flamekthunder: WEDDING VERSION (ϟ 277)
Eustace ([personal profile] flamekthunder) wrote in [community profile] songerein2022-12-03 03:01 pm

fourteenth shot ⊗ wedding day

Who: Eustace, Tifa, and anyone who wishes to join the wedding reception! RECEPTION IS OPEN INVITE so anyone can join in the log even if the characters don't know them!
Which: Open log
Where: Along a long stretch of the riverbank
What: It's Eustace's and Tifa's wedding and while their ceremony was private, they've invited anyone who wants some free food, drinks, and dancing to join in and have fun! For a visual reference of how things, we have an image board you can use.
Warnings: The gumdrops are lurking—


On a sunny, early afternoon of the 3rd, the ceremony takes place in a private setting at the Corgi Tree where Trahearne awaits to officiate. But by the time late afternoon hits and everyone from the ceremony and other guests arrive at the reception located at the Riverside, the area will have been completely transformed.

While there are no leaves left on the trees, they are decorated with hundreds of little glowing blue and red starflowers, and from the branches hang lanterns that flicker with firelight that give off enough warmth that it can melt away the cold beneath them. Those familiar with Tifa may recognize it as her own dreamotion magic fueling them, as well as the smaller lanterns at the center of each table. Seating is abundant at the long tables decorated in silk, and blankets are provided for people to take to keep warm if the fiery logs scattered about are not enough. Large flowery tree decorations stand tall on every table as the centerpiece, as well as plenty of flowers, courtesy of Oriphi and Isabela's Madrigal Blooms.

However, in spite of the comfortable heat that lingers, snowflakes fall from the sky and the treetops, and while they may be cool to the touch, they will melt away before they can touch the ground. Should one look up, not only will they see the snowflakes sparkling in the light, but there is a ceiling of stars that twinkle alongside them, speckled through the air and spreading outwards in all directions from wherever Tifa is.

To kick off the dancing will be the couple first, with a performance by Phantom. Everyone in attendance will be given a sparkler, and as the song reaches its climax, not only will the sparklers burst with light, but the snowflakes will shimmer a little brighter, and the hundreds of stars will erupt into thousands that spread through the Riverside and across the dance floor. Arcs of lightning and wisps of flame ripple through the crowds, some of them forming shapes in the air to paint pictures of a small rabbit and a wolf leaping between the glittering specks of light.

The rest of the night is dedicated to a good time, with the band playing a variety of different kinds of music to dance to. Alongside them will be more performances, including a song on the violin from Dohalim.

While the ceremony will be small and reserved for friends, the reception will be free to whomever would like to join or is just passing through. Seating is abundant, as is the food, so join in the festivities! Drink, dance, and celebrate! Be sure to grab the small bags of rose candy treats from the Flower Dogs.

Leave well wishes or words of advice for the couple on the GUESTBOOK (and if you have a gift, be sure to leave it there, too) before you leave! (Compiled version can be viewed here)




I. FOOD


The menu for the evening includes:

🌟 A variety of soups and stews, both meats and vegetables alike.
🌟 Freshly baked breads for dipping or to enjoy with jams, jellies, or butter.
🌟 An assortment of various meat dishes provided by Eustace and helped prepared by 76: chicken, duck, pheasant, beef, pork, deer.
🌟 Featuring a large wild boar hunted and prepared by Eustace in three different ways: braised, spicy chili barbecued, and roasted.
🌟 Stuffed potatoes, cooked greens, roasted fish.
🌟 Winter-themed desserts such as mini cakes, cookies, mousse, pies.
🌟 Special drinks courtesy of Diluc and Oriphi: S'mores coffee liqueur cocktail, Starry Night cocktail, mulled wine

Besides the delicious food that has been provided courtesy of Soldier:76, the game hunted by Eustace, a three-tiered cake baked by Sanji, as well as cocktails from At Day's End, there will of course be other treats and drinks for people to enjoy throughout the night.

S'mores stations will be set up, and people are free to use the fire pits that have been set up all around for warmth for toasting marshmallows that will change color depending on one's emotions. There is also a coffee, hot chocolate, and eggnog station set up next to it for all. Be careful, some of it might leave people feeling a little giddy after a cup or two. But don't worry, they're alcohol free, unless you'd like them not to be.

Because of the huge amount of food, there are takeout boxes available for anyone to use to take home! Please, take it. Take it.




II. ACTIVITIES


Besides dancing and general mingling, there are plenty of other things for those in attendance to enjoy at the riverside.

Thanks to the surge in dreamotion, bubbles will occasionally float from the river. If one is lucky enough to catch a glimpse into them, they will see a reflection of a happy memory, or even a hope or a wish for the future.

On the other side of the dance floor is a small photo station with a photographer who will happily take people's photos with his dreamotion camera. Preserve some memories with friends and loved ones!

Eustace has frozen over part of the river, so slip on some skates (provided) and enjoy a night of ice skating under the stars! There is plenty of snow to go around as well, so might as well make the most of it. Sculpt snowmen, snow animals, whatever your heart desires. And who knows, with enough dreamotion, that small snow rabbit or dog might come to life and prance around. Of course, it will cause no havoc, but they sure are cute. The corgis will also be around to pull around dog sleds for anyone who would like to go for a ride along the river. A perfect opportunity to practice for those sledding races.

For those looking for a quieter getaway from the festivities, there are some flowery and candlelit paths that lead down along the river should anyone need a break, as well as into the trees for someplace secretive and quiet. Anyone for a moonlight tryst, perhaps? But watch out for the singing fish. At least the white and pink gumdrops will have had a feast so they will be mostly behaving (but should they catch anyone they think might be particularly delicious, they won't hesitate–yes, this is a threat and they will not hesitate to join in on the festivities), but there are still sprigs of mistletoe for those who may want a little less "excitement"...




III. TRADITIONS


A. Flower Wreaths & Crowns. On every table beneath the flower decoration stand there is a basket of various winter flowers with a small note of instructions included inside (click the text).

"From the remote, distant snow covered islands of North Vast.

Due to the harsh climate, flowers are a rarity and the ones that manage to bloom and survive are treasured. Thus for my people, flowers are not seen as delicate but strong and persevering, providing color in an otherwise white world. They've become a symbol for the women who have had to help build and support their families.

For the wedding, the bride will gather flowers to give to all the women of the village so that they can create their own crowns and veils and join in celebration. Men can also create a token to give to their loved one, romantic or familial.

Throughout the festivities, women will take a flower and weave it into a special veil that the bride will wear once the festivities are over as a symbol of their support for her new journey ahead.

Feel free to participate or take them home for your own purposes.
Eustace."

Over by the table where Eustace and Tifa will be sitting will be a small table with the initial veil standing on display. Anyone with a flower is free to weave one in. Otherwise, as the note mentions, anyone is free to make their own flower crowns or other flower creations. There are plenty of flowers to go around (and can be readily restocked).

B. Catch a Shooting Star. Set aside is a small table with a series of glass jars of varying sizes. In front is a small card with Tifa's neat handwriting explaining what they are for (click the text):

"From Nibelheim.

At sunset, the children would be sent out to the grassy fields just outside of town to collect fireflies to bring back to the happy couple. It was never a contest, but we would always turn it into one to see who could catch the most in their jar. Emilio was quick so he usually won, but I came close once! My village was small, so there weren't a lot of chances for it anyway. Once the sun was gone, we would turn off all the town's lights and the couple would make a wish beneath the stars and set the fireflies free.

The wishes could be for good fortune or prosperity, or it could be a prayer to wish their loved ones well. We believed that, because they looked like the stars over Nibelheim, they were good luck, and could carry their wishes back to the Planet on their backs.

Unfortunately, it's a little too cold for fireflies to come out for that now, but I've taken my own twist on it. If you look up to the stars above your heads, they look a lot like fireflies, don't they? If you can spot a shooting star, catch it in one of these jars.

And, instead of giving them to me and Eustace, we'd love for you to hold onto the ones you do catch. Make a wish on them and if you want to release it with the hope that the wish will come true, then you can. Or you can keep them and hold onto that wish until the right time. The star will stay alive for as long as that wish you imbue into it does...

So whatever you do with it, hold that wish close to your heart.

- Tifa"

The stars she speaks of continue to twinkle well into the night, and while the shooting stars are fleeting, they are bountiful. They are quick, however, and sometimes, they may wind up stuck in treetops and will need help getting out, or they may land in someone's drink. As Tifa explained, should anyone catch one or several (however many they would like), they may free the stars so that the Planet may grant their wish, or hold onto that wish and bring the jar of stars home. If nothing else, they would make beautiful lights or decorations!

C. Paopu Fruit. On another table is a large bowl filled with star shaped fruits and a large pile of napkins (once you have a taste, you will see why there are so many.) There is a card for one to read in writing that is neither Tifa's nor Eustace's with a short explanation of what this is:

"Paopu fruits:

If two people share one fruit at the same time, their destinies become intertwined. They'll remain a part of each other's lives no matter what."

Inside the bowl are pieces of the Paopu fruit. While there weren't enough to offer whole ones for every guest, there are more than enough smaller pieces for anyone who would like to try this with their loved ones or even their friends. Destinies are not limited to significant others, after all, and should one wish to remember one another when this dream ends, that is all the reason they should need, yes?

According to Sora, the fruit should be bitten into at the same time, and they are very sweet and sour, "like a pineapple and a pear if they were fused together and made a baby." Hopefully there are enough napkins provided, as it might get a little messy!




IV. FLOATING LANTERNS


Towards the end of the night, a call is made out for everyone to gather by the banks of the river. There, tables lined with blank star and moon shaped paper lanterns can be found and everyone is instructed to feel free to decorate them with the provided flowers. There are also blank sheets of paper where everyone is encouraged to write down a wish, a hope, or dream and then insert into the small envelope already attached to the lantern. Once enough time for everyone to finish has passed, there is a final call for everyone to use their dreamotion to light them up and toss them up into the air so that they can fly high into the night sky, Eustace and Tifa releasing theirs first followed by the wedding party to lead the way. Don't worry, if anyone is unable to use their dreamotion, someone can assist.

But there's just one last "show" to cap everything off. After releasing their lanterns, Eustace will step back and raise his gun, Flamek, high into the air, small snowflakes and warm ripples of blueish white electric energy gathering around him. His voice, though quiet and low, is crystal clear as he recites the incantation.

"Flamek Thunder. Your hour is nigh. Take my heart and paint the skies. Heaven's Starfall!"

With each passing word, the wind around him billows, the distant boom of thunder rippling overhead along with flashes of light. It feels as if a storm is gathering, and yet rather than ominous it feels warmer, almost freeing. The blueish white electricity spins around Eustace as Flamek's barrel splits and opens, taking on a slightly different form as it gathers the energy around it. Pale red flames now join the electricity, and on the final word, Flamek releases it all, a blue and red beam of light blasting straight upward into the skies.

At first nothing seems to happen, but then the skies seem to ripple and shift before the once black sky is filled with wavy curtains of color, blues, whites, and reds shimmering like the northern lights found in colder climates. As the lanterns fly up higher, carried by a sudden gust of wind, they pass through the curtain, their lights flickering like stars against the colorful canvas.And slowly, gently, white starflower petals rain down like snow.


[ooc: THEY'RE MARRIED YAAAAY!! Feel free to make any toplevels and treat this like any other party mingle log. For anyone who'd like to make toasts or speeches, please include them in your toplevels!]
pactmarshal: (missed opportunities)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2022-12-19 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Trahearne dips his head in gratitude as he reaches for a couple of crackers. Well, at least the food was good way to get him warmed up to this conversation. And it keeps his mind from his thoughts.

Though the loneliness that comes as an inevitable side effect to his title is muddled through the faint glimmer of pride he feels at the same time. Inheritance? If only that had been the greatest of his worries. ]


The first of my kind. [ He corrects with a wry smile, studying Hans briefly before continuing. ] Ensuring our survival and securing the respect and acknowledgement of those who came long before us is a burden I would wish on no other. I don't blame you.

Perhaps I'm simply unlucky. [ He'd believe it. He bites into the cracker with a loud crunch. ]
sleightofhans: (this is)

[personal profile] sleightofhans 2022-12-20 07:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh, that's certainly more than your standard inheritance of a kingdom. That's a weight that he can't even begin to imagine, nor does he want to. Sure, having power over others is nice, but holding that much responsibility? That's a hard pass from him. Hans continues to take on a surprised and curious look, although it's laced with sympathy as well.

He raises a hand to his chest and offers a small smile.]


That's... quite an endeavor that's placed on your shoulders. I hope that you don't have to completely endure it alone, but ah, I'm speaking about things that I don't know at all. I may sound entirely ignorant.
pactmarshal: (worry)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2022-12-21 10:05 am (UTC)(link)
[ There's good reason Trahearne is so protective of his people, and having to watch his siblings fall victim to experiments and all sorts of abuse inspired such fear and stress in him. He's glad their efforts did eventually pay off, but getting there was not easy. And there are still some others who don't seem content with simply hurling abuse at them.

All these thoughts roam through his mind as he finishes off the cracker, and meets Hans's smile with a little one of his own. ]


No, it's all right. I was not alone. There were twelve of us in the beginning, and the burden was shared. We survived.

[ There's a little sigh as he reaches for a grape. ]

I'm sorry, I don't want to bore you. [ He misses his people fiercely. ] Tell me about your home.
sleightofhans: (yo loser)

[personal profile] sleightofhans 2022-12-21 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm afraid my story's far less interesting than yours, but I don't mind talking about it. The Southern Isles is a rather small kingdom, being that it's relatively new, and our land isn't the prettiest or most prosperous. Still, there's some pride to be had, although I'm the 13th son of my father, so it's very unlikely that I'll ever be the king there.

[Maybe if he tries real hard ie murder all of his brothers, it's possible. But that would be pretty suspicious and not go very well, especially after everything that's happened in Arendelle.]

Quite honestly, my brothers and I don't get along quite well. I doubt we'd be able to properly share such a burden. I believe some of them would be too enthralled with their own glory.
pactmarshal: (a good pose)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2022-12-22 02:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah. [ Trahearne breathes a little sigh at that. Inheritance and bloodlines and royalty is such a complicated web of understanding and nuance that, in theory is interesting, but in practice is a headache. Humans may think the sylvari family is weird, but it is much easier than all of that. ]

To be honest, I can't say I envy you either. Human politics is something with which I never hope to entangle myself.

[ He's lucky his dawn bloom siblings are more inclined to that.

He takes another grape. ]


What hopes do you have as thirteenth son?
sleightofhans: (that's fine)

[personal profile] sleightofhans 2022-12-22 05:44 pm (UTC)(link)
They can certainly be difficult to navigate through. Merciless at times as well.

[A wry sort of smile soon spreads across Hans that may be a little difficult to fully discern. For so long, he's wanted a kingdom of his own and he's almost succeeded, only to lose at the last possible moment. Who knows what sort of future actually lies for him back home, evading execution will be luck in itself. But if so, what can he do? Try once again for the throne or flee to some land and live out life as he wants?]

I'm still figuring that out myself. My mind tends to consider one option before going to another, then it switches back.
pactmarshal: (darkness spreads through all the land)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2022-12-23 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ How he says "merciless" doesn't escape Trahearne, but he makes no verbal mention of it for now. For a moment, he contemplates in silence, enjoying the grape.

And when he's done chewing, bright yellow eyes turn to Hans again. ]


I'd say careful consideration of one's options is a good quality to have, especially with both a title and comparatively more freedom.

[ He reaches for another piece of cheese. Is he eating now because he's still hungry, or because he needs something to do with himself? ]

I hope you find what you're looking for.
sleightofhans: (take my hand)

[personal profile] sleightofhans 2022-12-23 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm just glad to have the time at all.

[Maybe he'll figure it out before he 'wakes up,' although, who knows how much he'll actually remember back home? It could be a waste, but Hans isn't going to let that thought stop him. Seems quite pointless.]

How about yourself? I know your situation back home is very difficult, but how are you finding yourself in this dream? Such responsibilities aren't on your shoulders as you live here.
pactmarshal: (worry)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2022-12-24 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ At the question, Trahearne's gaze drops. His responsibilities a firstborn don't even begin to touch on the difficulties he'd faced at home, on the terrible set of circumstances that brought him here. The gnawing feeling that had plagued him before Hans came makes a return, threatening to tear apart his composure and drag him back down again.

Trahearne turns to look at Hans with small, forced smile. ]


You're right. They're not.

[ He isn't sure if it's a relief or not.

He turns his attention back to the crowd. ]


This dream is...more than I could ask for, in many ways. Life here is peaceful, and I'm growing to love it and its people.

[ Idly, he picks out familiar faces in the crowd. He would do anything to protect these people. ]
sleightofhans: (maybe)

[personal profile] sleightofhans 2023-01-03 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's easy to discern the drop in mood that's coming from the other plant man. He'd wager and say that whatever's been on his mind before plagues him once again. Well, with such large responsibilities placed on his shoulders, Hans can only imagine that it's not so easy to simply forget about them or brush them aside.]

It's what you can only hope for back home. [He offers him a slight smile, still trying to play the role of someone that's easy to be around.]

It's a bittersweet feeling, isn't it?
pactmarshal: (bring on the orrians)

hello im back...

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2023-01-12 02:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ "Back home"? Instinctively, Trahearne's eyes dart downward to the plate of food, as though trying to protect himself from the uglier truths. He is wholly relieved of his burdens now. All of it--as marshal, as firstborn--he will never have to concern himself with those matters again. Yet he refrains from saying anything, knowing it is a truth not easily shared.

Bittersweet is putting it lightly.

He forces a smile as he looks up again. One day, all of these people will be gone. And he will still be here. All his efforts will have been for nothing. ]


It is.

[ He falls quiet again, watching the people dance and celebrate. ]
sleightofhans: (yo loser)

hello :>

[personal profile] sleightofhans 2023-01-13 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[He can almost feel the doom and gloom emitting from Trahearne once more. Seems like his usual attempts of being as charming as possible isn't working, not on the sullen plant man. That's just how it is sometimes, you talk to a plant that's burdened by a the weight of his people, and he can't think about anything else.

Hans offers him an apologetic smile.]


I'm sorry, my comments aren't quite helping, are they? I'm glad that you've eaten the food I brought though, it makes me feel like I'm not wholly bothering you.