[open] a fantastic public charity event!

[cointosser]

Who: Jaskier, open to all of the Free Cities!
What: The bard is holding a concert at Cadens's Old Public Hall in order to raise money for its renovation!
Where: Cadens
When: The end of March, a bit after the eclipse/Singularity event shenanigans
Warnings: None. This is a family-friendly event. :)

The Event

[Flyers hand-written and posted around the city of Cadens promise many a thing: a lovely night of community and belonging, beautiful decorations, a precious place to bring your bonnie sweet (the most important.) Jaskier fully intends on this being the perfect date night; the more lovers who become closer thanks to him, the better. The hall will see a larger audience than it ever has before! And hopefully more money will be thrown at it than ever before.

Of course, that’s what this is: a charity concert being held to raise funds for the old Cadens speaking hall, a large hall that has long fallen into disrepair. Through the efforts of Jaskier (and mostly) Alucard, restoration of the hall has begun. However, it has far more renovations ahead of it, and coin will be needed.

The concert is meant to be a grand time, but, it is about the money. This is a charity event, technically. But there's no reason he can't have fun with it.

And since Jaskier does nothing by halves, he has gone fully all-out. At the concert, any goers will be free to partake in:

+ free food (courtesy of himself, Alucard, and Sam's cooking, generally fresh bread, rolls, sweets, cheeses, and various finger foods and slices of roasts)
+ free wine and local juices (mostly paid out of Jaskier's pocket)
+ flowers will be given out, though it is STRONGLY IMPLIED a donation is expected (bouquets can be purchased for your honey, as well)
+ Nadine will be going around the crowd and providing small samples of tonics and potions

There will also be a small raffle that Jaskier will be running. Tickets can be bought for a small fee, and ticket holders can win small prizes of bouquets (courtesy of yours truly), a box of fresh pastries from the local bakery, an array of prized feathers from his pet toy gryphon, or a slightly fancier bottle of wine. The ultimate prize will be a free song written personally for you by Jaskier, all topics and requests accepted. Yes, it is a grand prize. For the small prizes, you can decide whether your ticket is a winner or a loser!

Please, remember to keep your behaviors amenable, fair citizens of Cadens. This concert is for charity, and no roughhousing, fighting, or generally ill tempers will be suffered. And as an event on city property, it is meant to remain completely neutral. No politics or you'll be kindly escorted outside the event!]

The Old Public Hall



[The Cadens Public Hall is an old, large speaking hall hosting distinctive architectural features that are strongly Thornean in influence. Like the old days, the concert is mostly meant to be standing-room only; the second floor mezzanine has been blocked off due to unsafe conditions (mostly old, rotting floorboards.) There's a slight musty smell that lingers despite Jaskier's best efforts to hide it.

His attempts to hide it are vast in number: every where one looks are richly colorful groupings of flowers, tied to pillars, hanging from strings of semi-magical lights that have been criss-crossed over the main concert area to mimic the sight of stars, and growing from pots meant to hide dusty corners. Illusionary birds fly and flutter about, adding spots of color and life to the old hall.

Small tables and chairs have been set out the entrance for folks to eat and relax at while music fills the hall and spills out.

Jaskier himself headlines the music, accompanied by a flautist, a drummer and a cellist. Songs that he performed at the Summit are part of his set: a song that venerates the magical accomplishments of Thorne (which may earn some grumbles from local Cadenites, but that same magic flows through the hall itself, amplifying the music and preventing echoing and regulating temperature.) His ballad about Lyfbringr, one of the gods of Solvunn, features, with a slightly baudy edge to it. But most prominent are several songs about the Free Cities themselves: bastions of hope for those who have lost their home, rich mixing pots of culture and people, with fantastic advances in technology.

Peppered among the songs are general fun, upbeat songs. As the night draws to a close, the songs become slower and softer, meant for dances between lovers.

Between sets of songs, Jaskier can be see moving through the crowd, shaking hands, dancing, and showing off his precious new pet toy gryphon named Mog, with black fur and feathers and an owlish face. (Yes, you can pet him.) Mog accompanies him on stage as well, flicking his tail and sleeping inside his lute case.]

Speech, Speech, Speech

[Like all good events, it must begin with a speech.

At the beginning of the concert, while his band behind him plays quiet music, Jaskier takes the head of the dais that is acting at the stage, giving the concert-goers a hearty bow with a sweep of his large, feathered hat.]

Hello and greetings, my fellow citizens of Cadens! While you may not know me -- though I highly doubt that, if you've ever stepped foot into a local tavern -- I have been dwelling in your city in some time now as the conveniently-dubbed Summoned. I am the Master Bard Jaskier, and tonight we have gathered for a few hours of good will and merriment.

I have been welcomed into your city ever since I came here by chance, and have long wanted to give back in what ways I can. This concert is being held for the good of the very hall we stand in, long having fallen to disrepair in lieu of other pursuits -- important ones, I'm sure! -- by the city. However, as a musician, I have high respect for any such beautiful place, and I have recently began working tirelessly with an anonymous patron and friend to restore this grand old beauty for the use of all Cadens citizens.

Please, peruse the first floor of the hall to see our recent work in restoring and preserving historical Cadens architecture. There is free food and drink for all -- though, if you're a known glutton, learn a bit of restraint for the sake of the children. [Laugh track.] There are small gifts available in return for donations at the stands just ousdie. There will be collection plates placed around the tables, and by the door -- you'll see that lovely young man there, yes? He'll be glad to take your coin off your hands! [Another laugh track. He's hilarious, he knows.] All donations will go straight to the restoration of this historic hall.

By your leave, lovely gents and beautiful dames, I bid you a wonderful night. May your hearts be light, and your coin purses even lighter!

For ideas about the general mood of the music:

Youtube Bardcore Playlist

Comments

[falcony]

[ jesper had been one of those people that upon sam meeting him, he'd wanted to help, and who had - thankfully - accepted it when sam had set it up. mag's inn turning into something of a summoned jumping point had been an almost dream of his since he first started, and it's only been recently that sam's really been able to look around and see the fruits of that labor. to see jesper, helping out, with a kind of job, and a room.

sam's been more busy than not lately, so he hasn't been spending all that much time around the inn itself. but when he has, he's seen jesper - helping out, cleaning tables, running errands. it's not far from what sam had been doing himself since he first showed up.

either way, jesper is there, taking the food that's offered, and sam laughs a bit at the comment. ]

Hey- you're getting free food. Don't think you have room to judge here. [ says sam, who is definitely embodying his mother in that exact moment and handing jesper more food than he has any right to eat in one go. because sam knows that it will get eaten.

he has noticed the clothes, too - but he figures it's something about personal choice, something about style, and all together not his business. if things keep going down this direction, jesper might get some joking comments about it, but for now sam just laughs. shrugs. ]

I take breaks. But I also help out friends with their stuff. [ he gestures up to the stage where jaskier is definitely performing one of the more raunchy songs. ] It matters to them so I want to help out. Plus- he says, tilting his tankard in jesper's direction. ] Who says I'm not also taking a break?

[itookashot]

[ Jesper came to Cadens expecting he'd have to sleep on the streets if he didn't get lucky. He didn't have the coin for an inn and he wasn't willing at that point to find an attractive person to take him home, so it was a toss-up. He wouldn't go back to the barracks, it was a one-way ticket for him. Luckily he ran into Sam and got set up in this situation, which has worked out well for him and Mag. He's a momma's boy so quickly was willing to do any little task she asked for. Eventually he and Inej were going to get a place of their own, once they got enough money. But for now, he's so grateful. They're both safe and with a roof over their heads. For people who know what it's like to not have that, it's important. ]

I'm not judging, I'm observing!

[ Jesper takes the food without any question or argument because he is literally always hungry. He has been trying to limit himself respectfully but if Sam is going to heap it on, huzzah. As for his clothes, it is a fashion choice, and it makes him feel a little more like his old self. Jesper likes being showy, it's his way. He's also been testing out his abilities and doing some of the embroidered new threading himself, rather than having to go to a shop. ]

I'm talking like a vacation day. You're always running around helping other people, including yours truly, I'm not complaining, I'm just saying.

[ Jesper is observant, exactly as he said. He's always paying attention to other people, mostly out of paranoia or curiosity, but he likes to know how things are around him. He knows Sam's type. It's a good type. A little unnerving of a type, really, because good people are hard to find, or impossible to find at times in Ketterdam, but still.

He pays attention to Jaskier's song and bursts out laughing. He loves the raunchy ones. The absolute best. He whistles playfully at him before returning his attention to Sam and chewing on some of the excellent cheese. ]

[falcony]

[ jesper, and then inej, are perfect examples as to why sam takes so much time and effort to make sure people know about mag's place. it hasn't always been easy, and sam knows that when it comes down to it all, he'll be on the hook if mag isn't making the coin she needs for the in. but it's all worked out - really worked out - and chances are, by this point jesper and inej have probably been invited over for dinner a time or two, too. gotten themselves jobs (he hopes). like they're really settling in.

for now, sam just hands the food over to jesper, making a kind of snorting noise as he shakes his head. ]

You're judging, man. I know. I can see it. And if you keep it up, I'm not afraid to take the food back. I'm warning you. [ he's joking, of course he's joking, but there might be some truth to the threat (he's invoking his mother in that statement, after all.) but jesper does take the food, and sam nods a bit to himself as he takes a look over jesper, too. the new clothes, the easy way he holds himself. again - settling in. sam feels good about it.

his brows arch at the comments, though, laughing a little at the idea. he knows where jesper is coming from, and he is a bit touched at the concern, if only because he does worry if he looks exhausted or if it's just some of that earlier observant tendency he caught in jesper doing that first meeting. for now, sam shrugs it off - he's doing a lot better than he was just a few days prior, anyway. and he is having fun, tonight. even if he's also working at the same time. ] I'll take a vacation when we don't have to worry about a war, how about that?

[ he rolls his eyes a little when jesper laughs at jaskier's music, if only because he's been both an uncle and an older sibling. he knows how this goes with teenagers. ]

You're lucky- [ he adds, when jesper turns back. ] If I'd seen you when we were setting up, you'd probably have ended up back here helping out. So you better have fun tonight. You might be working next time.

[ another joke - or is it? ]

[itookashot]

No, not the food, I'm starving right in front of you, can't you tell?

[ Jesper is so ridiculously skinny for someone who always finds a way to get food, but he is using it to his advantage at the moment. He's eating just fine. He's not above being the poor little skinny boy though, even if he's well aware Sam looks right through it. That's part of the fun. He's liked him from moment one because this is a man who can see through bullshit and normally that would make him nervous, but instead it's a relief. He doesn't feel like he has to pretend the same way he would otherwise.

Sam's easy in a way that Jesper's sometimes when he's in a good place, and he's young, he'll probably continue that way with time. He likes people, he cares about people too, but he is more inclined to doing small things than big ones. Helping Mag out, saving money for a gun and for an apartment with Inej, running errands for friends, but big picture things he's not good at. Thinking about a war? Nah. Not even in his sphere of thought.

If there is a war coming, he needs that gun more than before. Jesper raises an eyebrow at the reference, notes it, but doesn't comment on it. There's never going to be a vacation with that mindset! There's always something. ]

Funny you say that, actually.

[ This is in reply to working next time and the smile he flashes Sam is a mixture of mischief and something else, something that's driving him. Purpose, maybe? The hope of purpose? Not that Jesper would put a pin in it. ]

Seems like I'm going to be joining this restoration team. I spoke with Alucard. I have some skills that will be useful for it, so I pitched it to him.

[ It wasn't planned. Jesper genuinely was curious at the beautiful shirtless man standing there talking about rotting boards. And then it sort of spiraled into that, but he feels good about it. Well, not entirely good. A little freaked out about it. He was actively offering his Grisha abilities to someone he didn't know to create something instead of destroying it. It was a lot. ]

So I'm the most helpful guest here.

[falcony]

Then watch your mouth.

[ which...again, jesper's not wrong. sam's not actually going to take that way from him, because jesper is skinny. because jesper seems the type to always look like he's skipped a meal, and sam feels that genetic need to feed him come echoing through the generations, the ancestors. for now, sam is content to know that jesper has his feet under him. that he's got a room, and that mag keeps him busy.

once upon a time, sam's place wasn't all that different from jesper's. just looking for a place to go, somewhere to get his feet settled, where someone else was making the decisions and giving the orders. the big difference, though, is that sam learned pretty quickly after riley's death that he wasn't as into that. being given orders. being expected to do anything he was asked.

there is also the simple fact that he worries about the war because he doesn't want jesper to have to. because someone will, so it might as well be him.

for now, though, jesper flashes him a smile that sam reads as mischevious, more than anything else. still, he listens as jesper continues, his brows raised and waiting until he hears that key phrase - joining this restoration team and then jesper is just going to get the full, proud, dad excitement that has sam reaching out with both hands and clapping them on jesper's shoulders. ]

Wait seriously? Hell yeah, kid. Alucard's good people, you don't need to worry about him. Ask him about his baking. [ a nod, a little shake, and then sam's letting go. holding his hands up in mock-defensiveness. ] Okay okay, I won't take the food back. You'll need your strength for... [ he looks up, and around them, before giving jesper a smile. ] What sort of skills, though?

[itookashot]

[ Jesper is also one of those kids who still hasn't quite outgrown the fear of not having a next meal. Whether that's because he lived on the streets or because he's always in danger, it means that it took until living with Wylan before he stopped hoarding food. And then he came here and while he has yet to not eat, thanks to Mags and Sam and the barracks, he's taking nothing for granted.

Oh he does not expect dad excitement and it absolutely feels like dad excitement, this is exactly probably what Colm would do finding out Jesper is doing something helpful instead of doing something criminal. He doesn't shy away from affection, not like everyone else he knows, Jesper likes affection. The mischief in his smile turns into genuine delight for a moment there, pride in himself flickering regardless of whether this is Colm. Okay. He's doing something good. ]

He doesn't wear shirts and he likes to bake? Too good to be true.

[ Jesper flirts because it's fun, but he definitely doesn't always mean it. As for Sam's question, he hesitates. It's probably the first time since Sam met him that he truly does hesitate, that for a moment he doesn't seem like the confident swaggering teen he usually is. It's fine. Sam's fine. Sam can be trusted. He overturns that innate fear that dogs him and reaches out to pick up a fork.

He's very tall so it's easy for him to block out space around him from prying eyes, and it's just him and Sam here, but he's being cautious all the same. He's been warned to be. But it's a small enough thing, for them. Jesper holds up the fork and then the metal starts to shimmer and bleed and then it's turned into pure liquid, hovering in the air. Jesper spins it around over his fingers and then with a snap, the liquid goes stiff again and morphs right back into a fork. ]

I'm helping him get the rot off of the boards here, renew all of the wood. I'm a Durast, it's what they call someone who manipulates matter.

[falcony]

[ it is absolutely dad excitement - and what's worse is that now that jesper has recognized it as such, sam's probably not going to be able to not be seen in that role. dad excitement, dad concern, dad jokes. for not being a biological father himself, he's pretty damn good at setting himself up in that place. (and he doesn't mind it at all)

for now, though, he does recognize the genuine smile from jesper and just ends up nodding back, laughing a little. cause...yeah. yeah. that's alucard for you. ]

Likes? I would say loves, so get ready for that.

[ and then - yes. sam does recognize the hesitation, both because it's not something natural in jesper, from what he's seen, and also because he almost recognizes the look. almost. like there is something he's learned to hide for a good reason, like he needs a moment to decide if he wants to say anything at all. but then jesper reaches across for a fork, and sam feels himself settle his feet. prepare for whatever it is that jesper finds is safe enough to show. taking this seriously, because jesper obviously does.

as he watches the fork shimmer and bleed, as he watches it turn to liquid and then back into the fork again, his eyes widen. not from fear, not from surprise, but curiosity. interest. he looks back to jesper with a small smile. ]

Man, that's cool. [ and then his brows lift slightly, looking back to jesper's face. ] I'm guessing it's not as cool where you're from? [ since, you know. the suspicion. the caution. sam seems completely relaxed, like the small show had been interesting but not at all dangerous, but he's more worried about jesper himself than anything else. ]

[itookashot]

Oh good, because I'm always hungry.

[ Hey if a hot man wants to bake him something, he is going to love every second of it! Jesper does know he shouldn't hit on his boss, and likely after some flirting, he won't bother. He stopped flirting with Kaz a long time ago, and he actually loves him, tragically.

Jesper doesn't know if he expects Sam to react poorly, probably not? None of the Summoned have cared, he's gotten nothing but interest from them, so maybe the truth is they're all not only sexy, but used to supernatural options. Either way, he might know Sam probably won't react poorly, but he still relaxes when Sam smiles instead. The relief is in his return smile. It's not a reflection on if he thinks Sam is the bad sort, regarding this, just experience. ]

Generally, there are only a few things that happen when you're a Grisha. You either get forced into the Ravkan army, if you're born there or they sometimes take kids from other places, or you're murdered by Fjerdans for being a witch, or people find a use for you. Or you try to hide and get found out anyway.

[ Considering Jesper's allergy to being at the barracks or in an army, and the fact that he's alive, the obvious answer is that he fell under the third one. And that may be unfair to his gang leader, because everyone in the Dregs needs to be useful, it's not specific to their resident Durast. But it's a nicer version of the same thing. He doesn't regret it. Just because he had a limited amount of choices doesn't mean he would make a different one. ]

I like being useful, I just didn't want to get snatched by anyone, so only our inner circle knew. It's not a big deal.

[ He says that last thing because Sam is now Dad and that means he doesn't want to worry him any more than he would want to worry Colm. He's fine! Everything's fine!]

[falcony]

Sounds like a perfect match.

[ alucard can get all of jesper's energy, attention, and flirtatious. sam thinks maybe he deserves it a little. that, or sam's just glad to know that he's got another set of eyes on him. another person checking in. sam still doesn't love the image he has of alucard, alone in the graveyard, but hey. he looks better right now, so.

it's the relief in jesper's smile that confirms it for sam - the way that he's had to hide this ability, told it's been anything but helpful. for a brief half-second sam wonders exactly about the kind of place jesper and inej both came from. grisha and armies and child soldiers and mercenaries, which he's pretty sure at this point were just some street gangs. it turns something in his stomach at the thought.

so when jesper says that last bit, that i like being useful, that sam kind of laughs, shakes his head a bit. definitely just sort of ends up reaching over and rubbing at the top of jesper's hair. ]

Well, you'll be plenty useful here, with or without that fancy magic. But at least Alucard will put you to work.

[itookashot]

[ Jesper doesn't let anyone be alone if he can help it. He loves introverts, he loves befriending them and making them tolerate his flamboyant energy. It's inevitable he'll try the same with no-shirt Dracula backwards.

Jesper and Inej are teenagers but they've lived a lot in the past few years, more than most people do in decades. They've seen and been through too many dark things to really be children, despite their short time on earth so far. They both find their own ways of coping with that darkness, Inej with her determined hope and firm calm and Jesper with his laughter and charm. Unlike Inej, his abilities and his personality make it a lot easier for him to roll with the punches, to fit into the society here by guessing at what works. But he still won't feel himself unless there's guns at his hip and coin to be had. Some things don't change easily.

Jesper makes a face, a very omg Dad don't scrunched up face, when Sam ruffles his hair and he laughs. Especially since he's several inches taller than Sam himself so he had to reach up to do it. ]

That's the plan. Julie says I should use them more often to make coin off of. Smartly, of course, not being obvious or anything. I can make a lot of things. Who knows.

[ She's smart as a whip, that Julie, and he adores her, deeply. Jesper's Durast abilities are very impressive if used correctly, and he's merely scratching the surface. ]

Just don't tell everyone that I can literally bend bullets. It'll ruin my hustle.

[ Jesper has been hustling darts since he got there, but he doesn't take so much money as to get kicked out. People enjoy his shows and the tavern owner is fine with him there. It's only 5% of the time that he needs to use any gifts at all, he really is that good of a shot without any powers at all. ]

[falcony]

[ sam got that sort of vibe from jesper when they first met, so it's no surprise to him that he's ended up where he has. that he's the type to search out the introverted and, whether they want it or not, attach himself onto them. sam is much of the same, which may be part of why they did attach as quickly as thy did. or, maybe, sam just likes the kid. sees something of himself, and also something of his nephews, in him.

inej it was a bit different, and it's something he's still working on, too. but where it concerns jesper, especially when he makes that face, well. they're already here, aren't they? they're already this? sam, who wishes there was some way he could just reach in and pull out any of that hesitation, that uncertainty, that worry that flickered across jesper's face. because whether or not he needed to reach up to ruffle that hair (barely, though, only a couple of inches. freaking beanpole), he is still a kid, isn't he?

he knows it's impossible, but the urge is there all the same, which is why he laughs a little when jesper mentions julie, his grin fond and wide. ] Julie's not wrong - if you've got the skills, it's worth making a living, but be smart about it, and careful. [ because he has to say it, and he will always keep saying it. that's just how it's going to go.

but then sam stops, and actually makes a face at jesper, eyes squinting just a bit - though it's obviously in jest. ]

Are you kidding me? You can bend bullets? Like- after you've shot them? [ he shakes his head, unbelievable. ] So you're a whole-ass cheater. Remind me never to play you in like, anything that has to do with skill. Like ever.

[itookashot]

[ It's going to take more time before Jesper stops having that anxiety and worry, before it stops crawling under his skin and warning him that he's never safe. There's something familiar about having to be 'careful' in Free Cities; not to the same level as Ketterdam. He doesn't think anyone is going to try to capture him and use him, or execute him for it, but he wonders if there will ever be a time when he can just be a Grisha without worrying about it. If he'll always have to hide, just a little bit. ]

I'm always careful. Even my closest friends didn't know about them until recently. Although in one of their cases, it's because she's part of the Grisha army and she's very patriotic.

[ Jesper really does not want to hear from Nina how he should join the army and how great it is to be with the Grisha. Maybe he already wondered about that, about what his life would be if he did go to the army, but she'd just make him feel guilty about it. He loves her dearly, and she's not the same girl she was before, but he still doesn't want to hear it. Ketterdam and the Crows were his people, if his life was different it might've been the Grisha, but it wasn't.

He flashes a grin at Sam's realization. ]

Whoops. I shouldn't have told you.

[ Then he could have gotten away with impressing him as if his powers never factored into it. Jesper laughs because the funniest part is he never even realized he was doing it until recently, but now that he sees it, it's so obvious. And also so easy. ]

I made this shot you wouldn't believe recently, not even facing the target or having my eyes open, a long way away. It was epic.

[ Yes, technically a cheat, but it still was difficult. It was the only way to save the day, the pretend murder of Kuwei through a fake assassination attempt with Jesper's aim. He couldn't get there in time to make it through his actual eyes, so he did it completely blind, with a whole lot of hope for his luck to win out this time. He wouldn't have been able to embrace that ability before making peace with his Dad and the others. ]

It's telekinesis, I feel matter and can pull it toward me, not only change it like I just showed you.