vallo

Good Tuesday morning, Vallo.

About a year and a half ago, by my memory, I was introduced to pie for the first time by force, thanks to a very enthusiastic Byroden woman. The whole day was pretty great and not just due to pie, but because I also got to see my friends take part in some sort of pageant (ask Dorian why, if he were to be any gemstone, he would be a diamond) (I'm sorry and I love you, Dor), and it was a nice break in what was the start of my very wild adventures to come.

Anyway, all this to say that I have a healthy appreciation for pie and it's been brought to my attention that today is some pie-based holiday. So, if you're coming to "sword yoga", the usual more healthy breakfast spread has been replaced with a variety of pie. Enjoy, but don't enjoy too much because I'm bringing home the leftovers.

(Also, know that I realize it's actually a math-based holiday, but math was never my strongest suit when I was a kid so we're focusing on dessert.)

The message is a liiiiittle late but HAPPY WOMEN'S MONTH, VALLO! Is it a thing in Vallo? I don't know but my best friend Josh told me that it was a thing on Earth and honestly, it should totally be a thing in Vallo too. Just saying.

Speaking of, what would be the reaction if I was to say that there might be a Women's Day brunch held at Castle Whitespire in celebration for it? Maaaaybe this Saturday so it wouldn't entirely be last minute? Because last minute would be holding it on Wednesday but since tomorrow is the full moon, there is no way in hell I'm going to be in any condition to host anything in the next two days.

Oh yes oh OH I like this one. Or wait what's this one? Oh that's very nice too. BOLD. Dramatic! Very good.


Right sorry, don't mind me! Just having a bit of hwyl with all this brilliant technology. Miss Frye was most helpful and charming. Especially for an Englishwoman! Oh bugger where are my manners? My name is Owain Glyndŵr. I've been assured no one wants me dead here and she even said that with a straight face, so I've now put my true identity in your hands, good people of Vallo! I suppose it doesn't really matter anyway as I am most definitely dead. I think. The spell certainly felt like a dud. That's what I get for trusting Artemus with the sleep spell. Not the most reliable chap in my inner circle. Excellent at turning into a tree though! Really, just incredible.

What was I going to say? Oh! Does anyone want to take an old man for a ride in one of those automobile things? It looks exciting! Actually any other suggestions for exciting things to do would be appreciated!

[ FILTERED TO FRIENDS & FAMILY OF WILL LAURENCE & LAN XICHEN + FINAL FANTASY FAMILY ]
Hello friends! Sorry for the short notice, but I've lovingly insisted on throwing an engagement party for our favorite couple to celebrate them and their love. 🥰

So please join us at 7 PM on February 21st at Cloud Recesses to celebrate William Laurence and Lan Xichen and their upcoming marriage! Yes, we're crashing the Longtaitou Festival.

Fancy dress! Bring a big appetite! And Temeraire??? Could use your help if you have time!

Thank you for those who have been helping me settle in. While it's certainly an unusual place (skipping down the street for half an hour was not something I wanted to do but I do suppose it could have been a lot worse.

Also, to those asking no I am not going to go to school. I am eighteen and education is not something I have ever enjoyed. I am looking for thins to do with my time though.

Well hell.

Loch Laggen etc

Is everyone ok? I haven't heard that any of us are missing yet...

Well then.

Some of you types more sensitive to the coming and goings of the world may have felt something a bit off this morning when you rose. Moreso than usual I would suppose. It would seem Vallo has expanded its collection of Hells to include my domain.

And before you ask, no I did not ask for or summon it here. I'm sure some of you nerds enjoy bringing your work home with you but have you seen that throne? I'm lucky not to have a flat arse after all these centuries.

Right. I would advise any of you feeling guilt over that muffin you cheated with this morning to stuff it in the bag with the discarded wrappings and dispose of the lot. Also keep an eye on dead bodies...except vampires and zombies. I think. I suppose they are fairly similar concepts to demons possessing the dead...

In other words, please do not poke the Hell if you can help it and should you need any assistance with its presence causing issue, myself or Rory would be best to ask.

[RORY]

Perhaps I should have asked before volunteering but knowing this lot and their penchant for wining, dining, and trying to mount trouble, I will need all the help I can get with someone familiar with the place.

Real weird day, but thanks to the folks who found me and got me taken care of. I wasn't expecting to universe hop today, but can anyone really expect universe hopping? Please say no, so I'm not left out or wondering if I missed the wrong classes in school that focused on real specific life lessons.

ANYway. Nice to be here, I'm Teddy. Anyone able to tell me where Billy Kaplan is?

I have been doing a lot of research, and actually the amulet is very interesting, it is almost like a riddle. You have to say the words differently depending on what phase the moon is in (this seems silly to me, but I suppose it is appropriately mystical and the sort of thing you get in myths anyway). In any case I can now change back and forth whenever I like, so long as there are some clothes conveniently nearby. Or even not, if it is an emergency? It is less hassle to go the other way, but there are so many things I can do in a man shape, so do not be surprised if I wear it a lot from now on.

I have been very busy and not writing here, so there is a lot I have not mentioned - my pavilion has been finished, with a roof at last, and also Emily is here now, who was one of my best officers even if she is not actually mine anymore, she is Excidium's, but since he is not here I am sure he would not mind if I borrowed her occasionally.

War has been declared on the training grounds. It's a very snowy battle. I invite others to join my team or be buried in snow with James and Francis.

I'm out of the hospital, thanks for asking. Never liked fungi anyway, give me liverwort any day. That'll teach me to try and play nice and not go straight in with the fire amulet. Next time, fungus. Next time.

[Filtered to Perfuma]
I know we don't know each other very well, but are you all right? The forest seems a bit depressed and I'm pretty sure it's not me, despite the concussion.

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]

Your onboarding is efficient, I’ll give you that.  Government red tape at home would’ve had me sitting in a waiting room and filling out forms for at least three days. And the apartment is, well. No offense, but it’s kind of ridiculous. I’ve spent months on entire spaceships smaller than that apartment. Your budget probably needs a massive overhau

Anyway. Uh I’ve never been very good at social media Thank you. For explaining the situation and telling me where to find Tennal Halkana. A few more days and he’d probably have charmed his way to the head of a gang or been exiled into the woods and tracking him down would’ve been a lot harder. I’m better at catching farm animals than people.

Oh. My name’s is Surit.  So. Yeah. Hello.

This is awfully strange. Both the situation and this device. My name is Emily Roland and I arrived two days ago. I am staying with Captain Laurence and Temeraire in the Covert.

( Read more... )

tw: discussion of pregnancy in comments

Things I didn't miss:

Nearly burning down the house trying to make a Thanksgiving dinner.

Things I am missing:

Black Friday. I need new boots and do not want to pay full retail thank you very much.

((pls to ignore the tag dump on this))