songerein | [10] baby... kurisumasu daze 🎄

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[10] baby... kurisumasu daze 🎄

Who: Anyone!
Which: Open mingle log
Where: The Wild Harvest in the Residential District.
What: The holidays are here! This is a place where dreamwalkers can retreat during the month of December (and beyond) for a quiet, festive experience away from the crowds.
Warnings: None?/TBD (Gumdrops are in season.)

The Wild Harvest has been open almost a year now, welcoming patrons from all walks of life with unique dishes every month inspired by both Eastern and Western Earth culture—sometimes beyond. This month, the coming holidays have made the atmosphere homey and warm, simmering with excitement around every corner; and while it is never overwhelming, it is clear to anyone who observes that Christmas is here.

I. Deck the Halls

a.) Along with usual vines of yellow, brightly lit moon-shaped fruit strewn about, there are ornaments with holes in them hung around the restaurant and garden. Some have been decorated by staff; others have small critters taking residence inside for a quick snooze, from young snakes to noodle dragons. Try not to disturb them too much if they're asleep!

Aside from the small critters, the mistletoe gumdrops are also back in season. They are still a menace, and these creatures also fit inside these ornaments: red, white, and pink alike, so be careful! What you might find may not be so harmless.

b.) A small station has been set up for those who wish to decorate their own ornaments to take home or hang in the restaurant. There is a variety of material including paint, flowers, markers, crayons, and glitter along with colorful paper where patrons can draw, write a message, a Christmas wish—anything they want! If they are able to flag down Susato, they can even learn how to fold origami (her specialty is cranes). There is popcorn for making garlands (or for eating), as well as colorful tinsel that can be looped around the Christmas tree or around banisters and door frames to add to the festive atmosphere.

Patrons are also invited to craft their own Christmas star and personalize it however they wish with all the decorations, bells, and whistles.

The staff will do their best to keep the area tidy, but make sure to clean up after yourselves where you can! (Susato would appreciate it...)

» BONUS: Reach for the Stars! Patrons will be encouraged to enter their star in a special contest as part of the Harvest's special quest to find the perfect star. The patron whose star has the most votes will have the honour of placing it atop the Harvest's Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. Entries can be submitted with a picture or short description here. Please vote for your favorites with a +1 comment! (Think Flower Fest/King & Queen.)

c.) While the search for the perfect star is ongoing, patrons may notice the top of their Christmas tree remain notably bare throughout the month. Most of the time, this will be true, but take another glimpse during a quiet moment when it isn't too crowded, and you may catch the rare sight of something pink in its place.

Meet the newest cat addition to the Wild Harvest family. She doesn't have a name yet, but she has wings, and evidently is not afraid to use them. She looks pretty comfortable, with her weight tilting the top of the tree as she sleeps. She's not a star, but who's going to be the one to tell her?

Not any of the staff, apparently. Or maybe they just haven't noticed...?

II. The Garden

Maybe you're already tired of Christmas, and you just want a quiet meal away from the holiday buzz. Walk out into the attached garden to enjoy your food and you'll find a variety of things to see aside from what's going into your food. There are certainly enough critters walking and crawling around that one might get the sense they're being watched.

There are signs that say something like: Be Mindful of Snakes.

a.) Rows of crops and various ingredients can be seen growing. Yellows and reds from various peppers and fruits burst into color against a sea of green and call for your attention. Wait long enough and you may see a garden snake or two lurking in the foliage. Some may even be brave enough to come out and greet you, with a few of the bolder ones demanding pets. They're relatively friendly, as long as you're not up to anything mischievous. Otherwise they'll start hissing at you, or get the attention of the staff.

The soothing sound of a small waterfall also fills the air, flowing into a pond nearby. Lotus blossoms float above its surface, glowing faintly after dark; though whether they are from the plant or the lotus koi fish swimming about will not be immediately obvious. The fish and the snakes both can be fed by asking a staff member.

b.) Speaking of feeding—if you're sitting down to enjoy your meal, you may feel the gentle brush of a cat or two against your leg, begging for food. You may also be visited by a spice or garnish noodle dragon, looking to live up to their names and add a little something extra to your meal; or a curious axoturtle that may nip playfully at your long hair, if you have it. Or your hat—if you happen to be huddled up or lying down somewhere on a vacant bench, and have your head low enough.

Or maybe it's your blanket as it trails onto the floor, if you have neither of those. Honestly—

c.) "To those who have left Songerein, but are not forgotten." Between two ponds in the garden is a Remembrance wall. On this wall and amidst the grass and dirt at your feet, you'll notice several star-shaped stepping stones, each one adorned with the name of someone who has left the dream world. This was started by the staff, but in light of the holiday season, they have opened it up for anyone to write the name of someone they wish to honour upon a star, and hang it on the wall with the rest. (You can also etch the name onto the star using dreamotion.)

III. Sing your heart out!

Back inside the restaurant near the bar, a small stage has been set up with speakers and a microphone for the occasional live performance. Karaoke is also welcome, so feel free to take the floor (or bully someone onto it)! Sing whatever song or tune your heart can dream up.

Just be careful not to let the alcohol take you too far. Become too drunk and disorderly and you may find yourself sinking into the shadows and back outside before you know it, with no idea how you got there...... Hmmm. (Did this place have a bouncer the last time you checked?)

[ OOC: This is a mingle log to showcase all the various updates to the Harvest we've implemented over the past year. Feel free to top level, tag around, and/or wild card it up! Happy holidays ♡ ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

......

[ Susato freezes when she sees him. She's not scared of him, but a little surprised by the gesture. This seems sentimental for his tastes, and this place is fairly private, with no need to keep up appearances or create an image.

Hans may feel a pair of eyes on him. A snake may hiss lightly from her shoulder to give her away, but otherwise, she is waiting curiously to see the name he'll write. ]

[The sudden and unexpected hissing grabs his attention and the prince almost jolts from his spot, turning sharply to the noise. There's unhidden surprise on Hans's face, clearly caught off guard, but it slowly morphs into his usual easy smile that they both know to be fake. He's all about keeping appearances though, until neither of them wants that.

He wonders how long Susato wants him to maintain that polite facade.]

Susato, you should've said something. [His smile is still there, but his eyes turn just slightly sharper, as if knowing what she was doing.]

One would think that you were spying on me, although I'm sure it's nothing like that.

[ The snake at her shoulder today, Ryuko, is comically surprised by Hans' surprise, ducking herself behind Susato's neck and beneath her clothes. After a moment, she can feel Ryuko pop her head out on her other side, as if to check if Hans is still there.

Susato lifts a hand to her in comfort. ]

...My apologies. It was rude of me, but if you truly intend on adding a name, I admit that I am curious.

This area... It was my idea, after all.

Do you think there's anyone here that I'd sorely miss?

[Hans lets that question hang for a moment, but he doesn't confirm or deny anything yet. He folds his hands behind his back, his smile still there even as his voice dips slightly, as if expressing his condolences.]

Many of these names are unfamiliar to me, but I'm sorry for your loss. Yujin Mikotoba must've been very important to you.

[ Was that a rhetorical question...?

The way he was kneeling, the alternative would be that maybe he wanted to damage the place, but somehow, she doesn't feel he is that careless. Mention of the name is a sufficient enough of a distraction, and she can't help but glance at the star in question. She doesn't think about the fact that she'd been explicit in writing his name in Japanese, but she also doesn't doubt that there is magic afoot, translating her every word. ]

...My father.

[ It feels like she should say more, but anything else get caught in her throat. ]

[He slowly stands up upon hearing that, his expression slowly changing from that nearly blank smile to something that's a little more thoughtful. There's still an edge to the prince as he looks at her, but he finally decides to say something in response.]

A close relationship between a father and daughter, it's hard to see it separated. But at least you know that you'll see him once more, once you wake up. Your loss isn't forever.

[Unless he is actually dead in her world, which would make this entirely callous in his end. But what was the saying? To think optimistically about a situation? That's what he'll go for when offering some condolences to her.]

[ Luckily for Hans, he is entirely correct. Shockingly, perhaps, Susato's face even brightens, as if she'd forgotten until that moment. Her mouth opens to respond, but after a moment, she just dips her head, however begrudgingly, into a bow. She remains civil and polite where deserved, at least. ]

...Thank you. For the reminder.

[ She speaks with sincerity, though she'd rather not have to endure the prince feigning interest in such a matter. Her gaze wanders to the blank star stone, where he'd just been kneeling. ]

Have you experienced something similar?

[So, he's made a correct guess there, and it's for the best, really. Even Hans doesn't want to deal with an awkward conversation about dead dads and stuff. Still, the gratitude almost feels strange to him, knowing that she really doesn't have a positive opinion about him anymore.

It's fine, he'll deal. Consequences of his actions and all that.]

Not at all. I neither lost a close family member or friend; I suppose I'm very lucky in that regard.

[So why is Hans here.....]

[ Why, indeed...... Susato just stares at him with a neutral expression, somewhat expectantly. ]

Then why were you kneeling...?

You're very curious about me.

[What do you mean that he's delaying the inevitable? Or maybe he'll just forgo doing any of this and go on his merry way. Hans isn't sure if he wants people to know that he's the one responsible for writing Elsa's name on here.

Still, he maintains his smile, although his stare is solely focused on her right now.]

Are you assuming the worst?

[ Again, this is not the call out he wishes it was, though his stare does seem to bore holes straight through to her soul. She ignores the uneasiness rising from the pit of her stomach.

It's interesting that he thinks missing someone and wanting to honor them is worse than what she already knows, but she won't let the subject go that easily. ]

I won't let you avoid the question.

[She's sticking to it; he has to give credit where it's due. Course, it's pretty inconvenient for him, and he ponders once more if he should just leave, but he doesn't do so just yet. Maybe speaking the truth will be interesting in itself, not to mention it won't look like he's running away.]

Not letting me weasel my way out, are you? [Hans almost seems to accept his fate, although he'll do this as slowly as possible.]

Yes, I was considering writing a name. Which one? Maybe you can take a guess.

[ ...She could guess, but what does she really have to go on? Ferran. Tifa. Sitron. They're all still here. She looks thoughtful though, as if she might try, but short of making up names on the spot, she doesn't really feel like she can get it. He never mentioned anyone from his home ever being here... Why would he?

But maybe...? ]

...

[ The pause lasts a little longer. What was the name he mentioned again...? In that dream, that dreadful dream... ]

Anna? [ It doesn't make much sense, and perhaps her baffled tone would suggest as much, but it comes out before she can talk herself out of it. ]

......

[He didn't actually believe that Susato would get so close to picking the right name, he's pretty impressed, honestly. Of course, this means he probably has to talk about it now, but he's already been slowly leaning to that.]

Not Anna, but you're so close, that I might as well tell you. [...] Her sister.

[The one he tried to personally murder. Yep, that one.]

...!

[ The shock is visible on her face, but only for a moment before she quickly reels in it. Is the implication immediately obvious, or is she just as surprised as the prince that she managed to guess so close?

Maybe a little of both. ]

Her sister? The... The Queen? [ Putting aside murder for a moment, an entirely different queen comes to mind, and she finds herself wondering if someone like Queen Victoria could ever appear here. They're not talking about her, though. ]

......The Queen was here?

Yes, that's right, Queen Elsa.

[The ice queen herself, but she actually looked... happy? At least content with herself when he saw her. Far different from the Elsa he initially met, who was riddled with anxiety and stress. The Elsa here was far harder to manipulate.]

She appeared here around the same time as I did, which was rather surprising. I didn't quite expect to see her so soon after they sent me back home. Unfortunately, her presence in Songerein was short-lived.

[.....]

Oh, nothing that I did. She disappeared like anyone else.

[ Just like her father, Queen Elsa had woken up. It is nice that he clarified, because he worded that rather ominously, and Susato did not know what to think.

She kind of still doesn't. ]

I don't understand. Did... Did you two speak? [ There is a beat, before she adds: ] Did she remember?

Most certainly we did. I'd like to imagine that I'm a pretty hard person to forget, especially for her. [Guess he's pretty infamous in her eyes and in Arendelle, but such is the consequence of trying to commit regicide. He can accept that fact.]

And yes, she vividly remembered me trying to kill her.

[Hans talks about all this as if he's discussing something mundane and not about attempted murder. Maybe he should be more ashamed, but the thing is, he's not.] Would it surprise you, to know, that on our first meeting, she gave me a second chance?

[ Susato remains quiet, her reaction subdued and enigmatic, though she is normally quite the open book. It is not that she thought Elsa would forget such a thing, but what if she simply never had those memories to begin with?

.....

Clearly that's not the case, though. She allows the thought to pass as she listens to the prince without interruption. ]

...No.

[ She has never met the Queen. Maybe she never would... but somehow, her answer is sincere. Almost confident. She's not surprised. ]

Some things are unforgivable. Murder should be one of them. I... [ Her brow furrows. ] I don't know whether it is strength or weakness that we've decided that it is not. [ 'We' meaning... her and Elsa. ]

[He knows that Elsa and Susato have never met each other, but he finds it interesting that she relates to the queen by having a similar mindset as her. Hans finds himself smiling, a small laugh also escaping him because he really doesn't know what to say to this. Here he thought that she'd never forgive him either.]

Perhaps it'd be less forgivable if I actually succeeded. [Is attempted murder better?? Guess no one has technically died.]

When she first told me that, I pondered about how to use that second chance against her. Find a way to actually succeed, but such ideas seem quite pointless now. [Whether it's because Elsa is gone or something more, he doesn't elaborate.]

[ ...Of course. Of course he would...

She says nothing at first. There is the fact that Elsa is gone, and also... What would harming Elsa here accomplish? It would put him no closer to being king, and he has to know that. ]

The lies and deceit... Shattering people's trust...

Does it not wear on you?

[Ah, this question. Hans eyes Susato with a slightly curious look, although it soon turns into something almost unreadable. Maybe a little pitying? Self-defeating? Hard to say.]

Not really. But to be honest, Anna and Elsa have been the only people I betrayed on such a deep level.

[He can admit that his betrayal was pretty bad, but he knows that he'd not regret it if he actually succeeded. If he was the king of Arendelle right now, he'd consider everything to be a stepping step for his ascension.]

With all this said, it's quite sad that many people would not know of her presence here, wouldn't you agree?

[ "Not really." And yet the look he gives is undeniably a tired one. At least, that is how Susato chooses to interpret it for now. Somehow, it is a small comfort to know that the queen and her sister were the only ones, though she doesn't really let it show.

She merely casts a glance at the star that would have held Elsa's name by now, had she not interrupted. ]

Yes... I would've liked to meet her.

[ A pause. Maybe it's not really her place to honor her, but Susato did have a hand in making this place what it is. She quietly bends down in a decisive manner, and the tip of her pointer finger ignites with a small flame.

She brings it down on the stone and starts to etch the name, getting as far as: 'Queen Elsa of'... Now, what was it again? ]

[He watches Susato with a slight smile as she begins to write the ice queen's name on the star. He doesn't feel at all surprised that she's taking it upon herself to etch the name of a stranger on here, that's the type of person she is.

As such, he offers his help with slight amusement.]

Arendelle.

[Maybe it's best that someone else writes Elsa's name on this star and not the person that tried to personally kill her. He imagines that Anna would be much happier with this turn of events. Hans is willing to give her that at least.]

[ Arendelle. There's an expectant pause as Susato watches him smile--is he making fun of her???--but she finishes engraving the stone. She takes a glance to see that the letters are centered to the best of her ability and then stands, satisfied.

The flame disappears, leaving only light smoke from her finger in its wake. ]

There...

Perhaps now she'll return to give you a third chance. [ Eh, it worked for Ryunosuke. Even if it took several months. ]

[10] baby... kurisumasu daze 🎄

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