you and me in the moonlight

[crosslaced]

Who: You!
What: A year end party MINGLELOG to help everyone recover from the Shit we’ve been through.
When: Forwarddated to Nov 24
Where: Enso E4, close to the ST Temple
Warnings: Mark as necessary, but none expected.

As the end of November draws near…… it’s time for that player plot the mods hinted at in their latest announcement.

Laurent’s Witch Labyrinth! -no, actually, it’s just a party.

[preparation]

All day on the 24th people are hard at work setting up on the golden beaches of Enso. The Storyteller’s Temple can be seen from the site and vice versa; it’s just a short walk away. There’s quite a bit to be done, so every extra pair of hands are welcome!

[the party]

As evening falls, a series of torches light up the party site for the lost; most prominent are the three large campfires spaced out across the beach, offering a variety of gathering spots for those who don’t like the loud partying going on at the other one.

There’s more than enough food to go around. An entire Cariborn is being dug up from the sandy soil way up the beach, having been roasted in the ground. There’s a wide variety spread out on tables… of handwaved origin… maybe they’re the ones left around from 4/20?? It’s probably fine. Herb- baked vegetables, fresh fruits, meat of various types, pizza!! and yes, Muffet’s Magic Blackberry Alcohol abound.

We’ve also got party favors. Amongst them, it seems like..... owo are these sparklers?

Come hang out! It’s a well-deserved break.

[activities]

The children (and adults so-inclined) have some cute party games to have fun with. There’s a simple little ringtoss area set up, with rings that aren’t even proper circles (listen, Laurent tried) and wooden stakes in the ground to be ringed.

Across the wide stretch of sand there's a lot that can be done- want to build some sandcastles? Pick some shells? Fight some crabs? The beach is dotted with doodles in the sand, inviting you to join in.

The biggest attraction is perhaps the petting zoo- well, it’s a cluster of animals just hanging out, but you get the idea. Located far up on the beach and away from the danger of the waves, the petting zoo has three whole Chocobos, two whole Tigerlilies (one of which is clearly guarding the Chocobos), and one whole horse. Sometimes two horses, but the grey wandering one is wearing a plaque that says “I BITE. PET ME CAREFULLY.”

[storyteller?]

Yes, ST-chan is invited! I’m leaving it to them to top-level or tag out at their leisure. Keep an eye out for the bunny god, they’re Coming.

Comments

[catpiper]

[Look, she's never gonna give up hope that the Chocobo is a distant relative to the raven, especially when the creature bawks at her in return. They're having a grown up discussion here Kravitz-leave them alone.

But the more he talks, the more she remembers how they look. The little popcorn eating birds outside his fake home with Taako, the wood carving he's speaking of now-they are way different than these giant birds.

It deters her for one second, maybe two seconds, as she looks over to Kravitz and then the Chocobo for one final bawk off. Good bird. Best bird. It's even close enough to touch and she lightly pats the top of its beak.]

I told this thing to look for them anyway, so it will. That's what it said.

[It's not!! At all!! But she sounds confident, so let's pretend. Party reality is different than normal reality.]

Are ravens your favorite animal? Do they make you happy?

[deathfindsaway]

[He's just not going to engage with whatever the hell Ren thinks she's doing in this case. Talking to birds? Alright. Sure. He doesn't expect to see a raven here considering the climate regardless, and it would likely just depress him by not being one of his. But all that is neither here nor there, so fuck it.]

Well, I suppose they are. I don't especially have a preference for many animals. Though I do enjoy cats.

[A little smile to her, for her obvious choice there.]

They're very smart, though. They can remember people who have been kind and cruel, and learn to do tricks. Plus, you know, mine could speak, so.

[He looks pretty smug about that.]

[catpiper]

[That's right he enjoys cats. Because he's a smart man that understands their value. The smile that lights up her face is instantaneous-way to worm your way into her heart.

And then he goes on, talking like a proud avian father. She's never met birds quite like that. Never seen some that can talk in a human language. That sounds incredible and that tidbit of information will help her narrow down the ravens in the future. She'll just have to talk to them-no problem. 'Are you Kravtiz's friend?' 'caw caw yes'-she can see it now.

But guess what? It's not gonna end here. She's got some qs for him. ]

What kind of tricks? Did they sleep in a nest?

[A pause]

Did you sleep in a nest with them?

[deathfindsaway]

[He knows the Ren Buzzwords to get her going. One of them is cats. Actually, most of them are cats. But maybe he can show her the value of the majestic bird, too. Birds are great.]

No, I-- no I don't do that. And not all birds sleep in nests. That's for the comfort of babies or eggs, if they have them. Birds can sleep anywhere, much like cats can. Most of the time they simply sleep on a perch.

[He keeps a few in his room, though. Even though he largely doesn't need to rest or sleep at all, sometimes it helps to pass the time.]

To be fair, though, I did not sleep much before my arrival here. Plus my ravens were magical, not organic. So they didn't do things like lay eggs.

[catpiper]

[The word magical sets off the plan that had been slowly forming in her terrible little mind. She almost tosses the pizza to the ground, until she realizes that would get dirt and sand on it, which someone around here is against. If he wasn't making direct eye contact with her, that's where it would have gone. Way to ruin her life Uncle Kravitz thanks.

She sets her bag down first, places the pizza on top of one of the flaps and digs through one of the pockets until-tada! The wand that gave her the illustrious and amazing Egg makes its grand appearance. The cat's out playing with ESP, so maybe they can shake out a few birds while nothing else is inside. She really doesn't understand this thing at all, but Animal. So that's fine. It's good.]

Here, here!

[And nyoom, there she goes, pressing the wand against his hands, if he hasn't tried to get out of the way of this incoming Ren missile.]

You can wish for your magic birds and they might come out.

[deathfindsaway]

[Oh look, she's learning. He doesn't even register this as an improvement for a bit, because he figures floor is a step up from pockets and that would be her threshold even before he said something. He'd be wrong, but that's not important right now. Meanwhile, Ren produces a very familiar wand, and he chuckles as she foists it off on him with a very sweet- though misguided- idea.]

Ren, that's sadly not how this works. This wand is used to summon one familiar- one animal only. If we were to ask for another, it would simply change your cat. I would know, seeing as I'm the one who summoned it up for you.

[He presses the wand back towards her.]

Besides, this is for you and your cat. If I wanted to get back one of my ravens, well, I... don't know if I can, to be frank. It's hard to say if that would work.

[catpiper]

[Look, her faith in the Storyteller is unyielding and true. There's nothing on this green beautiful island that powerful bunny can't find. It's amazing, really. It impresses her every single time a wish is granted and she thinks a raven is well within their ability. They found popcorn, after all. That must've been tough. They found her medicine, which she knows was a hard find. Birds??? Those are everywhere. No problem.

And she thinks it's worth an ask.

Don't think too hard about the next series of qs, Kravitz. She's probably curious and there's unlikely to be an ulterior motive.]

Are they very special? What are they like? Can you tell me about them?

[deathfindsaway]

[Ren no he's a garbage man he doesn't need things, he has like 20 stories. But maybe thankfully for Ren's little schemes, he's always here to talk about himself and this is a new topic he hasn't really explored.]

Well, they're special because they're not actually ravens, to start, they're-- extensions of the Raven Queen, as I am. So they're raven-shaped, but typically it was some part of her looking through. When she wasn't using them to keep track of me, they behaved much like regular birds, though they would... often listen to my commands.

[Often being the key word. They'd listen to the important ones, but he could never get them to do the speech right. You know, the imposing death speech. Great.]

But I mean, there were quite a few. I could always tell the difference, though She claimed not to have any, but-- I was right, so.

[catpiper]

[They sound more like security cameras than pets and she's familiar enough with the former to wonder why he would that around. Maybe that's the difference between being trapped and having a job. If the ravens were still like birds, they would be fun. Maybe he could talk to his lady if one was around? Or maybe it would make him happier? It's hard to say.]

We'll find these special birds.

[Is the only thing she can state with certainty. Magnus and her never found ducks, but she's still on the lookout for them. She can add it to the list or-

Probably just ask the Storyteller.

She slips her bag back on, wand in one hand and pizza in the other.]

I'll start looking again.

[deathfindsaway]

[She's doing her best and that's what matters, even if her best is just... whatever this is. He simply chuckles, and gives her a little pat on the head.]

Don't exhaust yourself. But let me know, alright?

[At least she got him into the petting zoo. That did, in fact happen. That's at least one Ren Victory tonight.]