It's the most wonderful time of the year — whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or even the classic "festivus for the rest of us", this time of year is the holly jolliest all over the world. That's right, cuddlers, it's officially winter in Cadelle, and with no time to spare!
The Energy Festival takes place in time with the changing of the seasons —
a time when energy is high in the air, released after a long (and hopefully bountiful) harvest; it's a time-honored tradition in the city where citizens gather together and welcome in the new year and reflect on the old. It's a little solemn, a little hopeful, and sometimes a little bit of both. Strap on your trapper hat, lace up your snow shoes, and be sure to grab your mittens — it may be a little cold outside, baby, but it's definitely warm in our hearts. (Awww.)
Over the month of December, you may have noticed the city's administration and volunteer corps gathering twigs, branches, and fallen trees from the forests, piling them high along the beach in a wide circle. On the evening of the twenty-second, once the sun has dipped beneath the horizon to leave the sky milky black, the collected woods are gathered up and finally put to purpose: a merrily roaring bonfire, tended with care to ensure the flames survive overnight and throughout the duration of the three-day-long festival.
▸ Feeling particularly peckish? Much like your everyday Boy Scout campfire, there are plenty of snacks and sweets best enjoyed with good company around the dancing flames. S'mores kits are available for a small donation to the city's charitable organizations, and options like popcorn packs and roasted sausages can be purchased for those in the mood for more savory staples. Of course, there's always the allure of hot cocoa and marshmallows, available at no charge whether or not you choose to indulge in the rest of the concession stand's menu selections.
▸ Once you're settled and cozy, be sure to keep an eye out for your favorite volunteer coordinators, Flora & Cornelius. They've volunteered to host this year's sharing circles, a tradition particularly well-loved in Cadelle at this most austere time of year. Surrounded by friends new and old and even those you haven't met yet, the sharing circle is an opportunity to grow closer with others by sharing of yourself — feel free to tell a beloved memory from home, or perhaps offer up a confession from your days here. Surely there's something you'd like to get off your chest before the new year begins.
▸ As the night draws to a close and sleep begins to call you home, consider taking with you one of the offered ceremonial torches. As any mother in the city might tell her child, it is said that carrying the light of the bonfire home will help to cleanse the air of any lingering negativity that may have accumulated over the previous year. Allowing the torch to spark your own fire — safely, of course, in your fireplace — is said to provide warmth, light, and hope for the new year to come.
For those that prefer a more festive winter experience, rejoin the city administration and all your fellow citizens within the familiar halls of the Ballroom Hotel. Here, the decor is once again bright and beautiful, with silver and gold throughout the room creating a sparkling winter wonderland perfect for ringing in the season. Even the grouchiest of Grinches will be sure to find something to smile about within these hallowed halls, between the dancing and drinks and delicious delicacies available around every corner.
Should you opt to venture beyond the pretty decorations, however, you might find yourself drawn to a pair of ornately decorated double doors near the end of a dimly lit hall. Push through, and you just might find yourself within the quiet of Chalice Hall. As the name might suggest, the room is simply decorated: all that can be seen is a large silver goblet resting atop a pedestal, lit only by the bright, unnaturally blue flame dancing within its bowl.
Strange as it might seem, you may feel a distinct urge to touch. As your hand inches forward into the goblet's roaring blue flame, you might be surprised to note just how pleasurable it feels. It's fire, so it's reasonable to assume it might hurt, but nothing quite prepares for how nice the sensation of the flames trailing a path along your arms feels. It's a warmth, like sinking into a hot bath on a cold day, and even as you step away from the fire, it lingers still.
Touch fingertips to the center of the fire, and be greeted with the chalice's reply: a thin scroll of parchment, somehow impervious to the appetite of the flames, upon which a simple instruction is written. This, brave visitor, is your sacred task. The city hopes you will attend to it well. In the spirit of the season, your task is to give — not of material goods, but of yourself, giving but the purest of gifts in the coming days. Your task is to find YOUR RECIPIENT. Once found, you must give the gift assigned; tarry not, for this gift must be given sincerely.
Well, don't delay! The city administration, having gotten word of the goblet's reawakening this season, strongly recommends entering the provided address to your recipient's home (or perhaps their workplace, depending on your assignment) to find them and begin the giving season!
Should you look on the back of your scroll, though, you may note:
NO REFUNDS. NO EXCHANGES. NO COMPLAINTS.
Hopefully that won't be a problem.
Good golly, it's almost the new year! With the reason for the season fast approproaching, we hope you find joy and good tidings in this most merry of events. From simple winter fun around a bonfire to heartfelt exchanges of stories or secrets, there's plenty for all to see and do during the chilliest weeks of the year. As a reminder:
this event is icly scheduled for the 22nd through the 24th of December. We've posted it early to ensure everyone has plenty of time to enjoy the festivities!
For the braver or perhaps simply those willing or able to be dragged along for the adventure, the chalice of charity is a great opportunity for CR both new and old. You'll find that characters have already been assigned a random giftee, and while they may note their "gift" already indicated, feel free to be creative with how your character chooses to provide this gift! Just because the most obvious answer comes to mind doesn't mean that's the only acceptable one — after all, as we tell children when they begin to buy their own holiday presents for the first time, it's the thought that counts!
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 on the flip side! |
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cuddlecity2017-12-13 11:04 am
gamora | mcu | ota
[ Gamora was settling into the city as well as could be expected for someone used to being able to travel the galaxy. She couldn't remember the last time she had stayed in one spot other than under the tutelage of Thanos and Ronan. Once she had trained to become a Galaxy Class Killer she was free to travel and do their bidding.
And once she'd decided she wanted part of it no more, she had travelled with Quill and their motley Guardians. The city was peaceful compared to a lot of planets she had been to. It was still strange not to walk around armed but it wasn't as if she needed a weapon to still be dangerous.
It was also odd to partake in festivities such as this. She had never been one for holiday traditions. There were no clear holidays anymore, and those of her people were long forgotten after Thanos slaughtered them all.
Gamora was trying to be cheerful, trying to forget the darkness but it was hard when she realised she was missing her crew. Missing Quill. As grateful as she was for finding friends like Magnus, he couldn't fulfill all the gaps in her life. The hot chocolate she held warmed her against the chill of the and the S'mores kit was apparently helping charity, though she had been too proud to even ask what she did with it. It looked edible, but clearly you were still supposed to eat it a certain way. ]
sharing circle.
[ Gamora wasn't a sharing type until she trusted someone. Magnus had certainly gleaned more information out of her than most but that was because it was a fair trade. Her stories for his. His magic for her enjoyment. His musical knowledge and her continuing to dance and eat with him.
But as the festival went on, she finally decided it was just easier to share her thoughts with strangers than try and keep it to herself. ]
I am unsure if I am supposed to wait for an Unspoken Thing. I understand the... services we are supposed to provide for the city. I would have wanted to do them with Quill. [ She didn't look embarrassed at the sharing of too much information. She was merely providing facts as to why she was having a dilemma. ] I have never had to consider someone else before. But then does what I do here even have repercussions if he does not come here, if he stays on the ship...
[ Gamora huffed out a breath as she frowned. Maybe she really wasn't built for these holidays after all. ]
wildcard.
as always hit me with your best shot, or hit me up at
s'mores!
Hi, ( comes her initial greeting, bright and cheerful as the flames before them. ) I love s'mores, don't you?
( perhaps a bit simple, but friendly's the name of the game here. as her fingers to get work unwrapping the kit, exposing the sweet chocolate and its accoutrements, she offers a follow-up that maybe should have come first. )
Oh, and I'm Kara, by the way. I don't think we've met yet?
no subject
The corner of her mouth tugged up in amusement and she wiggled the packet between her fingers before glancing at the cheery blonde. ] They don't have these where I'm from. I wouldn't even know what to do with them. I'm still mostly assuming they're edible.
[ Gamora had dropped her gaze to watch Kara unwrap them, maybe see if she could easily follow along. ] Gamora, and no we haven't.
no subject
( well, that's decided then: kara will have to teach her all about s'mores. and anything else earthly, if gamora wants her to. but s'mores are a good starting place. )
I'm not either. I mean, I am now, but I wasn't born there. ( it's all said very matter-of-factly, as if this is a sharing session she's done many times over. it kind of is, but she could always use more practice. ) I'm from Krypton, originally. I don't know if you've ever heard of it.
( a quick reach across their laps, and kara pries the packet from gamora's hands just long enough to peel it open, depositing the individual pieces back in the other girl's lap a moment later. she points to each piece in turn as she describes them. )
You want the marshmallow — this thing, the white springy part — to go into the flames. That's what the stick is for, put the marshmallow on... like this... ( most people would follow the marshmallow into the stick from the top method, but not kara. she holds the marshmallow between two fingertips, and gestures for gamora to jab the stick into its bottom, almost as if she was stabbing an enemy through the ribcage. not that kara thinks of it that way... ) See? Easy.
Now you try.
no subject
[ Gamora only showed a little surprise, but the truth was after knowing Quill, and meeting Magnus she was becoming more aware of the fact that even when people looked Terran there was more to them. ] No, never. Are there other people here from your world?
[ Gamora listened and watched intently, stabbing a marshmallow was nothing compared to stabbing an enemy. It was indeed easy. ] So we cook the marshmallow?
no subject
I'm the only one from my world, I think. My Earth, anyway. And from Krypton, actually, now that I think about it. But I've been to other Earths, and I have some friends here from that one, so it's not like I'm totally on my own.
( which, kara realizes as she looks back at the other girl, is a totally horrible thing to say, because gamora is on her own. the realization hits her like a ton of bricks. )
I — wow, I'm sorry. Um. ( maybe she should change the subject. ) Have you ever cooked anything over a fire before?
no subject
[ Now that was interesting. Apparently something like this was common - travelling to other times. It was new to Gamora, but Kara was evidently experienced. ]
It's fine. I should be used to not having friends, but it's harder once you've found some. Found a crew. [ Found Quill. That niggle at the back of her mind is back and she just gives a shrug. During her time with Thanos there had only been Nebula and her sister was far from a friend. ] And yes, I have cooked with a fire. I'm not that backwards. I'm just not used to all the Earth food.
no subject
( in a drawer, somewhere in kara's bedroom, is a device that would have let her go back and forth. a gift from cisco. she almost wishes she'd thought to bring it with her, if only just for a chance to show it to someone else. )
I've only ever been to one other Earth, though. Some people can go back and forth, but nobody else I know from mine has done it before. Most people don't even know there are more than one.
( even if gamora seems to sweep away her apology, she still feels a little bad for pointing out the obvious. no reason to rub salt in someone's wounds, after all. )
It's hard to get used to being alone again. But you don't have to be alone here, you know. People are friendly... or, I am, anyway.
no subject
It's probably for the best. I would imagine knowing about that many possible versions of yourself would cause insanity. All the what ifs. [ Of which she already had to stop herself from indulging in. ]
I have met some friendly people here, you're right. I know I am not literally alone. Just missing my friends. I'm sure the feeling will pass when I'm more settled. I'm also not sure I know how to deal with this much space to walk around. I'm used to being cooped up on a ship other than when we make stops.