SATINALIA

[incaenstrix]

WHO: Everybody!!
WHAT: SATINALIA!!
WHEN: Backdated to the first day of Firstfall
WHERE: Gallows courtyard
NOTES: Drunkenness and shenanigans. HALLOWEENMAS!!

This Satinalia is, perhaps, less grand than in years past. Blockades are still limiting access to luxury goods, after all, so the fine liquors and dainty foods that have been featured before are nowhere to be found. And Tertia, the temporary Morale Officer, doesn't have the connections or deft touch of organizers past, so things are rougher than they've been before - the musicians are less polished, the ale a little more watered-down, the decorations somewhat haphazard.

But you know what? It's still Satinalia. Nothing can really screw up Satinalia. Especially because there are some rather lovely touches, the best of which might well be the ice skating rink. A section of the Gallows Courtyard has been roped off and frozen over with magic, leaving a (largely) smooth sheet of ice covering it. Skates are available to borrow if you don't have a pair. Of course, some injuries are definitely going to result (if you skate off the edge, you're smacking into stone instead of a soft snowbank, which can be disastrous), but hey, it's fun.

Other perks are the bonfires, with mulled wine and cider being served out of cauldrons around them, where people might sit and reflect while watching the flame. There's also dancing, of course, with the musicians basically being any band that's been recommended by members of Riftwatch - so there are lots of half-competent cousins-of-friends playing here. What they lack in skill they make up for in enthusiasm; this is the first gig for a lot of them, and they're thrilled to be here.

One thing that's missing is the Satinalia fool being named ruler. Tertia wasn't familiar with this tradition and didn't arrange it - so there's a last-minute campaign being held, in which people can either nominate others or self-nominate to be named Riftwatch's greatest fool to be celebrated.

Enjoy yourself. Exchange presents. Get drunk. Have a blast. Don't lose any teeth.

Comments

[cozen]

He takes her hand with an instantaneity that makes it look thoughtless. And it is, maybe, in the moment, but only because he's done so much pre-thought, habitually characterizing everyone he knows according to their likelihood to intentionally or accidentally do him harm, so there's no need for additional thought in the moment.

She vanishes. So does he. First he looks at the empty spot where she's meant to be, and he thinks cool. Then he looks at the empty spot where his own arm is meant to be, extended out to hold the hand he can still feel, and he thinks—

Well, nothing in words. But his guts pitch with unexpected terror, which does not even begin to approach being apparent on his face. When the effect fades, he's smiling. It's fine.

"Cool," he says aloud, and more importantly: "Handy. Does the Scoutmaster know that you can do that?"

[notathreat]

He's fine, they're fine.

Ellie squeezes Bastien's hand, and there's a look in her eyes like she's checking on him, but she doesn't register more than he's allowed her to see. She lets her hand drops, shifting both shoulders up.

"'Course. We've worked together on a few missions. Got poisoned once together even."

Which is a bonding experience if nothing else.