a late autumn wasp

[baedalites.livejournal.com]

Who: Everyone!
What: A harvest festival and talent show.
Where: Howl Barrow
When: Misdi, the first of Maryden.
Notes: Players are encouraged to invent NPCs, talent acts, or have their characters participate in the show. Have questions? Need to plot more? There's an OOC post for that.

The Zygoda squats in Howl Barrow like an extravagant toad, weighted down by enough decorative architecture to make a baroque angel blush. Live colourful birds - of which an alarming number appear to be cockatoos - roost between the columns and pillars of the facade. The light-up sign outside declares THIS NIGHT ONLY AT THE ZYGODA; AUTUMNAL FESTIVITIES; AMATEUR NIGHT; EVERYONE WELCOME; HARVEST PIES!

The street beneath it has turned into a carnival in its own right; there are tents and stalls selling anything from fortunes told, candy, face paint, and odd little handicrafts. There are street performers and vaudeville artists putting on shows that invite bystanders to join in. The crowd appears to be in a good mood, happy perhaps to be able to let lose and blow off some steam in a friendly context for once. Some wear masks, others are dressed in finery, and others still look like they just got out of work. No one seems to mind either way. The theatres doors stand open, inviting those who wish to step inside.

Comments

[thenormalsquint]

Wow, he really makes it easy for her to get an eyeful, doesn't he? Far be it from Angela to shyly look away or blush or do anything in the coy department. She leans back on her heels, narrowing her eyes, looking as if she's deep in thought for anything in the world.

"How about both? I mean, if you want to do either or, don't let my choice stop you, but I wouldn't mind both." And this is why one never tempts Angela like this. Especially with a man who is threatening to undress in front of her.

[thenormalsquint]

Only nobody will let a six-year-old have so much access to glitter, right? Hopefully.

"Whatever makes life easier for you," she replies, closing her eyes and leaning back into the chair. "Except for making me look like Medusa's twin or something."

[gifted-hands.livejournal.com]

Modesty and fae, two things that rarely meet. Human nudity taboos have never made much sense to Tadhg anyway. If anything, he grins wider at Angela's encouragement.

"Well now, as much as I enjoy helping out a friend--" The vest slides down his shoulders and off. "--I'm really not looking to get arrested my first week here. But I doubt I stand much chance of landing in jail just for going bare-chested--" Shirt parts company from his waistband and gets rucked up his torso. "--so the shirtless part I can provide."

Both garments wind up neatly draped over one arm as he once again offers the other to Angela. Tadhg now sports nothing above the waist besides his mask and a silver pendant (http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y61/karihan/RP%20Whossits/1048.jpg) hanging low enough on his chest to be concealed by most shirts. And if there are any raging prudes in their vicinity, the mild ward of inattention he activated while reaching for that first button will make it easy for them to ignore anything that might upset their delicate sensibilities.

[sailorofthefloe.livejournal.com]

"Alice band then," he says, passing one over. "Medusa would be seriously cool, although we'd need a better head piece for that. Green dreadlock falls or something."

[aldabeyoun.livejournal.com]

It is a universal constant that all version of Njoki throughout time and space love pie. Bad pie is a tragedy, but good pie is something to be rejoiced over and consumed with great joy. At this particular moment, Ki is eating some sort of fruit-like pie that is orange(ish) and neither pumpkin or cape gooseberry, but somewhere between the two flavours.

[thenormalsquint]

"Medusa would certainly be not," Angela retorts with a strained laugh as she tries to keep her head still enough for the band to slide into place. "I'm not trying to be celibate for a whole year again. Looking like Medusa will just lessen my chances at a one night stand."

Far too much personal information for a woman to tell a man she's only met less than a week ago, but really, what is anything personal to Angela? Certainly not space or words.

[thenormalsquint]

Somewhere, sometime, somebody is going to think Angela as fae with her lack of this modesty concept. It really won't be the first time. "Now people are going to think I picked up one of the performers to take home... and that's pretty much all right with me."

She laughs but it's suddenly cut off by her attention being diverted away from Tadhg's pecs to what's hanging down from his neck between them. The pendant sparkles in the afternoon sunlight, enough to get Angela to pay attention to something artistic.

"Pretty," she muses in a low voice, running her finger over the intricate knot work.

[goodeintentions]

Aimery, too, had a fondness for pie. There were all kinds of variations and improvements, but the basic concept of them had survived enough to still remind him of the more pleasant aspects of 'back home' in Warwick. He had decided to limit himself to one slice at the most, maybe two, but it all just looked and smelled so good.

He wandered the table for a bit, undecided, until he found one that was a delightful off-orange color with the most pleasant smell. Except he didn't know what was in it and getting it and taking a slice only to toss it away would be terribly wasteful. So he looked around, eyeing the people's plates until he spotted a one that held a slice of the same color. Even before he recognized the bearer, he was headed over, his face a picture of polite inquiry, "Pardon my interrupting, but that pie. Is it any good?"

[aldabeyoun.livejournal.com]

"S'not bad. It's orange, but doesn't taste of orange. I can't tell you what it is or tastes like, but it's not too sweet?" Njoki looks down at her plate and stabs a piece of pie off to eat. It would be better with a cup of coffee or maybe a pot of tea, but you can't have everything. "Might be persimmon?"

[neverrundry.livejournal.com]

Antonin claps a hand on Njoki's shoulder and beckons with the other - come closer. He lowers his voice as though sharing a potentially devastating secret. "Two bottles of Old Ogden's finest Firewhiskey and a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans."

With that admission, he roars with laughter as though it's the funniest thing he has ever heard in his life.

[aldabeyoun.livejournal.com]

While not entirely sure what either of those things are, Njoki is still able to share in the joke. She's always been quick to find humour and is the first to admit that a good laugh is infectious. Of course, once she gets to laughing, her whooping giggle is a bit strange and usually gets a few looks.

"Brilliant. Were you good enough to share with the poor sold-off husband? Or did you keep it all for yourself?"

[manyshapes.livejournal.com]

Raven has been wandering through the festival, mostly people-watching at the moment, although she might check out one of the fortune-tellers later, just for fun. Right now she's contemplating the spread of food, trying to decide whether dishes that look familiar probably are familiar, or just cleverly disguised that way to lure in the unaware.

[gunsnotvoodoo.livejournal.com]

There is no way Loki is passing up a chance to jump up on that stage and do a little entertaining of his own. Especially not with Bartleby around to haul his ass away before he embarrasses himself, the audience, and the entire Kingdom of Heaven.

The volunteer musicians aren't expected to do much more than keep a beat and keep up with Loki, who launches into an enthusiastic rendition of King of Rock (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXzWlPL_TKw). Yes, he even performs both parts. It's a sight to see.

[neverrundry.livejournal.com]

The giggle coming from his heretofore-assumed-male companion leaves Antonin feeling rather wrong-footed. He doesn't want to ask, however, because after all, some people just have strange laughs.

Instead, he focuses on the question and shakes his shaggy head. "Kept it all to myself. No one cares much for Barty, you see. He -" He pulls a grimace, as though trying to figure out just how to explain Barty. "He did this thing with his tongue."

He mimics the darting motion with his own tongue, exaggerating it, his eyes going wide with each swipe. "Like cracking your knuckles, but he did it during conversations."

And this was good reason for selling Barty to a hag for three galleons and not sharing the resulting purchases.

[aldabeyoun.livejournal.com]

Njoki wrinkles up her nose in distaste. She's got her own odd habits, but thankfully that is not among them.

"I knew a man that would lick at the corners of his mouth when he was nervous and he was always scared of some damn thing or other," she says with a chuff and other dismissive expression. They should both rejoice in their perfect normalcy, right? "I'm Ki, eh?"

[goodeintentions]

"Persimmon?" Aimery made a small thoughtful noise, a soft hmm as she are her bite of pie, then gave a firm, agreeing nod. "I shall give it a try then, thank you."

He half turned back towards the pie table but stopped himself, deciding pie could wait until he confirmed they had, in fact, met. "You attended the Luthor birthday party about a month back, yes? You had a... Columbina mask, if I recall?"

[goodeintentions]

Maybe a second plate wouldn't hurt, if the tenders didn't recognize him, so Aimery found himself once again surveying the buffet with a keen eye. He wasn't the only indecisive one either, it seemed, from the number of people wandering the line looking hungry- one wearing a familiar looking scarf. Aimery grinned and tried to play his winding up standing next to Raven as pure coincidence, but his voice was plenty cheeky as he asked, "Miss, could I bother you a moment for some advice?"

[sailorofthefloe.livejournal.com]

"I don't know, with some people around here it could actually increase it." There is dabbing of paint, etc, as all this is going on. "It's none of my business, but why celibacy?"

Is he making a face? Maybe. Sliiightly.

[neverrundry.livejournal.com]

He has his own bad habits, as well, but there's just something about Barty's 'tongue thing' which sets him (and others, he suspects) on edge. Barty's eyes go a little too wide, his insanity a little too contrived. Antonin thinks he probably does it to get a rise out of people. The obnoxious younger brother, plying for attention by being obnoxious.

"Ki," he echoes, then holds out one large hand. He has no compunctions about being friendly with the filthy Muggles of the world. Just so long as they stay in their place. "Antonin. Been here..."

He trails off, then shrugs. A few days, a week. He's not so sure.

[thenormalsquint]

"Lean market," she replies through clenched teeth, this time trying to stay still so he can paint in peace. "Very lean market with people who were too young or didn't play for the same teams I did."

Or they were all vampires, exes of her friends, or generally untouchable. Or just plain not interested in her. That last part Angela doesn't like to think about.

[manyshapes.livejournal.com]

Raven recognizes that voice instantly, and she turns her head toward him with an equally cheeky grin. "Only if you'll give me some advice in return."

Then in a spontaneous fit of happiness at feeling like she almost has friends here, she gives Aimery a quick hug. "I saw you sing, you're really good!"

[gifted-hands.livejournal.com]

"Oh really?" And am I getting taken home then? would have been the next words to pass his lips, had he not noticed Angela's sudden interest in his warding medallion. He crafted the piece of silver to hold certain spells at the ready, and among those are measures (some subtle, some less so) to discourage theft of the ward itself.

Nothing serious to worry about, though. A slight shift so that she touches skin before she touches metal, a moment's focus, and he more or less tells the magic he placed in the pendant that Angela is a friend, not a cutpurse or pickpocket. It lies inert under finger, seeming nothing more than an ordinary piece of jewelry.

"Thank you," he murmurs at her compliment, noting her careful attention to detail. "The casting was fairly straightforward, but etching on the fine detail took time."

[thenormalsquint]

Oh, she'd take him home, wherever home is right now, but Angela's as distracted with something shiny as a magpie. Moving to hold it in her palm, she brushes it with her other hand, taking in the fine etching.

"You did it yourself?" She sounds impressed. Metalworking was never her forte. The closest thing she's ever got to working with metal was her Red Bull can sculptures on a night she had to stay awake.

[sailorofthefloe.livejournal.com]

"I'm guessing this would be in another place like this," he says, swapping sponge for paintbrush. "'Cause to be honest, I would have moved."

Not unlike when he did leave home at eighteen. There's not a lot of anything in Finnmark, let alone people.

[thenormalsquint]

"Yeah, well, in that place, moving wasn't an option except to go up or down a floor or to the other side of town," she replies, trying not to laugh. Indeed, the City was truly a dead end like Baedal.

"I could only dream about moving."