[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

[cointosser]

Oh, worry not. I fully intend to find time to grow closer to your esteemed friend, and to hear her stories. I still have some birds to show her.

[Take that as you will, Alucard. Even though it's definitely literal.

For the most part, it's only a distant pining. He's not sure if constant travel is what he's meant for now. He'd stayed in Oxenfurt for months -- or, at least, that's what the memories he has now told him. It took some time to set up his influence as the Sandpiper, after all. And without a muse to be following up mountains and into shitty, stinking swamps...

His heart will forever yearn for adventure. Surely there will be adventure still, even in this world.]

What year you manage? Gods. I hadn't thought how long you may be planning to work on it. [He picks at a stray string on his embroidered coat. It's not a bad thought, working on this thing for a year. Or two. He is still swallowing the idea that they will stay here. All three of them. (Four? Will Yennefer, too?) For, conceivably, the rest of his life.

It's still a life. It doesn't fully matter what world he's on.]

I'll admit, that sounds a bit more proper. [He teases.] Interesting idea, that. I don't know if the Free Cities have anything formal set up, but I suppose there's nothing stopping us from crafting our own, in time? Surely we aren't the only two fools with some vested interest in historical preservation. An organization can be, say, three people. Four, maybe. We'll rope Sypha in somehow.

[cryptsleeper]

Don't meddle too much.

[Jaskier will probably meddle some. Sypha gets along easy with most people, and so does Jaskier. The dhampir has zero doubt in his mind that they're more likely to become fast friend than not, and he is going to havee to deal with teasing from both of them. It isn't a terrible fate, all things considered. Could be worse.

There's a tired laugh. His hand slows in Mog's fluffy underbelly.] It's an entire building Jaskier, with complex needs that I'm still trying to understand. The magic needs more study, I have to figure out what the first phase of work is, and I haven't even considered exterior work yet. Repairing headstones was simple for the most part. Sure, there were different pieces with different needs, but the process was similar across the board.

[The time span doesn't seem to bother him, at least.] When I built my crypt under Gresit, I was working with the limits of being underneath a whole city, but I still had freedom of design, after all. This? This is a real challenge.

[A year or two is fine.] I think if that's the route that is used, then there has to be people who aren't Summoned and who aren't politicians involved either. Two and two would be a fair balance to start with.

[cointosser]

[Jaskier brings a hand across his chest.] Me? Meddle? How could you ever think so?

[Sypha already likes him, Jaskier would insist. And he thinks she's fascinating, and also sort of terrifyingly powerful, even with only the weather magic. That's plenty for him. So. Slight meddling.

Mog's tail flops against the floor. Likely he's as exhausted as Jaskier, which means he'll probably have to carry him home, too. Spoiled rotten. Jaskier swears the gryphon is already heavier than when he got him.]

Look, I don't work on buildings. This is my first one. [He's owned them, but he certainly has never worked on them this closely. He may even be spotted sometime in the future doing labour. Maybe. He has promised nothing, which helps him retain his freedom for the future. To get out of it, essentially.

[Jaskier pats his leg, and it's companionable. Mog lifts his head to look at the noise, then yawns with a wide, stubby beak.] At any rate, I suppose I'll be with you through this. No plans on up and shoving off to some other well-intentioned faction.

[He nods, giving his own yawn. Damn. Mog's making him do it.] No, no, you're right. Don't want to give them a reason to think we're trying to... to take over, or something. I'll ask around. We'll find someone appropriate in time. We've still got plenty of it, now we're committed.

[cryptsleeper]

A hunch. One that's right, going by your reaction.

[Don't look so faux wounded at an accusation, Jaskier, and maybe Alucard won't suspect you.

Alucard's pretty sure he's going to just sleep here tonight. The only question is if he'll have enough ability to change into his wolf form before he well and truly conks out. Shame there's no gryphone nests here.]

If there's anything you want to learn, I can show you. Even if it's just a few of the audio spells, so you can use them for other concert venues. [The yawn Jaskier lets out is a little too contagious. Alucard follows suit.]

Interest should be high anyway, after this evening. [Alucard stretches out a bit more, which translates into him sliding down so that he's just flat on his back, period.]

I don't think I am getting up from this spot for a few hours now..

[cointosser]

Well.

[Probably. But that's none of Alucard's business.]

I would be rather interested in the spells holding this place up. Figuratively speaking, of course. It's not a realm of magic I've currently any experience with. [And one of them, or both, need to understand it, in case it needs... renewing. Or repairing? Does chaos work that way? He's never known it to be something permanent.

Alucard's praise once again turns him warm. Normally he'd probably tease him about that, too, but. At this point, he truly wishes to hear it. Interest should be high, now they've seen what this old place is capable of.]

Honestly, I was considering sleeping here. The road home is far too long. Maybe Geralt will carry me? [He laughs.] I would offer to do the same for you, but I'm rather sure even as a wolf you'd break my back.

[cryptsleeper]

[He'll let it go.]

It could help with other venues that are not as enhanced as this one.  Less of a strain on your vocal chords, project more from the lute so the sound carries further.  [The list rattles off all too easily.  Alucard's gotten a good sense of what he's looking at now, and he can foresee possibilities.]  More possibilities I'm not thinking of at the moment.

[More to think up as well and experiment with.]

The nice thing about being a wolf is that it becomes easier to sleep in strange places.  If you sleep here, you're going to wake and walk funny. [There's a walk of shame joke to be made here, but Alucard's not the right person to make it.]  You could ask him to do it though.  Just don't send Mog, he might fall asleep en route.

[cointosser]

[Tired minds give both ideas and snatch them away just as quickly. He nods, brushing hair out of his face, still slightly wet with sweat. The Hall has fair weather and temperature inside, but the performance itself is still a mighty drain.]

Suppose it's rather comfortable to rest your head on your own paws.

[It always looks so, at least, when Mog does it. Though Mog also sleeps in completely incomprehensible positions. Sometimes he's all twisted into shapes that remind him of complicated bread rolls, or knots. Sometimes his body is facing in two different directions.

Mog doesn't even lift his head at his name this time, proving Alucard's point. His eyes have vanished into the void of him, the black melting into the dark that's taking up all the Hall's corners.]

Then I should take my leave soon. I'd hate to fall asleep on you. [Actually, he thinks it'd be rather comfortable.] I should say, I suspect that despite his civility tonight, Goro will probably retaliate over what he considers a rather grave insult. So watch yourself should you fall asleep in strange places, hmm?

[cryptsleeper]

It is.

[Alucard breathes out, fighting the urge to change forms right here and now. He can hold on a hair more, at least until Jaskier decides if he really will spend the night. It gives the dhampir pause about getting something more comfortable to store here, but...

...that's for tomorrow Alucard. And tomorrow Jaskier. Mog's already gotten a head start.]

If it isn't the end of it, I'll be surprised. [He rather hopes it will be.] Should he prove a problem, I have zero compulsion about ripping open his chest and devouring his still beating heart in front of him. [The statement is offhanded, but worse: serious.] Although his biology might be a bit different. Perhaps he has two?

[cointosser]

[Jaskier sorely hopes the same, but he is being rather realistic about it. He imagines Goro is going to continue to be a thorn in everyone's side, possibly because he thrives in such a state of mind. A bit sad, if you ask Jaskier. He was quite the fascinating drinking buddy.

Jaskier's in the middle of getting up when he pauses, brows raised. Not that he doubts Alucard is capable of it, but generally the dhamphir strays from violence in conversation with him.] That is rather sexy of you. You know, I was about to say the same. [He scoops up Mog, who only chitters in annoyance at being disturbed.] I mean, the two hearts thing, not about the ripping. Not sure I've got the heart for that. Hah!

[He's so tired.] I'll leave it to you, then. [He gives Alucard a tap with his boot on the leg, which is about equivalent to patting him, but he's far too sore and tired to bend over and try, and he's got two hands of gryphon now.] But do call me if you make a mess of our problem child overnight. I'd be delighted to help you clean it up.