[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

[itookashot]

[ For a moment, Jesper freezes. A blink. And it is not that obvious because he pushes past that singular rush of panic quickly and keeps smiling. He's been hiding his abilities so long and the fear that comes with acknowledging them is not something he's outgrown in only a month or so. But thanks to Inej, Wanda, and being around magic in general, he's able to push back it. ]

I have the ability to strip the rotten parts of the wood off and replace it with pieces of new wood and mold them together permanently. Using my hands. That way you don't waste any of the still good wood and only have to use as much new wood as necessary.

[ This is the first time he's volunteered his abilities at all, and it feels very, very strange to him, but he smooths over that discomfort with a playfully raised eyebrow. ]

No problem, why wear a shirt at all when you look like that.

[cryptsleeper]

[Alucard doesn't push. For a long time, he needed the opportunity to put the right words in the right order before speaking, thanks to Thorne complicating a whole mess of trauma from back home.

The explanation though? That gets a thoughtful noise of genuine consideration.]

Interesting. It'd be worthwhile to see if any of the etchings on the older wood could be transferred into replacement planks in the manner you've just described. I have been experimenting with nails to help augment such sigils, but this sounds like a potential multi-layer approach that would be sustainable well into the future.

[The response is utterly serious to that second part though:] It is hardly safe for construction work.

[itookashot]

[ Jesper feels like he held a breath there for a moment after admitting what he can do, and lets it out after it gets a positive response. It's strange but nice. He hopes that day by day of this eventually he will think nothing of it. He puts his hands in his pockets in case they shake because it's embarrassing, but on the outside he manages to look fairly calm.]

I don't see why they wouldn't be. I'm basically breaking down the matter of the wood and I'm able to shape and modify it to a new position or state. So if you give me the etching, I should be able to put it into the wood.

[ He's never tried it before, nor has he worked directly with other magic users either. It would be a brand new concept. He knows that with his kind of Grisha, the Durasts excel when being able to work together, and he's never had the opportunity. ]

I've always been a solo act, so ... I'd probably need instruction, but. I could help. If you ... want.

[ That is the more obvious nervous blip in his otherwise relaxed exterior, a moment of uncertainty in gray eyes. He manages to mask it over though with a laugh, because Alucard's deadpan is excellent.]

Good thing you'll be dancing, then.

[cryptsleeper]

There is going to be extensive experimentation with methods and techniques before any of the real work begins. I can promise you that much, and that would give you time to refine some of the skills that you described combined with what the workload will need. [He's confident in this much. Alucard's nature isn't to delegate - he likes working alone. It gives him needed headspace and focus. But this is a bigger space and more complex project than restoring headstone after headstone in the graveyard. He can't do that, and he won't not use a talent that sounds useful.]

Where should I send any word, once plans are more finalized and I can offer room for experimentation?

[The deadpan isn't for humor he's...like this. Mostly.] This is still work.

[itookashot]

That all sounds reasonable. I can practice until then. This isn't typically the way I use them.

[ The telekinesis side of things he knows very well, but the modification of matter as a Durast takes more precision. He's been practicing in the Horizon and utilizing it more out here, but it's a process. He needs something to do. He needs a purpose, a direction for people to point at, his high energy almost too much to manage. ]

I've been staying at Mag's inn, I only got here a month or so ago.

[ Sam told him about her inn so he's been helping out there in exchange for a living situation. It's better than living in the streets, which he used to do in Ketterdam before being snatched up too.

Jesper smiles and tilts his head, offering a hand. ]

First of all, I'm Jesper Fahey, second of all, you put in all the work in this place, you have to at least enjoy one dance.

[cryptsleeper]

This space has interesting challenges. It'll require inventive solutions to complete the work and ensure long term stability.

[Mag's inn. Alucard can remember the space, and a name helps as well. The rest will fall into place as it will.]

Alucard, Mr. Fahey. [He does return the offered hand, but it is with some awkwardness. Wary eyes, born of a whole mess of trust issues. Not anyone's fault here, at least.].

We'll see how the night unfolds. Until then, I need to continue my rounds. I'll be in touch some time next month.

[itookashot]

Oh Saints please don't call me Mr. Fahey, that is my Da. It's Jesper or Jes.

[ Jesper is amused. He's been called Mr. before but Alucard says it with such elegance and formality and he is such a troublemaking scamp that it doesn't really sync up for him. Although he's been trying to act as properly as possible, albeit with some outright compliments. The handshake is quick. ]

If you don't end up on there, I'll come and find you, just you wait.

[ He is back to his playful self, mischief back in his eyes. He does get the man has to go about his business though, there is a lot going on here, and he won't overstay his welcome. Jesper salutes him as a farewell and then goes to find the free food!]