vallo

Happy birthday, Lance. Even if you lock me in jail cells, you're still pretty cool.

Bonfire on Lance's tropical island (because Vallo clearly has favorites) this evening to celebrate. Everyone's welcome but you have to smash a bit of cake in Lance's face if you show up.

Sorry, that's the rules. 🤷🏻

Speech to text. Speeeeeeeech to text. Look at me! I am writing with my mind! And also saying the words out loud! Magic! Kinda crazy that this isn't magic. Okay. Just going to take some notes like the nice people show me and then I can figure out

everything.



I should probably get a job I guess.

Also like
Wait go back to
How do i
I should turn this off?

Okay over. Over. Done. Finish. Over and out. What was that thing Boorman said? Foo ga la! Foo ga la! No? FOO GA LA. Turn off? Sleep? Wake up? Go done? Bye? Enough! Kiss kiss? Three kisses? Um. Okay at least no one saw me kiss my phone. This technology stuff isn't so hard. I've totally got this.

I am not freaking out even a little.
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no delete that
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I have made dozens of attempts at making a purple ink that didn't dry to brown, and it was something that I had never succeeded at. And then I come here, and discover inks in every colour imaginable, from the deepest blues to the most brilliant greens, and every shade of purple I could have imagined, all of which dry true.

I'd hoped to make more attempts once I had better acquainted myself with the flora of Vallo's forests, and to make some other inks to sell at market, but I begin to wonder if there's any point to it anymore. Many of these seem a better quality than I could make myself, though the inks I'd made back home were considered a good quality. Given how colourful the clothes here are, I suppose I shouldn't have allowed myself to be so surprised. I suppose with all the new technologies, they've found a way to make ink in ways better than just using gum, water, and gall.

Where's Orym of the Air Ashari? He's from Emon (where's that?) and he's dwarf-height or shorter, and he kicked enough ass to be worth 10,0000 gold, apparently.

Not asking because I'm turning him in; do I care about mortal currency? I do NOT. I'm just impressed. That's a lot of theft. There are wanted posters up in the forest for him, which was new. Thought you guys should know that that's a thing now in case someone's looking for him.

Unrelated to all the crime: summer. I'm going to really hone my shirtless basking skills this year. If you need something blessed, wear shades, because the glistening is gonna be real.

I fear Freya has fallen ill, due to Vallo's latest shenanigans. We were in my mother's gardens at the Asgardian palace when some climbing roses attacked from nowhere. Freya moved to get Torunn out of danger and was pricked by roses herself.

We dispatched the rest of the roses, but Freya will not wake. We moved her to a bedchamber nearby, but I ask that her family come to visit her and see what they may be able to do or perhaps I can bring her to her home? Whatever is easiest. But someone come kiss her please.

So in between the time traveling and turning into a child again, I was working on Dino Island, and making things a little more secure there for visitors. I had some help this weekend (thank you guys!!) Long-term goals are to work on the hotel and use magic to ward it off and get it back up to how it was so people can do the occasional overnight visit, but we're not there yet.

But I'd like to do a less fancy trial run, 3-night thing, in June? If Vallo cooperates! Starting on the 2nd and coming back on the morning of the 5th, we'll stay on the island and make a full camping and dinosaur education experience out of it! There's two secure sleeping options and we're going to try both, one's a tall outpost that's kind of like a fancy treehouse, and one's a secure bunker deep in the woods. The bunker has bunk beds and can sleep 20, there's a generator, running water, and two bathrooms there!

The treehouse outpost sleeps... ehhh probably about the same if people don't mind sleeping bags squeezed in. Probably about 12-16 if we want a little walking room. We'll be bringing water and food, and there's a warded outhouse. It has the best views, and the high chance of waking up to the herd of sauropods coming through and grazing!

You don't have to pay anything for this, just sign up early so we know how much food to bring! I let Miss Paliviana from the Crossed Quills know what we're doing and her nephew wants to come and she offered to load up a big cooler of food for us.

Disclaimers: The sleeping areas are secure but there are a lot of large dinosaurs that live there in as much freedom as I can offer them and we're going to be in their homes, so I can't say it's danger-free, but I can promise to keep everyone safe as long as they follow the rules and protocols in place. There's no age range in place but I can only handle one toddler at a time so uhhh anyone under 12?? needs an adult with them. Anyone who doesn't follow the rules will be brought back to the mainland and not be given the opportunity to return.

What to bring: You have to be able to carry it yourself and I suggest keeping it to one bag a person. Sleeping bag, pillow, clothes for a few days, that sort of thing. I know they sell magical options that are light and small, if you want to go that route!

So yeah! Questions and signups here, thanks!

i require MEAD. however much a pouch full of gold coin or a favor from a son of odin will get me. i have none of your fancy paper bills or cards of credit so do not ask for any.

Marriage suits me very well, I have found. I do not know how long it will be before I stop saying "my husband" at every available opportunity and actually refer to him by name again. (His name is William Laurence, and he is the very best husband anyone could be granted by fate.)

And though I have said it already, many thanks to all those who joined us to celebrate our wedding. The event was most joyous because of you. Thank you also to Wei Wuxian for introducing me to the music of Shakira at the reception! It has led me to a study of popular dance music of her era, which is truly fascinating! And Prompto is enjoying this office music much more than the sea shanties or the doom metal.

[Filtered to My Husband]
I think the only truly great challenge of planning an engagement party for our friends will be ensuring that Ignis attends the party rather than supervising the kitchen. Everything else should be relatively simple.
[/filter]

Before the marijuana enthusiasts take over the day, I thought I'd share something else April 20th is known for. One of the first careers I considered, and may still pursue, is celebrated today. And has been since 2019.

National Death Doula Day. Appealing alliteration aside, it's an interesting role. You get to witness someone's eventual decline into and after the end of their life. In return, all you have to do is be present and help them be at peace with the situation. Fair trade.

After some deliberation, there will be three groups for tomorrow. There's the extraction team, led by Steve Rogers, that is heading to Demonikea to grab the weapon. The distraction team, led by Ashton and Lan Xichen, will head toward Soups and try to draw as many forces as possible there and away from Demonikea. Thanks to Noct's suggestion, there's a small scouting team called the rendezvousaction team? that will keep track of movements within the city, in case they don't take the bait. We don't want anyone cornered unexpectedly.

Assignments are posted on the notice board. If you have problems, take it up with your leads. I'm just the information messenger.

Ashton is also not allowed to name anything again. With that said, we're due for a new passphrase for the Outpost. You can leave your suggestions in the comment box by the mess hall.

Sometimes I look at my dog and just can't help but wonder why. And how. Why and how.



He refused to let me help him get out for a good twenty minutes too. Must have been comfy.

FILTERED: FRIENDS/FAM
Right so... we had a toddler. For like twenty minutes. And then the girls barreled in and I guess she got inspired and now we got three wolves tearing around the yard and Monty all surprised Pikachu face from the window. It's been a fun afternoon.

[Sanctuary Group*]

I have a bear cub. I cannot make a confirmation, but her markings do look correct.

Atreus, perhaps you should visit.

[* | if you live or volunteer at the Sanctuary, this means you]

So I've been here for three years now (AMA? Is that the right term??) and it's been ups and downs and a lot of bad tangled with some very good. I'd never even been on a date when I got here! I had a lot to learn (and ... learn, and learn some more. maybe a little more on top of that) but I like to think I've done okay!

Part of that was learning how to be true to myself and still find a happy balance with my life. Today marks the one year of Lance and I getting our shit together, and it may have still taken a little while to find that happy balance, I'm glad I found it with him.

I'm a lucky LUCKY person for a lot of reasons but mostly that he trusts and loves me enough to tattoo him before we go get our asses kicked at Fight Club.

Did anyone else feel that this morning?


FILTERED TO GANGSEY.

Cabeswater is stressed out, but I don't know why. If you start to sense something worse, don't keep it to yourself. I might need to scry if

So now that things have calmed down, I wanted to say I've started teaching a class about Jötnar painting methods at the Art of Expression. If anybody's interested in painting directly on wood and making paints and generally getting your hands dirty. Oh and listening to a person who usually only teaches tricks to four-legged creatures? That should be fun! Or a disaster? A fun disaster!

[FILTERED TO GOW FOLKS + LANCE]

Um. So. My house is here? Jalla just carried me right there by scent. It's a little off in a corner but still on Sanctuary land. You're all welcome of course! I mean assuming Loki doesn't need this corner for something else in which case I can figure out how to move my house. Maybe I can give it legs! I hear that's a thing around here.

I have had the pleasure of free soup at Soups, Soups, Soups, Soups for a month now--eleven more to go--and I have no eaten enough soup to feel that I have a solid opinion on which are the best, at least according to my own personal tastes. As such, I have an official ranking, of which you need to listen to my most recent podcast to hear about.

That attempt at a cliffhanger is also an attempt at marketing. Let me know if it works.

Other topics beyond soup for this most recent episode include: a frankly fascinating conversation with our Angroboda about magic, particularly her brand of it, and also an overview regarding this world's upcoming Temporal Concurrence, including what it is and what it might mean for any of us.

Anyway, it has been a while since I talked about the podcast, so here I am, doing that. You're welcome, Blue.

I have thought much of how I wish to approach the New Year, and a good, forward-looking idea came to me. Upon investigation of circumstances and much discussion with others who work here, I am pleased to make this auspicious announcement:

The Art of Expression will be moving into the larger facility of Cloud Recesses.

This move will afford us more classroom, event, practice, and studio space. It will also enable us to establish an Artist In Residence program, to give a new artist each year an opportunity to focus exclusively on their art, without the pressures of maintaining a household. From a purely selfish perspective, it will also breathe new life into my family home, which was never meant to stand empty and in service to nothing.

The grand move will take place on the first day of February. Any who wish to volunteer to help carry items and arrange them in their new places will be compensated, as I am told is traditional, with pizza and beer.

For those who may be curious, our old building will still be in use. We plan to convert it to use for more high-tech art, to make a dedicated space for those whose artistic vision is more focused on digital art, photography, videography, and recording. This is as yet a dream in progress, of course. Please look forward to many fundraisers to make it a reality.

[Filtered to Loch Laggen]
I had thought that, in the absence of my family, I might not be in a celebratory mood despite the New Year beginning at the turn of the clocks tonight. I find, however, that I do wish to celebrate with all of you. I have found a restaurant from which I may still order some traditional foods for this evening (including some with meat for the rest of you).

Miss Emily, as you have not been here for one of these celebrations before: my people celebrate the New Year based on a lunar calendar, rather than a solar calendar like the one your people use. As such, tonight is our equivalent of New Year's Eve. It is traditionally a holiday on which one brings all the family together to eat traditional foods that promote good luck and long life in the coming year.

Thus, if we might all gather for dinner this evening, I would be most pleased. I would also accept help in hanging the red lanterns this afternoon.
[/filter]

Question, Vallo.

How long do you think is long enough to pay for whatever crimes you might have done in the past? A lifetime? A couple hundred years? A thousand? More? Less? Does it depend on the crime?

Also, why is paperwork the absolute worst?

All right, let me tell You something. Perfuma -- she's my new best friend. Did you KNoW? She's great, just great. Actually, nO. You're all great. This place, Vallo, it's like a dream sometimes. One of the good ones. Not one of the creepy prophetic ones, but A GOOD DREAM.


Thanks for having me here, it's really nice