Feast of the Lapis Court [Yep, Another Open Log]

[wyld_caravan]

By evening, as the rest of the city suffers a sharp chill and plummeting temperatures almost to freezing, the perfumed circle of the Raksha wagons and their tents in the center square is warm, lively and inviting as a midsummer's eve.

Tonight is their showpiece, the goods and treasures stuffed away, a wide array of fine exotic finger foods, drink

Comments

[broken_laws]

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Ed yelled as he stomped towards the circle of wagons and tents, banging the heel of his hand into his forehead in his annoyance. He wasn't sure who he was yelling about, him or Al, but he didn't know for a fact that the entire situation was stupid. It was him overreacting, and as much as eh told himself that... whenever he saw Al doing that new alchemy thing, he couldn't help but worry and get mad

[wyld_caravan]

"For anyone,
For everyone,
Come one and all!
Feast your mouths and eyes and ears!"

Well that's the call of the Raksha all but prancing 'round the fountain's dream-tree, anyway. The tree which is currently lit up like a bright blue-flame torch, although the branches don't appear to be actually burning.

[broken_laws]

Ed couldn't help it. He clapped his hands, placed them on the ground, and came away with a good-sized dinner plate, piling food onto it before he wandered over to the tree, frowning at the strange not-fire. It must have been some sort of chemical reaction, some sort of accelerant that burned instead of the tree.

After all, magic wasn't real, right?

Still, Ed stood there, leaning closer to the tree, munching on the food and letting the cheer of the celebration sink into him, banishing the bitter aftertaste of his fight with Al.

It was a nice feeling, one he hadn't really felt in days, and he allowed himself to relax and just enjoy the scene.

[wyld_caravan]

They circle like bacchanal revelers, singing bright and delirious songs of the Balorian Crusades and Thousand-Strong Lovers. The tree continues to bloom new bursts of color, part of the grand spectacle, and each bite of food tastes richer and sweeter and more of a novelty than the first.

[solo_insanity]

Tyki tipped back a bottle of wine and made himself more comfortable seated on the grass, if that was even possible. This was much better than that odd little world with the falling moon. And the invaders that happened to pass through in oh, so many days, weeks, how long had it been? couldn't even be compared on the same scale.

He should thank the hosts, really, for the mini-paradise they dropped up this land. Ah, but that would mean he would have to move from his rather comfortable spot, but he wasn't up for that yet. Just take it all in and enjoy the show as it were.

[wyld_caravan]

Or perhaps...the show might come to him.

One of the Raksha, somehow still veiled and yet revealing so much 'skin', if it could count for that. Bells strung about her legs, shawls jangling with baubles, she brought another vine with fruits like grapes but thrice normal size to his side, offering them in a blue jade bowl with a sly wink.

"...Enjoying yourself?"

[solo_insanity]

Such hospitality. And a nice view to top it all off.

The whites of his eyes flicker to black behind his glasses as he takes one from the offered bowl. They fade back to white when he blinks up and smiles at the Raska. "Can't say I've had a better time since I got 'ere." He pats the ground next to him. "But it'd be a shame if the hosts weren't enjoyin' themselves as well."

[wyld_caravan]

She glances behind her, a careless look over her shoulder, just to be sure the others are well fed and preoccupied.

"That it is." She purrs thoughtfully, her four maws which do not speak are hungry, and he is certainly ripened for the taking.

It's against oath to do them direct harm. So were the terms made in the dark wood, near a week ago. Ashoka's pretty sun-blessed, oathbound mouth has spoken no ill of them, in turn.

Still, to find mortals so drunk on indulgences without taking her own seems...overly generous. It's a wretched, cruel paradox, that such ugly things as humans should be wellsprings of such rich being.

She sinks to the ground slow but eagerly, holding a trancelike gaze, to begin her own feasting.

[soul_binding]

Al was starting to understand why others were wary of these strange people... It was cold and his red coat only helped so much but when he got closer to the festivities, it was warmer. Unnaturally warmer.

Looking around, Al spotted his brother and quickly ducked out of sight. Ed was probably still mad at him... Well, let him be mad. The soul transfer ability didn't hurt him and Ed was just too stubborn to see that.

Al sighed, sitting down and eying the food. His brother was just worried about him, he knew that... but really, Ed was being too overprotective.

He hears someone call out that the food is for anyone and everyone... and it does look good... so he gets up and takes just a little bit of some, trying it out. It tastes better than it looks.

[wyld_caravan]

The same creature who beckoned him to the dream tree earlier in the week now tempts him toward a wide platter of desserts, a creamy and decorated assortment.

"...If you enjoy those, then you must have some of these sweetcakes"

[soul_binding]

Al looked down at the desserts, his mouth starting to water just from seeing them. Well, she was offering... "Thank you very much," Al said politely, picking one up and taking a bite. He closed his eyes, savoring the taste. The food here was really really good.

[dematerializes]

Yuffie's taken a liking to these visitors. Sure, she's heard the warnings, the doubts and suspicions. But she knows better than the vast majority of World's End. That's what makes her the greatest at anything she does. Besides, there's no point in being rude. Especially when they've brought so many things here.

So many shiny and delicious things.

Of course, nothing at this Harvest Feast could be more delicious than her noodles. That much was a given. She was just going to sample a little, check out what was going on. It wasn't good enough to just look from the rooftops once. She was nosy that way.

[wyld_caravan]

She's been coveting the goods of this market far too long to have gone unrecognizable.

"Itchy fingers!" Cries a young male raksha, a dancer with curling licks of smoke for hair, and whirling two fan-shaped objects currently lit with vibrant colored fire. She may have seen him earlier, shaping weapons at the tent where their gossamer craft mimicked a forge.

He is somehow at her side in moments, having wefted gracefully through the crowd, bowing low and extravagantly to her, a sinuous smile on his lips.

"How delightful to see you again. The Thief of Word himself would have you for a daughter."

[dematerializes]

Itchy fingers!

Yuffie's hand recoiled at the cry. It was rare that she was caught in the act and that made it especially unnerving. She glanced around until she spotted him and just barely had time to recognize him before he was suddenly there. As quick as Yuffie is. No, quicker. But he's bowing and saying pleasing things, so the young thief relaxed again. Yuffie giggled at him, hands against her hips.

"I remember you too." She isn't surprised that he remembered her. Naturally. "Hey, are you a ninja?" That would explain a lot.