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

[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.

[storradr]

I'll hold you to that. [Thor might find himself with some very late night/early morning phone calls with an offer like that.

The poke is lightly swatted at with a smirk.] The gods provide inspiration. An example. A reminder. That is what I mean.

[He nods. It had already been his plan.] If this is to be my home, I will protect it and fight for it as I would my other home.

[worldsaway]

You don't need to tell me what you mean, I already know- and I like to be held. [Thor interjects, clumsily.]

I knew I liked you for a reason.

[storradr]

[Ragnar's eyebrows raise and he can't help the quiet chuckle that he can't quite stifle.]

I think you need another drink, brother. [He chuckled again, more freely, and shook his head.] And then we can find you a nice woman to hold you.

[worldsaway]

I already have a woman to hold, she'ssss... [Thor extends the word, looping an arm around Ragnar's shoulders as he seeks her out in the crowd. When he can't find her, his hand drops and he shrugs.]

Busy. You'll have to take her place, as a test of faith. [He's not serious at all, but his face is. He gives Ragnar's chest a hearty pat.]

[storradr]

[Ragnar squinted at the partygoers as Thor attempted to find 'his woman'. Honestly, Ragnar was incredibly curious about her. In his world, Sif and Thor were married and Sif was known only for her beauty and for blessing fields with fertility. This Thor's Sif was an amazing warrior goddess and Ragnar could not, for the life of him, figure out why Thor wasn't with her. It made no sense. He had to see this other woman, she must be unimaginably beautiful and strong.]

Busy. [He echoed in disappointment.] Tell me about her. I'm sure I'm no replacement. And... [his gaze moves across the party to Sif] Sif dances alone. [The way his eyes linger on the goddess would be difficult to miss.]

[worldsaway]

Her name is Bryn. You'll know her when you see her, because everyone's eyes draw to her when she walks in a room. She's brilliant, very sharp and she makes me.. [Aroused? Hm. Warm. Safe. Eager to settle?] Happy.

[Thor settles on the word, then glances up at Sif. He's long since given up the thought of a romance between them. When they were much younger, his advances were not welcomed and now she's practically a sister to him.]

Be careful of that one.

[storradr]

[He couldn't help but think about Lagertha. She demanded attention. His gaze lingered on Sif though, the warrior goddess was equally as stunning.]

She sounds like a truly amazing woman. I hope to meet her.

[He couldn't help but break into a grin and chuckle softly at the warning. Didn't it apply to every woman?]

Why do you not have both? [The question couldn't have been more conversational and casual.] In our stories you are married and you have a mistress, maybe more than one.

[worldsaway]

[It takes a lot to fluster Thor, but Ragnar gets damn close with that question. Thor almost chokes on the drink he's swigging, but he's drunk enough to laugh uproariously for a good, long minute before he falters and watches Ragnar's face.]

You're serious. [Thor raises a brow.]

Sif has no desire to be with me, much less as anything less than a priority. She doesn't share. Ever. [Thor points at Ragnar, as if teaching him a very serious lesson. He's still a little stung from Sif's verbal explosion at him not long before this.]

You don't need to worry about my bed, Bryn keeps it warm enough.

[storradr]

[After a moment of Thor's very loud laughter, he did offer the god a reluctant smile, not sure what he found so amusing.]

Of course. Sif is your wife and the mother of your daughter. You also have a lover, Járnsaxa, who is the mother of your son. You have yet another son, whose mother was a mortal woman, though none know her name.

So, you see, you can have many lovers.

[Ragnar's gaze once again wandered over to Sif and simply smirked at the warning.]

A bed can always be warmer...

[worldsaway]

That is interesting. [Thor muses. He has a hard time imagining being married to Sif, let alone raising children with her.

Children in general are a while off, particularly with the state of Asgard now. He makes a face, as if in consideration, then shrugs.]

I feel like you're deliberately ignoring the fact that she's not interested in me like that. [He cocks his head to the side.]

You are wise, I'll give you that, but I've known Sif for centuries. She's forthcoming, if she thinks something, she'll say it. It got her in trouble more than a few times.

[storradr]

[At the accusation, Ragnar glanced from Sif, to Thor, to Sif, and then back at Thor before taking a long drink. He didn't know either individual well enough to say whether Sif was just particularly good at hiding her feelings around Thor, or if Thor was simply that oblivious. Maybe a bit of both?]

If... you say so.

More ale?

[worldsaway]

[Thor, in many ways, is more perceptive than he lets on. In some cases, like this, he is extremely oblivious.]

I do say so. [Firmly. There will be no more shenanigans.]

That's the best idea you've had all night.