ofthesword: (--094)
Nero. ([personal profile] ofthesword) wrote in [community profile] abraxaslogs2023-12-07 08:17 pm

OPEN MINGLE: welcome to solvunn! (run while you still can)

WHO: anyone and everyone in solvunn
WHAT: mingle for the summoned, old and new
WHEN: a day or two after the new summoned arrive
WHERE: tertiary settlement
WARNING: goat violence iykyk (none for the moment!)

( A ) frosty weather



( feel free to check the locales section for more info on the tertiary settlement! )


The cold weather that comes with winter exchanges the constant autumn downpours for its frostier kin. The air grows drier, the ground colder, and nature recedes unto itself; grey skies offer not only brisk, chilly winds, but a flurry of snow most evenings. The snow almost never sticks, though the blanket of white remains a slurry reminder around the clock of shorter days of sunshine and a creeping coldness. Some days, though, when the temperature drops just enough, the Settlements wake to find themselves in for a winter treat. The landscape is covered in snow, the plant-life frosted over, and a general sense of cheer invades the locals as they come about to decorate and prepare for the Winter Solstice.

This mood spreads throughout the settlements, and with Isar Hart recently stepping up as the permanent Council member for the Tertiary Settlement, maybe there is a reason or two to go visit the westernmost settlement at a time like this.

Located just off of Hydra Gulf, the Tertiary Settlement is rife with activity as the locals prepare for their version of Winter Solstice celebrations. They are, through and through, a fishing-based economy, and the newcomers that show up—the Summoned—either out of curiosity for the place or in having found themselves stranded during the harsher weather, are expected to lend a hand with the different activities that have become just a bit more difficult with the heavy snow they've gotten the past few days. The coastline has frozen over, meaning that ice fishing is in the cards; sleds are made available to travel from the settlement to the beach, boots with spikes strapped under the soles, tools (picks and axes) to open a hole in the ice, fish hooks and spears. To those less enthused by fishing, they are welcome to visit The Soundless Hollow, a cave beside a large rock formation, where they are expected to help tend to the candles and the snow that has blown inside with the strong winds.

Once things have settled, however, and the horizon casts itself with beautiful tones of purples and oranges over the coast, those nearby will want to enjoy a moment of ice skating on the frozen shoreline. As long as someone can attach their boots onto the metal-made blades, one should have no issue whatsoever in tackling the ice.

( B ) solstice preparation

The Summoned are welcome to stay in the homes of the families that live in the settlement for the time being. They aren't exactly considered friendly, compared to the other two settlements, but the upcoming celebrations and the presence of some of the Summoned has, in fact, improved the general spirits of the place. Since the Winter Solstice gathers the community around to give and share, no bartering needed, many makeshift 'stalls' that have started to be set up around the settlement will offer passed-down recipes, from hot drinks—ciders, teas, hot cocoas—to freshly baked goods and stews (many fish-based) and treats, to be tried. Enthused by the presence of the Summoned, they will also be expected to help with decorating the settlement, given that they are far behind such things compared to the other ones. Perhaps this is their time to shine, despite the reputation of the place? Boughs of holly and garlands, bells and twine will be passed around to decorate, along with candles to be set on every window. Once in a while, the orphaned and troublemaker children will expect gifts, so anything the Summoned can spare will be met with much enthusiasm. Unless it's a ruse for pockets to be picked? Watch out.

A variation of the Goat of All Tidings is thus seen, as help is much appreciated to dress a large goat-figured in what dry grass, twigs, cloths, and other flammable fillings are found. If all goes well, it will last until the celebrations start properly, but until then... hopefully nothing will accidentally happen.



( C ) ice fishing

Nero (of the Welcoming Committee) has taken a new lease on life. No longer crafting hand-made obstacle courses sporting land mines and poisonous toads, he has found a new hobby to indulge his free time in:

Ice fishing.

Why the hell not? Enough fucked up Singularity weather combined with some helpful magic flooding the sea has got the shoreline waters turning to ice, and that provides ripe opportunity for... something new.

Even if it was weird. Whatever. Point was, he wanted to try. And ice is a challenge. With what knowledge he'd gotten from Geralt (minimum; use worms and maggots for bait, which he painstakingly spent days capturing and sticking in a bucket of dirt) his strength (needed to both bend wires into hooks and make holes in the ice) and his dad-like impulse to build things (several small, wooden shacks on the ice, each with a torn-up stump for sitting on, and something resembling a small table), Nero has set everything up for the coming holiday, 'cause... he might as well. A demon hunter without demons to hunt has a hell of a lot of free time, unlimited amounts of energy, and a stupid amount of strength to waste on bullshit.

So be sure to go towards the frozen beach just down a path from the festivities, lit up with string lights that hold magical flames, akin to the twinkle of Christmas lights, instead of bulbs, where Nero can be seen, on his knees, punching several more holes in inches-thick ice. He's set up rudimentary rods with baited hooks, more buckets of bait. Even at night, the whole place is lit up nicely that (most) people won't bust their ass trying to get across the ice.

It's nice.


( D ) talk shit get hit (on purpose)


Nevermind. Nice? Is boring. The ice fishing didn't do it for him. Nero now turns his attentions to opening a fight club.

It wasn't his initial idea. It was more like a sort of drinking club. Whatever. The people in Solvunn love drinking, even if he doesn't participate. But then a guy got too rowdy last time he was at the tavern, enjoying his usual carrot/ginger juice, and he'd had to toss him out and tell him to let the steam off somewhere else.

After Nero had laid out the guy in the dirt, the idea had sort of... come to him. Lotta liquor ends up with a lot of hotheads with energy to spare. And considering the little crowd that had gathered in the very short fight between them... look, he's seen movies before.

And thus borne of Nero's inability to do nothing: a fence originally used for keeping sheep in their pen has been moved closer to the settlement, wrapped up with more of those magicked twinkling lights, and a circle pit has been slightly dug out, the dirt smoothed and dried as much as it could be to prevent slipping. Rings of men and women sit along the railing, waiting for their turns to pop into the ring and work out their issues. Bruised, broken, or bleeding losers (or winners) stumble out with their arms in the air -- or as high as they can go -- to Himeka, waiting off to the side with a smile with her free healing services... unless the participants are too proud of their bruises to heal them. (Everyone deserves at least a Cure 1, though!)


( E ) tbf it was foreshadowed

Nero in particular – and perhaps all of Solvunn -- learn a valuable lesson today. While the fight club could only be called a rousing success, it appears as though encouraging people to work off their drunken energy does, in fact, encourage them to drink even more.

The Goat of All Tidings was meant to be a decoration only. It was lit up, clothed with a great big scarf (donated by some very bored housewifes), his all-mighty horns so large they curl over his back, towering over the citizens of Solvunn. Clearly goats are just awesome, but it stands, perhaps, as a testament to Isar's recent entrance to the council with the sacred aid of Spyndlveiss. At least, that's what some of the locals claim... which is funny, because aren't sheeps more their thing?

Maybe the horns just look cool. Maybe everyone's just drunk.

And that's exactly why, at some point in the night during the celebrations, a wild holler roars across the festivities, with several joining until it's a cacophony -- conveniently rising in volume as the Goat of All Tidings begins to erupt in flames, which climb over those grasses, wood and cloth in mere seconds.

Everyone crowds around the Goat as fire eats it. Here's to a bright new year! Out with the old, in with the new!

Rumours later might have several hungover patrons insisting a small, chatty animal had encouraged the first flames, giggling to himself as his paws clapped together, but no one can agree on what, exactly, the animal was... or if it was just a mischievous forest spirt come to mingle among the people.


krakened: (021)

[personal profile] krakened 2023-12-14 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
Mmmmmmmm...

[ Ed stretches the skeptical noise thin, then sips his cider serenely. ]

I dunno, man, looks like you're working some stuff out to me. You wanna talk about it?

[ Nero talked to him when he was, you know, feeling pretty shit about Stede. He still feels like shit about Stede, but what he's saying is, Nero did try to help him out and he wants to return the favour. Also, Nero's like, one of two guys he's gotten to know here and the other one's got a habit of eating weeds, or so he's been informed.

So his options are the punching ice guy or the eating weeds guy. ]
krakened: (077)

[personal profile] krakened 2023-12-14 07:40 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ed looks at the blood, then at Nero. Segue could use some improvement, but he can appreciate getting right down into the meat of things even if that's a weird fucking question to ask. ]

No. No, my intestines have actually been remarkably mushroom-free most of my life.

[ He crouches down next to Nero and the ice hole. A fish plops under the surface. ]

Is that what's eating at you? Gut mushrooms?

[ Hey, weren't there mushrooms on that pamphlet? Ed would pull it out to check, but his copy is now crumpled up in the shark man's fishy pouch. ]
Edited 2023-12-14 07:41 (UTC)
exuviage: 🍁 game. (this guy does NOT know cpr)

[personal profile] exuviage 2023-12-14 03:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oof. Perfect shot, right in the middle. Light and bendy or not, the rod catches against one scale-trimmed, glowing horn, and yanks The SSR Creature's head down towards the ice, making it bob in the water. ]

Ow—!

[ Maybe it's just because he spent the greater part of the day underwater, relying on cloudhymn rather than physical prowess. Maybe it's the force of the thank-the-aeons-its-not-a-real-sword rod striking him on the head. But Dan Heng reacts reflexively, his hand snapping in a shooing motion: the gesture sends gallon of freezing cold seawater flying to hit Ed right in the face in retaliation, like a short blast from a firehose. ]
durge: (💀 is not enough to satisfy)

WILDCARD

[personal profile] durge 2023-12-14 11:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Careful, that's--

( Not dead. A fact that this man realizes in short order, and Haelva tracks the lobster as it makes its fateful flight into the sea in a rather lovely arc. Clearly the man has practice at throwing things. Less so with his food giving him a shock. )

Well. At least there's more where it came from.

( She's short, pale haired, and most importantly: purple with pointed ears. But Ed's seen weirder here tonight, surely. )
smilefornow: (a happy face)

[personal profile] smilefornow 2023-12-15 12:04 am (UTC)(link)
Lovely day for it!

[The greeting is still automatic, and has nothing to do with whether it's even day or not. It's simply Arthur's immediate response to any conversation starter. But it's accompanied by an actual smile. A vague and out of practice smile, but an actual one. Nero is A Friend! He even lifts a mittened hand and waves. The mittens are red. They are poorly woven and have no fingers, only a thumb. They match the hat he's wearing.

His mind catches up with what Nero actually said. Wait, what?]


Ah...pair of what?

[He has a few things that can be described as 'a pair'. Boots, socks, mittens, glasses, insulated trousers...

Multiple layers of insulated trousers, as it happens.]
krakened: (ml: 002)

[personal profile] krakened 2023-12-15 06:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ One stick slap to the head and a whale-blast of water later, and Ed's sputtering on the frozen ice in a combination of shock and indigence. He scrambles to his feet, spitting frosty water from his mouth.

What the fuck. What the fuck.

He points his fishing rod like a weapon. ]
Who the fuck—

[ Two things: one, wool—while toasty and warm when dry—does not make for great insulation when you're soaking wet; two, horned beasts from the unexplored depths usually don't say Ow when you smack them, and it's the only reason Ed pauses his assault and looks.

Oh. Fuck. Wait. Okay, Ed's not gonna shoulder the full blame for this, he just wants it known that this kid is growing horns outta his head and swimming up out of ice water, none of which are normal things normal people do. Also, he spat water in Ed's face and now he's shivering in the ocean winds. Not optimal, by the way. ]


You can't just pop your fucking head up through an ice hole and scare the shit out of people, that's how you get yourself stabbed. [ He grabs one of the dry blankets laying around, which probably isn't his but whatever. Jesus, that water's cold. He hates winter. ] But, uh, sorry I hit you, man. Thought you were some kind of lake monster.
Edited 2023-12-15 18:54 (UTC)
krakened: (ml: 006)

[personal profile] krakened 2023-12-15 09:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[ You know what's also growth? Ed recognizing that this is a sensitive topic and he shouldn't poke at it any further. Growth and also self-preservation 'cause the way Nero's going at that ice, he could probably punch the same-sized hole in Ed's body.

Basically, just a solid all-around decision not to ask anything else about mushrooms.

He shuffles closer. Is he ready to try fishing again? Does he want to?

Cautiously, Ed places his mug down on the ice and joins Nero. Pop-pop's not here. Nobody's gonna be a dick to you if you don't catch a fish, Ed, he tells himself. And you caught a good fish before. ]


Alright, yeah. Yeah, I'll fish with you. [ He sits down on the ice and gets a fishing hook, working the line into it the way Fang showed him. ] You do a lot of fishing between all the...devil punching?
smilefornow: (no one's ever leaving)

[personal profile] smilefornow 2023-12-15 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Er...anything, I suppose?

[Arthur shrugs. It's like 'have a good one', it doesn't mean anything. It's just something you say. No one's ever asked what it's a lovely day for. Ice fishing, he guesses, in this case.

But he's a great deal more interested in the fact that Nero is...pushing a box into his hands. Arthur is no stranger to Yule traditions - or Christmas, when it had been called Christmas in Wellington - and has suffered through years of the same exact because-it's-done gifts from Miss Byng. It was always the latest Joy decorative container and a tin of V-meat. Of course it was. It's what everyone in the department got from her. Because she was their boss, and that was what social work etiquette dictated. And there was the card from his uncle. He sent one, too, because It Was Done.

Nero isn't bound by rules of It Is Done. In fact he's rather certain Nero is the sort of person to knock down those sorts of rules and do a merry little jig on them. But here he is, giving Arthur a gift. A real gift.

He looks down at it without opening it at first, as though he can't quite understand. When was the last time someone gave him a gift - any sort of gift - just in the spirit of gift giving? Sometime in his childhood, he's sure. His father, maybe, or...Percy. A thickness comes to his throat and there's an uncomfortable prickling at the corner of his eyes. Both from the gesture and from the sudden surge of emotion at the thought of his brother.

Swallowing down all the building feelings, he peels off his mittens to open the box. His bucket and rod have been momentarily forgotten on the ice beside him. They are much nicer gloves than what he has. These were clearly made by someone who knew what they were doing, and not a novice or child. It's a practical gift, which is appreciated, and an awfully kind thought. To be thought of at all....]


These are smashing. Thank you.

[If he says anymore, he's afraid he's going to lose his composure. As grateful as he is to be able to feel all of his feelings, he's still a gentleman. It's uncouth to start blubbering in public.]
beautifullies: ("wнaт do yoυ ѕυppoѕe тнaт ιѕ?")

edit caught before posting: 'tugging on a pair of clothes' so this coulda been a weird thread

[personal profile] beautifullies 2023-12-15 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
The largest eye-roll Wrench ever did see crosses Claire's features. It's the response of someone who knows he's only giving her a hard time. 𝐼𝑓 𝐼 𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑖𝑡 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔. A laugh breaks up her thoughts and she gestures to the chair. 𝑁𝑜𝑤, 𝑠𝑖𝑡. But not to lecture him. Already, she's tugging on a pair of gloves from her on-the-go kit and a smirk pulls at the corner of her mouth.

𝑇𝑜𝑜 𝑏𝑎𝑑 𝐼 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛'𝑡 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑜𝑛; 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑏𝑙𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐼 𝑑𝑜 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑎 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑓𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡. 𝐷𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟? 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒, 𝐼 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛.

Once he's sitting, she'll begin carefully wiping away all the blood, giving him a clean rag and a spare glass of water to dip it in while she works. She's close, checking the best she can for any cuts on his scalp, watching for winces.
beautifullies: (тo мy wιғe)

[personal profile] beautifullies 2023-12-15 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[ No news is good news, changed to fit Michael—live in the same community as someone for nearly a year and one begins to pick up on things about a person. Or angel, as it were. ]

Oh, I don't know. Cookies certainly. There's something to knowing I should be decorating with Jamie, at the very least, makes it all feel...less than. I don't know.

[ She repeats herself, feeling a small ripple of emotion that she's been attempting to keep at bay by staying busy. ]

Unless you meant 'here' as in the settlement at large, and then it might be nice to teach the kids a few carols they would understand, like Jingle Bells. Or, we can read a Christmas Carol. That's something Brianna always insisted we do on Christmas Eve.

[ It's a universal story that translates, surely. ]
beautifullies: ("over нere we'll нave a panтry)

[personal profile] beautifullies 2023-12-15 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I can only tell you how my bones feel.

[ Her words are said with a laugh, and she takes accepts his help with thanks, then brushes off her skirts. ]

Ah, I made the mistake once of handing out sweets from my pockets, so now they expect it. Sometimes they get bobs and bits, so they have to decide if I look like foraging or shopping that day.

[ There's a warmth in her voice when she speaks of the children, clearly fond of them. ]

They remind me of a time a few decades ago now, playing with nieces and nephews. more recently than that.

[ All on Jamie's side of the family and whom she'd met for the first time, when she'd arrived at Lallybroch, then never seen again until they had children of their own. She has a deep bone to pick with time travel. ]
sketchycharacter: (pic#10396291)

preparations

[personal profile] sketchycharacter 2023-12-16 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, please, you've got plenty of spring in your step.

[But he leans down anyway, offering her a sturdy grip and easy support up. She's woorking hard to make all of this nice, it's the least he can do.]

I know a guy with more years and way more gray than you who's still running around raising hell.
sketchycharacter: (washboard abs)

fight fight fight club club club

[personal profile] sketchycharacter 2023-12-16 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
"Hey, Artie. Thinking of giving it a try?"

Nate comes up from behind and claps Arthur on the back — hopefully he's not making a habit of startling him, but you never know. Part of him is kind of glad to see the guy, who is pretty all right, and part of him is a little concerned that he actually is thinking of joining in the fray. He doesn't look like the kind of guy who'd do more than get his ass kicked really quickly.

(Then again, Nate can remember a few skinny guys who did well in prison fights, but they were biters. Arthur doesn't strike him as the type.)
smilefornow: (feeling that numb)

[personal profile] smilefornow 2023-12-16 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, not particularly."

Arthur is a great deal less startled this time. And moreso by hearing his childhood nickname than anything else. He hadn't been Artie since he was in short trousers. But it's...sort of nice, in a strange way.

And he likes Nate.

"Did too much of this sort of thing back home. And it was...er...rather less of a volunteer situation and much more...well...fatal." A nervous little not-laugh follows.

There's really no good way to explain you've been forced into death games.

At least he'd won them all.
nomnoms: (pic#16297431)

[personal profile] nomnoms 2023-12-16 06:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ There isn't any fire or explosions. There is an audible pop! after Nanaue closes his eyes and concentrates...

... and gives himself a head of long salt and pepper hair, and matching beard. ]


Magic! [ He proclaims happily, laughing and pointing at his head. ] Me disguise!

[ Can you even tell it's him anymore?? ]
heavymetals: (7SWNUuf)

[personal profile] heavymetals 2023-12-16 10:24 am (UTC)(link)
[ Erik's smile widens into nearly a grin, indeed boastful and a little too proud of himself. What's so wrong with having some fun with his abilities, after all? ]

They're metal. Controlling them is easy enough, for me.

[ He didn't even need to fasten them to his boots, to be fair. But he has, because at least it's one less thing for him to focus on.

He skates closer to her, looking down to her own feet. Best make sure she's put them on properly. ]


I can help you, if you want.

[ He offers her a hand. She's so often used her abilities to help him, it's a small way to return the gesture. ]
wwrench: <lj user=wwrench> (pic#13414255)

next up in solvunn: naked wrestling 😅😅

[personal profile] wwrench 2023-12-16 02:41 pm (UTC)(link)
At least Wrench has the good sense not to refuse her help, even if he has every intention of continuing to grouse the entire way. He settles himself in the offered seat and continues to lean forward, fingers pinched protectively at either side of his nose until she can sort herself into those gloves.

Seems like a waste to get all bloodied up without an audience. I think they liked the show well enough, though. Most just disappointed they didn't get their chance to take a swing at me.

This seems good enough for Wrench. He doesn't seem angry to have been coerced into the ring, but he's hesitant to admit to Claire that a few punches in the face and kidneys do feel like they've worked something out of him. He was feeling stagnant and pent-up, and now he just feels... tired.

It's just the nose.

He sees where this is going, and tries to divert her before Claire finds any reason for a reprise glance at his collection of scars.
sketchycharacter: (pic#10454280)

[personal profile] sketchycharacter 2023-12-16 04:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Nate shakes his head in disbelief, but not disbelief, so to speak. All right, he definitely shouldn't judge by size.

"You're full of surprises," he says. "Well, congratulations on not being one of the losers."

He's tempted to ask for details. The question is on the edge of his tongue. It does seem a little tactless, though, even for him.

"I've done it few times myself. Didn't necessarily go looking for the fights." He shrugs. "But things happen in jail."
beautifullies: (gιve нer тιмe.)

[personal profile] beautifullies 2023-12-16 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[ As he helps her up she grunts a little because her spine is definitely angry. ]

If you could give my lower back that message, I would be eternally grateful.

[ Her smile is warm as she thanks him for the lift assist, then brushes her hands together, wiping any residual dust off. ]

It's from all the standing in an O.R. for years, rather than age, I admit. How are you, Nathan?
smilefornow: (feeling that numb)

[personal profile] smilefornow 2023-12-17 01:09 am (UTC)(link)
"Heh. You've no idea." That's Arthur, full of surprises. Terrible, alarming, strange surprises. Really, this is one of the tamer ones. And he thinks maybe he can even make light of it, at this point.

"Like you say. Things happen. I never wanted to get into fights. I'm supposed to be a pacifist for Dog's sake, I felt awful about it the whole time. Every time." But what else was he going to do? Let himself be beaten to death or worse? Absolutely not. His convictions only go so far.

"Sorry about being in jail. We didn't have one of those, but it sounds miserable in books."
aquaveiled: (himeka-620)

iii - wildcard

[personal profile] aquaveiled 2023-12-17 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
[ Lobsters are not meant to fly, but it seems that one in particular is going to get to experience what all crustaceans who came before it never could. But all things that go up must eventually come down and there's a solid PLOP as the lobster lands in the cold waters and starts to sink.

Disoriented, it wiggles its legs around just as something else comes up from the deep...

Himeka pops up out of the waterline, cheeks red from the blood rushing to her skin to keep her warm. She holds up the wriggling lobster in the air: ]


Did someone lose this?

[ Because she knows that lobsters don't just flop into the sea. ]

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