The Yule Log

[ragnarsson]

who: The Norse and everyone else in the city!
what: The Norse celebrate Yule. Gods help everyone.
when: December 22nd, Winter Solstice
where: Somewhere outside
warnings: Alcohol, drugs, animal sacrifice, blood play, rough foreplay, sex. Will update if necessary.



The Yule celebration has gotten underway on the Winter Solstice and it promises to be a most interesting night. The Norse have gone all out with this affair to make sure it's going to be a success. First thing to be spotted is a bonfire, so big that you might want to be careful not to trip around it, because you'll fall right in. There's plenty of room for dancing too, if you feel like grooving to a beat that's a little more unusual than most.

The Yule celebration shares a lot of similarities with Christmas, so it's a good time for gift giving. There's little shoes on a table, mimicking the tradition where Odin would leave presents for good children by putting them in their shoes. Claim one as your own and maybe a friend will leave a gift inside one for you. Watch it though. Any grinches will be fed to the Yule Cat.

There's a table set up to the right of the bonfire with food, mostly of the hearty kind that the Norse seem to prefer, and of course, lots of alcohol. Please remember not to get into any drinking contests with the gods. They will observe no responsibility for what happens afterward.

There are also mushrooms for consumption, provided by everyone's favorite psychotic Viking, Ivar The Boneless. These ones are directly from his home world, which means they come with a variety of side effects. They have the ability to make a person hallucinate quite a bit. But they can also make people much more horny than usual. Lastly, there's the effect that hits some people in making them extremely violent. Sometimes one effect hits, sometimes more than one. In any case, anyone who consumes some is assured to have an...interesting time.

On a lighter note, there's mistletoe scattered around, hung from the trees and tent beams. Fun fact: the Vikings were the first one to use it for the tradition of kissing. Of course, they also believed it was a plant that was powerful enough to kill a god, so the kissing was ostensibly for protection.

At the height of the night, there will be an animal sacrifice done. A goat is slaughtered and the blood from it is gathered into a couple of bowls. If you'd really like to go all out like a Viking, paint your face in the still-warm blood, or drink a little bit of it. Otherwise, enjoy freshly seared chunks of goat as it bastes over the bonfire.

Have fun, drink, fight, and remember to make your ancestors proud!

Comments

Thor Odinson | ota

[worldsaway]

The celebrations of late have hit a little close to home (or technically, the absence of home) for Thor. Despite his mixed feelings, he's not the sort of person that would turn down an invitation from vikings.

i. observing
[Thor spends quite a bit of a time watching, rather than participating. His arms are folded over his chest and whether he's sitting or standing, he has a watchful eye on the party goers and their activities.

He does this at varying stages of the night, feeling the need to fulfill his adopted role as the patriarch around here and back home. He's available for quiet talks, happy to share food and drink and watch the stars with whoever happens to sit by him. If you've ever wanted a quiet, meaningful discussion with Thor, now is a good time.]

i. gift giving/mistletoe
[Thor can be caught slipping small presents into claimed pairs of shoes. Mostly just sweets and trinkets, nicer presents he'll save for personal delivery.

He's not watching where he's going too carefully, so it's easy to catch him under some mistletoe throughout the evening. He politely reciprocates kisses, since he considers most of the people here his closest family and friends.]

iii. dancing/mushrooms [warning for eventual drug use]
[Thor loosens up considerably as the night progresses, it's hard not to succumb to the urge to dance to the music. He frequently dances with partners or people, but he's not shy about striking out alone. His prowess in battle makes him a surprisingly good dancer, his movements are fast and fluid (if not a little rough) but he doesn't seem to care much about dancing to the beat.

His dancing gets a little less elegant when he opts to partake in the mushrooms, but what he loses in finesse he regains in enthusiasm. He's dancing perhaps a little too close to the fire, but it doesn't seem to bother him.]

iv. sacrifice/blood painting
[The sacrifice doesn't remotely bother Thor, and he's eager to allow his face to be painted. In turn, he's there to decorate other people's faces if they call upon him.]

iv

[trashvalkyrie]

[This ritual is not new to Valkyrie, but it's also been so long since she's participated in anything like it, anything so markedly Asgardian, that she can't help but bristle a little at the idea of having her face marked.]

...It's been a long time. They don't do this on Sakaar.

[worldsaway]

[Thor takes bristling as a challenge, since there's absolutely nothing strange in his mind about coming at someone with goat's blood.]

This. [He points at the dead goat.] Is a lot less disgusting than watching someone melt.

[Thor crinkles his nose.] There's a smell I'll never forget.

[trashvalkyrie]

[She raises a brow at him.]

Didn't say it was disgusting. Smells a hell of a lot better, too, that's true.

[Her hand itches like she dearly wants to go for one of her daggers, but she swallows down that impulse and turns her face upward. It's okay. She's allowed to embrace old traditions again. She can let herself do that.]

I'm not letting anyone else near my face, so go ahead.

[worldsaway]

I'm honored. [Thor replies dryly, but he is a little touched. He dips his fingers in the blood and reaches out, tracing over the lines already tattooed on her face.]

Are you settling in?

ii.

[thisisamazing]

[Thor might be taking Odin's place leaving small gifts in claimed shoes, but he's not the only one with trinkets to distribute. What Hiccup has brought for his kinsmen is nothing fancy; in each claimed shoe he's placing a little carved wooden dragon, each a different species.

At one point during the night, he finds Thor personally, unsure if he's claimed a shoe for himself, and offers one of his carvings with a smile. It's a round-bodied dragon with wicked spikes and a mouth full of teeth, and two broad wings, a Thunderdrum.]

Happy Yule.

[worldsaway]

[Hiccup is lucky to catch Thor in a lucid phase of the evening. He smiles as he approaches, raising a brow when he realises he's being given a gift. He holds out his hands, inspecting the carving with interest.]

Thank you, I love it. [He pauses, considering.] What is it?

[thisisamazing]

[Everyone is lucky Hiccup is also currently lucid, because once he tries a mushroom he's going to be useless for anything for the rest of the evening. He's a lightweight.

Hiccup smiles widely at the approval, though.] It's a Thunderdrum - a kind of dragon we have on Berk. The legends say that they get their power from Thor himself - or, yourself. [Or however that works.] Its roar is like a crack of thunder and can stun even other dragons.

[worldsaway]

No need to ask why you picked it for me, then. [He offers Hiccup a wry smile, turning the carving slowly in his hands as he inspects it.]

I would like to meet one, one day. I'm a little jealous of the connection you have with Toothless, honestly.

iv

[storradr]

[This was a ritual he'd done many times. He'd stepped up and dipped his fingers into the blood in order to smear it across his face, giving a quiet individual prayer to Odin as he did.

All of this was completely normal.

Until he went to return to his spot by the bonfire and continue drinking and had to walk by Thor to do so. He blinked, suddenly hit by the surrealness of the situation.]

I nearly offered up a prayer to you. How strange that would have been.

[worldsaway]

[Thor blinks in turn, a little owlishly. He's been partaking in the revelries quite enthusiastically by now, so he's had a little bit to drink.]

Nothing strange about it. Cut out the middleman, offer your prayers now. [Thor declares, voice booming when he spreads his arms.

He's had a lot to drink, actually.]

[storradr]

It is strange to me. I've never spoken to a god before. I've listened. I've... made requests. I've given sacrifices. But- [He exhaled.

It was something about the grandiose and drunken display that put him completely at ease. In fact, he even found himself smirking.]

Guidance in this strange place. And strength and courage in battle. [His smirk widened.] As always.

[worldsaway]

[Thor's hands drop when he comprehends Ragnar's sincerity, but he still has that elated, drunken buzz around him.]

My guidance is yours whenever you need it, your strength and courage is your own. [Thor reaches out to poke Ragnar square in the forehead.] In turn I expect you will make something of yourself here, as you would at home, and help me protect the peace we have.

[wiccant]

( he's not after a nice, meaningful conversation--or much at all, but an off-balanced billy approaches thor from behind, blood painted on his cheeks in lightning bolts and the younger loki's helm firmly in place on head. a gloved hand reaches to steady himself against thor's forearm, stops about two seconds before he realizes exactly who he's moving out towards and.

giggles quietly under his breath, murmurs low: )

Sorry.

[worldsaway]

[Thor is quite the intimidating sight, the blood on his face resembles his gladiator paint from Sakaar, since he's decided to own the aesthetic choices they made for him. Sure, maybe it resembles something deep and meaningful, but it's just easy to paint on.

In any case, Thor glances around at whoever is using him for a brace. He takes in Billy's appearance, eye settling on the helm for a long moment before he draws his own conclusions.

He needs to be stern. He needs to slip into the role of the All-Father and protect his family.

But he's also really high.]

Is Billy short for William or Billiam?

[wiccant]

( all thors are usually fairly intimidating at all times, really. just look at him: he's not only giant but superhumanly strong, could probably crush bones in his bare hands, very scary.

but he opens his mouth and kind of ruins all that with. such a silly question that billy's laughing, a hand raised to cover his mouth to try and stifle it. it's not very effective. )

It's William. William Kaplan.

iii.

[fiercestwarrior]

[ At first, Sif stays away from Thor because tonight is supposed to be all about doing things differently, and her being at his side is very much the way things have always been. With enough drinks and mushrooms in her system, however, she really doesn't give a shit anymore. She's gonna do what she wants, and this particular moment what she wants to do is spend some time with her king and best friend.

He probably hasn't seen her like this in quite a while, eyes just a little too bright and smile just a little too sharp as she makes her way to him and grabs his hand. ]

Dance with me!

[worldsaway]

[Thor hasn't seen Sif like this in years, it's true. He's already hopped up on his own adrenaline, but it makes her energy no less infectious. When Sif is in the mood to celebrate, you join in or you die.

He steps forward easily when Sif grabs his hand, a smile growing on his face.]

Do you remember how to dance? [That doesn't stop him from trying to twist her into a spin.]

[fiercestwarrior]

I hated learning so much that I swore I would never have to be taught again.

[ Dancing lessons had been one of the many things that infuriated her when she was a child, but now they ensure that she manages to execute that spin remarkably well in spite of her inebriated state. ]

iii

[ragnarsson]

[Ivar obviously isn't dancing, but with how stoned he is, it's a wonder he can move at all. He watches the wild participants out there, a smile on his face, marred by the lines on the left side of his face of dried blood. He watches as Thor dances around with all the grace of a bull in a china shop. Very belatedly, something reaches through the lovely haze Ivar's in.]

You know, you're getting a little clo--

[Then Thor stumbles like he's heading right into the bonfire and Ivar covers his eyes with his hand. Oh boy, his uncle is going to end up on fire tonight, isn't he?]

[worldsaway]

[Thor is absolutely getting a little close, he stumbles but doesn't fall, arms sweeping across the flames without so much as a hiss from him.

He straightens, patting at the spots on his vest that seem to have charred, as if he has no idea how that happened. He glances up, blinking owlishly before he realises Ivar looks terribly worried.

Which isn't at all important, as he strides over beaming.]

Ivar! I've hardly seen you all night.

[ragnarsson]

[Ivar peers through his fingers and is relieved to not see Thor going up like a Roman Candle. He breathes a sigh of relief. Apparently, there must be a god that watches over idiots and drunkards to prevent them from coming to too much harm.]

I've been pretty busy.

[He is, after all, the Viking of the hour. Everyone wanted to wish him on a job well done putting on the Yule celebration or to get marked from him after the animal sacrifice.]

i/ii

[inlaid]

[Bryn is bundled up for the event and looking quite cozy by Thor's side as she rests her head against him. In front of the bonfire and pressed against his side it's easy to keep warm, and the layers of leather with fur trim certainly don't hurt either.

Another person might be upset that there are so few of her own people here in this world by comparison, but Bryn regards the growing Asgardian and Viking population with curiosity and happiness for Thor. Perhaps in time he'll find all of his people settled safely here until they can find a fitting home.

Speaking of homes...]

I'm still not sure about the last couple of houses we looked at. The hallways felt really narrow in that third one, and you're basically twice my size. And the last one felt more like a maze than a home. [She makes a face, briefly.] Am I being too picky?

[worldsaway]

[This celebration has done a lot to bolster Thor's faith in himself and his people, more so than Hygge managed to. It's managed to remind him of what he loves about Asgard and show him that culture can be preserved and shared. Home isn't a place, Odin was right, it really is people.

Most of Thor's people have made it tonight, which has made it all the more pleasant. He feels a heavy burden of responsibility on his shoulders still, but he finds it easier to carry when he's with Bryn.

Thor scrunches up his face in consideration at her question.]

No, you're right. One wrong move and I'd have a leg through the wall- And there's no rush, anyway, we don't need to settle for second best. [He winks at her, encouragingly, then ponders.] The first one was quaint, not much of a garden but maybe that's for the best with my skill set..

[inlaid]

[Bryn shakes her head a little.]

Your skill may improve, and a big yard would be good for Qiri as he gets bigger. I want space to be able to train him to come with me into the field...and a garden would be nice. Flowers, vegetables, whatever you want.

[She takes a deep breath, and then closes her eyes as she sighs. This is nice. Talking about house hunting with Thor, enjoying this very, very normal thing and planning the start of a life together this way.]

We'll need the space for that sort of thing anyway, and someone to build some good walls or fences to keep the pets out.

[Pets. Plural. She sneaks a look up at him, wondering if he caught that or not.]