crescentview | dec event.

dec event.

prologue

You awake to find yourself in a bed that creaks with your every movement, motes of dust flitting about the sparsely lit room. Whether you wake alone or with another by your side, you exit the worn-down building to find yourself on an old, abandoned farm. It isn’t long before a familiar voice lilts in your ears, carried to you on the breeze—

“Hurry over to the town square. Chop chop!”

Whether you go willingly or find your feet inexplicably compelled to trudge into town makes no difference. Once you arrive, you find yourself surrounded by a small ocean of new faces— some confused, some angered, and others quite chipper. At the center of the crowd is a bright-eyed woman with an otherworldly allure, her white hair tied up neatly in a bun, pamphlets and assorted papers tucked in her grasp.

“Welcome to Crescentview, farmers!”

Spreading her arms out wide — as much as she can without her papers blowing away — she eagerly regales the crowd with some fun facts about the island and the town while also reminding everyone of one very important fact:

“Remember, you’ve been brought here to tend the earth, fall in love, and begin your new lives together. You’re not leaving until you do. It will be quite the experience for you, I’m sure.”

Complain, grouse, or rejoice if you like, but don’t expect the Goddess to budge. Oh, right, there’s that too: she, the Harvest Goddess, is the one presiding over this land. Don’t get on my bad side, she gently warns as she stuffs pamphlets into the hands of Crescentview’s aspiring farmers.

spring breeze

While you’re here, you may as well check out the pamphlet the Goddess insistently pressed into your hands. Within it, you’ll find a handy infographic on each of your neighbors detailing their likes, dislikes, and... ideal dates? Even the Goddess’ profile is there. How invasive! Each farmer’s picture is hand-drawn by crayon into simple stick figures with the only difference being how the hair looks on top of their heads… if it can be called hair with the mess of crayons, that is. Every single stick figure is smiling. In front of each personalized pamphlet, there’s a stick figure on the cover with the same style as the photo. It’s definitely yours with how the hair color seamlessly matches yours. For the ones who have multicolor hair, you might notice the goddess seems a little more huffy with you.

The pamphlet also includes a map of Crescentview and lists the services available in town. There aren’t many on this small, remote island. Learning how to fend for yourself seems like the best course of action. Finally, a hand-printed bingo card has been made up for each new island resident. The Goddess must have spent quite a bit of time making these...

The Goddess gives her new questionably loyal followers a chance to mingle and mix before speaking up with another announcement. A small group of haggard-looking fairies appear at her feet, and clapping her hands, a notice board springs into existence. When the fairies fail to react, she gives one a nudge with her foot, prompting them all to burst into the world’s smallest round of applause. It’s a little... pathetic.

“Ta-da! Behold: the task board. Every season, I’ll give you new tasks to complete, and in exchange, you’ll be richly blessed by me, the Harvest Goddess. Spring is the season of new beginnings, so let’s take a look at what we’ve got cooking, hm?”

task board

The task board is located in Town Square and changes from season to season. In real time, a season is one month long. The following tasks are available from December 1st to January 1st and more tasks may be added mid-month.

Certain rewards are only available through event participation, so please keep this in mind when planning your threads. Multiple tasks may be completed within a single thread, but when turning in, please link to the individual tags in which each task was completed.

Finally, rewards are per character, not per farm, so those with housemates may want to coordinate with one another with regard to what animals you’re bringing home to your farm.

1. Greet your neighbors. For every person you meet, you will be given a random bag of spring seeds. Potato, cabbage, turnip, strawberry, and cucumber seeds are available at this time. Alternatively, random mushroom spores are also available. These include morel, matsutake, and common white mushroom spores. This task can be completed a total of 10 times for rewards. Please specify how much of each you would like when submitting your threads, i.e. “I’d like 5 random spring seed bags and 5 random mushroom bags, please!”

2. Exchange names. Start learning some names and faces: you’ll be seeing a lot of these folks! For each name you learn, you’ll earn a random bag of spring flower seeds. Daffodil, tulip, forget-me-not, primrose, and hyacinth are available this season. This task can be completed a total of 10 times for rewards, and yes, you can cheat the system and introduce yourself to someone you already know, but the Goddess won’t like it.

3. Check out your new farm. Take a look around and settle in! After a bit of wandering, you’ll notice a small cat or dog following you around and looking up at you with them big ol’ eyes. Looks like it wants to stay with you, but will you adopt it? This task can be completed once.

4. Till your field and begin planting. Find the beat up farming tools in your beat up house and begin beating your farmland into submission. Plant some seeds and be rewarded by the Goddess with a single chicken or rabbit to keep in your coop. This task can be completed once.

5. Visit another farm. Pay one of your neighbors a visit to receive a stationary set blessed by the Goddess herself. There are no cell phones or Internet on the island, so get used to sending all your “LOL”s and “XDDDD”s by hand. This task can be completed once.

6. Make a new friend. Isn’t friendship wonderful? For each person you proclaim to be your friend, you will receive two random gacha items. This task can be completed 3 times.

7. Pray to the Goddess. Whether you do so grudgingly or willingly doesn’t matter much to her so long as you’re doing it! Clasp your hands together and bow your head or throw an offering into her pond— she’ll hear you either way. Praying to the Goddess will net you a barn animal of your choosing: a cow, sheep, alpaca, or goat. This task may be completed once.

Caution: throwing certain items into her pond may have consequences. Choose your offerings wisely.

mod notes

⬥ Welcome to the game's opening and our first event!
⬥ A second event post will go up in mid-Dec.
⬥ Please plot over at the Dec Plotting Post.
⬥ As a reminder, please keep all plotting on the OOC post as not everyone has Discord or Plurk.
⬥ Please submit your completed tasks at the top-level below.
⬥ Have fun!

navigation

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Because it is a date, silly. ]

Hey! Pardon the intrusion.

[ Stepping inside, Childe's careful safeguarding his oh-so-precious cargo with both arms, which is... namely, a bucket of crabs. He may or may not resemble an actual cryptid right now, what with the tang on the sea still on him, this ocean-heavy scent that he wasn't able to completely scrub away. Smiling so ferociously through his noticeably wet bangs, he probably looks like a lunatic. At least he isn't dripping water everywhere? ]

Hope you weren't waiting too long. [ Crab-catching was a time-consuming endeavor, and his search for calla lilies has come up empty, but it is what it is. ] Ready to get the ball rolling?

[ He sure does! But maybe he just really likes catching crabs, who knows?

Whatever the case is, Gaku points to the kitchen. ]

Put that bucket on the counter.

[ Gaku has his own myriad of ingredients set up on one of the counters, chopped and ready to be cooked up. ]

Yeah, I am. Do you like sesame?

I'm fond! I even had a few dishes with it recently...

[ Inazuma cuisine is so interesting. Everything's his favorite when he doesn't bother keeping real preferences! Setting the bucket on the counter, he'll go ahead and allude to the elephant in the room: ]

Manage to find some paper?

[ He'll scribble down the recipe for you. ]

Yeah.

[ Gaku opens up one of the drawers and pulls out a notebook and a pen, dropping them down on the counter. ]

There you go. Write to your heart's content.

[ But mostly write the recipe. ]

[ ~~writes another letter to his beloved family (no)~~

Okay, he jots this note down for Gaku, offering it up with little fanfare. ]

How about it? Will this work?

[ If not, he can always make this terrifying dish next time, no sweat. Only allergies may save Gaku from a fate worse than death, now. ]

[ Gaku takes the list, reading it over. Hmmmm.

Unfortunately— ]

Sounds fine to me. Go ahead and get started, and I'll work on what I've got planned.

[ With that, Gaku gets to work on making some sesame soba noodles with plenty of green onion and flavorful sauce. Thankfully, he seems to know exactly what he's doing. ]

[ The next several minutes are comprised of unspeakable horrors: namely, Childe committing unspeakable acts in the kitchen to marine life. His form's excellent, though— neat and diligent with the knife, chopping up onions and dicing up tomatoes and mushrooms with the same placid effortlessness. The ingredient combo is already beginning to look freaky as hell, but as soon as the pot's boiling, he steps back. ]

Oh, not bad at all! It'll be done pretty soon. [ A taste test is in order, but that'll come soon enough. For now, he's turned his sights on Gaku. ] Need help? I'm willing to lend a hand.

[ You know what? Gaku respects his skills with the knife (only in the kitchen, not elsewhere). He'll just... ignore the way the pot looks right now and focus on making his soba. ]

Mix these together and whisk it for the sauce while I finish cooking these. You look like you know what you're doing, so I can trust you with it.

[ He needs to focus on not fucking up the noodles, after all. Cooking them too long would be no good. ]

Add as many chili flakes as you want.

[ That's a shame. He cuts people to ribbons with the same nasty finesse. ]

Sure. Count on me. [ It's all very habitual to him, brisk and professional. Childe's spent enough time in the kitchen not to over-stir or clumsily whisk. None of this explains away how dire with his own palate, though, as he picks up the spice bottle. ] Do you enjoy it spicy?

[ Says Childe, as he's already pouring a generous amount of chili flakes into the bowl... ]

Edited (504 errors............) 2022-12-08 01:56 (UTC)

[ He gives Childe a flat look. ]

Doesn't seem like it matters now, but yeah, I do.

[ When the noodles are done, Gaku pours cool water over the noodles, letting them sit for a moment so he can get the vegetables cooking a bit before he adds the noodles. Once he added them, he holds out a hand, his attention still on the hot pan in front of him. ]

Sauce, please.

[ Don't look at him like that. Obligingly handing the bowl over, he's glancing over at the noodles. ]

How long were you planning on hiding your skills in the kitchen? We could've went all-out if you only clued me in! [ Maybe they could've made this adversarial? Too late for a competition now, though. ] Not to get ahead of myself, of course. I'll just have to see how I fare, compared to you.

Isn't the surprise more fun, though?

[ Gaku thinks it is! He lets the everything cook together a bit, letting the sauce's flavors soak into everything else. ]

I'm pretty confident, but I don't want to play down your skills either, so I guess we'll have to see whose dish tastes better.

You got me there.

[ Life's so wonderful. His soup's just about done, and Childe sets it to a low simmer. ]

Good food, good company... it's nice to slow down and enjoy the simple things, every once in a while. If nothing else comes of this place, I did get to meet you.

[ And now he gets to try Gaku's very special soba noodles, too? The good times keep rolling. ]

I hope it's not just me you're happy about meeting!

[ He laughs, although he does appreciate the sentiment.

While the noodles are just about ready, Gaku grabs a couple of bowls, shutting off the burner so he can divide up their portions. ]

But it is nice, just sitting down and enjoying things like this. It's been a while since I have.

Of course! Meeting new people is fun.

[ New experiences, new opportunities to grow stronger. Childe fiddles with the dial awhile to carry out his end of their agreement as well. This """calla lily soup""" would strike fear into the hearts of lesser men, but he trusts in Gaku's bravery as he ladles out a serving for each of them. It really is a prized catch. ]

Busy back home, huh? Sounds like you had a rough go of things for a while.

[ Gaku tries not to appear too concerned by that dish by avoiding looking directly at it. He'll confront it when he has to eat it. ]

Yeah. I'm an idol, so my days off are few and far between.

[ Doesn't hold a candle to what everyone else has going on in their worlds, though.

Gaku takes the bowls, along with a pair of chopsticks for each of them—figuring that Childe will mention if he needs a different utensil—over to the table. ]

What about you? You must be busy too.

An idol?

[ Having never met Barbara, he's just zoning out of his own mind right now, staring at what horror Gaku's brought out. Gazing intently at those chopsticks, his old nemesis, Childe's frighteningly slow to answer. ]

Huh. Well... [ Wait, he forgot to answer. ] I was working at a bank. Used to, I mean. I ended up quitting.

[ He also became an enemy of the state around the same time, but that's just water under the bridge. ]

Singing, dancing, having concerts. We act and go on variety shows too.

[ Damn, so many people have no idea what an idol is. He should just start explaining it right off the bat.

He goes to grab the wine and a couple of glasses, pouring them both a glass. ]

Why'd you quit?

No wonder. With a schedule like that, you wouldn't find any time for yourself.

[ Seeing Gaku sing and dance does sound pretty intriguing, even if he can't fully visualize it. The best approximation is some sort of street performer or actor, but there's clearly more to it than that. Opting to stir his own bowl with the soup spoon, he continues: ]

In my case, I had a falling-out with a coworker and a beneficiary of mine. I cut ties with them both. ... Well, I was already planning to move on. Things worked themselves out.

[ Even if he's somewhat bitter with them both, one of them is dead, and the other is a fossil, so no use holding onto that resentment anymore. ]

You'll let me know what you think, right?

[ Please try the soup! With great reluctance, Childe picks up the chopsticks. His hand isn't so wobbly this time, but he hasn't yet gone in for the kill (and the soba noodles) just yet. ]

Sounds complicated.

[ It’s a very barebones sort of story, but Gaku decides it’s best not to pry into that sort of thing on a… first date.

He looks down at the soup, glancing up at Childe to see how he’s handling the chopsticks. When it seems like he knows what he’s doing, Gaku puts his attention back onto the soup. It sure is… something. He’s not sure what to think of it, the display on the cusp of haunting and unappetizing.

Well, here goes nothing.

Gaku uses the soup spoon to get a good mouthful. Once he’s swallowed, he gives his verdict. ]

Not bad.

You think so? Looks like this is the moment of truth for us both. Here goes!

[ Who fares better in the kitchen, him or Gaku? Too bad Childe's literally suffering over here, heavily resisting the urge to stab the chopsticks into the noodles. No telling if the gloves are making this easier or worse; he's got no traction with his fingertips at all, struggling to firm up his handhold and keep it steady. The fact that he was even able to take this first mouthful is a stroke of luck. The resounding silence afterwards is pretty telling. ]

... It's quite good. To the victor go the spoils, I guess.

[ His eyes are watery... from the overwhelming spiciness... but he's eating with as much gusto as he can muster. Don't look at his messed-up grip, okay, struggling to twirl enough with his head bent low to take another bite. ]

[ Hah, he won!

The win is more enjoyable by the way Childe's eyes water from the spiciness, and he has to hold back a laugh. In fact, he has to hold one back for multiple reasons as Childe struggles with the chopsticks.

But there comes a point where he can't stand it anymore and he gets up and puts a hand over Childe's before he picks up more noodles, guiding his fingers where they should go. ]

[ STOP, HE'S KIND OF WEEPING FROM THE HEAT. Low-key hiccuping into the noodles, like a real masochist, as Gaku comes over and finally does him in properly. The first humiliation shared with a dear companion is always the worst one. Childe doesn't retreat from his touch, though, relenting to let his hand be guided into something resembling proper chopsticks etiquette. ]

How do people eat this way on a regular basis? I can't wrap my head around it at all. [ Utensils are so nice? Why this. It's so embarrassing. ] After all this time, I'm still out of practice...

[ His stint in Inazuma prepared him for nothing, clearly. Childe's mostly gotten around the issue by stabbing the chopsticks into dumplings and fish balls instead of lifting them up with any decorum. ]

Edited 2022-12-15 04:23 (UTC)

Think of it as picking things up.

[ Will that be helpful? Who's to say, but he lets go of Childe's hand. ]

Just like with anything, you'll get better the more you do it.

[ Gaku walks back over to his seat, picking up his wine glass and having a sip as he watches Childe eat. ]

Easier said than done. [ His laugh is awful but also mostly resigned. ] I appreciate the advice. I do.

[ So stop watching him struggle to eat? Setting them down for now, he's going to switch courses and take a sip of the wine to parch his delightfully burning throat. Now they're pointing their cups at each other. ]

I take using them is commonplace where you're from.

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