But goodness, this man is a lot of trouble. Still, Albedo is a man of his word. With a sigh, he sets aside his towel and steps into the water, the heat stinging at the cool air that clings to his skin until he is fully submerged. ]

So, now we simply...sit here and appreciate the experience? Is it appropriate to converse?

[ This is...a bit strange, but the water does feel nice, especially against recently used and worn muscles. He's just not sure what they're supposed to do. ]

[ FUCKIN WOW remember this when he gives you your first mindblowing orgasm, you little shit ]

The bare minimum, hmm?

[ he may be a lot of trouble, but this is coming from the little spidermuncher. kaeya takes another long drink from his glass of wine as albedo finally slips into the water and settles. he breathes a long, luxurious sigh. ]

Yes, exactly. Have you never enjoyed a bathhouse, before? You certainly don't have to talk if you don't want to, but it's certainly welcome.

[ kaeya's never been to real hot springs, but he's enjoyed mondstadt's lakes and bathhouses with friends before, this isn't too different. it's even better than a bathhouse. his eye shifts languidly to settle on albedo's face. ]

[ Look, Albedo is just a different kind of trouble...the kind that involves dubious experiences (and spiders). But at least he's not going to fall asleep in water???

...Probably. This is rather relaxing, he must admit, though he still wishes he had a sketchpad on hand to draw. There could hardly be a better way to relax than that, were it not for the fact that paper and water hardly mix. ]

In that case, how're you settling in to Reverein so far? In some ways, I find it isn't too far removed from Teyvat.

[ And in others, it is exceptionally different. Still, it's been fascinating to venture into another world, even if this is merely their "dream". ]

[ he sure is a dubious little bastard. kaeya isn't going to forget those.. crunchy spider balls any time soon.

kaeya can't help but feel that he should offer albedo a drink, it's only polite, but he's quite sure he'll be met with a gentle rejection, so he doesn't bother. if albedo wants some wine, he'll ask for it, kaeya thinks. ]

You think so? I suppose you're not entirely wrong.

[ reverein and teyvat have a good amount in common, though this place feels far more joyous and peaceful than much of teyvat. even mondstadt seems livelier, but the city of freedom is a bustling place. reverein feels.. gentle, in comparison. ]

Strange, that an entirely new world would not be so different from what we're used to.

[ No wine just yet, but depending on how loosened up this hotspring makes him, well...maybe. He'll see how he feels soon enough, but he does reach for a piece of dragon fruit, eager to try something new and unusual, as ever. ]

It makes me wonder what surprises await the worlds the other Dreamwalkers come from. This one still has plenty to see and learn about, but I can't help but feel tantalized by the possibilities alone. It's well worth daydreaming about, at the very least.

[ Maybe, as time allows, he could ask some Dreamwalkers to paint with their worlds with their words, so he could in turn paint with his brush. If he can't go there himself, that would be the next best thing. To make them come to life on the canvas. ]

It seems our skills as Knights of Favonius won't go to waste here.

[ the dragonfruit is.. soundly fine! as someone who has eaten it before, i can tell you that it's incredibly, disappointingly bland in taste, given how interesting and flashy the fruit itself looks, but it's.. crunchy? and refreshing? and also magically enhanced to make you feel incredibly relaxed, which is the best part. it pairs decently with his chilled wine. ]

I suppose they won't. Barely here a day, and already we're hunting down the local pests.

[ boring work, not his favored sort of work at all, but kaeya thinks, somehow, that his usual clandestine approaches won't get him too far in a place like this. there's no secret intelligence to gather, no spies from foreign countries to trace, only a calm, comfortable stillness.

he likes it, even if it makes him feel itchy. ]

You're a curious thing, aren't you? Well, I've no doubt that you'll have your pick of the litter, so far as interesting stories go. There's no shortage of strange people to talk to. Did you meet the plant man?

[ THE PLANT MAN, HE SAYS...but Albedo immediately guesses who Kaeya means, even if there could be multiple plant men here. There's only one he knows. ]

You mean Trahearne, yes? I did. He mentioned to me he maintains an archive about this world, so I've made it a top priority to stop by and spend some time there.

[ Unsurprisingly, they're both a pair of nerds, so they hit it off quite well. Thoughtfully, Albedo pops the piece of dragon fruit in his mouth. It's perfectly fine, perhaps not as sweet as he would like, but there's something relaxing in the art of eating it.

Or in the fruit itself. Either way, he sinks further into the water. ]

[ YOU KNOW, THE PLANT MAN!! ]

Yes, him! He was something else, wasn't he?

[ like a dendro slime given humanoid form. and he was very kind, too! kinder than kaeya deserves.

his head tilts toward albedo, an easy smile stretching his mouth. ]

Getting comfortable? Something tells me you're not very skilled in the fine art of doing nothing.

Your intuition is as keen as ever, though I suspect my frequent absence from staff meetings might make that rather obvious.

[ His smile comes easier now, too. Whether it's the fruit or the water itself, the fact that he's loosening up more than usual doesn't go unnoticed by him. A voice in the back of his mind nags at him to go find something to do, but it's far easier to drown out now that he's submerged up to his neck.

Though a moment later he does lift his hands to his hair, pulling lose his braids and his half-ponytail so he can instead pull all of his hair back at once. It's cold as fuck, he doesn't want to catch a cold after getting out of the water because his hair got wet. ]

My master fostered a sense of curiosity in me that isn't easily sated. Even my art is done in the pursuit of leading to even greater discoveries.

Well, I could chalk that up to the fact that you're up on that frozen hellscape of a mountain more often than not, hmm?

[ but even putting that aside, it's clear that albedo is always busy, always moving, always working. despite appearances, kaeya can.. understand that. the desire to keep oneself busy, and moving, though he prefers it for reasons vastly different from albedo's, he surmises. kaeya doesn't work to discover new and beautiful things, he works because he must, because it is required of him, and because, when he is busy, he isn't thinking too much.

why, it's the same reason he drinks. but let's not think about that, right now. let's simply enjoy the water, and the wine. kaeya takes another sip. ]

I see. Well, in the same vein as art, perhaps you can search for the beauty in whiling the hours away with a friend. It's important to slow down, sometimes. You don't want to miss the world flying past you.

[ thanks ferris bueller

That's an approach that Albedo hasn't considered, however. Art first appealed to him because it helped him focus, to clear his mind and find the answers he was seeking, and it was only after trying it for that functional aspect that he came to realize how much he enjoys it just for the sake of the art itself. Even so, in the beginning it was calming.

Conversing with others...is often not that way for him. Polite as he is, he's never been one for small talk, the itch to think and do other things always pulling at him, yet the way Kaeya poses it...and he calls him a friend? That is unexpected, honestly, even with Kaeya's friendly reputation. ]

You're saying I should appreciate the smaller moments, too, yes? I've heard that before, admittedly. [ From the likes of Lisa and Xingqiu. ] I should take your counsel into consideration. I've been told I'm something of a workaholic.

[ He's probably as bad as Jean, it's just less obvious. ]

[ did u know i've never seen that movie.. i don't get the reference..

anyway, albedo takes his suggestion to heart far more than kaeya would have expected, which is.. nice! his brows lift, and he surveys albedo's profile for a few quiet moments. ]

I can believe that.

[ kaeya may not know albedo very well, but he's certainly heard plenty about him, stored away little bits and fragments of rumor and gossip. he has intelligence on every one of the knights, and half of mondstadt, to boot - though looking into albedo had yielded mysteriously little. his past is frustratingly obscured, a sentiment kaeya can understand, however much his curiosity may burn. ]

But that's exactly what I'm saying, yes. Hard work is all well and good, but there's far more to life than that. You don't want to miss all the good little in-between moments.

[ oh my god ]

By the same token, the next greatest discovery may yet lie just around the corner. Pushing a little further, reaching a bit higher, you never know what your ambitions may yield. I suppose I find few things as satisfying.

[ Which is why he is the way that he is. Sure, he habitually keeps busy, it's a principle that Rhinedottir instilled in him from a young age, that "knowledge never sleeps". But it's not from habit alone. He really love what he does. ]

Some might call that "passion".

[ That sounds better than being a workaholic!! Yeah. ]

[ at that, kaeya barks a warm, easy laugh. ]

You're a clever little thing, aren't you?

[ but of course he is. he wouldn't be their chief alchemist were he anything short of a genius. even still, that was well played. kaeya takes another long swig, draining his glass before he finally settles his arms into the water. ]

There's nothing wrong with finding satisfaction in your work, but you're the one who is so keen on discovery, aren't you? Being still and soaking up the world around you is an art in and of itself; you can learn quite a bit about yourself when you're alone with your thoughts.

[ not that kaeya ever likes to be alone with his thoughts. he prefers to be alone with another person to occupy his mind. ]

Though if it truly pains you that much to spend some quality time with me, you can just say so.

[ Yeah, being alone with his thoughts - when they aren't about discovery or research or any kind of alchemy - is gonna be a hard pass from him. ]

Hmm...if I thought it painful, I wouldn't be here.

[ That's just plainly obvious as far as Albedo is concerned. If Diluc shows up and the two of them started bickering again, it might be a different story, but he's quite skilled in the art of excusing himself from social situations he doesn't want to be in. Yet here he is, indulging in Kaeya's company, simply because he wants to.

He's an intriguing man, and makes Albedo ponder questions he likely wouldn't arrive at on his own. ]

Anything is worth trying at least once. As you said, for the sake of discovery. That is...human nature, is it not?

[ what do you mean thinking your own thoughts is great 8) ]

That's the spirit.

[ anything is worth trying at least once, indeed. kaeya adopts a similar sentiment. it's why he ate your nasty spider balls. kaeya closes his eye, and rests his head back against a smooth portion of stone, feeling the heat of the water sink deep into his bones. ]

As for human nature.. I could be pedantic and say that anything anyone does is human nature, but you're right. Curiosity, discovery.. we can't help but chase these things, I suppose.

[ Ah, but this an interesting point of debate, one which Albedo is eager to sink his teeth into once Kaeya draws attention to it. It still counts as relaxing even if they have a little battle of wits, isn't it?

He'll find it awfully relaxing, anyway, to use his brain a little while they repose. ]

Anything could be human nature, hm? Yet what about when people do things we would consider unnatural? Or when they cause general harm, even to the perpetrator? Is it human nature to harm others? Not to mention ideologies that are diametrically opposed, such as pacifism versus conquest, meat-eaters versus vegetarians...how do we decide what is human nature in that case?

[ Sorry, Kaeya, this is just a fascinating subject for him. Even if he is human, there is still something he feels he is lacking, in understanding the spirit that defines personhood. ]

[ ah yes, of course albedo latches onto this like a dog on a bone, but kaeya is happy to oblige. might as well fill the air with chatter while they relax, hmm? ]

I would argue that all of it is human nature. 'Unnatural' is just a word people use to try to control others, and bend them to compliance with society. Nothing is unnatural. If it were unnatural, it wouldn't exist.

[ he takes his glass up again, swirling the wine thoughtfully before taking another drink. ]

As for whether or not it's human nature to harm others - I would say yes, it is. Now, I'm not trying to sound pessimistic, I think that most people are trying their best to be good, but there will always statistically be outliers, won't there? Probability dictates that mutations will always occur, in all natural life.

[ two bros chillin in a hottub, waxing philosophically, not five feet apart because they're sure gay ]

[ What's better than this, just guys bein' dudes... ]

An interesting premise...so you mean to say that no matter how a human may behave, anything they do is human nature simply because they are human.

[ Is it truly that simple? Even though it's mostly a fun(??) philosophical exercise, this is something that Albedo has reflected upon...quite a lot in his life, especially since arriving in Mondstadt. It wasn't until then that he truly realized just how unlike other humans he was, but does he even qualify as a human himself? Are his tendencies human nature, too?

Perhaps at his age it isn't something he should concern himself with anymore, but it is yet another question he has never found a satisfactory answer for. ]

Is it merely culture, then, that decides what is and isn't acceptable for a person to do? There's no inherent bad or good, as there's nothing inherently natural or unnatural?

[ rly makes u think ]

[ JUST GUYS BEIN' DUDES.. ]

That is exactly what I am saying, yes. How can anything at all be anything beyond its own nature? Not only humans, but anything that lives.

[ there might always be strange people scattered in with the norm, but the same is true of all natural life. some clovers grow four leaves, instead of three. some owls are born with alternative feathers. even genetically identical trees, if grown apart, will develop differently. changes, strangeness, mutations - these are all naturally occurring things in all living beings, not only humans, or other sentient life.

even in fabricated life. though kaeya knows nothing of albedo's background, yet. ]

Mm, well, whether or not there is "bad" or "good" is a separate topic, I think.. I'm only arguing that "badness" is just as natural as "goodness." Someone born "evil" isn't unnatural. How can they be? How can anything in the world possibly be unnatural? Nothing unnatural can exist, for everything is a product of nature.

[ he laughs, light and airy. ]

Not a conversation I was expecting to have while relaxing in a hot spring.

[ Nothing unnatural can exist, for everything is a product of nature...

Those words give Albedo quite a bit to chew on, and a moment passes in reflective thought before he realizes Kaeya has said something else. ]

Hm? Oh, my apologies. You came here to relax, and yet here I am, encouraging philosophical debate. Perhaps not the most restful of discussions.

[ Maybe he got a little carried away, and yet, it seems a shame to let the subject change when they've hit on something so close to home. Still, he isn't going to nudge things back on topic. That would be selfish, and Kaeya came here to relax, not entertain Albedo. ]

On second thought, perhaps I'll try a glass of wine now.

[ That will help even him relax, and maybe for once he can accept letting himself do so, provided he focuses up again tomorrow. ]

Oh no, I'm not complaining.

[ he chuckles, soft and easy, his expression lending credence to his words. he doesn't mind expounding on this topic, it certainly isn't affecting his mood, he just finds it.. funny, that's all. not the sort of thing you'd expect to be talking about at a time like this. ]

By all means, philosophize away.

[ he waves one hand dismissively before, with that same hand, he produces a lovely, delicate glass made of ice, into which he pours a generous amount of wine. he passes it to albedo. ]

Trying to work on the art of relaxation?

[ Cryo sure comes in handy when it comes to beverages, isn't it? No wonder Kaeya enjoys drinking so much... :)

Albedo takes the glass as Kaeya passes it to him, the cold of the stem biting somewhat as his warm skin, but it passes quickly enough, and he lifts the glass to take a reserved sip. ]

Hmm...yes, I suppose so. I'm not one to often drink, but you've managed to talk me into twice now.

[ Though "talk him into it" might be a bit generous. Really, it's strangely difficult to say no to Kaeya. Perhaps even someone like Albedo isn't immune to his natural charisma, and his company gives him someone to study unlike many he has kept as company before.

Which is a rather short list, but that's beside the point. ]

So, if nothing is unnatural, what of manmade constructs? Let's say...ruin guards, and the like.

[ That seems like nice neutral territory to approach rather than using...himself as an example. ]

[ cryo sure is handy!! you can make stuff out of it! like elsa! you can't make stuff out of stupid pyro, get fucked diluc. ]

So I have. I'm proud to be participating in the corruption of our dear Chief Alchemist.

[ a rolling purr of a laugh, as kaeya drinks from his own glass. he's beginning to feel comfortably tipsy, at this point. juuuust a little. just enough. ]

But you've said it yourself, the answer is right there - manmade. Made by the hands of a living creature. Would you call a bird's nest unnatural? It's a structure composed of unliving materials, constructed by something with living intelligence. I don't see why a ruin guard should be any different. Because it's made to move and act on its own?

[ resting his head back against the stone, kaeya raises his gaze languidly skyward. ]

Now, if you start getting into constructs building constructs building constructs, then things may start to get a little hazy, but.. I still stand by my claim that nothing can possibly be unnatural.

[ Though Albedo can't entirely agree, Kaeya's argument is sound and well thought-out; perhaps more than he would have expected, all told. Kaeya isn't exactly a slouch at work, so to speak, but he has a reputation for trying to get away with doing as little as possible. Albedo simply hadn't expected someone like that to be so, well...thoughtful.

But appearances can certainly be deceiving. He knows that better than most.

He could explain himself now, but somehow...he doesn't want to. It's not that he is ashamed of his origins or wishes to conceal them, but it seems out of place to bring them up right now, even if it's relevant. Like it would shift the tone of things too much, and tamper their debate.

Another sip of his wine as he flits through these thoughts, more generous this time. ]

I see...how interesting. This has admittedly long been a subject of interest to me, as an alchemist. I'm often left to wonder whether the things I create via alchemical transmutation are natural, when they are reformed from the parts of other naturally occurring things. By your logic, I would assume you would say yes, correct?

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