EVENT 031

[sticksandbonesmods]

MA CHÈRE MADEMOISELLE!

BE OUR GUEST, BE OUR GUEST

It starts just before the crack of dawn. The night sky is still pitch dark, still as ice and just as cold and yet the four statues of the Goddesses within the Grove shine brilliantly; two from the courtyard, one in the Moon Shrine and one in the Sun Church. It’s such a bright light, beckoning even those caught in the deepest of slumbers to wake up and come forth. And as more people filter through to the light, there's two playful, downright giddy giggles in the air-

And the Grove finds itself in an orchard of fantastical fruit, a nebula-like sky shining overhead while Beiwe and Ourania stand before you all, grinning.

“We do apologize for how sudden it was…”

“But we decided you deserve a fun fieldtrip for once.”

They gesture around the orchard and uphill you can see what looks to be a mansion of marble and some celestial material you’ve never seen before. Pale silver, gold and blue animals - Stars - can be seen floating through the air, some tending to the orchard and the gardens in the distance while others play. Those who have been injured as of late will find themselves healing rapidly over the course of a few days, with the cost of deep, longer sleeps than usual come time for bed. An entire wing seems to have been built from nothing before your arrival, and it’s entirely dedicated to housing you with whatever you need, from luxury guest rooms to private bathrooms and a large onsen, and while you’re here, not a single want will go unaddressed.

The Goddesses guide the lot of you to the house, encouraging you to explore and play and rest - after all, with the library, the pools and springs, the gardens and the kilns, there’s a lot to do.

PUT OUR SERVICE TO THE TEST

If it’s relaxation and nature you want, Ourania is the one to ask. Her vast gardens hold multiple styles and she welcomes anyone to stroll through the flowers and ponds, or even join her or your own friends on a floating pagoda for tea through a crystalline lake of flowers and radiant pond fish. She has books to read, sights to simply take in, and even walks through a pitch black yet sparkling forest. Her teas bring on a soothing calm, and the snacks served with it are pillowy and light without being too sweet. It’s a refreshing time, every time!

But she’s not just healing; Ourania is also the Wilderness. Which is to say, while she won’t take kindly to you trampling through the flowers, she encourages play no matter the age as well. And if you wish to spice it up, she’ll even grant a minor blessing to heighten agility, the senses, reflexes, speed… and just enough aggression and adrenaline to make things exciting! If not a bit competitive.

She always watches from a seat with a canopy and refreshments for the players, and sometimes celestial animals may join in the fun. Sometimes they simply watch and yell out encouragements, other times the more dextrous of the Stars may give… background music? Regardless, they always return to their own domains laughing joyously.

Beiwe, meanwhile, offers numerous creative pursuits. The kitchens are open for cooking lessons — as she puts it, “some of you are hazards and need a hand”. Numerous, endless ingredients spill out over countertops and kitchen islands, with sharp knives and wooden cutting boards in abundance. Beiwe’s favourite cranberry-orange muffin recipe is pinned to a corkboard for people who had always wanted to learn it — or those who simply crave the taste of autumn in winter. The Goddess is a hands-on teacher, but that means she can only work with one person at a time; for those of you who already know how to cook, perhaps you could assist in the classes? And don’t worry, the kitchens are fireproofed via a wave of Beiwe’s supervising hands. When you’re finished with your lessons, you’ll find her sitting at the dinner table waiting for a sample, with her elbows impolitely on the wood and her chin in her hands.

Aside from cooking, there’s also art — she won’t let you forget that she’s also the Goddess of the Forge. Like back at her church, part of the home contains a large pottery studio with hot kilns and ample supplies. Here, too, Beiwe offers lessons to those who are learning to sculpt with the wheels or simply with their hands. For those who are less inclined toward pots, plates, and sculptures, the adjacent room has easels and paint for free use, though lessons won’t be given there. She’s not much of a canvas girlie.

Out in the courtyard with her twin golden lions sits a single throne, which Beiwe happily plants herself on so that she can watch you duke it out. Craving a fight? You can have any blade you dream of — axes, glaives, rapiers, broadswords, you name it and she’ll conjure it out of a radiant light for use in her outdoor arena. In this space, injuries will not stay for longer than an instant, and your powers will be realised to their fullest without harm to your bodies. Should you wish it, Beiwe herself will join in on the battle, but be warned: the full power of a Goddess is not something she’ll bear against you, no matter how much goading there is.

TIE YOUR NAPKIN 'ROUND YOUR NECK, CHÉRIE, AND WE PROVIDE THE REST

All great vacations must eventually come to an end, but worry not: Your final night involves an extravagant ball thrown in the Goddesses’ ballroom, an event that lasts from afternoon to midnight. Here, everyone is welcome and dressed to the nines — should you need an outfit, the Goddesses will spend the prior day outfitting you. You and your pets, if you would like them to have cute little outfits. The Goddesses themselves will be dressed to the nines too. Ourania waltzes with Beiwe in a silver princessy ball gown, and Beiwe is… wearing a suit with the sleeves ripped off. Sun’s out, guns out.

When they say “everyone” will be there, they do mean everyone. Lady Death dons a trailing mermaid gown in black, flecked with sparkles of green and a glass of wine in her right hand; the Seasons make their first appearance to many of you, dressed in clothing that gives off small cosmetic magical effects — Winter’s snows roll off their sleeves, Autumn’s crisp leaves fall from the ends of their coattails, Summer’s dress colours fluctuate with the sunset and sunrise, and Spring’s suit jacket blooms pink flowers. The Guardians are here as well, though Moder is simply covered in barding made of flowers and leaves, and Callan regularly tries to escape his clothing. Somehow, the Goddesses have managed to cram Aurora into a vest and bowtie, and Sehul is in the armour they used to wear before their prior death. Some Stars, translucent and in various shades of blues and pinks and whites and oranges, make their appearances as well. Some are more animal than man, some more man than animal, all grateful for your efforts to save them despite everything. And though the Lord of the Mountains and Cosmic Serpent couldn’t make it — one of them is trapped, and the other is napping — the Goddesses assure that the two have sent their well-wishes. For those looking for old friends who have since come to live here, they’re here too — all in good health and working hard, of course. …which, yes, does mean that a certain crane hasn’t slept in a week. Nothing ever changes.

All formalities aside, while Ourania loves her formal dances and classic ballroom music, it seems like Beiwe has gotten hold of Sesa’s phone and learnt what EDM is… so halfway through the party, the classic ballroom music will abruptly flip when Beiwe has the orchestra somehow, by some otherworldly miracle, playing fantasy Daft Punk. Did you expect her to not clear the floor for those who don’t want to waltz all night? Come on.

Those with musical talents themselves are encouraged, nay, voluntold to play music for everyone else to groove to. Up on the balcony is ample space for performances of all kinds, though the Goddesses will ask that those who opt to take the mic don’t be too raunchy with their performances. Love songs are beautiful, but let’s keep that love PG-13, okay?

Food and drink will flow in abundance, with the buffet table constantly restocking. Dietary needs have been taken into account, too, and appropriate labels are on every food. No “mystery meats” here! By the end of the night, you’re welcome to take home a little goodie baggie of extras to snack on before the Goddesses send everyone home the next morning, back to the Grove with bright smiles and many, many hugs.

…

Many days later, just as January begins, those of you who look up at the ever-shifting moons may notice that each of them has a gouge in their surfaces, black as pitch and moving, squirming… and that a new celestial object has entered its orbit in a sickly-coloured brown-red.

Spark Notes (Click to Expand)

summary

BE OUR GUEST, BE OUR GUEST: Welcome to your sleepover with the Goddesses! Room and board (and food and everything) is free. All they ask is that you enjoy your vacation.
PUT OUR SERVICE TO THE TEST: The Goddesses have provided numerous activities for you to do around their home, ranging from wildlife walks to full-out PvP. They'll both assist you with whatever you need, too.
TIE YOUR NAPKIN 'ROUND YOUR NECK, CHÉRIE, AND WE PROVIDE THE REST: The party begins! The ballroom is decorated to the nines and so are you. Free food and drink are provided, and so are outfits. The Goddesses encourage performers to get up on the balcony and entertain the partygoers, and the morning after, you'll be returned back to the Grove.

out of character

Welcome to December! This month will be check-in AC, but please remember to post your check-in whenever you're able because we will sweep you otherwise. For now we are also asking players to hold off on creating logs that take place in January, given the end of this event.

updates

Any potential updates, such as characters damaging something important or whatever else, will be put here.

submissions

❖ Questions
❖ December Plotting
❖ Past Life Plotting (Closed to Game Members)
❖ Investigations

code

Comments

i

[lovelyredthread]

[ It's not like he means to keep running into Silent Salt, but for one reason or another they keep crossing paths. Likely in no small part to Silent Salt's close relationship with the person he lives with and the person he's teaching.

But finding him weaving flower crowns is new. Does he even know how? Based on the assortment and how focused he is on it, Pavlova would wager not. ]

You'll need these.

[ what he puts down looks like filler, but they're pliable ]

Some of those stems aren't great for crowns so they need extra support.

[yourtomb]

[Perhaps there is something about the monotony of the task. Maybe it is simply something in the air, fragrant with flowers as it is. Or... perhaps still, it is simply the act itself, simple and kind though it is.

Regardless of the reason, Silent Salt seems almost... grateful for the offer. He takes the material and toys with it idly, folding it this way and that. It's plenty flexible, and will certainly serve as an adequate base for some of his work.]

You have done this before, then?

[lovelyredthread]

[ He gives an affirmative little hum. Turns out having a halo that looks like a wreath makes people assume you know how to make flower crowns. He's made so many over the years. ]

I was raised in the Garden, after all. I barely have any memories outside of it. Gets boring in there, so I figured it out over the years.

[ Nothing ever changing and unending 'happiness' makes you a little stir crazy after a while. Not that he's going to linger on that. He knows getting sympathy out of Silent Salt is a lost cause. ]

... These are for Elder Faerie, I'm guessing?

[ He just looked at the flowers. Of course he knows flower language. ]

[yourtomb]

[Under normal circumstances, he might have made a comment about the Garden and Pavlova's role within it. But since he's playing nice:]

I suppose I ought to be grateful for that.

[It's... close to nice, at least. He's doing his best, supposedly. Allegedly.]

... One of them is. [He motions to the pile of Gladiolus and Violet. Both piles, notably, contain a hefty amount of Belladonna.] Are you familiar with the language of flowers?

[lovelyredthread]

I am, yeah.

[ Both of those have love connotations, but the only indication he gives of that is his ever so innocent smile. ]

The other is for Miss Lily, I figure.

[ the boy settles, a bit away from the knight to give him space. He seems content to work with the flowers close to him, his little hands deftly weaving the stems. ]

People came to me for relationship advice a lot, you know. You'd be surprised how often that includes what flowers to give their loved one. Seems you have that down pretty well though. Strength and endurance seem to fit pretty well with the little I know of him.

[yourtomb]

Indeed. [For that, he motions to the collection of Aster and Iris.] Both have had an incredible impact on who I am, and who I wish to be. It is only fair that I honor them properly.

[He is not surprised to know that Pavlova is familiar. If anything, he is impressed that he takes the effort so seriously. He might have thought such advice was given in jest, or meant to harm. Then again, he knows his opinion of the boy and his mother are lowly.

...Perhaps there is much that he does not understand.]

It is more than that. Violet resembles his integrity, and how he has maintained faith in me all this time. And Gladiolus... It is the victory we managed to share with one another, despite all odds.

It reminds me of our final moments together, before I was sealed.

[lovelyredthread]

[ Silent Salt isn't entirely off base. A lot of the time the setups were unhealthy in some form, like the man who was in love with a statue... but the advice on gifts and flowers were always genuine at least. That's where he got to have his fun. ]

I never knew you were close to him.

[ Victory they shared? Hmm... ]

It must have stung pretty bad at the time then, him guarding the tree sealing you away. Dad's still upset at him and the witches for that. It's good you made up.

[yourtomb]

[Silent Salt merely gives a nod.]

We worked together for many years. We were the few forces standing against the corruption spreading through Beast-Yeast.

[More improvements: there's no pointed look given to Pavlova there. He just states it and moves right along.]

As for how I felt... if anything it was a comfort. I might have been sealed away, but I knew the others were as well. The Cookies of both Beast-Yeast and beyond would not be made to suffer beneath we Beasts ever again. [But he knows he's treading dangerously close to the truth with those words.] Whatever Witch saw fit to lock us away, at least she chose well in her Warden.

[lovelyredthread]

[ ... Call it his faint tie to Knowledge but he feels like something is off with that. He can't quite place it. For now he just keeps his mouth shut ]

Mm... that makes sense then.

[ After all, Silent Salt lost his faith in solidarity not due to his own allies, but due to the cookies they protected turning on them. He was torn down through the machinations of others, why wouldn't he hate the Beasts?

His weaving slows and he looks down at a delicate yellow bloom he was weaving in ]

It was horrible, y'know. Watching Eternal Sugar fall. I didn't even realize what was going on until it was too late. I thought a lot about if things could have been different if I tried to talk sense into her more. After some point I could tell I didn't matter that much to her, though.

[ It's not a guilt trip, he's mostly just musing. The whole situation was messed up, but he can't view them as evil despite what they've done. ]

[yourtomb]

[Guilt trip or no, it does manage to get Silent Salt to pause in his efforts. He lifts his head after a moment, eyes narrowed not in malice, but in thought. He had believed Pavlova to be complicit in her fall, much like the rest of her underlings. To hear him describe otherwise...

It could just be the honeyed words that those aligned with sloth professed in. But something feels different, here.]

And here I thought of you as one of her most loyal. [His head angles slightly.] Even after she made you of her own dough?

[lovelyredthread]

Loyal... maybe. Loyalty isn't bending to everything someone says, it's also keeping someone from losing their way, I think.

[ He shrugs, tucking in another stem ]

I failed at that either way. And what you just said is why I could never leave even if I wanted to.

[ Everyone would assume his affiliation. She had eyes all over- he'd never have been able to escape. ]

... You see things, being at someone's right hand that long. Cookies put to sleep forever because they weren't happy. Cookies turned into sugar sculptures for wanting to leave or causing a fuss... I don't doubt she'd have done that to me if I wasn't careful. She had me stop calling her Mother after all.

[yourtomb]

[It's an interesting take on loyalty. Something stirs within him — regret? Remorse? He had been loyal to his fellow virtues, and yet...

But he pushes the thought from his head. It would be just like them, to want him to blame himself for their actions. Still, he doubts that is Pavlova's intention. Or perhaps simply hopes it is not. His own regret, palpable as it is, would seem to indicate otherwise.]

Being as close to her as you were, surely you would have known of ways to leave. So why stay, if you came to resent what she was doing?

[He suspects that Pavlova had answered that question already — it could have just as easily been him. But even still, he wants to hear it out loud.]

[lovelyredthread]

[ Even if he has an inkling something was up with what he said before, he doesn't know enough to guilt him about it on purpose. No, this is just musing about home for him. ]

I did. I was more or less a glorified gatekeeper. Letting people in, protecting it from the beasts around, things like that. It's not that I couldn't but... mother would force me back somehow. She did everyone else that chose to leave. I've seen people come back after minutes of leaving because they were attacked by beasts. She has eyes everywhere in the Garden too, so she knows when people try to sneak out without saying anything.

[ He shakes his head ]

I was convinced for a good month and a half that she'd come here and grab me somehow. She doesn't let her guests leave- she wants to "protect" them by... any means necessary. Mother has no idea what she's turned into.

And I didn't realize how sinister it was until...

[ Until Sugarfly. He purses his lips. Why does it always come back to her? ]

[yourtomb]

[It indeed aligns with what he had heard from his knights, from what precious little information they could glean in regards to the domains of the fallen virtues. Without his helmet to hide behind, the way he grits his teeth, then twists his mouth into a snarl is pathetically obvious. He forgets how visible, how painfully expressive he can be, until it's too late.

Only then does he hang his head.]

I have often lamented how they fooled me. I believed, rather than them falling to their own selfishness, that they had been taken out by forces beyond our ken. I was prepared for the ire of that creature to fall upon me.

[It isn't meant to be an excuse. He holds himself responsible for failing to realize the disaster playing out around them. It was only by Elder Faerie's own insight that he'd come to realize the truth.]

Do you truly believe she is blind to her own sin?

[lovelyredthread]

Selfishness?

[ He looks... genuinely surprised ]

No, It wasn't selfishness at all. She absolutely thought this was better for everyone. In the garden no one was hurting or sad or suffering- she wouldn't allow it. Seeing other cookies struggle and hurt- especially after she helped them was heart-rending for her to deal with.

[ He fiddles a little with the flower crown he's working with, considering how to phrase what he feels ]

Not that it excuses any of what happened, but... She always told me that happiness is like a butterfly. It's fleeting, and she can't quite grasp it. Her virtue is something that by definition... could never really be consistent. She was doomed to deal with constantly failing those around her. What was she supposed to do?

[yourtomb]

[At least Pavlova could admit that there were no excuses for the atrocities committed. But beyond that, Silent Salt feels... ambivalent. Not toward the cookie himself — he's been nothing but honest it seems, even if that honesty was warped by perspective. It's clear that he means these words.

But if chasing happiness for all had become a noose around her neck, then what of the others. He thinks of his fellow virtues, then of himself. Solidarity had, in the end, been twisted against them. Was he, too, victim to this folly?

He notices a faint tremble to his hands. Before he can crush the crown he works on, he sets it down. Only then do his fingers curl into his palms and dig in.]

And how can you be sure this is not more of her lies?

[lovelyredthread]

[ Ah... This could be a problem. Maybe. Well, he could lie... but he has a feeling Silent Salt would be able to tell if he were fibbing even if he was pretty good at it. Dealing with his father and all. ]

Well... Think about it. What do you get when you put the virtue of Knowledge and the virtue of Happiness together?

[ It's not a direct answer, and certainly doesn't cover the scope of his powers, but did Silent Salt really think he didn't inherit any of that power? ]

[yourtomb]

[Something prickles at the back of Silent Salt's mind. It is not active danger, but something close to it. Phrased in such a way, it is not hard to guess exactly where those powers may lean. It answers the question of how Pavlova could know this information, yes, but it also poses a new one:

Just how much does he know.

But the sense of dread does not stem from a single source. He feels his own virtue, long cast aside but still so very important to him, start to crumble. Could this have been avoided, if Silent Salt had paid better attention to his own brethren. If he had stood in Solidarity with them instead of laboring away elsewhere -

He stands abruptly, though where he plans to go, he does not know. He casts a glance down toward Pavlova, then back toward their lodging. He thinks of Shadow Milk and White Lily, those who did not know the truth, then looks back to the boy.]

I know not what you know, but I ask that you keep it to yourself.

[It is meant to be a warning, but there is a hint of desperation there.

... Regardless, Silent Salt attempts to sweep off. He'll need to warn Elder Faerie, after all.]

[lovelyredthread]

[ Pavlova will let him, without a direct answer in his confusion. That is not behavior you exhibit to a child who already wants to snoop, man.

...

More than that, though, there's a knock at his door a while later, and when he answers the door, he'll find three flower crowns laying there, expertly woven. The two he had been working on, both charmed to prevent wilting... and the third that he'd been working on, which on closer inspection had been primarily woven with poppies ]