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

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki tries to keep his twin steady, which is easier said than done. ]

I have no doubt you'd make a superlative queen, but I personally find ruling rather dull. Too much paperwork, not enough entertainment.

[ikols]

You're overthinking what it is to rule, perhaps your last partner didn't keep your satisfaction in mind.

[ Snerk. Stop chatting up and faux-ruling the Quarantine with other sorcerers, jerk. So rude. ]

We're going to have fun!

[dothelokimotion]

[ For that, Loki swats at him playfully. ]

Are you implying I do not have fun? That is quite the statement to make.

[ikols]

I'm saying I haven't seen any such thing, so how do I know it exists?

[ She breaks away to trot over to a ten-foot tall icy stalagmite that rises from the ground near the food area by the bonfire, a throne carved into the top draped in furs. It's too high for anyone to climb, too slippery, but despite her shroom-munching earlier Loki nimbly races up the side like a goat up a mountain.

She waves down to him, heels kicking. ]

Come on then, if you can!

[dothelokimotion]

[ His lips quirk as Loki walks over, eyeing the spread. ]

You're in a good mood.

[ Loki's quietly relieved. He knew for a long time that his other self wasn't feeling his best. ]

[ikols]

Everybody believes in me, of course I am. Are you climbing up?

[ Chinning a hand, she beckons him to do so. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Dutifully, he makes his way towards the throne, finally squeezing himself a space on there. It is difficult to sprawl, but Loki manages it in spirit. ]

How comfy. You did well.

[ikols]

I know, I'm amazing.

[ Tongue poking out in concentration, she carefully sits on his lap and folds her legs over one arm of the chair, reaching up to play with his hair. It's quite a good view of the party with the bonfire keeping them warm and the icy platform ensuring no one can touch them ... She always did love high places, even before she lived as a bird. ]

And now I have you all to myself, and my plan is a success.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki briefly closes his eyes, breathing it in. While Thor has been quieter, Loki has been nonchalant to the point it didn't quite fit his skin. Mourning Asgard was like swallowing ash. He held no resentment for them anymore and it suited him to know that their continued existence hinged on his deeds. Gently, he loops a curl of hair around his finger. ]

Truly diabolical.

What do you plan on doing to me?

[ikols]

Keeping you.

[ Whatever else she wants too, but the joke simmers when she traces the lines on his brow. He looks tired. ]

My only dear Loki, I don't know how to help you.

[dothelokimotion]

[ He's gripped by a sudden fear, nameless and strange. ]

I don't understand. Why do I need help?

[ikols]

You seem unlike yourself, lamb.

[ A gentle hand slides up to cup his cheek, coaxing him to look at her if he will. ]

Where do you go in your heart? You weren't here with me a moment ago.

[dothelokimotion]

Ah.

[ A telling pause. ]

I suppose I was going home. Or whatever I thought that home was.

[ikols]

Asgard.

[ A kiss finds his cheek as she settles on his shoulder. ]

I miss it, too. I'm sorry yours was lost.

[dothelokimotion]

I told Malekith once I wanted a good seat to watch Asgard burn.

[ It was a ploy, but Loki finds himself more and more unsettled by how much truth lies in the actions of the past. And how much it influenced his future. ]

I had the best seat of them all.

[ikols]

[ There is a heavier intonation in those simple words that she picks up on without losing the momentum of the hand petting his hair. She doesn't ask for or want specifics, having seen so many realities where a Loki was responsible for the death of the realm, but she can infer enough from his regret to know that whatever he did ... it didn't make him cruel. It wasn't an act committed out of spite. ]

You did what you thought was right.

[dothelokimotion]

It was right. It was . . . freeing.

[ His grief is different from Sif's and Thor's. It unnerves him and releases him from that solidarity, that pain. He couldn't take it. Even now, Loki has to look at Thor's face, the eye patch and feel rankled, an ache in his bones. Taako had suggested leaving for a while. Time away, but Loki isn't sure he can manage it. There's a new fear in him now, one that won't lead him down darkness, but onto paths he never imagined.

It tastes of responsibility. ]

It was the best thing for our people.

[ikols]

[ Her smile is soft but proud. Our people. ]

I noticed that you were blue, the other day. Whatever happened to that enchantment I laid upon you? Are you so confident you're Asgardian now that you're unafraid of how you came to be?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki coughs slightly, a tinge of sheepishness. ]

Actually, I sort of revealed that to Asgard in a play. They took it rather well.

[ikols]

[ Pardon as she literally laughs herself into another gender, the slips are happening more often tonight thanks to those shrooms. It's not even a conscious decision at this point.

Loki tips his head back in a fit of giggles. ]

I want to see it! I need it!

[dothelokimotion]

[ He grins. ]

I'd need to find another acting troupe. And write my script once more.

[ikols]

[ He gasps and sits up, grasping his twin's top. ]

Can I play you?

[ LOKICEPTION ... ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ He blinks. ]

I don't see why not.

[ikols]

Yessss! I'll do you proud, you'll love it.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Patting his twin's thigh fondly. ]

Of that, I have no doubt.