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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Ryunosuke may still be trying to adjust to life in Reverein, but there's one thing that hasn't changed: he sure can sleep pretty damn late if left to his own devices!

Granted, he probably needed it, in this case. Something about being in an unfamiliar house in an unfamiliar world had made it difficult to find rest... It didn't matter that the house apparently (according to Kazuma) had once belonged to him; he doesn't recognize it at all, and that makes it strange. Hell, it'd made it worse, probably, prompting him to contemplate the existential horror of having existed in a world once but... Not remembering his time there. He'd tossed and turned restlessly about that, and he hadn't found rest until the sun was just about coming up. And, well... Without Susato's dedication to flipping him out of bed, he'd easily slept straight through 11 o'clock, after all that.

When he is finally up and about, he makes his way down to the Wild Harvest rather sheepishly, fully expecting to get a few sharp comments from Kazuma about his laziness. Yet, strangely... No one appears to be around. At least, not at first...

Noises of activity in the kitchen draw Ryunosuke's attention, so he makes his way back there, raising his voice to call ahead as he approaches the door:]

Kazuma? Susato-san...? Are you back there?

[76 was an early riser since he was a kid, life growing up on a farm and helping out did that. Time in the military further ingrained that and- well, life after had made him a light sleeper. Rest was something that he was just getting used to again in a way. Reason he at times crashed in the room attached to the Wild Harvest and garden that Kazuma had given him.

Always made sure someone knew when he wasn't making it to the shared hideout.

So? He'd gotten to work in the kitchen after his usual morning rounds and morning routine. Had gotten out to pick up a few things he saw they were running low on, that situated and- well. 76 was cooking up something on the stove, pausing at the voice as his hand moved and snapped his tactical visor into place at a voice he couldn't place right away-]

Can come on in here if you want, but I'm neither.

[Calmly, other hand setting down a spatula for the bacon he'd been frying with some potatoes.]

I work here, before you panic too much?

Oh!

[That is a surprise, to hear such an unfamiliar voice in response. But Susato, Kazuma and Gina... They had all mentioned that, hadn't they? That there were others working here. He'd already met Miss Tifa at the carnival, but all the rest of the gang remains perfectly mysterious to him. This is, at least, probably a good opportunity to try and correct that a bit.

Ryunosuke leans into view past the door frame, blinking curiously.]

S-sorry, I didn't meant to interrupt... Um. You wouldn't happen to know where Susato-san and Kazuma have gotten of to, would you?

[He's trying his best not to get distracted by the smell of bacon. It's real hard though 8/]

[He checked on the stove and the looks of what was in the pan- and turned the eye he'd been using off; it'd finish everything to a good crisp on the residual heat without burning, he was sure. Easier to talk that way as he got a look at who he was addressing finally.]

You're fine, kid. I was just making up a bit of food before it got the lunch hour and be busy.

[Better to have something in his stomach while helping make sure people would get served promptly, right?]

Figure they're either upstairs or have gone into town. If you didn't catch them on your... way down, or out in the garden, they've gone out- where exactly I can't tell you.

[A hand rested against the counter once he was clear of the stove area-]

I'm 76, by the way; and yes, the number.

[Ahhh. Figures. He wouldn't have expected them to wait up... Better they didn't, really, because he doesn't want to hold up whatever plans they've got going. He's not too concerned about it, anyway. Gives him some time to poke around and familiarize himself with the restaurant and the rest of town on his own.]

Ahahah... You get that question a lot then, I suppose? [Took the words right out of his mouth, that's for sure.] My name is Ryunosuke. Ryunosuke Naruhodo. I, er... Well I just arrived here recently, I suppose is the way to put it...

[He is continuously self-conscious of the fact that he WAS already here, apparently. Who knows how many people are around who knew him from back then, whom he simply doesn't remember now? It's a little daunting to think about.]

Well, most people give out a name rather than a number. Right?

[There was a sort of humor carried in 76's tone even as he said it, fingers drumming lightly on the counter there where he stood. He'd heard the name before, but this was the first time he had a face -and entire person- to put with it.

Still, a hand lifted and gesture for Ryunosuke to come on fully into the kitchen if he—]

Prefer I address you as Naruhodo or Ryuosuke? Whichever you're more comfortable with, I mean. [Feeling too personal or not was what he meant, of course.] Can take some getting used to, been here for over a year now myself. Also, guessing you're just coming down so...

Hungry?

[He does, indeed, shuffle into the kitchen properly, upon 76's gesturing. And he quietly bids his stomach to shut up and not let out a loud growl at the smell of bacon, which is why it's an IMMENSE relief to get that offer floated his way... Though Ryunosuke finds himself hedging his response purely out of habit, not wanting to inconvenience the man any.]

Oh! Um, well... I, I could eat, yes! But I wouldn't want to be a bother, so please... Don't trouble yourself too much...

[And as for the name question... He's not going to be too much of a stickler for etiquette here.]

And, ah, whichever you prefer... Ryunosuke is fine, but I'll respond to either.

[76 actually hummed, the sound of it containing some hidden huff of a chuckle as he then turned and grabbed two plates. Easy enough to divide the rather large amount of it in the skillet—]

I insist, better to eat something and have that fuel. Can even help get your head on better.

[—Large portions, because he knew his own appetite that was needed to fuel an enhanced body after so many years. Then, of course anyone young needed a good amount as well.

One plate was offered out fork there in place from habit.]

Ryunosuke it is then- and you might get a 'kid' on occasion, too. Here.

Hah. I'll take it; I've certainly been called worse things.

[It's... A joke but it's also true :'T He says it while he accepts the plate gladly, and don't judge him too much if it seems like his eyes are shining a little brighter at it. He really appreciates food. And bacon...! He really missed bacon.]

Thank you so much! This looks amazing... [Potatoes... 😭] Um, shall we grab a seat in the dining area together...?

[That should be fine, right? He hopes? Even if they're opening soon. He'll gladly help clean up.]

Same.

[Said with something of a low chuckle, but there was still that bit of a warm smile there. Early riser and at least it was enough to shake off aches and feel a bit more human by now.

Nothing could beat bacon and potatoes most mornings.]

Yeah, sure. Better than standing around the kitchen and having to hold the plates while eating.

[Easy enough to balance his own plate and fork in one hand, pushing open the kitchen door wide enough for them both, and a little head motion-]

Quiet right now, so we can eat in peace.

[Ryunosuke nods and follows his lead out.

Once they're both seated and comfortable, he picks up one of those pieces of bacon to eat... But he doesn't take a bite just yet, posing a question to his unexpected dining companion first:]

Um... Have you been here in Reverein for very long then? Um... [He pauses with a slight frown.] ...S-sorry, I was about to say 'Mr.' 76; do you go by that at all, or is it just '76'?

[DUMB QUESTION but he feels obligated to check, especially since a similar courtesy was just extended to him.]

[76 was collection bacon and crisped up potatoes onto his fork, making sure he was going to get a very good first bite- glancing up as his head tipped.]

I've been here for a little over a year now, was amongst the first group that did arrive here. [The place really had filled up and come a long way from how empty and run down it looked then.]

Just 76 is fine. Some folks call me old man, or gramps. [And a rare few knew his name, two of which were Susato and Kazuma. Ryunosuke would probably get there eventually if one of them didn't speak it first.] I can understand it's a bit odd, or awkward, to just use a number.

It's alright.

Hah! Well, I would never deign to be so disrespectful as to call you that sort of thing, least of all since we only just met...!

[He's grinning about it at least. Trying not to take everything too seriously.]

Over a year though, huh? Have you been working with Kazuma that whole time, then? He hasn't actually told me much about the origins of this place...

[And now he takes a proper bite while he waits for an answer. And it's good!!! Dang, he loves bacon and potatoes, this dish is an all around win in his book.]

I've been called worse. [That chuckle was in his voice and- yeah, that little joke tapped right back in a little.

It was fine.

Took that bite off his own fork with a slow chew, pausing for a moment as he lifted a hand to sort of draw up a shadow and reach through, pulling back out a steaming mug of fresh coffee. Shadow let loose as he took a drink to wash down that bite of bacon and potato. Forgot his coffee in the kitchen, thank goodness for that shadow dreamotion of his.]

I worked with him for a while in the world we were both in before this one- cooked then, too. [There was a bit of a history there between Kazuma and 76, and most things he would leave for Kazuma to tell if her ever wanted.] When Susato brought up the idea of him running another pub here, sometime after she arrived, I let him know I'd support and help out.

[He does boggle a fair amount over the shadow trick. He's still not used to dreamotion stuff, and it never fails to take him by surprise whenever he catches someone using it.

Follow up questions on that topic are forgotten, though. Much more intriguing is the information that 76 had been present in that mysterious other world along with Kazuma. And while 76 may have no intention of getting too deep in the weeds on the subject, Ryunosuke can be... Notoriously nosy, let's say? His eyes light up, and he leans forward a bit over the table, suddenly intense.]

W-wait, so you were also there in the Realm of Stories!? Is there any chance you could tell me a bit more about it? What it was like there, I mean?

I was, yeah. Also where that blue dragon you might catch glimpses of is from- I raised her from an egg.

[He knew Kazuma's own dragon was around here now as well, and the two got along pretty well; good thing Blue learned she couldn't just slip inside of buildings as she pleased after him quickly, too.

He was collecting another forkful of potatoes and bacon as he spoke—]

This place feels familiar, but outside of us known as Aspects it was- well. Beings from stories, myths, and legends. Living in a patchwork town, bit and pieces from various story worlds. I spent most of my time in the forests, outside of that town, when not working. [A faint hum-] We often were sent to books that needed repair, and were made to blend in to try and not disrupt anything.

It was... interesting, to say the least.

I see...

[Kind of hard to miss a dragon, though every time he gets a glimpse of one Ryunosuke mostly just kind of boggles at them in awe before they disappear again. They must be different than the ones native to this world, then, he supposes...?]

I'll admit... It's a little hard to imagine a story needing 'repair', or how carrying that out would even work.

[He's sort of just imagining a bunch of little people with ladders clambering up giant books and stitching pages back into the binding, which... Doesn't actually fit what 76 mentioned at all.]

Was it dangerous? Or did that sort of depend on the story?

It was a pretty out there thing to grasp at first, and even harder to when just... hearing about it?

[So really, he completely understood. The bizarreness of that place sort of helped prepare him for this one, even if it was more dreams than strictly fairy-tales and the like. They sort of worked similarly in some ideas.

He gestured a little with his fork as he spoke, before going to collect up another amount of bacon and potatoes.]

It depended on the story, and some of them included death simply because of the nature of some stories. There was always the danger of... breaking character, as it was, and causing the story to shatter more. Breaking the world of that story, and causing all that existed within it to be lost.

[Well that's... Existentially horrifying to contemplate.]

That... That sounds awful.

[Harrowing, frankly.]

I can't imagine Kazuma would be one to back down from a challenge simply because it was dangerous, but... Were you all at least given some degree of choice in participating? Or...

[A slow nod-]

Some people there were just kids, and others just- it's a difficult concept to grasp for most. Hell, the abilities we were given there were from characters that clung to us so as not to be completely lost. [Fingers tapped the table, lightly-] We were called Aspects because of it.

Claimed by a character, and given power through them, so both could survive in the realm of stories. Anchored in a way.

[His brow furrowed briefly, re-calling something as he nodded again.]

Most were given a choice, and some simply got swept in by chance -Accident- rather than chose to answer a call to help.

[76 could remember a distress call he answered, after all. Strangely placed as it was, made it hard to forget.]

'Aspects'...

[Ryunosuke absentmindedly wobbles his fork between his fingers, thinking back to the conversation he'd had at the hot springs]

...Susato-san mentioned something to me about that, though I'm not sure I fully grasp how it worked. I mean. Is it like... Like you have an extra voice in your head, or something like that?

Depended on the character- but their quirks, personality, whatever could influence us to some degree with that in mind. More so when we grew more skilled, more powerful, in using the abilities granted by it.

[There was a low noise in his throat-] Mine caused me to have a deep fondness for witches, or those that held the Essence of a Witch, as a small example.

[Which honestly helped in some places and were not all that great in others. Also something he was never bringing up to a certain someone; he held memories of some other places after all. Didn't matter.]

[That clearly gives Ryunosuke some pause. He cocks his head slightly, leveling a confused frown at 76.]

Wh... Hold on. Sorry. A fondness for... Witches?

[You... You wanna explain that means exactly, buddy?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

{ something steamy }

Closed to Soldier 76; backdated to the start of Nov.

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December ended up coming for my throat, sorry! _(:з)∠)_

No worries AT ALL, like. same tbh lmao

Now's just the recovery from That being on the slow side ffffffffff

ALSO relatable, tbh

_(:з)∠)_ the mood

Re: _(:з)∠)_ the mood