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

Entry tags:

[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

[There is a Kazuma who will come across Ryunosuke while he's admiring the wall. He had a handful of garden snakes in his arms and probably looked intimidating with them all. Closer inspection and one could see the snakes were all wearing some variation of a scarf or sweaters. Even with them, they were still trying to find any source of warmth they could find, like human bodies.

Ryunosuke might discover a few slithering around his feet as a matter of fact upon Kazuma's arrival. The mutterings of Ryunosuke Naruhodo isn't difficult to miss, as he looks to the wall.]

Are you planning to disappear anytime soon? [He has a moment, where the joke sounded funnier in his head, but when he actually says it, doesn't quite have the same feeling. He shakes his head. ] I wouldn't think too deeply about it. Frankly, I haven't decided what's better, keeping or removing your name from the wall. [He's back now, so remembering him seem counterintuitive?]

[Ryunosuke looks over at him with mild surprise as Kazuma approaches, having to take a moment to process the sight of one man carrying that many snakes in one go before he can get his brain together to actually reply.]

Remove it, surely...!? [He sounds sort of mock offended that Kazuma would suggest otherwise.] I've no plans of going anywhere any time soon, and this place is meant for those who... Well. Those who were once here and have since disappeared, right...?

[It's a bit grim, and the words feel heavy once they leave his lips. He tries to soften the impact, adding coyly:]

...But if you disagree, perhaps we can have your little entourage there vote on what to do with it instead.

[A few snakes look in Ryunosuke's direction when he refers to them. Kazuma hums quietly as he walks in front of the wall proper.]

You are indeed here, with us now. [He starts to detach the star-shaped stone with Ryunosuke's name from the wall. A few snakes now moving onto the wall.] Don't feel guilty. We all have to return to our homes someday. [Says the guy who hasn't been home for several years.]

Well... Yes, I suppose that's true. I just feel a bit bad that I don't remember any of it...

[He can't help but sound a bit troubled about it. There's something about the inevitability with which Kazuma speaks of it... Ryunosuke hasn't really given much thought to it before now, but...]

I do hope you're not planning on going anywhere any time soon. After all, I've only just gotten here.

[He's grinning, and his tone is teasing, but uh... It's Ryunosuke, so, it's impossible for him to completely hide the real worry he feels.]

[Ryunosuke is an open book, so he does pick up on that worry. And he'll end up answering his worries.]

Well...it has been some time since I've been home. [He straightens up once he's taken Ryunosuke's name off the wall.] I may forget what it was like at this rate. [He wouldn't, but he is starting to wonder if he should start considering going back. There still much he had left to do. He was still on that ridiculous mission he had placed on himself.]

Right... [He's looking at Kazuma with a more naked sense of concern now, his head cocked slightly with curiosity.] You've been gone least... Two years, or so I hear...? I can see why you'd be ready to head back, after that long... Though I was under the impression that people leaving here wasn't exactly a choice so much as something that just... Happens.

[He's eyeing Yujin Mikotoba's name on the wall as he speaks, though by the end of that thought he has turned his attention towards one of the little snakes stuck slithering about on the ground. He crouches then, holding out a hand to it to see if it will board.]

[He actually had to think about that for a moment.] I did return once, but in the four years I was not home, it may as well have been just a blink.

[He sets a few snakes into the nearby foliage. A few are now watching Ryunosuke curiously.] It was like that in the other world. You couldn't return home all the time. I'm not sure about this one. [Mostly because he hasn't really made the effort to try.] I do understand our lives back home continue as if nothing had ever occurred in this one. Some here have returned from such trips to confirm this.

[It was four years? How is the gap between them even wider than he realized...?

Humming thoughtfully, Ryunosuke holds a hand out to those snakes as well, letting them flick their little tongues at him to get his scent. The first snake has let itself onto his arm, and is now eyeballing his jacket sleeve hopefully. He hasn't realized this, though. Yet.]

Right... I think those little tapir fellows mentioned something like that when I first arrived here, too. Which is a relief, I'll admit...

[Seeing as he's supposed to be back in Japan, helping reform the legal system and all.

Ryunosuke straightens up again, giving Kazuma a smile that's warm, but... A bit sad, too.]

It would be hard to believe it, if you didn't look like you've been away for that long. From my perspective, the day before I woke up here was the day we'd just said our farewells at the docks in Dover. But, you... It seems like you've been through quite a lot since then.

You were on your way home, to bring change to our legal system back home. Or so I was told. [That bright smile on his face really said it all. Despite not having experienced it all yet, he's proud to know how far his friend has gotten since that day he was defending himself in trial.

He watches the snake circle around Ryunosuke. Perhaps they sense how Kazuma cares for him that they seem more willing to approach. His words noting how he appears to have gone through much lingers in his thoughts for a moment.]

Has Susato been telling you other things?

[Since it's just the two of them out here, and no one else is around to judge, he kind of can't help but blush and smile sheepishly at the look of pride Kazuma gives him.

He hesitates before answering the question, though. Not because he's afraid to give it to Kazuma straight... He just wants to make sure he isn't giving the wrong idea.]

...'Other things', yes. Everything she knows? No. I mean... You know Susato-san...

[She would never betray someone's trust. And she respects and cares for Kazuma too much to go around freely spilling whatever information he may be keeping close to the chest.]

She did tell me a bit about the world you were in before, though. The Land of Stories, or something like that... Right?

[He greatly appreciates Susato to respect his privacy. Until it becomes a matter of his own safety.]

Yes, a world where stories come to life, ruled by the Storyteller. [He approaches a nearby bench, gesturing to Ryunosuke to join him. The snakes will follow on their own.] Imagine your favorite Japanese folktales coming to life. [Don't they all involved terrible things?]

[Ryunosuke follows readily, taking a seat where indicated. If Kazuma's ready to talk a bit more about this, well... He's more than ready to listen.]

Right... Folk tales, fairy tales... And more recent novels as well, from what Susato-san told me. [He pauses.] She didn't say much about the Storyteller, but I can't say I got a particularly positive impression of the fellow.

Well, they never showed themselves to us for one thing. We only ever received our next mission through writing. [He crosses his arms, clearly not having a great impression of the Storyteller either.]

But we all followed along anyway, as the Story Eater's threat was very clear. Then again...the Story Eater could have just been the Storyteller's creation. [A shrug] Even here, we're still cleaning up their mess.

[His brow furrows. Kazuma and Susato had both mentioned the Story Eater when Ryunosuke had first run into them here, so the fact that it's still a threat isn't a surprise to him exactly. Something else is bugging him, though...]

Hold on. They put you through all of that, and then didn't even have the guts to show their face to the lot of you?

[Don't mind a snake or two deciding to slink up onto Ryunosuke or Kazuma's lap. They may have little sweaters, but humans are still a great source of warmth.]

That was my problem. And I never had a chance to come close to knowing the truth. [He puts his hand over a snake slithering along, letting his fingers move along it's scales] The Storyteller was relatively good at staying hidden and keeping us busy, "repairing stories". Which...not all of them ended the way they were told.

[He's getting pretty used to the snakes by now, at least. Barely even notices them, except to marvel at the fact that they don't just accidentally wriggle right out of those sweaters every time...

Ryunosuke frowns, absentmindedly tickling one of the little snakes under the chin.]

Wait, what... What does that mean, exactly? You believe the Storyteller... fooled you, then? Or they were mislead with poor information...?

More like inconsiderate. [He leans back, crossing his arms. The snakes around Ryunosuke meanwhile have gotten comfortable with his presence. Seeing Kazuma relax around him helps.]

We saw the world slowly repair itself with each story we restore. It's just didn't matter how we finished them. So sometimes...unintentional incidents would occur during the restoration process.

[Just as the snakes are getting comfortable with Ryunosuke, he really seems to be getting used to them as well. He’s still rather curious where Kazuma picked up the penchant for attracting these little creatures, but the current topic of conversation feels too important to distract from.

And here, his frown deepens.]

Unintentional incidents… Such as…?

...Let's just say people would get hurt, scripted or not. [He'll let Ryunosuke work that out. One of the snake starts slipping off the bunch as Kazuma comes in to scroop them up.]

Not all things were pleasant in that world.

[That's... Incredibly vague, Kazuma, and he doesn't even know where to start with working anything out from it. But alright.]

No... It certainly didn't sound like it was, from what little I heard.

[He pauses, hesitating before starting to peel back the lid on a particular can of worms:]

I... Should probably tell you... Susato-san did recommend that I read a... A certain book.

[...Leave it to Susato to leave pieces of the puzzle for Ryunosuke to put together. Is he ready to throw in the towel? Absolutely not. He just focus on petting one of the snakes that has decided to curl up on his lap.]

And have you read it?

[Ryunosuke sighs internally. Of course he's going to be cagey about it...]

...I haven't. I had thought to go ahead and read it right away, but...

[But the moment he'd had it in his hands, he'd felt a sense of not only foreboding, but guilt. It felt dishonest in some way, to read it behind Kazuma's back. And so he'd decided...]

...I wanted to ask you first, if... If there was anything you wanted me to know, before I did.

[Or is he going to have to put the pieces together himself, and possibly come to the wrong conclusion?]

[...Was there anything to be said? He looks down at the snake resting on his lap.]

I think you've already learned how things aren't as they seem. So whatever comes out at the end, I trust your own judgment.

[Was that supposed to reassure him? Make him feel trusted? Because it really doesn't. Ryunosuke cocks his head slightly, observing his friend closely, trying and failing to get a read on him.]

Kazuma... I'll read this book if I must, but. Whatever you aren't saying... I'd rather hear it from you, than have to piece it together myself. I don't know what it is you've been through, but, I swear, I can shoulder it with you.

[Isn't that what partners are supposed to do?]

[He lets out a sigh. Of course that wouldn't fly with him. It feels like he's had this talk before, but with someone else. Still just as difficult to openly speak about it, even if it's between friends.]

. . .I simply did terrible things, because I wasn't strong enough to stop it. [Well, it was something, even if it still came off vague.]

[10] baby... kurisumasu daze 🎄

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Fin.