abraxaslogs | [open] wake up, it's time to gather now

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[open] wake up, it's time to gather now

Who: ALL OF THE FREE CITIES.
What: A glorious celebration and a Summoned-powered festival!
When: The second week of May.
Where: The Old Public Hall, the outlaying plaza, spilling into the streets of Cadens.

The Reopening Celebration

[The flyers appear all at once overnight among all of Cadens, with the front text reading: GRAND RE-OPENING OF OLD PUBLIC HALL. FIVE DAYS OF CELEBRATION WITH MERCHANTS FROM ACROSS THE FREE CITIES AND NOCWICH, ALL TO CELEBRATE THE REOPENING OF ONE OF CADEN'S ARCHITECTURAL MARVELS AND THE FREE CITIES'S OWN FORM OVER FUNCTION FESTIVAL! with the dates given underneath.

The back of the flyers will list the precise details, including the topics of each day of the festival. This festival is to act alongside and celebrate the native Free Cities celebration Form Over Function week that the Cities host every year. As with most things Jaskier and Alucard touch, it has to be a little Extra.

New to the city? Want to change careers? As suggested by the mods, the Summoned can use this festival to look for work or make new connections in the Free Cities with the locals displaying their craft. Artists, artisans, playwrights, theatres, inventors, and scientists will be looking for the next wave of brilliant minds and talented individuals.

Also acknowledged on each flyer are the equipment and food donated by the various Free Cities governing bodies.]

The Aquila Portal

[A big celebratory announcement during the first day of the festival will be made in front of the Hall once the market opens. This is the grand unveiling of the new portal that is being permanently opened to Aquila, agreed to by the Free Cities government. The announcement comes from several of the Free Cities' very own Summoned: Jayce, Claude and Sam.

The portal is intended for leisure and business travel and will have a crossing fee. A portion of the proceeds from the festival will go to providing those of lower incomes with a single paid-for trip to and back from the Aquila portal. Please make use of such generosity, Summoned!]

The Lunae and Ikorr

[Most of the festival is meant to feature the local artists and artisans of the Free Cities. However, many artisans from Nocwich have also been invited and provided with their own space, with water misters set up to keep the wolves and vampires (and visitors, of course) cool in the desert air. Long, shaded walkways keep visitors safe from the sun.

The Lunae have a history of traveling to Solvunn to attend celebrations, so they will arrive in Cadens in greater numbers. While the vampires have less of a presence than the werewolves, they will still offer their wares like blood-infused wines, glowing flowers, and unique meat dishes - similar to what was provided last year!

All three Nocwich ambassadors will make an appearance for at least one of the days.]

The Festival Days

[A large open-air market will be open throughout the celebration, which will feature retailers and artisans from Aquila, Cadens, Libertas, the Lunae, and the Ikorr, all set up in the plaza that leads up to Old Public Hall itself. Advertisements will be posted to entice new tourists to Aquila, in the interest of Fallon Marsh's new push for tourism to the coastal city.

Each "day" features a special theme:

Book and Literature Day includes a seller's market inside and on the steps of Old Public Hall, along with book signings throughout, starting off the five-day celebration. The latest and the greatest works that have come from Free Cities minds are featured, sold, and autographed. If you're an up-and-coming writer, there are small podiums and stages set up on the outdoor stages for you to provide readings of your own work and advertise any exciting new book clubs. There is no promise of quality for the open-mic readings, and there's no withholding criticism when it's bad either.

Large presses and the self-published all share their wares, ranging from the latest scientific journals to the unsurprisingly long line to meet the author of the popular Onion James mystery novels. Near the new bar in Old Public Hall, an informal bookclub will open will be hosted. The evening will feature authors in conversations with each other, offering book signings and writing workshops for nervous young novelists. If you're curious, feel free to join in and show off your newest writing piece!

Painting and the Visual Arts Day marks the second day, which will see the Old Public Hall transform into a gallery for a day. Featured artists are lesser-known independents, working to create monumental-sized paintings, glass sculptures that refract light, tiny drawings that show skill on the smallest scale possible, and more. The Hall provides the ground for artists to lay out sales of local paintings, sculptures, woolen arts, and even the services of artists themselves. All matter of art will be set up for sale in the Old Public Hall, as well as works organized on the main floor of the Hall as a gallery. Clothing designers from Aquila will be showing off the latest fashions, as well as looking for new models among the visitors. Libertas's artists will once again be pushing their counterculture art, supported by Quilleth Kaur and the Arts Restoration Committee.

Science Day will feature a symposium on the current state of technological developments in Cadens and how they relate to artistic practice on the third day. Within the Hall itself, the maze of the books from the previous day has been replaced with an open floor plan, allowing for a horseshoe-shaped display of inventors and their wares -- and a surprising amount of artisan fashion work. Two large areas feature in-depth talks about recent developments in both fabric production and sewing machines, resulting in more unique fabrics and dyes that will be displayed later that evening.

Keep an ear out, as the names "Jayce" and "Viktor" float among the populace as Summoned inventors to keep your eyes and attention on. Provided by these two fame-collecting talents is a display of their fantastic revolving armillary sphere, modeled after the astronomy of Abraxas, which casts an atmospheric starry light over the area once night falls. This new permanent installation is now available for viewing in front of Old Public Hall as a navigation point and to show the union between art and science.

Further into the night, garments will be shown, with a discussion about new techniques used and how they were made. The beauty of asymmetry is lauded, with the use of coraline plant fibers for boning, experiments with structure and bright fabric dyes, accented with fine details. Shapes and textures are exaggerated and celebrated. A large screen behind the stage allows for some projection magic to focus on all the little details for the whole crowd to see.

Theatre Day arrives on the fourth day. Indoor and outdoor stages will be set up, featuring short plays and costume shows. There are several morning workshops available for perusal; some are writing-focused, led by some of Libertas's leading playwrights.

Outside of the Hall is the brand new romantic comedy All The Wolves You Loved Before, commissioned for the grand reopening by one "J. Alfred" to be performed for the first time ever. It tells the story of an exceptionally handsome, white-furred werewolf from Nocwich with a charming and surprisingly funny demeanor, falling into scraps and eventually into love. Inside the Hall is the classic Murder Among Thieves, a mystery featuring a group of bandits that are picked off by a killer one by one.

That night, Old Public Hall will host the three-act play It Happened In Section 600. The horror piece sells hard on its exquisite special effects (made with a combination of science and magic), telling the story of Miss Harker, a new librarian at the University in the early days of the Free Cities. Ghosts supposedly haunt the library, but just exactly why remains a mystery until Miss Harker starts her first day. The mystery features spirits and a tale of revenge with the early days of the Free Cities as the backdrop.

Local theatres will provide backstage access and classes on special and visual effects. Playwrights will provide signings and host writing workshops as they scope out new or aspiring young actors. For those brave enough, you can find others to help practice your audition or even aid others in theirs!

Concert Day, which marks the end of the event, features live, performed music from 3 p.m. until midnight, acting as a tour de force of the restored Hall's acoustic capabilities where both technology and magic work together. Smaller, independent bands will be highlighted and enhanced with magical special effects, with -- unsurprisingly -- the night ending with a special performance by the Gem of the Phoenix himself, Jaskier! Rumors have it that the appearance of a real phoenix itself may appear, granting supreme luck to all who see it in the future...

The magic of the Old Public Hall is in use for this concert series, where magic birds will explode and fly among the eaves of the Hall's roof, the roof will disappear in view of the night sky, or small explosions of color — named "fireworks" — pop off with every growing crescendo. The final show will feature a performance of Jaskier's ballad to Lfybringr, ballads of bravery in the Free Cities sands, and exciting tales of forbidden lovers meeting in the eternal night of Nocwich.

The final song of the night, ending the Festival, is "The Phoenix Always Rises From The Ashes," a loud and explosive power ballad that sounds strangely like modern rock to some ears, meant to invigorate and inspire all of those who have lost hope. This show features magnificent displays of wildfire magic, echoing the unrestrained strength of Libertas's people. When the final line echoes through the hall — And the people, like the phoenix, will always rise! — a gigantic, illusionary phoenix will appear, covering the roof of the Hall, giving a beautiful, defiant screech before exploding into feathers. These feathers are soft to the touch, quite real, and can be taken home as souvenirs.

As always, thank you for your patronage and interest in the arts, Free Cities. Remember that, in the end, the people will always rise.]

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[It's clear that even leaning into Jaskier that his exhaustion has already been touched with traces of liquor, but he has yet to hit that messy, slurry stage. Now he is tired to the bone but still has brightness in his eyes, and is also annoyingly poking Mog for ignoring him.

Sam's appearance -- in a place where they can talk, and not a glance at the audience as he preforms -- makes him smile. He leans towards Sam as well and kisses his cheek without much fanfare.] Oh, Sam. I already know you are an adoring fan. I will stay living, just for you.

[Well, that is the plan. As glorious a record as his corpse would leave behind after such a significant performance, Jaskier instead prefers to figure out how he will next top himself.

The giant phoenix illusion will be quite difficult to top.

His title on Sam's tongue makes him laugh under his breath. His hand places itself on Sam's chest. He's probably going to kiss him. So watch out, Sam.] It was spectacular, wasn't it? You know, Julie, she -- she showed me the fireworks, once, in the Horizon. I got the idea from there.

[ the kiss at his cheek has sam smiling, if only because jaskier really is one of the few people who is so willing and able to show affection like that. it reminds sam of home in a lot of ways, which may be why he constantly finds himself drifting back to it.

bright smiles, theatrical responses, lips to cheeks and hands and heads. then you have the added bonus of wrapping that up in a package of someone who is just genuinely good and - well. ]

Just for me? What about everyone else? [ he gestures to the sizable crowd who arrived specifically for his performance, the sea of faces. it seems that gem is about as accurate as the people of the free cities could be. but sam laughs anyway, finding whatever drinking glasses are on the table to fill or maybe just drinking straight from the bottle himself.

he could kiss sam if he wanted, truthfully. because right now sam is drunk and happy, exhausted but alive, and just as it is the way with most of jaskier's parties - it's the first time in a long time that sam feels like he can relax. his smiles are easy and bright as he gives jaskier a quick wink. ]

It was more than spectacular; but if it came from Julie's mind, I'm not all that surprised. And I don't envy the fact you're gonna have to think of something bigger next time.

[Jaskier gives him a little huff, mostly good-natured; he is so unused to people thinking of others when they're alone with him, even now. But Sam has always been that sort of man. In a way, it's a bit annoying. Annoyingly charming.]

You're the only one here with me right now, aren't you?

[Of course Jaskier lives for the crowd. It goes without question. But he enjoys more the small, intimate moments that are for him and his closest alone. And Sam has been one of the closest for quite a long time, no matter how often they seem to get into trouble together -- or separately.

The bard is feeling nostalgic tonight, which happens on nights like this. Nights that result from the culmination of so much work and labour and coin. Nights like the royal banquets he would play. Nights like the first time an elven child thanked him for getting her on a ship, safe.

Jaskier plants a hand on Sam's chest and leans in close. He's drunk as well, but he hardly needs drink to do anything.] No need to worry, Sam. I've never failed to top myself.

[And he'll do it again. Something he has yet to do. Sam's smile, to Jaskier, is invitation enough. His fingers curl into his shirt and he kisses him, a polite, questioning press of lips to lips.]

[ it's not said with any real intention - truthfully, sam just means it as another joke. another playful comment to feed into jaskier's ego, his pride. he is the pride of the phoenix, after all; known throughout the land as someone to be adored, watched, trusted, loved. it's meant to sound more like a ribbing, a fond kind of jab, but jasker shoots back just as quickly and with just as much wit you're the only one here with me right now, aren't you?

sam huffs a laugh at that, too, because alright. yes. he does have a point there. and for all that sam recognizes just how much jaskier does love the crowd (because he's similar in that way, isn't he? jaskier just likes to be in front of one, while sam prefers to be a part - to have the bodies around, there, a part of the moment) he also knows that the real moments that happen are the private ones. are the stolen interacts behind the concert, or passing each other during a festival.

which makes this easy, doesn't it? the fact they can be in a festival, surrounded by numerous summoned and locals alike, and when jaskier plants a hand on sam's chest there isn't anything else going on. it's just them, like it's been just the two of them countless times before; flirting, happy, chatting, drunk. he doesn't know what it is that's different about tonight, whether it's the aftermath of the event or the highs of the accomplishments of the evening or something else entirely - but jaskier says something about how he's never failed to top himself and sam laughs, goes to shake his head, and then jaskier is kissing him.

and really, really, it isn't that sam is surprised. he and jaskier have always had a flirty, easy, comfortable kind of relationship. and it isn't the first time they've kissed, either (even if the previous time had been what...a year and a half ago? more?). it isn't that sam hesitates, or is shocked, or really anything that he might have been with any other person in any other place.

no, jaskier kisses him, and while sam could keep the kiss as polite and chaste as jaskier presents it; could let them part after a moment where they would both smile and both huff a laugh and then the rest of the evening would be just as easy and just as fun, he doesn't. instead, without giving it much thought at all, sam kisses jaskier right back - slips his hand around the back of jaskier's neck and hold him there, close, still, as sam leans in that much closer. as sam really kisses him back.

because why not, right? why not.

and the kiss? is kind of freaking phenomenal (which does not, in any way, come as a surprise, it's jaskier after all). ]

[The invitation to hold him tighter, kiss him harder, has always been on the table. To be fair, most people Jaskier meets -- especially those he has grown close to -- have always had such invitations. There is only a small sound that indicates anything is new about this particular event, a small groan in the back of his throat.

Oh, Sam is a good kisser. Lovely to know he did not exaggerate in the Horizon.

Jaskier does not either. Obviously.]

And here I always assumed you were shy about kissing after waiting all this time.

[ a part of sam has always known that invitation is there - that it has probably always been there since their horizon dance, and even more so as the days, weeks, months, years now have gone on. jaskier has never been subtle about his opinions on sex, or kissing, or physical intimacy of any kind - but sam's simply always felt himself settle, be comfortable, with the casual physicality. held hands, hugs, chins on shoulders, shoulders pressed to shoulders. why he hasn't done anything more than that, he doesn't really know. he's been busy? distracted? had something else more pressing to worry about?

isn't there always something else to worry about?

still, jaskier seems to enjoy it, and that has sam grinning. he's still a little drunk, definitely drunk enough to feel proud about the reaction - and when jaskier does break the kiss to make that comment about being shy, sam's lips instead move to jaskier's jaw, up to the space right under his ear. he laughs a little at the idea that his actions could be considered shy, but jaskier isn't entirely wrong. ]

Shy? Seriously? I don't know if I've been called shy in my life.

[Jaskier laughs. He does so love saying things to rile up his lovers. Not that Sam is a lover -- the potential has always been there, of course, but they're both very busy men and sometimes he's even (harshly) accepted that Sam may not be fully committed to noting how attractive Jaskier is, but --

Well. The potential still lay as alive as ever.]

I'm only fucking with you, Sam. [Mm. Oh. He lifts his chin, tilted to the side.] You're only partly so. [His hand splays across Sam's chest, moving down it. All this time, and he's still only seen the man with his clothes on. Tragedy.] Have you considered being even more adventurous tonight?

[ sam has always recognized the potential, saw it in every moment after that first trip to the horizon. had known that jaskier was the type to leave the door open but not to push unless the other person showed interest. and it wasn't that sam wasn't interested, he - they - were both just. busy.

which sam knows is an excuse, it's the same excuse nat used to tease steve about years ago. about dating, about sharon, about- god, that's a whole different lifetime, isn't it? but sam thinks about it now, because it makes him realize how much he may have unintentionally filled steve's shoes there.

( and that's a whole different can of words sam's not looking to address at the moment. not with jaskier tilting his chin that way, warm and close and here. )

as jaskier lifts up his chin, sam moves to press another kiss right under his jawline. ] Partly. Right. [ jaskier's hand is splayed across his chest. it feels good, the weight of him moving down his chest, and sam has to think about it.

has he considered it? possibly. he didn't go into this night planning on this, didn't even step aside to find jaskier after his show with the thought in mind. but now that the question has been posed, now that sam takes a moment to do the considering, he slowly wraps his hands around jaskier's hips, runs his palms up his sides and then back down. ]

You know, I have. [ as in he just did, and his answer? his hands settle on jaskier's waist. grips it enough to shift jaskier just a bit closer - jaskier isn't a small man, actually is pretty similar to sam is height, but sam's not looking to bodily move him but instead just sort of shift him. move him. ] Have you?

[Sam is not the first to prescribe planning to anything Jaskier does, and while he thinks it's very sweet of his friends to think he plans much of anything, let alone his more rakish adventures, he does not. He is so easily swept into the motions of the moments he exists in that there is very little point in planning things.

Especially when those he flirts with vary in their levels of... amiability.

Sam, by the way, is being very open with his amiability. A fact that Jaskier is clinging to, at the moment, because he is quite tired, and quite happy with himself, and the need to share that with someone else is nearly overwhelming. Especially when that someone else is attractive and, hopefully, naked.]

I am never not adventurous, my friend. [Jaskier doesn't need much invitation to move onto Sam's lap. He's simply there, with his hands exploring, and he's kissing Sam's cheek in a move that is far more chaste than what he is doing with his hips.] I'm sure it won't be very hard to find a spot of privacy for our, ah... adventures.

[ that is a skill in and of itself, isn't it? the experience of riding those emotions, of following them somewhere good and right and nice for them both. perhaps sam is too much of a planner in that regard, too much in his head about how things can change, the potential for all outcomes, not just the good ones. he knows he's become more like this as time as gone by, that there had once been a version of him that was perfectly happy to go with the flow and let things happen.

now, though, he realizes how much of his own head he falls back into. how much of his own head he's not in, right now, as jaskier moves into his lap. as sam's hands easily find purchase at his hips. because jaskier is definitely doing something with his hips and sam's brain hasn't quite short-circuited, but he can feel the circuit board heating right on up there. ]

Somehow I'm not surprised. [ jaskier has never been quiet about his adventuring thoughts, after all. but the mention of privacy is a good one, even if sam isn't quite sure about how successful they'll be able to move from here. so, rather than even trying to sit up off this stool, sam leans forward and trails his mouth across jaskier's jaw, down to his neck, his hands still firm and settled where they are definitely pressing jaskier's hips closer. ] I'll follow your lead here, Jask. You know this place better than I would.

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[open] wake up, it's time to gather now

AH MY LOVE...

c: 💖💖💖💖💖💖

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