Seasonal Event: Oktoberfest

[fernwehmods]

WHO: You
WHEN: October/November
WHAT: It’s that time of year, Fall is in the air, the trees are changing, and Gazin is celebrating Harvest! Below you will find celebrations and prompts for your consideration.
WHERE: Gazin
WARNINGS: None

Catfe Gerdri
A small cafe opened its doors onto its friendly little street. Inside it was selling hot drinks with funny names to make its clientele laugh for the season. There were pumpkin drinks and apple drinks, drinks made with coffee, drinks made with tea but the real draw was its cats. There were cats of all sizes and all needed to be pet and loved on. They were even autumn colours; creams and whites, gingers and deep browns. Some of them were up for adoption and had little red collars on with little golden bells. They looked fancy and neat and ready to travel.

In the cool autumn air, come in for a hot drink, meet fellow travellers, and stay for the fabulous company of Mrs Gerdri’s cats. If you’re looking for a job, the cat lady herself is hiring! Must love cats.

Harvest Festival
Gather around! It’s that time of year of harvest and merriment that no other season can do just right! It’s the Harvest Festival in Gazin, of course! There’s games and prizes to be won, music and laughter, magic to be seen, and all sorts of harvest foods to be had. Try some cake, have some bread, make something magical for a friend!

Whatever you choose, leave room for dancing because Gazin sure goes all out with spectacle and music and their finest of beers. There’s something for everyone at the Harvest Festival, which will run for six weeks before it’s done.

Gazin’s Shield Day
Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian, Xue Yang, Wen Kexing, Zhou Zishu, Merlan O’Keefe and many other locals have been busy for quite some time working on a citywide shielding project for Gazin. On this day, they’re making it official with the revealing of the project in its final state. It’s enough of an accomplishment that it’s become a bonafide celebration in itself. There will be a magic fireworks display as well as festivities. With so many talented magic users in on this feat, its success is assured.

Monsters beware, Gazin is now officially protected!

Comments

Song Zichen | The Untamed | OTA

[zichen]

Catfe Gerdri

Cats are...fine. Zichen doesn't have the same issue with touch when he is around animals. He smiles softly at a pair of kittens tumbling on a soft pillow and he gently separates them, calming them with his voice and touch.

"You will hurt each other that way. Be gentle." he advises, scooping up the babies and ordering small cups of milk for them to enjoy. Pretty soon he has two kittens with whiskers covered in milk at his table, rumbling happily because of their full bellies.

Harvest Festival

The sights and sounds startle him and sometimes he walks fast, leaving the noise behind. Other times, he almost looks frozen in place, unsure of what he should do. Of course he keeps watch over the crowd and if there are any problems, he has no difficulty stepping in, Fuxue unsheathed.

But this is a new environment for him and he feels a bit like a bird made to swim or a fish made to fly. His hands shake and there is a cold sweat on his skin, yet he remains. His loved ones are here and he cares for the well-being and safety of Gazin.

Festival

[jiangzaid]

Xue Yang hadn't really expected his husband to come out for the festival, so he'd gone off on his own. But he spies that uncomfortable figure just ahead and immediately bounces over to wrap his arms around his Zichen, snuggling in to protect against the growing chill of the season. He rubs his cheek against his husband's chest like a cat and peeks up at him.

"Are you hungry, A-Lan?" Not commenting on that slight tremble in those beloved hands, or the sweat he sees dotting Zichen's face. He knows why. And he's proud of his husband for coming anyway. But he doesn't have to do it alone!

[zichen]

The sudden appearance of his A-Yang makes his heart leap. He wraps his arms around his husband before considering that they are in public. Well, what of it? It feels good to hold Xue Yang and the contact helps calm him.

"Not really." he admits, more than a little ashamed, "It's...difficult. Being here."

But he wants to try. Maybe if he had some help?

[jiangzaid]

Xue Yang doesn't care who sees. He smiles at his beloved, leaning comfortably against him. And gives his waist a warm squeeze at the admission he knows is just as difficult.

"I'm here now." A solid reassurance Zichen isn't alone. "There's some music being played over there if you want to listen with me?" He juts his chin out in a direction, offering one thing to do. "Or walk with me?" He doesn't care what they do as long as it's together.

[zichen]

The warm, familiar weight eases him so much that his heart ceases to race and his hands stop trembling. He buries his fingers in his A-Yang's hair and bends down to nuzzle their faces together, eyes half-closed.

"You are." he agrees and he kisses Xue Yang for coming to him, "I'll go anywhere with you, A-Yang. The music is nice."

A thought occurs to him, but surely it's....ridiculous.

"Do you feel strong enough for a dance?"

[jiangzaid]

His Zichen won't pull his hair. He beams at the adorable nuzzle and presses into the kiss, welcoming anything his husband wants. Then it's his turn to lean up to kiss Zichen, for answering what's in his heart. And for caring to ask if he's strong enough for something.

He grins, hope and delight bright in his eyes. "Yes! I want to dance with you." Only with that between them does he wiggle free of those warm arms, reaching for his husband's hands to tug him along to where the music he'd heard is playing.

[zichen]

Never. His fingers are careful and gentle, caressing the silky strands as well as the back of his A-Yang's neck. The second kiss leaves him flushed and he peers at his husband in concern. Pushing that poor leg is the last thing he wants to do.

"Then..." he chuckles at the wiggling and grasps Xue Yang's hands, letting himself be led to the music, "I'm not sure how. Does it matter?"

Surely they can just...move together?

[jiangzaid]

He loves those hands. How they feel moving over his body. How they look as Zichen moves them around every day. He grins at that blush and nuzzles their noses together.

"Just follow me, A-Lan. I won't let you trip or stumble." Just move together, as they've learned to do so well. Xue Yang wraps his arms around his husband again as the music slows a bit, and moves with the sweet tune.

[zichen]

The reassurance gives him confidence and he waits for Xue Yang to arrange them before beginning to move in time with the music. There are motions, he knows, that aggravate his husband's leg - so when they twist or turn, he lifts Xue Yang by his waist, taking most of the weight off of that limb.

"Are you enjoying yourself, love?" he smiles gently, pleased, "Have you played any of the games?"

[jiangzaid]

Every time he's lifted as they twist or turn, his heart leaps and all he wants to do is drag his beloved off for another activity entirely. But he doesn't. Instead, he enjoys dancing, trusting his husband not to let him hurt himself either.

He used to think such things would piss him off. Now they just make him feel warm and loved. He lets that show in his eyes as he gazes into his husband's eyes. "I am. I like the festivals people here throw." And be welcomed to. He beams at the mention of the games. "Some of them are fun. And the prizes are either silly or cute."

He might have kept a couple of the things he'd won, and had them run off home by a friendly village kid for a little reward.

"Have you played anything yet?"

[zichen]

Later. Later. Zichen gives him a secret smile, letting him know that he isn't done with him. Not by far. He is sure a hot bath is in their future.

As for being angry, well, he could understand his A-Yang's pride being injured. But what Zichen does is out of concern - not in some attempt to prove he is stronger.

"Let me guess, we have some of those silly or cute prizes in our home?" his eyes warm - Xingchen's eyes - and he pulls Xue Yang close, resting their heads together, "I went to the cafe. I fed milk to a pair of kittens."

[jiangzaid]

He grins at that promising smile that only he sees.

And he's nowhere near as angry these days as he used to be. Zichen and Xingchen have seen to that. Now, his energy is split between working at the Forge, helping out around Gazin, and his daozhangs. He doesn't miss the pain of that fury, either.

Xingchen's eyes, but Zichen's soul. Xue Yang laughs and nuzzles their noses together as he's pulled close. "Of course!" He chirps unashamedly. Then smiles softly, hearing about what his beloved has been doing so far.

"I bet a number of them fell in love with you."

[zichen]

The silent promise is sealed with a soft kiss, pressed tenderly to Xue Yang's grin.

No, he doesn't miss that fury either. Seeing his A-Yang in such torment, his every action an echo of a difficult and traumatic past had reminded him of a wounded animal. Now that the pain has been lessened, he can see his husband in all his bright, sweet mischief.

"I'm not surprised." he chuckles before blinking in surprise, "They liked climbing on my robes." and wiggling into his pockets.

[jiangzaid]

He melts under that sweet kiss, feeling it wrap around him just as warmly as his husband's arms.

Xue Yang laughs and strokes a hand over his Zichen's robes, as if checking for kittens who have claimed Zichen for their own. He leans in to murmur mischievously into Zichen's ear- "I can't be too upset, I like climbing my Zichen too~"

[zichen]

He wouldn't be entirely shocked if one of those kittens proved to be a stowaway! Of course being checked for the little rascals has other effects on him and he shudders, closing his eyes at the hot breath against his ear.

"I don't let just anyone climb me, A-Yang." his lips twitch.

[jiangzaid]

The hand lingers far longer than necessary, but then...only part of the reason for it's quest was to hunt for stowaways.

The rest is for the joy of getting to touch his beautiful, strong Zichen. He feels that shudder and smirks to himself. But only kisses that lovely ear. Only to snicker at his husband's quip.

"I like being on that list."

[zichen]

His husband knows just where to touch, just where to linger to take Zichen's breath away. But, of course, Zichen will be getting his revenge later. Swallowing a groan - his ears are sensitive! - he spins them with a smirk.

"Are you a cat, A-Yang? Or a..." he trails off, a little shy to say such things out loud, "...charming man?"

[jiangzaid]

Fair is fair! Zichen has become far too adept and turning Xue Yang into a boneless puddle every day.

Xue Yang laughs as they spin, delighting in that smirk. "Meow!" He chirps, giggling cheerfully. Only for his heart to skip a beat and his cheeks flush before his teasing smirk softens to a smile.

"I hope I'm charming to you and A-Chen. No one else matters."

Harvest Festival

[guijiangjun]

Wen Ning is enjoying the festival. It is lively and he's a little overwhelmed himself and he's definitely been bullied by some little ones by the time he comes across Song Lan frozen in place -- or at least it nearly looks like that.

"Are you alright?"

[zichen]

He remembers to breathe and he focuses on the other man, coming back to himself. His fear can be a tangible thing, almost. Like a wall that erects itself around him, denying him the freedom to move.

"The crowd..." he tries to explain, "It's overwhelming."

[guijiangjun]

“Mm,” Wen Ning acknowledges and he can relate to it. He glances around. There’s a bench that’s tucked a bit away and looks like it might be a bit quieter.

“Do you think you can make it over there?” Wen Ning questions, gesturing at the bench.

[zichen]

"Ah...yes, thank you." Zichen gives his companion a short bow before walking to the bench. He lowers himself onto the seat carefully, glancing up at Wen Ning.

"Please join me." if he wishes.

[guijiangjun]

Wen Ning bows his head a little again and he follows the other toward the bench. He made no move to sit until the man invites him to do so.

“Of course,” he agrees and sits with a good deal of space between them. “My name is Wen Ning.”

[zichen]

"Do I...make you nervous?" Zichen has worked on opening himself to others since he arrived, but old habits die hard and he doesn't have the same warmth as Xiao Xingchen or even Xue Yang.

[guijiangjun]

Wen Ning blinks in surprise at the question, his mouth opening but no sound coming out for a few seconds.

"oh! Uhm, no. no. Why would you think that?"