riverviewlogs | The Yule Log

The Yule Log

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!

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Exactly. None of this passive holiday stuff that I've seen so far. Might as well got a little extreme with things. Be sure to try some of the goat after we sacrifice it. Nothing tastes like a fresh goat.

[He shifts a little in his seat, rubbing unconsciously at the leg he broke. He's thinking of Ragnar and Gyda, a father who doesn't yet know who he is, and a sister he's been given a chance to know for the first time. He has to tell someone about this and Rey might as well be the first one.]

Well, you won't believe this, but my sister and father are both in the city now. It's kind of complicated, but I'm glad they're here.

You’re sacrificing a goat? [ Well....that’s going to be a first for her. She may not stick around for that. She mainly cane to check on Ivar, see how he’s doing before the season was over. And it also raises the question of why, but that doesn’t matter.

Her attention is focused on his family. Her goes wide at the News. Her mind flashes to the memory she witnessed on his comm. The father he didn’t know too much about, but still loved, and a sister? That’s great news. ]

I want to say I don’t believe, but considering how weird this place is I do—that’s fantastic. You have your family with you. [ And there’s a soft smile for him, showing she doesn’t mind him talking about it. She has a family...Poe showed that to her. Him, Finn, and BB-8 were her family. ]

Are they joining you tonight? Or are they still overwhelmed with everything?

Of course. How else are we going to ensure that the winter won't be too harsh and that the spring will be good for planting? You don't want us to end up starving now, do you?

[It might be a little odd, and even a touch comical, but Ivar clearly believes every word he's saying. Vikings took things like sacrifices very seriously. Without the proper ones, the whole year could be disastrous.]

I suppose waiting for nine months finally paid off. [There's one of those small, satisfied smiles on his face that mirrors her's.]

I think they will. Gyda was terribly sick with a fever when she came, but she's doing much better now. And I doubt my father will miss something like this. [He pauses and then adds on in a confidential tone.] If you see him, don't mention anything about me being his son. He doesn't know yet.

[....right, because sacrificing a goat will bring about a good harvest. Not because of hard work and doing everything else correctly. Well, she wasn’t going to burst his bubble there. Instead she just nods a little. ]

Never heard of that tradition before...but, no, wouldn’t want that. [ There was technology and people who do science!! They would’ve figured something out. ]

Sometimes waiting pays off. [ Because he has his family now.

Well, sort of? His sister is here but his father doesn’t know who he is—time. Time can work differently and this place brings people from all sorts of periods of the past. She can only imagine what will happen if/when Ivar mentions he has a daughter.. ]

I won’t. I wouldn’t take that from you and it would be very awkward on my part. [ Hey, I know your son who you don’t know about! Yes, that would go over quite well. ]. But, if or when you do speak with him and tell him, I hope it goes over well. You’ll have time together now.

Exactly. This will make for a good upcoming year. [He can feel something in the air tonight, a charged energy that comes from having the gods physically present. Or maybe that's just his anticipation at being completely hedonistic for a night.]

I hope so too. But he's always loved me. I don't think that would change no matter how different he is right now. [At least Ivar is hoping it doesn't change. He'll never admit it, but he'll be emotionally devastated if Ragnar ends up rejecting him. He can take it from anyone else. Not from his father.]

Hopefully. [And that's all they can do at this point; hope. Hope that things will get better, and hope that maybe soon she could go back. As much as she does like it here, there was still a war to be won.

For now though, she could enjoy the night for a few more minutes before heading back to rest.]

I have no doubt about that. Considering how much you care for Winter, I don't doubt he'd come to care for you the same way.

[Considering the memory she saw...he did care in his own way. She took a sip of the spiked cider, noting the bitter taste to it.]

Besides, I'm sure you'll be able to tell him all you've done here. He'll look at Winter and fall in love with her too. [Because that was his blood. He was supposed to love his family, wasn't he? There was another sip of the cider, finding it bring a nice warmth to her body.]

Now that I know you're fine, I should probably head back. [Because she doesn't do parties...she doesn't know too many people here, and better to go before things really get entertaining.

Like being caught under the mistletoe for instance.]

The love he had for me and the rest of his children was always, depending on who you asked, his biggest strength or weakness. I hope it remains the same here. [Some people had tried to use the threat of harm against them as leverage. The king who had once done it had ended up with a most painful end, furious as Ragnar was that anyone would dare try to harm his beloved children. The mention of Winter makes him brighten.] You're probably right. He'll love Winter. Though I don't know how well he'll take being a grandfather at the ripe old age of thirty.

[When she got up to leave, Ivar tried to hide his disappointment.] You're leaving? Already? [Ivar's eyes have the uncanny ability to either go hard as flint or soft as a puppy dog's. He's definitely using the latter talent to its full affect right now. He doesn't want Rey to go. He likes spending time with her too much.]

[It struck Rey how odd it was to hear someone be the 'ripe old age of thirty.' That wasn't too much older than her. Then again, Ivar did come from a time where technology wasn't around yet, and she's guessing due to war and other things, that no one really lived to see past a certain age.

Guilt started to creep into her heart looking at Ivar's puppy dog pout. He really was expressive with his eyes, and it made her wonder when she had to started to like the color blue so much.]

I'm not the partying type. [That was the best way to go about it. When she was at Eddie's party, she clung to the walls and preferred to watch rather than participate.] I can see the appeal, but...it's not something I'm used to. [So it wasn't because of him, it was because...she's a practical type of person.]

[She'd likely worry herself silly if Ivar ever revealed he didn't think he'd even see thirty. But that was a Viking's life for him. Anyone who lived to be fifty was an old man.

He continued to stare at her with those blue, blue eyes, big and sad-looking. Come on, Rey, you can't resist a Viking who looks as much like a puppy dog as this one does.]

Just one mug of ale? Please? [Look at that, he's even using his manners to wear down her resistance.]

[Considering where she's from, maybe it might become too much to hope to live past her twenties. Who knows anymore...

But, seeing Ivar pout like that, pleading with her. She can't say no to him. Not after all the trouble he went through with this...and damnit it's the 'please' that causes her to break.]

...Okay. I can stay for one mug of ale. [Never mind she wasn't one to drink, but she could surely handle it, right?] But, you have to have one with me, deal? [She is not drinking alone in this, heaven help her.]

[Ivar immediately breaks into a huge smile. It's like the sun coming out from behind a cloud the way it lights up his face.]

Good! It's a deal.

[And he's nudging her with the wheelchair towards a table where the drinks have been set up. Ivar fills up two large tankards and hands one over to Rey. Skoal. [He says as he clinks his mug against her's. Then he takes a deep drink of what is sure to be the first of many mugs this night.]

[How can someone go from puppy pouting to smiling like the sun is out? It was a rare power, but it showed Rey how pressed Ivar was to get what he wanted...and maybe that he looked better when he smiled.

Either way, she's nudged towards the table with the mugs of ale and picks up one from Ivar. Okay, this might be more difficult than she thought.] ...Skoal. [She hopes she's saying that right and takes a sip of the ale...

And tries not to spit it out. It tastes so bitter and tangy. Alcohol, she may never understand it's appeal.]

How many of these have you had? [Because he can down one mug in what? thirty seconds?]

[Ivar sets his mug down, having already drained about half of it like it was water. Like a true Viking, he's been drinking since about the age of twelve. He's amused by Rey's somewhat successful attempt to speak Old Norse.]

Oh, this is the first. There'll be plenty more. [He says this very casually and cheerfully. Ivar plans on getting very drunk indeed to celebrate the event going off so well.]

More? How much more of this can you drink?

[Because wouldn't he get drunk way too soon and quickly? She was concerned for his health, truly she was. However, this also brought up a great opportunity for him to go on about when he started to drink. For now, she tried taking another sip, forcing herself to swallow it down.

Ale wasn't something she was going to enjoy any time soon. But for now, she could enjoy his company and just...watch the party go on.

That should be fine...right?]

[Ivar shifts so that he's leaning a little closer to Rey. He's glad that she's decided to stay, even if her expression indicates a clear distaste for alcohol. He might be reaching out to gently rest his hand on her arm.]

About eight mugs or so before I'm out for the count. [There's a small pause before he adds on.] I've been drinking this stuff since I was twelve.

[She may need to find something else to drink. Assuming there is such a thing. Oh well, she said she would only be here for one mug of it. Surely, she could do at least that much.

She looks over at Ivar, noting how close they were...and now the hand on her arm.]

So seven more to go. Hopefully, you don't pass out in the sheer cold. [Because...then he might freeze to death. Then again, there was a big, roaring fire...hopefully no one in their drunken state would try to wander too closely to the flames.]

Haven't had anything like this before, until now. It's...an interesting flavor. [To say the least.] Glad I am here though...with you.

I haven't passed out from drinking too much since I was thirteen. [So almost four years ago. Not that bad of a record for a teenage Viking.

Being able to sit here, during a Yule celebration, and with someone he really cares about, it's just about as perfect a situation as Ivar could have asked for. He doesn't often get good things in his life, so this is something he can hold onto.]

I'm glad you're here too. [...did he really just say that? He guesses he did. Oh well. No take backs now.]

That's comforting to know.

[So he won't pass out so easily, but, it does show Rey cares for him. Then again, friends should care for one another, and the last thing Rey wants to find out is Ivar had gotten so drunk he passed out in the snow. Hopefully, he'd still have some sense about him and find a warmer place to pass out.

...Well...she wasn't expecting to hear that. It makes her heart beat faster for a moment. She won't comment on it, but she will avert her gaze for a moment and try to hide the smile on her face.]

So what else do you at Yule?

[Safer question to ask. Talk about something else other than feelings.]

Well, there's always the mushrooms to try. And mistletoe. [He says that very quickly as if he doesn't want to think about the little plant too hard.] And then there's going to be the animal sacrifice.

[Ivar knew Rey likely wouldn't stay that long, since watching a goat get slaughtered and having its blood gathered up so people could drink it or paint their faces likely wasn't going to be her cup of tea.]

[Rey thinks for a moment, trying to recall if Poe cooked anything with mushrooms in them. She has the vague notion that he might have, but she can't really recall. The idea sounds interesting, but what catches her attention is mistletoe. How quickly Ivar spits out the word and then focuses on something else.]

Mistletoe?

[She asks with a slight tilt of her head.]

What is that? Something you throw at someone?

[At least the first part of this he can explain without too much awkwardness.]

No, it's a plant. There's a story from my world that the best loved of all the gods, Balder, was protected from everything in the world harming him. All except mistletoe and so he was slain with a weapon made of the plant. [The second part, however, makes him feel horribly awkward, as he's not sure how Rey will take it. Though considering she has all the perceptiveness of the goat they're going to slaughter, perhaps she won't think anything of it.] Now there's a tradition of kissing under it to gain protection from something with such deadly powers.

[Oh...well. Okay, that's an interesting legend. A warrior who couldn't be harmed except for mistletoe. How one would make a weapon made of the stuff is beyond her, but now her mind is focused on that for a brief moment until she hears the rest of the tale.]

So if..Balder had someone kiss him, he wouldn't have been killed by the mistletoe weapon?

[Yes, this is what she's choosing to focus on, not the...kiss part. Not that it was a big deal or anything, considering that it didn't look like Ivar wanted to be under the plant. Unless he didn't want anyone to kiss him. She wouldn't want some total stranger to kiss her either.]

Perhaps. But it was fated to happen no matter what, for that was the first thing to happen that shall lead to Ragnarok, the end of the world.

[He's happy not to focus too much on possibly kissing beneath the mistletoe. Not that he wouldn't like to do it with Rey, but he also doesn't know how she would react in turn. After all, she can pack quite a whallop when she wants to.]

The end of the world?

[And now she's staring at him with wide eyes, wanting to know more of this tale. If Ivar's world was truly facing the end of the world. Or if it was just a story to explain mistletoe.

Never mind the aspect of being kissed--they didn't have to. They can just ignore it and focus more on this awesome Viking legend.]

That's not happening in your world though. Your world is fine, but then what happened? To the warrior?

Edited 2017-12-24 07:06 (UTC)

It'll happen eventually. Nothing can last forever, not gods, monsters, or even the world itself.

[Now he's really getting into the storytelling mood. Stories are one of the few things Vikings love that aren't violent.]

He went to Hel, land of the dead, a dull place where there is no sorrow but neither is there joy. Hel, the goddess of death, said she would release him if everything on Midgard wept for him. Everything did except for one giantess who was said to be Loki in disguise, the one who had caused him to die in the first place. So there Balder remains until this world

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talentedscavenger - 2017-12-24 08:37 (UTC) - Expand

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