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(no subject)

Who: Everyone!
What: November open log
When: November
Where: The Merchant Dome/The Pools
Warnings: NA
Notes: NA

Holiday mingle log

It’s the most wonderful (welcome) time of the year

Christmas is coming earlier and earlier every year, which isn't a surprise but hey they're starting the Christmas/Winter stuff the week before thanksgiving. Because why not. this month’s party takes place in the Merchant dome. But it’s not the everyday appearance of the merchant dome. No, for the next five days the Merchant dome’s appearance has been altered to look like a sort of Bavarian Christmas Market. There are small clusters of tables every so often, so people can just sit and chat and eat and drink.

Some enterprising person has even managed to make it snow through some unknown means. It’s not cold, but the snow is soft and steady and slowly building up.

The entire dome, all of the streets and all of the merchant stalls are practically glowing with white fairy lights that are strung everywhere. Vendors in their stalls gleefully cry out to paterons passing by, offering them free food or drinks. The food consists of the sort of things that one might expect to find in a place like this: sausages on buns and on sticks, pretzels, pizza, loads of cookies of every variety that one could think of, including elaborately decorated gingerbread, chocolates, fruits, french fries. Think winter fair food, and be as absurd and as complicated and extra as you want. It is a fair, after all. Go nuts. Drinks are also along the same line: hot cider, mulled wine, hot buttered rum, hot chocolate both with booze and without, as well as all the normal things: water, coffee, tea, milk, soda, and a variety of fruit juices that you’ve both heard of and not.

But food isn’t the only free thing that people are giving away! They’re also offering characters hats and gloves and scarves, small toys, books, delicate ornaments, perfumes, wine… it’s a giant welcome party after all, and these people are cheerful and happy. Even offering to pay just gets met with laughter and being told not to worry about it.

Fun and frivolity.

There are even carnival rides set up! A medium sized ferris wheel, a carousel, a giant slide and ice skating ring are all along the outside of the stalls.

At the far end of the dome, the snow has fallen deeper and held to several inches. Wouldn’t you know it just happens to be perfect snowball snow! So, there of course needs to be a snowball fight! What did you think those free mittens and gloves and scarves are for after all? The snowball fight can be organized into teams, or one on one depending on the player’s choice. This is a friendly fight, of course, so no rocks or slush balls or anything. Well, probably not. No one in the Sphere is your mother.

So you want some summer?.

While the welcome party rages on in the merchant dome, people have made a smaller party in one of the recreation domes. Around the pools, as a matter of fact. There’s almost like a small barbecue clustered around the largest of the three pools, and the light is constant and sunny here. The large pool is olympic sized, and is a sparkling blue. It’s fresh water, and probably clean enough to drink. I still wouldn’t drink it. The second pool is slightly smaller and more kidney shaped with a gradual sand mound at one end of it. This pool is salt water and looks a bit more like a beach than a pool. The third pool is a kiddie pool, complete with a splash pad, that’s running. Buckets drop, it’s got one of those mushroom things, and sprinkler jets. There aren’t any kids though, so people are welcome to go nuts.

Bathing suits and towels are provided in the changing rooms. There’s frozen and fruity drinks flowing freely, along with finger food and snacks. Loud music is playing from a local band that’s just generally of a pop sort. There’s people dancing rather in a rather haphazard fashion, but the dance floor is there and present!

Oh yeah, and there's definitely the baths and everything too!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Oh, carriages I could do, but..."

WAit, no horses?

"If there are no horses, how do the sleighs run?"

Yes, the councilman doesn't know in the slightest.

Llewellyn blinked, brow furrowing a bit as he realized that he’d gotten a little distracted when Rhy asked his question earlier about winter activities. With an awkward, apologetic little duck of his head, he responded, “Oh— well... I don’t think sleighs are an option here, horses or not. When you asked about winter activities, I’m afraid my mind sort of got caught up in all the things I remembered about winter where I’m from?”

It happened now and then, his brain would just leap from one thing to another and if it connected in some way it popped out of his mouth. It did frustrate some people, so he wouldn’t be surprised if Rhy got annoyed. “Everything else I mentioned should be possibilities, though?”

"Ah, that sounds good. I prefer to walk," Rhy offers with a smile.

Still, he likes the idea of having the time with Watts to try things.

"But first we shall eat, correct? It would be rude to play when Pretzel cannot join us."

“As do I, especially when it’s like this. The snows not too deep and the conditions aren’t unpleasant.” He responded with a little smile. The atmosphere was rather nice. There was light everywhere to cheer him, the snow lightly falling and there was just enough on the ground to crunch underfoot.

And as if Llewellyn would ever complain about eating first, Rhy knows him well. “Of course, there appear to be many delicious things to try! Nice warm, sugary treats we can share.” He gestured at the decorated market, “And yes, I might let him rest in my office later while we explore further. He’s been very excited about seeing snow, but it does get cold after a while.”

"You do know how I love to please my sweet tooth," Rhy agrees with a grin. "But I don't mind carrying him back so we can be alone."

And he doesn't mind being alone. With Watts. He shifts his grip on the dog to carry it one armed so his hand could get Watts'

“I certainly do, and I would hate to fail at making sure that you’re satisfied.” He responded, letting Rhy take his hand. His fingers wrapping lightly around the other man’s with a gentle squeeze. It was nice, and it warded off some of the chill from the falling snow. “I take my job of making sure you eat well seriously.”

He glanced at Pretzel, the dog quite happy to rest in Rhy’s arms for now. “We have a plan then...? I um... certainly do like the idea of having you to myself for a bit.” Yes, he loved his puppy but there was something nice about them being able to give one another their full attention. Sharing was nice but up to a point, Sorry Pretzel.

"Oh you are so delightful in your focus on that," rhy smiles. But the fact that his lover will take such good care of him always helped.

"We have a plan then, my dear. We will enjoy the food, then take the pup to somewhere warm and come enjoy the snow as well."

He smiled, a small happy flush crossing his face at the comment on his ‘delightful’ attention to the subject of making sure Rhy had what he needed. It was just one of the ways he showed he cared, and the fact that Rhy allowed it made Llewellyn very happy...

“Then we’ll see what we can find!” He responded with an eager, excited tone. Drawing his love back towards the main part of the market where food and hot beverages awaited. He’s keeping his eye out for treats that he recognized from his brief time abroad, sweets that he thought Rhy might enjoy...

“Ah, these!” He pointed at a display of schneeballen that were a particular favourite of his. “These are quite good, you break the apart and eat them? They’re made of pancake batter, deep fried and coated with chocolate and other things.” He gestured while he spoke, cheerful tone as he turned and pointed to another display, “Or there are gingerbread cookies, they’re always good. They’re spiced nicely and have molasses in them.” A pause, “And I think whatever we get... hot chocolate would be a good choice to go with it?”

Oh, that sounds quite lovely, Rhy looks very excited.

"I have had gingerbread, it is lovely. But those," he points, because he doesn't have a name for the things Watts said were his favorite. "Hot chocolate is a delight I shall happily indulge in."

Llewellyn blinked, having realized he forgot to say what they were. Though with the way the sphere’s translator worked, he wasn’t sure if it would translate it directly to ‘snowball’ or not. “Oh— yes, they’re called schneeballen. We’ll definitely get some of them if you like, and the hot chocolate.” And perhaps he’d grab some gingerbread for later, a treat for after their fun.

He gestured lightly to the vendor, ordering them a couple of the pastries and then some hot chocolate to go with it. It definitely looked delicious, decadent with whip cream and cinnamon sticks sticking out of the to-go cups. Carefully, he handed them over to Rhy.

Though he did raise a brow, “You may want to put our little friend down so you can eat though, otherwise he’ll probably stick his nose in your cup.”

Awww, but he's got the puppy. Rhy whispers an apology to Pretzel before putting the dog down, carefully shifting the leash to hold the dog better while still holding his treats. And yes, he feels guilty.

"This time with you and the pup makes me feel so... domestic."

Now, Rhy, that’s the problem. He’s using his cute wrinkly face to make you dote upon him, and he’s going to keep demanding uppies from you instead of walking on his own. Not that Llewellyn was much better...

He broke off a piece of his treat and popped it in his mouth thoughtfully at the comment. Llewellyn honestly hadn’t thought of it that way before, or perhaps he hadn’t dared allow himself to think it... It’s not a feeling he ever figured he’d get to feel himself. To hear it from Rhy was lovely though, and brought a curious, perhaps hopeful smile to his face. “Mm... It does, doesn’t it?”

A pause before he added, “In a good way, I think?” Because he knew some people didn’t really like the idea. He did though… It was a newer feeling, but a good one. Absentmindedly, he broke another piece of the pastry off and dipped it in the hot chocolate’s whipped cream while he listened to Rhy.

Shhhh, it is a good puppy that has done nothing wrong, so Rhy will keep spoiling him.

"I've never been in a position to feel that before. A touch of what normal people might have. It pleases me."

And this is why Rhy has become a fast favourite of Pretzel’s... Even now, the pup was trotting along with his nose up in the air to catch the scent of their treats.

Llewellyn leaned in closer, feeling a warmth grow in his chest at the confirmation. “I never really thought that I’d get to feel it myself... what ‘normal’ people get to enjoy. I tried not to think about it, honestly.” He mused lightly, taking a sip of hot chocolate, trying to avoid some of the cream getting on his nose. “But I like it. I like that well... that we have the chance to enjoy it together.”

Well, Rhy was definitely not going to give up his food for the little one. Sorry about that. Rhy takes another bite and he enjoys it. Wow this just a great bit of food too.

"I rarely even got to see what normal people had. I'm a prince. The normal people were something my guards tried to keep me from."

Llewellyn was certainly enjoying his pastry, it was hitting a rather nice bit of nostalgia for him. It also was great to be able to share it with someone he cared about this time, and to see Rhy enjoying it.

“I suppose that’s true.” He responded thoughtfully, “In some way that’s unfortunate... It’s very interesting to watch people living their lives and guessing what they might be doing. On the other hand— well, I found myself jealous more than once over the years.” He admitted with a little gesture, “I try to be happy for those around me though. Especially if I care about them.”

He licked a little cream off his finger and broke off another bit of the pastry. Definitely would be going back for more before the event ended, perhaps to have a few in his snack drawer.

"I'm more than jealous," Rhy admits. "But at the same time... If I was like those people that got to have that real experience, I would have..."

He would have suffered. Deeply.

"I'm a privileged little prince."

Llewellyn felt a small frown slip onto his face, having a feeling he knew what Rhy meant. “Mm... There are good and bad things, I suppose...? The world isn’t nice, unless you fit into specific boxes.”

And Llewellyn had never fit into the right box. He’d tried, of course. Tried until he’d managed to build a facade that was mostly accepted by society around him. He’d still never gotten to have the things he really wanted in life though, and the closest he’d had was taken from him.

But here... Here things were different. For all the bad things they had experienced, there were still things like this. “Well, here we can both enjoy the things we wouldn’t normally... together.”

There were more boxes here, really.

"I like that, my sweetling," Rhy smiles, pulling Watts a touch closer.

Llewellyn smiled a little at the reply, “I’m glad, dearest.” He bumped lightly into Rhy’s side as he was pulled in closer, “I know I’m enjoying it already mm... quite a lot.”

And, feeling just a little brave and lighthearted for once, he leaned in to press a small kiss to Rhy’s temple as they walked. It was quick and soft, but he was trying. Enjoying the little rush that it gave him to know that this was fine, and that they were quite safe to enjoy themselves and each other’s company while they walked along to eat and take Pretzel somewhere he could stay out of trouble.

Well, that's lovely, isn't it? Rhy laughs in delight at the contact. What a sweet man, his shy love. It was not his normal, but he thought it was nice anyway.

"You're so silly, my love."

He hummed a little at the statement, “I do believe that is a correct assessment of me for the moment, though I would point out that you inspire me to be so.” Llewellyn responded quietly from behind his mug, as though he could hide the happy flush behind it. “Especially if I get to hear you laugh.”

Yes, he still quite liked being called that... It gave his heart a small rush, a particular kind of hopeful joy that he wasn’t accustomed to. It was all very new, but a good kind of new for once.

"Do I?" Rhy asks, smiling happily. "That sounds lovely. I do so enjoy it."

He pauses to lean forward and kiss Watts' cheek. How lovely.

That makes his cheeks flush a little more scarlet. Yes, this was lovely. “Yes, you truly do, dear...” He responded with a little chuckle, finally forced to lower his cups as they walked.

His eyes glancing down at the dog at their feet for a moment, before they returned to Rhy. “And, your enjoyment is the point. All of this is very enjoyable, the fun atmosphere, the company... And I hope you’re enjoying the food?”

"It's divine," Rhy assures him as he takes another bite. See, he likes it.

"Perhaps you shall join me for a ride?"