It's that time of year again — when the temperature starts to dip down, making way for thick cable-knit sweaters and coffee drinks flavored like bright orange gourds to pop up around every corner, and the long days of summer fade out in favor of early twilights and cool autumnal breezes. That's right, it's nearly fall in Cadelle, and you may have noticed the city's busy bees looking a little busier than usual around the city center.
The Energy Festival takes place in time with the changing of the seasons — a time when energy is high in the air, ripe for the harvesting; it's a time-honored tradition in the city of Cadelle where citizens gather together and work towards doing good deeds for our fine city and for cities near and far. In keeping with the city's emphasis on charity and compassion, citizens both new and old will find a variety of opportunities to give back, all while enjoying the very best that the season has to offer.
▸ Give thanks for good fortune, health, or friendship at the nightly lantern release. Decorate your own lantern at an arts & crafts booth sponsored by Colortopia, the local art supply store, or purchase a hand-crafted lantern from local merchants — all proceeds are donated to the city's volunteer organizations! At night, meet your fellow citizens on the beach to release your lanterns up into the milky night sky. At last, you might just see the light!
▸ Enjoy a sweet treat, like creamy white mooncakes filled with the season's harvest or a tart glass of freshly pressed apple cider. If sugar and spice isn't your bag, dive into something savory — the city's food venues have come out in full force to showcase their new fall menus, which feature such city favorites as creamy pumpkin soups, hearty meat pies, and other stick-to-your-ribs comfort foods.
▸ Make like a tree in autumn and shed your leaves at the clothing donation drive! Come drop off your gently-used garments in exchange for tokens, redeemable throughout the festival for souvenirs, treats, and more! You can even browse the sorted racks of your fellow citizens' donations and find some new digs of your very own! You never know what you might find — good or bad. (Please, no intimate apparel.)
▸ Share your talents at a variety of volunteer-hosted giving circles. From knitting and quilting blankets for the children's wing at the hospital to sorting donated canned goods for the food pantry and soup kitchen to simply offering a helping hand in carrying heavy boxes wherever they might need to go, your time and energy are always appreciated! There are plenty of volunteer citizens around to point you in the right direction... or, at least, what they think is the right direction. Fingers crossed!
Of course, good deeds aren't for everyone, and the city administration has certainly noticed a particular proclivity in its newest citizens for the newly discovered —
er, alternative means of energy generation. (Ahem. You know what we're talking about. Don't make us say it.)
Not wanting to pass up such a perfectly-timed opportunity to maximize on this discovery, the administration has tasked sweet, innocent Flora & Cornelius (the poor dears) with determining an appropriate venue for encouraging this unique form of energy generation.
While they're not exactly sure where the idea came from, they're delighted to announce the city's very first Togetherness Tent! Hosted in the city's smaller Eastern Gardens, there's plenty to see and do for those that may prefer something a little less charitable...
▸ Feel free to explore the OUTDOOR SEATING AREAS — there are plenty of places to relax and get comfortable, with both single chairs and larger booths all around. With a cool breeze in the daytime and a roaring firepit in the chillier night hours, and a carefully selected catalogue of instrumental music to enjoy, your hosts hope you'll be plenty comfortable while you chat and get to know each other!
▸ Just beyond the outdoor area, you'll find an assortment of beautifully decorated BEDOUIN TENTS. Some are completely open to the public, with various couches and pillows and comfortable blankets in the main spaces, and others offer more private, curtained-off areas for the shyer (please read some air quotes around "shyer") sets.
▸ If you're not much for sitting pretty, or need a little liquid courage before you start exploring, there's always the OPEN BAR, where talented (and attractive) bartenders will mix up anything under the sun with a smile. Feel free to linger, or take your drink to go. Request a little extra something in your drink (and be extra nice to the bartenders), and they just might be able to add a drop of a golden substance to your beverage that makes you even more keen to meet new people — and maybe even a little braver, too.
▸ Just like a mouse with a cookie, your hosts know that any good drink needs something savory (or sweet!) to go with it. Just beyond the bar, you'll find an expansive display of SNACK TABLES, each filled to the brim with city specialties sure to encourage a feeling of goodwill and togetherness in anyone who eats them!
▸ The center table, decorated with a simple cream cloth, features your standard party fare. Finger foods are the name of the game here, with everything from your grandmother's favorite spinach dip and vegetable crudites to upscale bites like fried ravioli filled with only the richest cheeses. Sprinkled around the table, you'll also find more classics like tea sandwiches, petit fours, and other party planner staples. Everything here is perfectly safe to eat, and shouldn't offer any side effects other than a potential stomach ache if you decide to overindulge.
▸ The table to the far left, however, is a little cooler. Decorated with a rich navy blue cloth, the table is full of small bites and chilled drinks all catering to a very specific, very cool theme. Whether you try Flora's favorite chocolate spearmint cupcake (please don't tell her the icing looks like toothpaste) or a frosty glass of blueberry apple cider, each bite is sure to leave you tingling from new sensations. Treats and sweets from this table will, depending on what's chosen, offer tantalizing side-effects ranging from a literal chill in the air to phantom touches that encourage the eater to seek out the source, or even the sensation of time slowing down around you — eat too much at once, and these side-effects might just overwhelm you! Be sure to read the menu carefully before you choose your bite.
▸ On the far right, draped in a deep red cloth, lies the last table. Like its blue-hued sister, this table is themed around heat, with a variety of items sure to tempt even the shyest into exploring their inner spice champion. Cornelius' favorite cinnamon sweet potato cupcake takes center stage here, but you'll also find other sweet and savory snacks, as well as both hot and cold beverages like the classic hot toddy or crimson-hued sangria to wet your whistle. Items sampled from this table will provide encouragements ranging from a pleasant flush to sudden desires creeping up from your subconscious, or perhaps the immediate urgency of a well-known battery bunny. Forget to pace yourself on these small plates, and you may wind up moving too fast for even a speedster to keep up. Be sure not to speed-read over the menu before loading your plate. (We're looking at you, Mr. Allen.)
As may be expected, Flora and Cornelius aren't exactly the most experienced at planning a tasteful, sensual affair in Cuddle City, so they've enlisted the help of caterers from a nearby city that specialize in aphrodisiac cuisine. However... they may have failed to overlook that those available at short notice aren't always the most qualified for the job. There's a reason, after all, that they're available when others aren't.
The caterers certainly meant well, and they did their best to provide the high quantities requested within the ridiculously short time frame allocated, but consistency isn't exactly their best attribute. Some batches may have come out a little more concentrated than others, while others may lack any oomph whatsoever. Eat a bite-sized chocolate spearmint mini cupcake and maybe your touch will have a pleasant, icy tingle to the recipient, or maybe you'll smooch them and it'll be like a scene out of A Christmas Story. Pop a spicy Red Hots bite-sized cupcake into your mouth and warm your companion right up, or maybe you'll just singe a handprint into their clothes.
It's like Russian roulette. With cupcakes. Normal, right?
It's like Forrest Gump would say. Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. In this case, life's like a giant batch of cupcakes, and you never know which one's gonna make you want to tear your clothes off.
Howdy, cuddlers, and welcome to your first Energy Festival! This is the first of a quarterly event series, themed around the four seasons and timed to align with the solar calendar. While the city certainly emphasizes the charitable options available in the town square, and we are thrilled to see what sort of hijinks will ensue, we know there will be plenty of excitement (and plenty of questions) on the Togetherness Tent and the opportunities it provides.
As a reminder, consent is extremely important both ICly with the city administration and OOCly with our player guidelines. Characters will have full opportunity to know the effects of anything they consume, as labels will be available as well as descriptive menus above each table. There are also NPC'd catering staff as well as party hosts available, should a character have further questions about a specific item's effects or ingredients. However, as players, it is always up to you how thoroughly you wish to have your character read the fine print before diving right in. Should you wish to have your character ignore the menu and all printed warnings, eat an entire plate of cinnamon candies and wind up feeling an irresistable urge to disrobe, you're certainly welcome to do so! We simply ask that you keep in mind our policies on consent-based actions, and should your character's urges involve another character, that you obtain the appropriate IC and OOC permissions before moving forward, and please remember to utilize any content warnings in your subject lines if applicable.
If you have any further questions specific to this event, we encourage you to ask away on our QUESTIONS COMMENT here in this post. If you have general questions, or prefer a more private venue, our GENERAL INBOX (and SCREENED INBOX) is always available for you. In addition, if you've got an idea for a future event, feel free to drop us a line at our EVENTS SUGGESTION POST.
We hope you have tons of fun out there this month, cuddlers, and we'll see ya around! |
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cuddlecity2017-09-15 03:00 pm
Kieren Walker | will match format. OTA except for last prompt!
[Unlike some of the other events that were planned for later, this was something that Kieren felt totally comfortable in. He had decorated a couple lanterns; one was generic, covered in scenes of a sunset and a green valley; he had it hanging from his belt. It was for anyone who might have forgotten theirs, or if something went wrong and needed a new one (after all, using fire to put lanterns up in the air meant some might catch on fire).
His own, though, was decorated with images of Amy. Bright and shining...it seemed only fitting that he would put a lantern up in the air for her--she would love it. And after all, he was here for her, anyways.
Reaching the beach, he smiled up at the stars, glancing over at his neighbor, realizing that he didn't know how to actually do this thing.]
So I have the decorating the lantern thing down--but how do we actually put it into the air?
Snack Tables
[In the tents, Kieren had to wonder at all the stuff they had. It was...impressive, to say the least. He wandered over near the snack tables, reading all the labels, eyebrows going up a bit more after reach each one. At least they had normal food for people, too. He wondered, absently, if he could have asked for them to put out some sheep's brain for him, but Kieren didn't like any level of losing control while undead. Even that extra sense of euphoria just...wouldn't sit right.
Still, he was happy that other people could get a chance to enjoy themselves. Glancing over at someone filling their plate, he gave a warm smile.]
At least someone can enjoy eating the food.
Closed to Credence
[Kieren had invited Credence to come with him to this; since most of his friends had left, he knew that he was feeling down and getting out of the apartments was probably the best idea. This celebration was a bit more...racy than both of them were used to, but given what happened in Eudio it wasn't that much different than some of the parties, really.
He's waiting outside the tents for Credence; he probably should have suggested that he pick the other man up but he was still--well, he was still unsure what they were doing. He was usually willing to jump in feet first, but after what happened in Eudio, he was a bit more hesitant. Kieren just...wanted not to screw things up, sometimes. ]
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When he asks him to come along to a party, he dresses in his nicer clothing, and tries to tame the curls that have grown in. He waves at Kieren when he spots him, instantly perking up. There are shadows under his eyes and it's obvious he's been miserable, but he doesn't want to put all of that on Kieren.]
Hi. [He's not sure how to greet the other man, so he hesitates before leaning in to press a soft kiss to Kieren's cheek.] You look really nice.
[Credence, too, had no idea what they were doing. It felt good to be around Kieren. He enjoyed his company and the conversations they had were among some of the most interesting he's had. But he doesn't know what they are and is afraid to ask.]
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Still, he was happy to see Credence was growing his hair out still from that horrible bowl cut; the hair framed his finely sculpted face...and really, Credence was one of the most beautiful people Kieren had seen.]
Uh...thanks. Best part of fall, no one looks at me funny for wearing long sleeves all the time. [He makes the joke, stumbling a bit over the words when he gets the kiss on his cheek. He decides to be bold, then, and slide his arm around Credence's shoulders, squeezing, as he started to lead them towards the tent. He only had two inches on the other man, but he could use it.]
I'm glad you decided to come out with me--this is going to be fun, I promise.
[He pushed open the entrance to the tent, eyes adjusting to the difference in light.]
Uh--do you want a drink, something to eat? [He quickly adds before Credence says no,] Everyone else will be; don't stand in solidarity with me, really. It doesn't bother me--I'd like you to enjoy yourself.
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[Credence, not long ago, would have assumed that physical contact would be difficult for him. Even with those that he trusted implicitly not to hurt him. That didn't seem to be the case. The more he was around others, the more he wanted to be touched and the less jumpy he ended up becoming. He noticed this most often when Kieren was around, when they were close. He was bolder, kissing his cheek, and open to the arm around his shoulder, leaning in to press himself to Kieren's side.
He curls his arms around his waist.] What are we going to do?
[There was a lot happening in the tent, so he takes his time looking around.]
As long as you don't mind. [He could wait to eat, if he needed to. The table with the red cloth caught his eye, all of the sweets and finger foods, and drinks with steam rising from the mugs.] Let me get something, I'll be quick.
[He's reluctant to move away, but he does so anyway, scurrying over to the table to grab a hot toddy and a cupcake. Credence reads all the accompanying warnings, but doesn't think much of it. When he returns, he has to carefully wind his way through people to get back to Kieren. There's a dab of icing on the tip of his nose as he'd tried to steal a bite while walking.]
I like the colder weather, people are happier when it's the holiday season.
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He's glad for Credence's arms around his waist, a faint solid feeling, even if he can't completely lock in the sensation.]
I don't know--sit around, talk? Look at all the people? It's one of my favorite things to do, you know. People watch. [Given he's an artist, and likes to paint portraits--is it much of a surprise?
Still, he smiles when Credence decides to go get some food, grinning a bit wider when he comes back.]
I always enjoyed colder weather too. It's never really not gloomy where I live, but at least there was a reason for it, instead of it being summer and it being just foggy on the moors.
[He reached out, brushing the icing off Credence's nose with his thumb, and immediately licked it off his finger without thinking.
A few beats later his brow furrowed, and he grabbed a napkin, spitting the small bit of dissolved sugar into it.]
...Habit. Sometimes I forget I can't eat anything.
[Except he never really had before. Still, changing the subject, he sees a low couch open, near a corner.]
Want to go sit down over there?
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Could I see it, your home? A picture or in a book maybe?
[He didn't know if it was possibly here in the city, but he could ask around if Kieren wasn't sure.]
Oh. [His eyes follow Kieren's finger, flitting to his lips as he licks the icing off. His own lips part in surprise but then Kieren's spitting it out and he realizes that it's because he can't eat food.] Does it taste of anything?
That looks like a good place.
[He doesn't have any free hands now, much to his disappointment, so he settles for walking close as they move towards the open couch. Credence takes a bite of his cupcake and then sets it aside before making himself comfortable with the mug still in hand. For some reason, he blamed his new found libido, he couldn't stop thinking of Kieren's finger or his mouth. When Kieren is settled in beside him, his eyes linger there, as if he's studying something that is at the same time beautiful and perplexing.]
Would you mind if we sat close to one another?
[They were in public, something that Credence was acutely aware of.]
lanterns
Down at the beach, she gets ready to release her lantern into the sky, when someone wonders how they'll float. ]
Well, it's like a hot air balloon, just smaller. You light a candle, and the hot air inside the lantern becomes less dense than the cold air around it, so it floats.
[ She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, shrugging. ] It's just physics.
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[Kieren smirks, shaking his head.]
Makes you wonder if it would work if it was a really hot day.
[He looks at her lantern, giving a small nod over it.]
Does it have any meaning?
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She looks down at her lantern, shrugging. ]
Debatable. [ The veracity of the Scrolls of Baradir was debated even among the scholars of Iorden. For what Jen had gathered, anyway. ]
It's based on a dream my friend had.
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Well it must have some meaning, if you're putting it up into the sky--I mean that's what we're supposed to be doing, right? Putting things into the sky, giving them meaning?
Making wishes in a place where we've already made a wish.