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Scarier than the undertaker, we are meeting our matchmaker! [open]

Started by Rhindeer, April 13, 2017, 10:46:45 AM

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Rhindeer

The area was a flurry of activity, filled with the sounds of song and dance and chatter. During this time of the year, the already beautiful city of Suna was even more colorful, the buildings decorated with bright ribbons and jingling bells and so many flowers the air was sweet even though it was filled with the savory smells of cooking food. And there were people everywhere, some lining the street to watch the passing parade, some flirting with their neighbors.

Standing upon a small stage in the city square, Xinyi leaned on her cane as she watched the passing parade. It was a noisy afair with its makeshift floats done out of flowers and its many Maoin dancers and acrobats performing feats that shouldn't be physically possible as musicians played. There were animals, too: performing monkeys dressed in little costumes and running around to solicit spare coins and delight children, exotic birds released from their cages to paint the sky in many colors, and small exotic cats on leashes. It wasn't the first procession that had come by and was far from the last.

But it wasn't the main event. And though lots of people were there for the entertainment and fortunetellers and food and crafts, most were there for the matching-making ceremonies. Which also wasn't the first, nor the last, that Xinyi would perform that evening.

It was going to be a long, long night.

As the parade finally passed and the area cleared, Xinyi cleared her throat and thumped her cane hard on the stage to get the attention of the crowd, which pressed in closer now that the parade had passed. This was what many of the young folks were here for, to try their luck and hopefully catch a catch. Internally, Xinyi rolled her eyes. It wasn't the way things were done back when she was a girl, back in her village. Things were done properly there, with time and consideration and meeting a matchmaker properly. And yet she participated in this affair every year because dammit if she wasn't a great matchmaker, and if today was as lucky as it was supposed to be, Inima would guide her hand in the choosing!

It was her duty to see these silly kids got a good match, unlike some of the other matchmakers in this city. Hmph.

"Everyone, quiet down now!" she said, her voice crackly but carrying even over the noise. "We're about to begin the next choosing ceremony!"

She stepped over to a table behind her, decorated with red flowers in the center that matched the red of her robes, and lit a stick of incense on one side. On the other, she lit a candle. Fire and incense for cleansing and purification. It wasn't as elaborate as a more personal ceremony, but it would do in a pinch.

On another table, there were two large jars. She pointed to them and hid a yawn behind her hand. It was getting late, and she had been up since dawn. She was too old for this crap.

"Please write your name on the parchment provided and place it inside the appropriate jar," she said, motioning to the jars, one for men, one for women. "We will begin the drawing as soon as everyone is finished. Inima bless you all."
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

Zero

Branching out her travels from her native Serendipity had been the best idea ever. Elysia had wanted to be the best bard in the whole of the world, not just the best in Serendipity. The only way she could do that was to go out into the great wide world and learn from every entertainer she could find that was willing to teach her.

Apparently she'd picked a super great time to journey to Thanatos. The place was embroiled in the biggest party that Elysia had ever seen. Well, almost, but it was way, way bigger than she would have guessed for a supposedly little island nation. It would have been great if more people spoke common, because she sure as hell didn't know the language of these Thanati; although it was super neat hearing it all around her. All exotic and different.

Besides, even Elysia spoke the most widespread language of all – money.

The young bard had managed to deck herself out by spending coins. There was a large yellow flower tucked into her blue hair, and a thick yellow sash tied about her waist to accent the purple of her outfit. She thought she looked pretty good, definitely not native with her outlandish colors and pale skin, but still cute!

Most of the people seemed in very high spirits and were super polite, at least she thought they were polite, even if most didn't seem to know what she was saying and only replied happily in their own language.

Watching the parades was a real treat, and her eyes lit up at the performances of the...Maoin? Yeah, she was pretty sure that's what they called them.

By noon Elysia was as tipsy as everyone else around her. People were more than willing to offer her drinks in exchange for a couple coins. She really wasn't even sure how much she'd spent at this point, just knew her coin purse was considerably lighter than it had been in the early morning. More important than the money she was spending, she wished she knew what the alcohol was. Some local brew, for sure, but it was exotic to her and super tasty.

Periodically people got really excited, but she didn't know what about, until she was close enough to see the people writing something on little pieces of parchment that went into two really big jars.

Elysia tried to get someone's attention, waving her hands and pointing at the display. "Whass' that?"

The man saw what she was pointing at and grinned, taking her by the arm and pulling her towards the sign up area, there were a lot of young people crowded around. They pushed a quill at her and gave her a piece of parchment that she started at confusedly for a moment before the man grinned even wider and pointed. "Name!"

Oh, it was for your name! Well, wait, did he speak common? Elysia shook her head and jotted down her name, curious to see what it was all about. Maybe the names were for some kind of raffle drawing? It would be cool to win a prize!

They pointed to one of the jars and she dropped her name into it before being crowded out by the next people trying to enter their names.

nephero

There are certain aspects of field work that can get... out of hand, if you let them.

Being too cautious and careful, one might risk the mistrust of those you're hoping to study, or even worse, one might insult them with too many refusals.

If you aren't cautious enough (or in Shea's case, at all), one might risk becoming thoroughly inebriated over the course of an increasingly spirited festival celebrating the... the what? What was even happening anymore? Something about springtime and balance and...

Shea Ru felt he was forgetting something incredibly crucial here. He remembered, through his haze, that his host held very poorly masked contempt for the whole affair. Something about the old ways and how things were properly done and tradition, a sentiment that Shea Ru could honestly sympathize with.

There were many times where he himself felt rather anachronistic; times changed but he remained (by and large) the same, and so when his host aired her grievances he simply hummed and nodded in sympathetic agreement.

Which... if he had been presently at all sober, he might have realized was his own undoing.

Such a nice young man. He was pretty sure those had been the words. He snorted a bit, amused at the unwitting joke that was, and polished off what had to be his... third? Fourth? Fifth? drink. The sticky sweetness had taken some getting used to, but politeness was everything here and so he had nursed it until the alcohol content reached his brain and dulled most senses.

It was utterly fascinating as a rule; he had not been aware he still got drunk.

A residual side effect, he noted, somewhere in the margins of the leatherbound notebook he had been slowly building over months of study: 'Thanati booze is potent'. Yes, yes. Expert observation, well done, A+ best scientist.

It was only after a few minutes then, that he realized that the area surrounding where his host stood had suddenly become incredibly crowded. They were all pressing forward, scribing something onto sheets of paper and then tossing them into great jars set on top of a table.

Right, right. Names. That much he remembered, this had to do with names.

What had been that last crucial component, though?

Oh, well, he supposed he'd find out shortly. It wasn't as if he had much to actually worry about-- what could possibly go wrong with a name? And so he put his notebook away, stood up, and moved to get in line behind what seemed to be another foreigner, if her complexion was anything to go by. When his own turn came he scribbled down his current moniker ("Mali Roue Grin") and tossed the paper into its designated jar.

Whatever this had to do with, it was only technically Mr. Grin's problem. Another snicker, a little private joke, and he sat down once more with a fresh drink magically in hand. Where had he been getting all of these?

Somewhere, in the least rational part of him, Shea Ru suspected it was one of the monkeys.


VIGILANCE WALKING THE TOAST
Characters here!

__guilds, yo__
The Territok Orcs // The Oratok Orcs // Fausteth // The Ashmen

DragonSong

Why did there have to be so many people?

"Risa, come on! If you don't start moving I'll leave you behind," Ori threatened, grabbing her arm and starting to drag her through the crowd.

"Knock it off!" She tried to jerk away from her little brother, but even at fourteen he was already taller than her and too strong for her to break his grip easily. So she submitted to beonng towed along, grumbling complaints under her breath as they passed through the festival.

Ori eventually relaxed his grip when he was sure she wouldn't run off, allowing himself to be dostezged by the colors and scents and sounds of merriment that surrounded them. "Oh, look at this!...Risa, c'mere- oh wait no, this way!"

She could do little more than sigh and follow him. Father had given her strict instructions not to let her brother out of her sight. She was so absorbed in just making sure she didn't lose Ori in the crowd that she didn't notice where he was leading her until they were standing awfully close to the elderly matchmaker, right in the thick of things.

She sighed to herself and rubbed at her temples. Of course. Right where she didn't want to be. "Ori, please, why don't we just go get something to-"

She looked up and her brother was gone.

Panic set in. "Ori? Ori!" Flying into a blind panic, Risa darted through the crowd, squeezing between two people she thought must be foreigners- one had blue hair, goodness!- and making her way back toward the matchmaker's table. Surely her brother wouldn't be so foolish... "Ori!"

"I'm here."

His laughter nearly earned him a slap across the face when she whirled to find him just behind her. "What were you doing?!" She grabbed his shoulders and shook him gently. "Tell me you didn't put your name down, Father will kill you-"

"I didn't." His eyes sparkled mischief and her stomach sank. "I put yours."

Rhindeer

Xinyi's eyebrows rose when she spied none other than her very own Mali heading up the line. Well! Wasn't that a surprise? True, she had sort of encouraged her guest to join in the festivities, as much as she disdained them. And why not? He was such a nice young man, and while she normally cringed at foreign sorts, he was different: hungry to learn and open to their culture, unlike many of the other unwashed heathens from across the sea who thought they knew better.

He was unmarried, too.

That struck her as a bit odd. He was young, but also rather old to be unwed and childless. But his people did have different traditions, so what was strange here might not be unusual there. Still, it was an utter shame that a nice, handsome boy like that hadn't fathered a brood of handsome children. Maybe this would get him out of his shell, get his nose out of a book. A wife would be good for him!

If he wanted to learn their culture, there was no better way than full immersion.

With a smile and a glint in her eye, she waited for the last little pieces of parchment to be placed. She paused an extra moment in case there were any last minute calls, and then picked up each jar in turn and gave it a good shake to mix the papers.

So many foreigners this round, she noted with a raised brow, and wondered just how many actually understood the process. But it was not her concern. Today, the pieces would fall where Inima cast them, and luck would shine down on them all. Something, something, providence. Alas, skeptical as she might be, she was determined to do this right. It was her duty as a matchmaker, and it was why she participated despite her reservations.

If she didn't, someone else would, and they might be terrible.

"And now begins the choosing," she announced, letting her hands hover above the jars and trusting Inima to guide her. "I will only say this once, so please pay attention and step forward when you are called, so that you might find your other half! Good luck to you all." She cleared her throat, eyes roaming over the little crowd, and then began to draw names.

Half of which she slaughtered, the foreign sounds strange on her tongue, but damned if she didn't give it her best shot.

After pulling the last name, she snuffed the flames with a flourish. "By Inima's will, you are all now married in Her eyes. For a year and a day you will challenge one another, grow with one another, and perhaps--hopefully--grow to love one another. If at the end of that time, you do not feel affection for each other, you may depart each other's company with no shame upon you or your families. May Inima bless you all."



AND NOW! THE PAIRINGS!
Rit/Song
Mowellesa/Adler
Shea/Risa
Darius/Hana
Chrys/Akash
Sanshi/Rajko
Elysia/Jirou
Emrys/Sehrayanah
Varduk/Kyoko
Zahi/Quinlan
Adamaris // Aderyn // Aki // Alexander // Angel // Axieva // Beatrid // Briar // Cadmus // Corryn // Einin/Owl // Emery // Fang // Faolán // Faris // Frost // Hayate // Ife // Jayari // Jirou // Juniper // Katxiel // Khaiya // Kota // Kyran // Liam // Makani // Max // Maya // Mei // Nakato // Naovi // Nasrin // Niaaki // Niamh // Noor // Pepper // Qiana // Qismat // Quinn // Raxta // Riyarin // Rook // Sachi // Sahar // Siobhan // Simonea // Sita // Song // Summer // Valor // Yasmin // Yiroa

AevumEternity

Hazel-grey eyes follow the woman's movements on stage with increasing interest and confusion. Wrapping the dark cloak about her shoulders, pulling her straight blonde locks back into a strict bun, she furrowed her brow,"..."

She could not understand in the slightest what was happening here, the words spilling from the woman's tongue only vaguely recognizable from her futile studies in the native language. Perhaps she was the wrong Mordecai - or more specifically Adhara - to send to such events, she could not understand why the Duke found her so crucial in foreign relations- perhaps it was because she represented progressive ideals as a woman who could intimidate most men. How... Idealistic. A small smile quirks her thin, cherry lips as she slowly moves closer to the stage to gain a better view of the odd assortment of items laid out before the woman.

By the time she reached the stage, she could tell the woman's speech had come to a close. Disappointing... She furrowed her brow, allowing her eyes to wonder the crowds as well, she could tell she was not the only alien to this land, but perhaps she was one of the most plain looking ones- perhaps it would be best simply to return to her inn...

Aeytrious

        Wearing silver hair, purple eyes, and dark mocha Thanati skin, Rit was walking through the crowd, feeling the energies of possibility. So many divergent threads spinning, weaving, creating an infinite tapestry of possibilities. So many souls, flames on candles flickering with excitement. There were so many here that were big players in their little stories, stories that would end in a blink of his eye. So trivial, yet so very important. So many of these peoples lives he had watched or would watch and was even watching now. He was in this very crowd in five other places. Each of himself wearing a different body. One of those other hims was a her. She'd caught sight of something that sent a ripple through all his selves. Visibly, like static on an old television, just for a moment. Those that witnessed the ripple, the cosmic "eye twitch" as Rit called them, would have barely noticed, and thought it a trick of light or booze. She had seen a Golden Thread. These were entities that Rit could not destroy. Entities, good or bad, that were valuable to the balance of the Multiverse. As one, the rest of the Rit's turned to look at the Golden Thread.
        Mali Roue Grin, better known to Rit as Shea the Deceiver. He was here, in this crowd, this place of love and hope. They would not truly be adversaries for more than a thousand linear years, but Rit could remember it always. Lady Rit approached Shea, and placed her hand on his shoulder. Direct contact with the Golden Thread caused another ripple through Rit's infinite timeline, a ripple the deceiver likely felt that time. A twitch in the cosmic power that holds the universes together.
        "We are always watching Shea," was all that Rit said, before she turned away and went back to what she'd been doing before. All the other Rit's went back to their business as well. Our Rit, the one who put his name in the jar, the one we follow in this narration, continued walking through the crowd, feeling the love and hope of the flickering candles that were these mortals souls. As Xinyi finished calling the names, Rit stopped next to a curious soul. He could feel her Mordecai power, though such a feeble thing meant nothing to someone that had destroyed gods.
        "Aren't you a little far from home little Mordecai?" he asked her, "Connlaoth is a far different place than this Hakon. Perhaps the Duke should come see such festivals for himself. I hope you can find time to enjoy this beautiful place." He did not wait for Hakon to reply, he simply plucked a tropical flower from thin air and tucked it in her hair. Then, he stepped through open air, teleporting on the stage, right where he was supposed to be to meet his new wife. Getting married was always so much fun. That didn't mean he didn't have a moment, or an infinite number of moments, to stare daggers at the man calling himself Mali Roue.



CONTINUED HERE...
Guild
The Soot Wolves

Characters
Ryk/Theodore/Rufus
ArjanDirkElijahGeldGulliusHiram
HerewardKheelanKurohanaLex
MalilaMelyndariaMowellesaQuinnlyn
SehrayanahTiberiusValencia
Ritousaey


DragonSong

Hana barely managed to stop herself from bursting into laughter as the matchmaker read the names, though she couldn't keep a smile off her face.

This was definitely something she should have done a while ago. "Marrying" some unsuspecting human? Priceless!

She chuckled to herself and smoothed her kimono a bit, glancing around at the crowd. Without her ears and tails, there was really nothing about her aside from her odd coloring to draw too much attention, and people were milling busily around her.

Well. She supposed she should locate this Darius person.

nephero

Shea Ru was... not having the best day.

No, no, wait. That's not what he was calling himself this decade-- No, Mali was not having a good day. Or rather, Mali was presently feeling like the bottom of his stomach had just dropped out and all over the floor, which when coupled with the considerable amount of alcohol he had just consumed made for one rather dizzying experience.

Did Xinyi just say "married"?

She did, she just said "married." For a year (and a day). For a whole year (and a day).

For the second time in Mali's long 'life' he questioned every last one of the choices that had led up to his terrifying moment. Possibly more so than 'before', because right now he had all the terror of knowing how TERRIBLY that had all worked out for him in the past.

A home in ruins, ravaged by fire, and everything gone.

Why the hell did everything have to be set on fire, anyway?

As it stood, he was already not feeling his best when there was that... rather telltale shudder in the state of all that was and might be. Inwardly, he rolled his eyes. Outwardly he shot the owner of the hand on his shoulder a downright soppingly sweet grin.

"Oh, goodie, you're here. I was starting to worry I might actually have some peace and quiet in which to do my studies."

Which was... partially true. Though 'worried' hadn't been the exact term he might have used. Relieved? Surprised? Pleasantly amused? It had been so rare these days that he had gotten any semblance of peace in any venture-- like that whole... thing... in Zantaric. Connloath years before-- that he almost expected the wrench in his plans as a general rule.

Well, here were two giant wrenches, he guessed. Rit was here (like always) and now Mali had a wife somewhere in this crowd.

Brilliant.

Who was Risa and was it unseemly to apologize to her in advance?


VIGILANCE WALKING THE TOAST
Characters here!

__guilds, yo__
The Territok Orcs // The Oratok Orcs // Fausteth // The Ashmen

AevumEternity

The man who appeared in front of her immediately caused the young woman move defensively, hand grasping the hilt of the curved sword tucked neatly against her hip. Her hazel-grey eyes narrowed suspiciously at the white haired man... He reminded her of Aven vaguely and this had taken her off guard. Of course, but she should stop being so surprised, such a condensed aura as hers was sure to draw some unwanted attention. Hakon simply allowed the man to speak, he seemed far too intent on being heard then hearing any way.

She started slightly again as the man tucks a blood red flower into her platinum locks. The soft petals tickling her temple caused her to hesitate in simply discarding it. The man, his shenanigans- they vanished as quickly as they had come, causing her to take a steadying breath and straighten. Her fingers unraveling from the sword and grasping the hem of the black cloak about her figure more firmly- this is why she felt so utterly exposed in foreign countries. Nonetheless, it was... Exciting. At least no one seemed utterly hellbent upon stabbing her in the back, yet.

Hakon reached up carefully, allowing her forefinger to trace the delicate arc of the blossum's trumpet-like form. It held many layers of petals that curled further and further inward toward its base, akin to bloody waves. She resigned herself to the fact this was likely one of the nicer objects forced upon her by a magic-slinger. Perhaps she would humor the entity by keeping it there, if her skull blew up and skin began to melt, so be it- t'would certainly be an interesting way to depart this world.

She blinked and looked up at the woman on stage. Something something something marriage something? Oh dear, she had put her name in that jar just for giggles, she assumed it had been some sort of ceremony involving random volunteers for something not particularly life changing. In fact, she had not been paying close attention so she could only imagine how the poor sap who was paired with her felt. Ah well- it was just a little festival, how could it possibly mean a thing? Or had her name even be called? Who knew- she certainly didn't

DragonSong

She was going to kill Ori.

Once the world stopped spinning.

Mali. Who the hell was Mali.

Ah, right. Her husband.

With a groan, Risa sank down into a crouch, putting her head in her hands and moaning quietly. Ori sort of danced around her, apparently only just now realizing that his little joke had real consequences.

"Ris? Risa? Oh, no. Please don't faint, sis. Um, hello? Anyone have some water?" He looked around at the crowd while Risa just focused on breathing. "Risa? Risa, snap out of it!"

"Shut. Up." The world refused to stop spinning, and her brother's voice sounded abnormally loud to her.




Continued here

Sheshia

(I feel so bad for posting this this far in the thread T.T forgive me!)

Varduk surryed the surroundin area. It sure was busy and the smell and loud noise made him uncomforable. Liliak had to stay behind to unfortunetly to not cause a panic. He knew she was safe and probably napping at this time of day.

As he walked up to where the other people that entered the strange drawing in his mind since he was from who knows how far away and has never seen such a traditional country which kind of awed him yet made him feel out of place at the same time.

One he heard his name being called he starts to ask around for Kyoko in his probabky strange sounding accent from his years of training and living with a Pluizig. In his mind this might work or might not work, it was just something for him to do and possibly find someone to become friends or fall in love with either way would work just as well as the other.

Delentus

Standing far to the back of the crowd he barely remembered even stumbling into, Darius was enjoying his time in Thantos. At this point in the festivities though everything was getting hard to remember. Like why was he even here? What was the purpose of this crowd? Why did he put his name in the jar? Was it for more wine? Who was this Hana that was called at the same time as his own name?

Then the word marry finally made a connection, and everything around him became suddenly clear again.

"Oh no...what have I gotten myself into now?" he managed to groan, trying to look for a way to slip into an alley without being noticed.

Continued here

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