Festival Fun - RPLOG
Participants
Date
26/7/479
Log
It is a beautiful day out by old Ridgewater Farm. Several tents and stalls have been set up around a large, central pavillion, all selling fresh produce. Fruit and vegetables and preserves and baked goods of all sorts change hands amid laughter and general neighborliness. It looks like something off a post card.
Or it would.
If they had postcards here.
In the middle of all of the chatting, happy crowds, an oddly dressed rhino wanders around. Dax is used to being in large crowds, but rarely one as friendly as this one. He seems to be holding a little pastry that someone put in his hand, though he seems unsure what to do with it.
Aside from this little oddity, there are jugglers and mummers and even a little puppet show! And a small band seems to be forming up in the main pavilion.
Bazalt pads along, tail flicking. The wolf always enjoyed going to these events there was so much to learn about how beings acted, also there was food.He nods to himself and sighs abit. Even though there were intresting Experiences the wolf himself never really participated either due to being a shadow or sociall akward... or both. however he does beeline towards Dax when he spots him, smiling. "Hey, Dax, Been a while, how are you?" he asks,eyes shooting to the pastry.
Lyas has been here for some time already, enjoying watching the farming community come alive. It makes a great difference from the last time he was out this way - the atmosphere was certainly not so festive then. The cat is in the thick of things, walking around inspecting the stalls- but avoiding the worst of the crowds. He is, after all, still in possession of a broken arm, conspicuously held up in a sling. The jostling press of beings makes him wince when someone strays too close and bumps into him.
Festivities. Not the most productive use of time... though, Kilani seems to be making an effort to enjoy herself, mingling with the crowd, occasionally stealing a pastry or two to eat. Well, 'stealing'. It's offered for everyone, after all. And, well, 'mingling'. This consists of merely wandering through the crowd until she happens to bump into somebody, at which point there's an awkward and forced discourse, and they both move on. So, not much productivity at all. Besides the food.
Dax blinks and starts a little at being addressed. "Oh! Hello, Mister Bazalt," he says in his strange, buzzing voice, like a hive of harmonious bees. He notes the wolf's glances at the little fruit pastry in his hand and offers it. "Someone just gave it to me," he confesses, "Would you like it? I don't really like sweet things." The little rhino is out of uniform today and wearing his chosen casual clothing, still outlandish, but not so reminiscent of his Creator masters.
Speaking of whom. . .
"Who is your friend, Dax?" A tall Creator man wearing an approximation of local clothing walks up and ruffles the small rhino's soft mohawk. "You didn't say that you knew anyone at this PARTY." The little translating machine spirit that floats over his shoulder helpfully replaces a strange word.
Bazalt Nods adn takes the pastry slowly, just incase Daw wanted it but as soon as it reaches his mouth it is gone. "Mrrfm?" the wolf Half mumbles through his food, glances at the creator, confused for a few moments. "Hello there." he says after swallowing. "I'm Bazalt, are you Dax's Um.. Creator.. friend?" he cants his head to the side slightly, looking him over curiously before looking towards Dax If anything the wolf seemed to be.. studying them both, and that little Translating thingy too.
Lyas continues to meander about the area, nudging people aside with a foot where necessary. One small, unfortunate being trips right over the cat's leg as he uses it to prod someone else; he responds to this being's glare with only a grin, and they shut their mouth before anything spills out. It's hard for them to berate someone obviously injured, after all.
One ear swerving as he catches the edge of Bazalt's conversation with Dax, Lyas turns in that direction - and walks almost directly into Kilani. Not someone he was keen to see, a fact that shows clearly on the cat's face!
The bat slowly inserts a pastry into her mouth, chewing quietly, apparently completely unbothered by Lyas' expression. She then swallows the pastry, and continues walking through the crowd, apparently looking to stow a plate full of whatever those meat-filled pie things were in her bag, perhaps along with the plate, too. Depending on what the plate was made of. She eyes the strange rhino and the creator as she passes, raising an eyebrow, though fails to say anything.
Reginald , a little late to the party, quietly slips in amongst the crowd, nodding in cursory greeting to any beings that may look upon him. The lynx is dressed in plain, but neat, casual clothing, looking somewhat distinct from his usual appearance in armour, and is unarmed, apart from the old sword upon his hip. Looking about him, the feline searches for any familiar faces in the crowd of bustling beings, after a while spotting a certain shadow wolf talking with a Rino being and a Creator, at which point he makes to move to join them. However, half way through his journey he can't help but bump into the bandaged arm of a Tabby, recoiling at the accidental contact, and quickly offering up an apology. ".. Sorry! I didn't .. Lyas? .. Sorry, I didn't see you there. What .. What did you do to your arm?" Reginald pauses for a few moments, tilting his head in concern, as he waits on a reply.
"Yes!" the smiling Creator says, "Dax is my friend! He offered to show me around the area and I just HAD to come and see this little. . ." he hesitates, "What did you call it?"
"A harvest festival," Dax murmurs, obviously uncomfortable in all of this.
"Festival! Right!" the Creator man says, slapping Dax on the back and turning a pearly white grin on Bazalt, "I just couldn't stay away!" He runs his hand through artfully messy blond hair and grins around at the stalls and performers. A few beings gawk openly, but most seem to be trying to play it cool.
In the pavillion, the little band has started to play some light dancing music and a few beings have taken up the invitation to show off a few steps.
Bazalt nods to the creator "do... you have a name?" he frowns beofre lookintg to Dax, clearly not understand Anything as to why Dax should be uncomfortable. "Is.. something Wrong, Dax?" he asks, raising a brow "Did..I say something wrong or.. miscommunicate?" the shadow looks hismelf over and then looks at Dax, utterly Baffled.
Staring after the bat, Lyas is blind to his surroundings until Reginald bumps into him, prompting the cat to jump away, swearing. His face quickly clears when he realises just who is before him, though. Grinning, the tabby shrugs, wiggling his stiff fingers. "Hah, well, same story as any Freesword - work." The full story is a little more embarrassing, and Lyas is reluctant to tell it to the other feline. "Wasn't far from here, actually - you hear about the firebug comin' round the farms? We almost had him. Almost." He tilts his head, unconsciously mimicking Reginald. "Came on your own? Baz's over there. Reckon we should go say hello?"
"No, I'm afraid I haven't." Reginald replies. "Work's been keeping me out of town, recently. Though, that does sound nasty. .. At least you managed to get a healer to take a look at it, and bandage your arm. Hopefully, it doesn't take too long to heal." The lynx does his best to offer a reassuring smile as he says those words, before looking over towards Bazalt. "I just got back in town yesterday, saw that this festival planned, and decided I'd poke a head in on my own, yeah. Though, like you suggest, let's go and say hi to Baz." Waiting for an opening in the crowd, the feline picks the moment when their path seems the least obstructed, before making a start in the wolf's direction, turning to the tabby as they travel. "How have you been keeping? .. Apart from the arm."
"No," Dax says, flushing a bit under scrutiny, "Everything is fine. Um, this is Mister Douglass." He waves a hand at the smiling Creator. "Mister Douglass is the. . . " he hesitates, as if trying to find the right words, "He is the manager for the performing troupe that landed here the other day. He is a special guest of Mister Parson. Uhm. . . you know who Mister Parson is, right? I never know who knows what."
The Creator in question, Mister Douglass, seems to have already lost interest in the conversation. "Look!" he says, making a beeline for the open pavillion, "Dancing! You think any of these BEINGS would be interested in taking the show on the road?" He watches for a few minutes, and his grin seems to falter a little. "Huh," he says, non-commitally.
Bazalt nods slowly "Parson?.. the one you send messages back to Douglas Via ?" he says, still not sure why Dax was acting strangeer than usual. he binks at Mister Douglas. "He... has a worse attention span than Lyas." he Shakes his head then blinks. "Ah, yeah I heard that there was a preforming group but i was unable to go due to both cost and freeswording." he nods slowly. "I dont think you answer my first Question, Dax." he says as an afterthought, nose twitches as he catches teh smell of some foood.
"Oh, not bad," Lyas says offhandedly, as he carefully plants his boot atop that of a fox who hadn't the sense to move. "Been outta town a fair bit, myself. Easiest to get work if you're up for travellin'." His face fixed into its customary wide grin, Lyas leans his arm on Reggie's shoulder as they stop near Bazalt and the rhino he is speaking with. "Hello!" he calls out loudly, from directly behind the wolf. He might be rudely interrupting, but that doesn't bother him - and it certainly isn't the first time. "Made a friend there, Baz? Here I thought you only got on with cats."
Reginald can't help but let out a chuckle at Lyas' tease to the shadow, before nodding in greeting to the group. "Hey Baz. And .. I want to say .. Dax? ... I believe we've worked together a handful of times in the past. .. How are you two enjoying the festival?" It is then that the lynx's eyes are drawn to the nearby creator, and the feline visibly tenses a little, having to hide the fact that his sword hand made a slight lurch towards the blade at his hip, before being caught. He doesn't say anything, as he waits on a reply, but keeps one eye on that other entity, weary.
Dax blinks at Bazalt. "No, no. You have that backward," he explains, "This is Mister Douglass and Mister Parson is my. . . my boss." The little rhino still skirts around answering Bazalt's question, if, indeed, he remembers what it was at all. He opens his mouth as if he might have something more to say, but only lets out a startled "DAX!" in a rough voice, quite unlike his usual buzz when Lyas appears over Bazalt's shoulder. After recovering, he does his best to give the two newcomers friendly nods and smiles, though Reginald's move for his weapon does not seem to go unnoticed. Not by Dax, at least.
Mister Douglass, on the other hand is oblivious as he watches the continuing dancing. "Do they know any other kinds of dances?" he asks, "I couldn't market this kind of FOLK DANCING even on NO TRANSLATION."
Bazalt nods slowly "oh, righ-GAH NOGETOF-" the Shadow twitches and his tail flicks before he sighs. "Lyas, meet Dax, Dax meet Lyas." he shoots lyas a glare. "I ... like to consider him a friend, yes.. he.. seems as out of place as I am without being like me. " he pauses. "Yes, sorry Dax.. i got things mixed up.. creators are weir-" he blinks finally Realizing what lyas said. "hey.. I dont only know cats... just.. my two closest are.. cats.." he just stops and sighs, any train of thought he had going gone and crashed.
Chuckling at Bazalt's confusion, Lyas fails to notice Reginald's rather less amusing reaction. "Is that a Creator?" He asks, brows shooting up into his fringe as he cranes past Dax to see the strange man, observing him as he observes the festival. He does a double-take as he takes in Dax's own, rather odd, clothing, and revises his question. "... Is that a Creator you're with? Couldn't pay me to ferry that guy around. Well, you could actually, I'm easily bought. But I'd complain about it, sure enough." Shrugging his good shoulder, he turns back to Bazalt, waiting to see if the wolf has managed to reboot his brain yet.
Well, that was a moderate waste of time, Kilani notes to herself (after having taken approximately two whole plates of pastries, including the plates themselves) as she makes her way out of the crowd. She glances around, and slips behind a bush to discreetly shift back into her gryphon self, including all the clothes-packing away and so forth. Shortly after, she takes to the sky! Places to go, places to be, after all.
The lynx, shifting a little uneasily, does his best to try and hide his discomfort with being around a creator. Moving to stand beside Baz, he gives the wolf a gentle nuzzle on the cheek, before turning back to the group. "What's the deal with your friend there, Dax? Another tourist, come to see the sights of Promise?"
Dax nods at the introductions. "Sort of?" he says softly, not wanting to be overheard by Douglass, "Like I said, he's a guest of Mister Parson. I'm supposed to make sure that he stays safe and that he-"
"Dax!" comes Douglass's interrupting voice, "Come over here! You dance, right? I saw you practicing with the boys. Why don't you show these YOKELS how it's done?" The Creator smiles his dazzling smile and waves a hand dramatically at the dace floor and the beings who are even now slowing and chatttering about the idea of watching a dance from Creator worlds!
While the little rhino was flushed, now he goes ashen. "M-m-me?" he stammers.
Bazalt Blinks "Uhhh.." he Pets Lyas on teh head and then turns to the Creator. "unless your Blind." he points to Dax. "and honestly you dont appear to be but you MUST be stupid because even I with my ....Low
Bazalt Blinks "Uhhh.." he Pets Lyas on teh head and then turns to the Creator. "unless your Blind." he points to Dax. "and honestly you dont appear to be but you MUST be stupid because even I with my ....basic understanding of Emotions and body language can see that he's flustered and embarresed by that notion." the shadow nods to Douglass and then turns back to face his 'fellow' Beings. "Reggie, Lyas." he hugs them both. "It been too lo-" he stares at Lyas' Arm. "what did you do?" he crosses his arms and stares at lyas, frowning.
"Oh, WE'RE yokels?" Lyas mutters to Reginald, grinning. "Like to see how he'd deal with the folks livin' way out from the city. I'll bet you he's the sort t' speak reeeaaal slow an' clear an' with short simple words." Flicking a glance at the lynx, Lyas frowns slightly, noting Reggie's discomfort for the first time as Bazalt gives the Creator a piece of his mind. Opening his mouth to ask what's going on with the lynx, Bazalt's hug takes him by surprise. "What?" he says, in an injured tone. "I can't get some sympathy for breakin' my arm? We jump straight to it being my fault?" His playfully flicking tail betrays him long before his grin breaks back through the fake sorrow on his face.
"No, no it is okay," Dax says, looking just a little panicked as Bazalt's outburst brings a hint of a frown to Douglass's face, "I. . . uhm. . . I just don't think this music is very good for the kind of dancing that Mister Douglass wants." The little rhino latches onto this excuse like a drowning man to a bit of driftwood.
"That's not a problem!" the Creator says, brightening up and waving his hand at the little machine spirit hovering over his shoulder. The little ball zips out over the dance floor, sending the few beings still idling there scattering in surprise. The band stops as well, and a crowd starts to gather, waiting to see what magic the Creator will show them today. Suddenly, the air is filled with sound! It could be music, but not much like the guitar and fiddle sort of music that is common around here. Strange instruments play strange melodies and a powerful, thumping percussion runs a steady beat under the whole thing. All the while, no instrument is visible except the fist sized machine spirit! "There," Douglass says, then proceeds to chatter in encouraging tones to Dax, though it sounds garbled and strange without his machine to translate for him.
Bazalt shakes his head at Lyas. "I wasnt blaming you.. just that You are usually.. the cause of trouble." he nods slowly then Frowns and glances back at the Strange Noises. "what... the.." he Looks to the creator and frowns His weird.. noises wernt helping either. "No means no, unless you want to force him to do that? do you not care what he wnats?" he Glares at Douglass accusingly, tail flicking in aggitation.
Lyas is immediately distracted by the sound of the music emanating from the strange Creator device, ears held high and quivering from the assault. It's plainly not producing the sounds of one instrument, but of many. "Not like anything I've heard," the cat admits, refusing to admit just how impressive the music is. "Reckon I could dance to it. Not with this, though -" he flaps his arm up and down in its sling, still hoping to attract a bit of sympathy - "That's end with me missing a step and goin' face-down on the floor, like as not." The conversation going on between Bazalt and the off-worlders hasn't properly registered with the cat yet.
Dax lays a hesitant hand on Bazalt's arm and shakes his head. "It doesn't work that way," he buzzes gently, "It's okay. I don't mind." The little rhino, obviously terrified, makes his way slowly to the open dance floor under the dazzling grin of Douglass.
Douglass, for his part, seems unperterbed by Bazalt's accusations. Without his machine to translate, it is possible that he did not actually understand what was said. Or maybe he is just used to getting his way and anything that does not fit his worldview just vanishes into thin air.
The hirsute little rhino manages a weak little smile to Bazalt and Lyas, then he starts to bob his head a little to the sound of the beat, obviously counting time in his head. This should be interesting, at least.
Bazalt Blinks at Dax and frons "you dont have too..."he sighs, realizing that this was what Dax was used to... even if it was Wrong. The wolf puases and glares at the Creator before walking over to a Tray of pastries and porceeding to Throw them At Douglass. How mature, but .. maybe THAT'll get his point Across.
Lyas tears his gaze from the dancefloor as a hail of pastries comes soaring across his vision! Blinking, he realises the thrower is Bazalt, who moved without the cat noticing, absorbed as he was in watching the dance. Looking back and forth between the wolf and the target of his wrath, Lyas shakes his head. "... I think I missed something.." he begins, turning to address Reggie. The lynx, however, seems to have melted back into the crowd, leaving Lyas in the very odd and unfamiliar position of having to be the one to restore some sanity to the situation. He sidles up to Bazalt, gingerly. Grabbing at the wolf's arm, he yanks the next pastry in the firing line away. "What're you up to?" he drawls, biting into the morsel. "This's good food, here. How'm I meant t' walk away with a shirtful of this if you chuck it all on the ground?" He keeps one hand on Bazalt's arm as he speaks, highly aware, now, of the tension running through the shadow.
"Yeah!" an angry hedgehog woman asks, "And whose goin' ta pay for all those pastries you just stole?" She folds her arms, one of which is a shiny copper prosthetic. "I figure you owe me a good three crown fer all those!" She reaches up and grabs the wolf by the ear, dragging him away as only a tiny housewife can.
The Creator, Douglass, who was the target of the sweet, sticky assault is all smiles as Dax starts to dance. The movements are strange. Like no dance common to Promise. But they seem to match the music well, jerking and pausing and moving arms and legs in odd directions, sometimes fast and jerky, sometimes smoothly. Strange though it is, the hairy little rhino seems to be good at it. Right up until the rain of pastries comes down on Douglass's head.
The Creator cries out and raises his arms to cover his face while jam and sugary preserves spatter his clothes. Only the first few manage to hit before his machine spirit responds to his cry of alarm and the music stops. The machine zips across the intervening space and a shimmering blue bubble appears around the man, stopping all the other thrown pastries short.
Bazalt STops and Glares at Lyas. "He dosnt even Care fo-GAH!" the wolf Gets cut off by the housewife causing him to flail. "I-Ga-you-Pain" the wolf flails ever more, gone from anger to fear in under 60 seconds as he gets Dragged off by the hedgehog.
Practically crying with laughter, Lyas ducks out of sight behind a stall, trailing after Bazalt and the angry hedgehog - but taking care not to be seen by the pastry-pelted Creator. "You're the worst thief I ever laid eyes on," he crows as he catches up to Bazalt, still being dragged away from the scene by his ear - and a good thing, too, considering. His grin is manic - the humour of BAZALT being nicked for stealing certainly hasn't failed to hit him. "Hope you've gold on you; I'm not payin' to sort this mess out..."
Amidst all the clamor, no one seems to have seen who it was that threw the rain of desserts, leaving Dax to deal with the aftermath alone. Another day in the life of. . . of whatever Dax's job really is.
