usir | Mini Event: Aftermath and The Oxen Gods

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Mini Event: Aftermath and The Oxen Gods

🜙 The Aftermath

	The re-animated fighters attacking both Krimnos and the City of the Free Peoples burst into flames as the waters of the glass ocean flooded back into the bay. Now nothing but ashes remains of the bodies and the bay has gradually returned to its crystal clear calm waters. Not a trace of the cloaked figures or the fog that had accompanied remains, and the phoenix marks on the survivors of the pit have faded away. The cities have been quietly dealing with their individual recoveries. Didymos' people pulled together to help clean up the shores of the bay, repair damages and recover boats that had been damaged or knocked loose into the bay. In Krimnos, efforts to clear away and repair damages from both the avalanche and the siege continue. With no one certain what has become of Captain Lykos in the general population of the City of the Free Peoples even the end to their second war with Tsekour's Stormers has not brought calm to the civil unrest as the Defenders attempt to force the city to fall into military control and the people of the city continue to resist with violent countermeasures. In this state of recovery, conflict, fear, and uneasy confusion the day of the Oxen Gods comes with few people truly in the spirit of what would normally be seen as a warm and cheerful holiday. An uneasy lull of peace settles on all three cities as people attempt to be faithful to honoring the spirit of the paired gods. Vodi and Voda's day of celebration is meant to be a time of community, love, and reflection. The day of the paired oxen gods of marriage and fertility marks the true start of the thaw, when the snow and ice begin to melt and temperatures begin to rise. Spring is still months away but the first true thaw comes mid-February, right on schedule. The snow in the foothills, plains, and open lands has begun to melt, small patches of greenery appear near the edges of thawed rivers and lakes, the outer edges of tree branches sprout new growth and small, fresh leaves. Animals that have been hibernating or hiding through the winter freeze begin emerging from their homes and can be seen exploring the land for more abundant food sources. Whispered rumors from Didymos about a dragon rising from the bay reach other cities but are never discussed outside of hushed conversations in the shadows or in huddled gatherings that quickly break apart. Speculation is widespread and varied over the origin of the fog and the masked figures that stole away over a hundred people in the night, the strange attacks, and the ultimate fate of those kidnapped. Many citizens who had lost daughters, brothers, sisters, sons, mothers, fathers, friends, or other relatives and acquaintances to the pit continue to desperately seek out the missing, their bodies never recovered and the truth behind their disappearance and eventual death unknown to any but those awakened who had come back from the pit and those they chose to share their stories with, if they chose to believe such horrifying tales.
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🜙 The Oxen Gods.

	Outside of these concerns, rumors, and the general unease across all three cities, attempts are made to forget for just a little while and focus on the celebration. Vodi and Voda are honored by a show of community and compassion. Gifts of fruits and flowers, usually those grown in greenhouses or by magic, are given to loved ones. Ceremonies take place at both dawn and dusk, offering food, gifts, and music to lift spirits and symbolize a union of peace. In Didymos a pod of fin whales can be seen returning to the bay, unusual for this time of year. They linger near the center of the bay, singing mournful whale songs to one another. Celebrations in the city have a heavy focus on Vodi, the moon god. Vodi's impact on the tides makes him a highly respected god, especially among the fishermen and sailors. As the moon rises and reflects on the bay's reflective surface the city comes together as one unified community. In the open squares people from both quarters gather over music, a fresh bounty of fish dishes from the repaired ships, sea shanties sung loudly over various types of liquor and beautiful displays by wild magic entertainers, pairing water, wind, and fire magic to create visual plays, displays of talent, and melting ice sculptures. Didymos' specialty of sweet and salty ice creams are offered by various inventive food fanatics who offer up new and exciting flavors and naming competitions. A pair of young ox calves are paraded through the town, dressed up with ribbons and colorful paints. People pet them as they go by, and the oxen are eventually taken to the temple of the oxen gods near the outskirts of the city where they will live out the rest of their years free from expectations and protected by the temple caretakers as symbolic creatures of honor. In Krimnos as most of the snow is finally cleared away from both sides of the wall, the great sundial is cleared off and the light of the sun's rays reflect off its many-faceted surface, creating dozens of rainbows in the light fog of the warming sky above the city as a colorful artificial aurora borealis. Voda is honored most strongly in the cliff city, the warmth of the sun praised for the thaw that pulls the city out of dangerous freezing temperatures. People throughout the city provide her with offerings in the hopes of ensuring a slow and even thaw that won't bury the city in snow or mudslides. Celebrations across the city happen near midday and are most often celebrated by couples in love and close friends or families, celebrating passion, family, and love with sweets, plants, and crafted goods made of rare metals or glass. Normally celebrations in the City of the Free Peoples revolve around a parade of oxen from local farms, banquets, music, and a celebration of the vastly diverse community of varied cultures with a heavy focus on the rebirth of a new year, the start of a new planting season, and a celebration of the farmers that help keep the city fed and prosperous. This year the city is divided by the conflict between the resistance and the defenders. The city is actively pushing back against the militant hold of force the defenders are attempting to keep over them with the preface of keeping the citizens under control and it is widely assumed Captain Lykos is dead, with the prevailing theory being that the current leaders of the Defenders have killed him. Several members of the resistance broadcast across the city a video of them in possession of Lykos' hooded cloak, claiming they recovered it from the Defenders' warcamp and insisting that the Defenders are the city's enemy. A pair of large orc captains, the duo currently in charge of the city's defensive army, return fire, claiming that the members of the Resistance have kidnapped or killed Captain Lykos and are attempting to destabilize the city so they can take it over for themselves. A hefty reward is placed on the heads of the Resistance and people who speak out against the Defenders are routinely taken into custody and locked up. Before the celebration in Krimnos, during the celebration in Didymos, and following the celebration in the City of the Free Peoples, a strange feline can be seen pacing about the trade district, meowing insistently at anyone with a vial like hers who passes her by. Did you see her? After the full moon on the 19th, several farmers report sightings of werewolves around the city outskirts or report close encounters with the dangerous creatures.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Strange comes upon the actual answer as well. He frowns a little, squinching up his nose in thought before he gives Shura a little shrug and continues talking.

"Well, that settles it. You'll simply have to live somewhere with a big enough bed." Where that is, he sure as hell doesn't know. "Either that or train him better. And considering that I doubt the latter is going to happen, finding a new bed it is."

Shura clicks her tongue.

"Problem is findin' that place. Honestly, I could just throw some blankets and pillows on the floor and call it a day. That might be easier than tryin' to find a place that can fit a bed that's big enough." She lets out a sigh and shakes her head. "But it it ain't like I'm going to have a chance to really worry about that any time soon." What, with the entire basement werewolf and all.

"What if you build a place of your own? We'll have multiple bedrooms, large enough for you and Shishi to comfortably share a bed. And since I'll help with the building, we'll have a library large enough for any future collections."

It's the same teasing tone of voice that Strange had when they were discussing their future as selling ridiculous infused liquors. Of course this would be nice. But he doubts it would happen any time soon, even if they figure out what to do with the basement werewolf.

“A library? Just how many books are you planning on?” That was a poor question, the man would probably keep whatever books he found in the gutter, the nerdy windbag. “Ah, whatever. We’ll have to add in running water. You been to that place in Krimnos that has it? It was worth the trip just for that.”

Hot baths!! Shura would have stayed there if it wasn’t for the entire thing with Krimnos holding too many memories, etc etc.

"I never had a library of my own before. Why not have one now?" Strange gives a little nonchalant shrug. He's planning on so many books and here's hoping that Shura's going to accept that.

"As for that place in Krimnos, I haven't been there yet. Maybe once all this wolf business is finished, you can show me where it is?"

'All this wolf business' is said with a vague hand gesture. He doesn't know how long it would take for Lykos's everything to be sorted out, but even Strange realizes that his options are severely limited until it is.

What, the rich nerd didn't have his own library? Shura wouldn't have guessed that. But he can have his own imaginary library in their pretend house. Shura won't crush his dream, mostly because now she's stuck on hot baths.

"It's the Steamkettle, the Steamkettle! You can't miss it. But thinking about it--you ever heard of Preciposte? Nyaa~~ It's beginning to thaw out, so you can probably make the trek there by now. It's been so long since I went to the hot springs there. It'd be a great place to go after this business is taken care of!"

It was going to end. They'd figure out what was going on with Lykos, and then they could go off an have a vacation. It'll be great!! They could even pick up a souvenir for Amy for being such a bro through all of this.

Strange just lights up as Shura mentions hot springs. That sounds amazing. Of course he'd love to visit the hot springs, that sounds wonderful!

"Well then, that settles it! We'll finish up with our current business, then take the journey over to Preciposte. I think...what, a week's worth of vacation is overdue?"

"A week is hardly long enough~" Not that Shura ever got a week off to begin with, but it was a lot easier to make the trip when she lived in Krimnos proper. Admittedly, the airships made that journey easier now, but still.

"A summer home there would be nice, don't you think? It's too cold in the winter, but staying there as long as we liked in the summer." A nice imaginary summer home to go with their imaginary liquor business and their imaginary regular home. Wild dreams are easy to plan and imagine, much easier than contemplating the other things happening around them.

Strange leans back in the chair slightly, letting himself get wrapped up in wild dreams of domesticity. When was the last time he thought about things like this? It had to be a while back, before Arabella died. It's refreshing.

"But if we had a winter home, think of how better the hot springs would feel. Travel would be a pain, but I could figure out a way to lessen the journey." Somehow. Maybe. Don't ask him how he'd do that, this is just pure ego speaking.

"Even if you had a way of getting there, you'd get cabin fever in a week." Cold and snow for months. Shura has no doubt in her mind that Strange would get bored within a couple days. It as one thing to run away to the mountains for a week, it was another thing to be stuck there with only snow, hot springs, and some dice and a deck or cards to keep one entertained. "Better to have hot water in the house and enjoy that when it's cold."

Shishi can feel Shura's good mood, laying his head on his paws and slowly dozing off. Shura keeps petting his mane, hoping he'll stay asleep for a while. The word domestic hasn't occurred to her, so she can keep this conversation going without questioning anything about what she really wants.

Strange would definitely get bored within a couple of days. However, he likes to think he's better than that. He responds to Shura pointing out the obvious with a little shrug of his own.

"That's where the library comes in. I could easily fight off cabin fever if I had reading material. You're the one who I'd be worried about."

And don't worry, he'll be the one to unintentionally drop the d-word sooner or later.

That isn't the d-word Shura is looking for!!

But Shura just stares at him, trying to turn it around on her. Okay, so she'd get cabin fever, it's true. That's why she was suggesting that they don't chill in Preciposte all winter long.

"You're the one who couldn't keep still during the Long Night!" Casually just going to bring that up, because excuse you, mister. Seeing as she's still drinking with him, she's probably not holding a grudge. Not much of one, at least.

"Besides, that ain't accountin' for supplies. The airships make everythin' easier, but it's hard up there some years. I'm telling you, it's better to hold out somewhere else for the winter."

Strange can't help but wince a little because yeah, okay, point taken. He knows that the Long Night will always and forever be a point against his ability to stay calm and honestly, he's expecting Shura to bring it up until the day they die (again).

Still, she's teasing him about it. That's...a good sign? Strange is interpreting it as a good sign, at least.

"No matter what, we'll need to agree on a location before we build," Strange teases, expression shifting to a grin. "Houses, liquor businesses, vacations...I'm planning an entire future of blissful domesticity with you!"

It’s evidence that he’s perfectly hotheaded and easily bored, so of course Shura’s going to whip it out as necessary.

However, Strange will gain the upper hand with his teasing. He uses that d-word right as Shura takes a drink, and she chokes on the ale, not quite spitting it out, but there is the smallest dribble down her chin. She can’t think of anyone who’s described doing anything with her as domestic before. She can think of a couple people from the war who would question whether or not she was actually a domesticated creature to begin with.

“You—you windbag!” A quick moment to stall as she wipes off her face with the back of her hand. “Jeez, don’t say that kind of crap. Someone might think you’re being serious.”

Probably someone like Billie, who would tease Shura endlessly, regardless of how serious Strange was.

"Who's to say I'm not serious?" There's a wry smile on Strange's face as he continues talking. This is half him being serious, half him teasing Shura because he can. One thing is obviously clear: Strange is proud as hell that he made Shura choke on her drink. "You're quite attractive, a damn good fighter, a wonderful conversationalist, and kinder than you let on. I could think of worse people to spend the rest of my life with than you."

But she's not Arabella, a voice in the back of Strange's head reminds him. But, then again, he's never going to see Arabella again, isn't he. Everybody who's been revived was revived from the battlefields. She died in her bed. The sooner he accepts that, the better.

Strange's smile falters a moment, but he quickly tries to hide it by taking a drink himself.

For a moment, Shura has no idea how to reply. After that moment, she still doesn’t know what to say. Or do, besides stare at him. Her mouth works as she tries to come up with something, anything, but all she’s really doing is blushing. She’d kill him for fooling around like this, or she would if he wouldn’t just come right back. Come right back to her? Gods, what a thought.

She’s saved from her stupification by the arrival of the barmaid, who seems to feel the awkwardness radiating from the table as soon as she approaches. Without knowing whether or not her presence is welcome, she makes just a quick offer to bring another round or something to snack on. Shura will take both, and the barmaid makes a quick exit. Shura downs the rest of her glass because she needs it.

“Nyaa, I ain’t your type. Good try, though~” Just play it off, that’s the ticket. It’d be nice if she could stop blushing, but she’ll just put it off to being drunk if her face didn’t cool down.

As the barmaid approaches, Strange mentions that he'll take another round and something to snack on as well.

"Spoken like someone who doesn't know what my type is." In Strange's mind, this is a dangerous line of conversation (that he's going to push anyway). Not because of Shura's thoughts—again, he's annoyingly pleased with himself that he managed to make her blush that badly. But because it's dangerously close to some sad backstory reveals and Strange doesn't really know if he wants to go there or not.

He definitely doesn't want to go there unless he has another drink in his system. So, he downs the rest of his drink for some liquid courage before asking,

"So go on. What do you think I like in a partner?"

Edited 2019-03-14 03:33 (UTC)

"How am I supposed to know that?" Besides the fact that she just said she wasn't his type. The fact that she didn't know what his type was wasn't the issue, she just knew that rich bitches didn't usually go for low life street mongrels. So she'll just take that angle and hope he'll drop it.

"Look, you were born to a good family. I wasn't." No, no sad backstory for Strange tonight. Probably. Though she's guarded, it's still mostly a matter of her being flustered instead of self-deprecating. "That's enough, ain't it?"

Unfortunately, while Shura is backing out of the sad backstory hour, Strange decides to lean in to it—at least, to this part of it. More talking about Arabella can come after he's a bit sloshed. Because something about her statement annoys him. Is that all she sees him as? Someone from a good family?

"No, it isn't. You know I had a wife—Arabella. I've mentioned her to you before. Well, my father objected to my courting her. Not because she worshiped a different god or was of a different race. But because she was poor. She was the daughter of a pastor with little to her name. Thankfully, my father froze to death partway through the courtship," Strange says with a nonchalant air (dad died! who cares!) "but I still would have pursued her even if he remained alive."

No, that’s not all she sees him as! He’s an obnoxious widower from a good family who also happens to be hung up on his late wife. For some reason, he’s still fun to drink with, but that isn’t the point. The point is that Shura has no idea how to handle this, and Strange just batted down the easiest argument she could make.

“That’s just it. You’re not over her. Men don’t get over that kind of thing.” So fine, she doesn’t want to get into her history, but there’s a hint that she might have a complex about something. “You can’t just grab someone who you think matches what you miss in her and expect it to work!”

His relationship with his father wasn’t great, apparently, but if Strange was willing to risk his own comfort to pursue his wife, then he clearly was into her.

But really, it was time to start looking for an exit. Why was Shishi just sleeping through this??

"I've got to get over that kind of thing!" Strange snaps. The air around him cracks a little with static electricity before he realizes what he's doing and starts to take a few deep breaths. He needs to calm down. He doesn't want to shock Shura with this magic he can do now and, equally important, he doesn't want to start a scene.

"She died. And she didn't die on the battlefield so unlike us, there's no chance of me seeing her again."

Or so Strange thinks. He's taking a big worryingly huge swig of his drink before this conversation continues.

Well, that's new. Shura's eyes widen a fraction as she takes in Strange's outburst. She can smell the static in the air, and though she doesn't know how he's doing this, it's probably not a great idea to let him go off in a place like this. Shura almost rises to her feet, weighed down by Shishi and unable to move much without causing a fuss with him. She leans forward instead, hand hovering in the air for a moment as she listens to him, hoping that they won't draw any more attention then they already have.

"Strange," she murmurs, reaching out to touch his hand and bring his attention back. "Slow down, you're gonna puke if you do it like that."

Let's not talk about dying on the battlefield right in the middle of a crowded tavern, okay?? But one thing is clear--Shura's pretty good at putting her emotions aside when they're confusing her too much. No need to worry about why she isn't outright rejecting him when he's about to cause her other problems!

What do you mean talking about the whole 'we died' thing in a crowded place is probably a bad idea? Strange doesn't think it's a bad idea! But as Shura touches his hand, he turns to look at her. He needs to calm down. Calm down and explain himself.

He sits down. When he speaks again, his voice is lowered a bit. Bell, who had been napping by his side, moves a little closer towards Strange and rests her chin on his lap.

"I've got to get over this kind of thing," he repeats, looking over at Shura. "And the best way to get over it is with someone else. I'm not saying that you're just a warm body—" Strange quickly interjects, because he knows that there's the potential for Shura to take this the wrong way. "I do like you. And I honestly believe all the things I said about you being smart and attractive. But I...I know that it would be best if I wasn't left to myself and spent time with someone else. And to be blunt? I want to spend that time with you."

How is she supposed to respond to this? Shura’s never actually been on the receiving end of a confession, let alone a confession from a batty magician who’s still struggling with mourning his late wife. This isn’t how she anticipated this evening going at all, and she really needs to be a lot drunker. Then she could pretend it was just a joke and that Strange wasn’t proposing that they shack up.

Red faced and unable to come up with another counter, Shura looks away. This was...

“You’re incorrigible,” she finally mutters, her hand lingering on Strange’s for a half-second longer before she withdraws it. Meanwhile, Shishi stirs, smelling the plate of fried something or other that’s coming their way.

That's not a no. But that's not a yes either. He's also not sure how he's supposed to respond to this. Arabella was direct: she knew what she wanted and she outright told him. He doesn't really know what to do with Shura's confusion and embarrassment about the matter.

So, Strange simply shrugs. "You're not the first person who's told me that." And he's certain she won't be the last. He's about to say something else, but the server returns.

The plate of fried something or other turns out to be an assortment of onions, potatoes, and some mystery fried thing that Strange honestly isn't sure what it is. And so, he sticks with the onions for know, taking one of the rings and popping it straight into his mouth.

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