sphererpmod: (Default)
Sphere Mods ([personal profile] sphererpmod) wrote in [community profile] thespherelogs2019-01-01 02:35 pm

January Welcome Event

Who: Everyone!
What: January's welcome log.
When: Jan 1st-7th
Where: All over the place.
Warnings:
Notes: This is your January welcome log with Sphere New Year Traditions. Come in, go nuts.


A new day has come.

So unlike many other places, the Sphere doesn’t celebrate New Years on New Year’s Eve. Instead they celebrate it in s three day festival commencing on January first to the third. The festival starts on the first at dawn with people waking up early to watch the first unofficial sunrise in the Sphere. Unlike most other days, this sunrise is universal, moving into each of the domes and filling them with such a bright light that it looks like an idealized version of a bright summer’s day. Groups of people join together to watch it in the dormitory dorms as well as in several public areas. The agriculture dome and the recreational domes are popular places for such activities and there are several places where there appear to be flowers blooming and almost the sound of birdsong.

Also in the more public places, there are large tables filled up with what seems to be a standard light breakfast of fruit, cheese and various loaves of bread, including a particular loaf of bread that everyone is given either in their attendance or in the dome itself. It’s a circular loaf with nuts on it that’s perfect for sharing. Indeed people keep trying to share a piece with the characters around them.

One thing that’s missing though? None of the places seem to have any sort of caffeine in any form. If questioned about it, someone knowledgeable will respond: “you can’t have caffeine until the sun sets!” The words come with a good natured laugh and characters are then handed a glass of fruit juice.

Out with the old and in with the new.

As the sun is about to set on the first day, crowds gather in the rec dome. There in the middle of the area there’s a large bonfire set up. The smoke billows up towards the top of the dome before it disappears. People gathered around the fires are throwing old possessions into it, some of which are their own and some of them are the possessions of the people who had left. The idea is to unburden yourself of things to face the new year with a clean slate.

There are smaller fires around, and they burn different colors with the smoke being sweet smelling and light. Some people show the newcomers how to gather the smoke in their hands and release it over their heads, in order to clear out dark thoughts and whatever is troubling people. The smoke gives people a slight feeling of euphoria, and makes them feel as if whatever is happening isn’t quite as bad as they think it is.

And we’re dancing through life.

On the second day, the public domes are fairly dead. The merchant dome is closed and only a few restaurants are open, and only those are for delivery. The entire city almost seems to be holding their breath and waiting for something. When the clock turns to eight pm, it’s almost as if the entire city is lit in a combination of stars and candlelight. In the gardens in the Rec dome, a large ball has been set up. Everyone in the city has been given their ideal fancy dress outfit, including mask in order to wear to it. The idea behind it is that the characters are in the middle of their transitional state. Day one was the day they put their old life behind them, and day three will be the day that they form their new selves for the year ahead. Which is why at the ball, people wear masks and have the option to give into some of the things that they wouldn’t normally do.

Wanna eat that there whole pint of ice cream? Go nuts. Wanna drink a bottle of vodka? Hey it’s your liver and it’s not like you can die! Wanna hook up in a dark corner with a stranger. It’s your life and there’s some nice velvet couches over there; out of sight and out of mind.

Dinner is in the form of an elaborate meal, sort of along the idea of Fat Tuesday in New Orleans, no expense is spared and everything is extremely well done and extravagant. Rich food, insane desserts, open bar, everything this night is too excess. At various points in the evening, the sky which has been showing stars shifts into things like fireworks, and glowy nebuleuses, causing people to burst into spontaneous bouts of applause.

All the while, there are various and shifting dance floors with an assortment of music to dance to, including classical, swing, fiddles, big band, pop, R&B, and basically anything that you can think of. The dances that people do there are as varied as the population, the drunkenness level and of course the all important dances of people's native Caucasia.

The party goes until dawn, at which point, the drunken releveries spill onto the streets, and people return to their personal domes singing loudly and off key.

A new day a new you

So despite however much you may have done the night before, or whatever else you may have engaged in, and however long you may have stayed awake for, when your head hits the pillow, you wake up feeling well great for lack of a better word. You have no hangover, you're not tired, you're not in pain, and any heavy or dark thoughts will suddenly seem not at all so bad. It may be better than you've felt in your entire time in the Sphere, or better than a long time depending on how things are at home.

Either way, when you wake up, day is late (even if your character doesn't normally sleep) and there is a crowd of people in the agriculture dome. People are there working together in order to plant new things in the greenhouse. They're planting baby plants that will grow to feed people in the new year, according to Annie, and it's all about breathing new life into the world.

Afterwards, there are different things like yoga and meditation classes, and people just spread out smiling among the flowers. No one is as pushy as normal, it's just kind of there. They're just kind of there, stretching, enjoying the sunshine and just kind of chilling.

Later, people set up a large sort of barbecue and outdoor kitchen. Food is cooked communally, and people will ask your character to come and cook. Even if you can't cook, passing out food or cleaning up. This is a community building activity people tell ya, so you can go with it or not. But the rest of the city is, so please enjoy some delicious food your characters may or may not have a hand in cooking or giving out. Wine and fruit juice is in a wide abundance here, as is water and caffeinated drinks. A few people can even be found having some harder stuff (vodka and whiskey) if your character looks to be in need of it.

And the end of the night, the sky above the dome lights up with aurora borealis, in brilliant lights and hues, and there are what appear to be a smattering of actual, living fireflies buzzing lazily around. People who are here longer than the characters seem puzzled, and more than a few children and adults are out catching them between their palms.


Inspiration images

verstoned: (This isn't the life I dreamt it could be)

[personal profile] verstoned 2019-01-08 05:06 am (UTC)(link)
Honestly, Rhus is used to leading whenever dances require partners-- he's simply so much shorter than the partners he tends to dance with, and the man who taught him was well over a head taller than himself, far taller than Rhys. Taking their shoulders would have been an effort.

"Not used to dance, are you?"

The hand Rhus uses to hold Rhys' is rough, all scars and calloused, but warm and firm at least.
10milliondollars: (confident)

[personal profile] 10milliondollars 2019-01-08 05:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Unfortunately, even if he didn't have the gloves on, Rhys wouldn't be able to feel the hand in his right hand. He does miss being able to feel what he touches, but if he could go back, he'd still give up his right arm for the robotic one.

"I'm not, no. The parties I went to in college were just frat parties. Not a lot of dancing."
verstoned: (Grow me a garden of roses)

[personal profile] verstoned 2019-01-09 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
Rhus doesn't know what a frat party is, but perhaps they're the rowdy, tavern kind... Though he'll have to make a wild guess, speak some assumptions as if he knows exactly what Rhys is speaking of, and garner an answer from whatever reaction he gets.

Alphinaud would be horrified at him for playing The Game in this manner, he thinks as he begins a simple box step to ease the Hyur into the motions.

"Mayhap not a lot of dancing in the ballroom, but elsewhere, I'm sure."
10milliondollars: (talking3)

[personal profile] 10milliondollars 2019-01-09 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
"Elsewhere, sure~" Rhys is glad for the mask covering his face. The first "dance" that comes to mind is the mattress mambo, and that brings a blush to his cheeks. "Well, there was the typical college dancing. Y'know, that dirty grind to music with good bass and a great beat. Nothing proper."

He moves along a lot easier with Rhus leading. The steps are simple and he finds himself watching the Miqo'te's face rather than keeping his eyes down on his own feet. Sasha and Fiona would absolutely be poking fun at him right now.
verstoned: (This isn't the life I dreamt it could be)

[personal profile] verstoned 2019-01-09 05:01 am (UTC)(link)
"I wouldn't expect anything less from the younger folk." Especially with hormones in the air and the impatience of youth. They wouldn't have had the interest in slow dances such as this, the way he's leading Rhys about the dance floor-- which is a shame, when Haurchefant taught Rhus far more than just a simple waltz.

When Rhus was that age, he was doing something else entirely, really. The concept of formal institutions for schooling having more importance than specific guilds for specialized craft is rather foreign to him, even if he's surrounded by people where such things are commonplace-- even expected of an individual.
10milliondollars: (happy boy)

[personal profile] 10milliondollars 2019-01-09 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
"Imagine sex, but standing up and still clothed. That's what passed for dancing." Not that Rhys participated much. Or at all. He was lucky to even get in to a party.

"Before my cousin got married, she used to make me help her practice her waltz. I wasn't very good at it, but she was stuck babysitting me after school," he says fondly. "What about you? Where'd you learn to dance?"
verstoned: (Staring into the eyes of the shell of me)

[personal profile] verstoned 2019-01-09 06:09 am (UTC)(link)
Perhaps it's time to move a little faster then-- Rhus knows dirty dancing as well, he was taught that well before he even met Haurchefant, but he rarely reveals any part of his life before he arrived at Eorzea. He simply speeds up his pace, gradually to ease Rhys into it, and tucking the man against him more just in case he needs the stability. Rhus may be much shorter, but he's definitely like a solid wall.

"An old friend taught me, a nobleman." The bastard son of a nobleman, but close enough. "Told me I'm much better off leading, given how short I am compared to many others, and their shoulders too high for myself."
10milliondollars: (Happy Boy 2)

[personal profile] 10milliondollars 2019-01-11 04:10 am (UTC)(link)
Maybe it's the fruity alcoholic drinks he's had, or maybe he's really that touch-starved, but when he's pulled closer, Rhys relaxes right into it. The smaller man really is sturdy. Kind of like Vaughn.

And that thought kinda freaks Rhys out a little, but he's not gonna ruin the good feeling by pushing Rhus away.

"You are pretty short~ But he taught you well. Guess a nobleman's gotta know that stuff, huh?"
verstoned: (Teach me to speak their voices)

[personal profile] verstoned 2019-01-12 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Of course he did. But he enjoyed dancing as well." Enjoyed, not enjoys. Rhus might have inadvertently mentioned that said nobleman is actually dead.

He's merely so focussed on easing Rhys into a faster dance, a faster beat, something more interesting than a waltz. He likely will never notice the slip-up.

As much as he would like to swing... Perhaps that would be a little too fast for poor Rhys. Instead he tries a slow foxtrot, moving his hand from the Hyur's hip up to the small of his back, extending their arms as far as his can go, and taking much longer steps.
10milliondollars: (eheh)

[personal profile] 10milliondollars 2019-01-13 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
All right, new dance, Rhys can work with that. It's easy enough to follow the other man's lead. And it stops him from asking about that use of past-tense verb.

For now.

"And you clearly enjoy it," he says, doing his best not to trip either of them.
verstoned: (Teach me to speak their voices)

[personal profile] verstoned 2019-01-13 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
"With the right partner, I do." Though he hasn't enjoyed it in recent times. "'S long as they don't step on my feet."

Though he's clearly in no danger of having sore feet, given the boots he wears right now. Any partner he would have however... the same cant be said for them.
10milliondollars: (confident)

[personal profile] 10milliondollars 2019-01-14 06:38 am (UTC)(link)
With the mention of stepping on feet, Rhys looks down to watch himself. He'd sure hate to step on the other man's boots. It'd ruin his night. Probably the next day or two, as well.

"Well, how'm I doing~?"
verstoned: (I heard the rumors started fires)

[personal profile] verstoned 2019-01-14 07:15 am (UTC)(link)
Rhus' response is quick and brisk. "Meh. I've 'ad better."

He's been spoiled by people who know what they're doing after all, and combatants used to being light on their feet. Not... a civilian.
10milliondollars: (confident)

[personal profile] 10milliondollars 2019-01-14 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm trying my best, teach~ Kinda hard when I don't know the steps," he says with a little laugh. He still hasn't tripped.

"Maybe you haven't drank enough~"
verstoned: (Staring into the eyes of the shell of me)

[personal profile] verstoned 2019-01-16 06:44 am (UTC)(link)
"Haven't drank at all," Rhus bemoans. He's still so woefully sober-- and in more ways than one. He hasn't even smoked in the last half hour or so.
10milliondollars: (talking3)

[personal profile] 10milliondollars 2019-01-18 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
Rather than continuing to let Rhus lead him through the dance, Rhys eagerly tugs the Miqo'te along towards a bar area. "Let's get some liquor in you~"
verstoned: (Show me the way)

[personal profile] verstoned 2019-01-18 07:26 am (UTC)(link)
"Ugh." And he was starting to be interested, too. But he goes easily despite being able to simply dig his heels in and become an immovable object. Rhus could have-- he really could have, and the Hyur would have not been able to tug him around like an overeager child.

"What is it, wine, champagne?"
10milliondollars: (uhuhsure)

[personal profile] 10milliondollars 2019-01-19 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
"You've got your choice~ The bar tenders have a couple of off-menu selections, too, I think? It's a celebration, get whatever you want," Rhys quips. He's enjoying his time with the other man. "We'll just grab a quick drink, then we can get back to dancing~"
verstoned: (Teach me to speak their voices)

[personal profile] verstoned 2019-01-19 10:48 am (UTC)(link)
"Gives you time to get your act together for the next round."

Rhus would rather have some sake, it's tradition during Heavensturn, but he doubts this place has any. So instead he chooses a Moscow mule, simply because the name amuses him, and because it comes in a quaint mug he can carry easily while pulling out his pipe-- still thankfully lit-- and smoke on it.
10milliondollars: (confident)

[personal profile] 10milliondollars 2019-01-20 06:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"Do you mean sober up? 'Cause I'd rather not~" He opts for a champagne flute, though, nothing that'll affect him so much as to ruin the night.
verstoned: (Been to places seen the tidings)

[personal profile] verstoned 2019-01-21 11:14 am (UTC)(link)
"I meant you need to loosen up." That's punctuated with a jab of the pipe into Rhys' ribs. "Or is your entire body metal within?"
10milliondollars: (OhWell)

[personal profile] 10milliondollars 2019-01-22 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Rhys flinches away from being jabbed, a soft giggle slipping out. "I can loosen up. I'm just trying not to step on your toes~" He takes the mask off, laying it aside to sip his champagne.
verstoned: (I heard the rumors started fires)

[personal profile] verstoned 2019-01-23 01:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Rhus shrugs, and pulls back his pipe so he can start puffing on it. Luckily for Rhys, what he smokes has a fresh, fragrant scent to it, like grass or fruit. "If I'd been given heeled sandals instead, I would have worn those. Alas, this is what I had in my closet."
10milliondollars: (happy boy)

[personal profile] 10milliondollars 2019-01-24 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
"I'd still probably be afraid of stepping on your toes~ But hey, I'll do my best to loosen up." He lifts his glass to offer a toast.
verstoned: (Teach me to speak their voices)

[personal profile] verstoned 2019-01-27 10:24 am (UTC)(link)
"You should, otherwise I'd be much better served dancin' with a stiff log."

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