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crescentview2022-12-31 09:20 am
crescentviewmods) wrote in crescentview2022-12-31 09:20 am
jan event.
summer has arrived
As the last of the sakura blossoms fall away and the leaves on the trees grow into ever more vibrant greens, the familiar buzz of cicadas begins to echo all throughout the isle. Summer is quickly approaching and bringing brighter days and blazing temperatures along with it.
Summer also signals the start of the wine production season. Grapes growing on trellises are a common sight on Crescentview during the summer and a notice on the town memo board from the local barkeep encourages farmers to consider growing some varietal grapes of their own.
Temperatures are rising, so put on a comfortable pair of shorts and head to the Town Plaza to see what’s cooking! While you’re at it, take a look at the calendar for Summer 1st through 15th.
This season’s crops are corn, onion, pumpkin, watermelon, and pineapple. Summer’s seasonal flowers are poppy, rose, sunflower, lily, and hydrangea. As for mushrooms, shimeji, trumpet, and common brown spores are available for the summer.
hot! ...or not
Posted prominently at the top of the Memo Board is a cartoonishly-written advertisement for the first annual Hot or Not hosted by the Goddess herself. Contestants will take to the stage while the audience votes on whether they are as hot as the blazing sun or cooler than a dead fish. Leave your egos at the door! ICly, this event takes place on Summer 8th.
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 January 1st to February 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.
This month’s tasks are centered around getting to know your fellow neighbors on a deeper level. As such, the Goddess has put together a small human scavenger hunt to encourage people to learn more about the people they are living with — and hopefully falling in love with.
Find someone who...
1. Was born in the summer
2. Pours milk into their bowl before the cereal
3. Plays a musical instrument
4. Has more than 3 siblings
5. Works out 5 times a week or more
6. Doesn’t like animals
7. Would like to date the Harvest Goddess
8. Has traveled around the world
9. Speaks two or more languages
10. Is wearing socks that aren’t black or white
Each submission will earn you two random bags of summer seeds. Specify whether you want crop, flower, or mushroom spores in your submission. This task can be completed a total of 10 times.
Many ingredients used in wine production grow in the summer, but so do a variety of tea plants and grains. Grapes, tea shrubs and grains like wheat and barley can all be grown on your farm or in your greenhouse, if you have one.
Complete the following tasks to earn yourself some nice beverage-producing crops for the farm:
1. Take something from last month’s harvest and gift it to a neighbor. You can give it to them directly, cook it into a meal, etc. Alternatively, craft them a bouquet, flower crown, or another gift from the flowers you grew last season. Complete 3 times for a total of 6 grape starters.
2. Share a piece of hot gossip with a neighbor or exchange secrets with them. It doesn’t have to be your secret! Complete 3 times for a total of 6 tea starters.
3. Exercise with someone. Go on a run, swim in the ocean, help them stretch out! Complete 3 times for a total of 6 grain crops. You may choose from wheat, barley, rye, or rice.
Summer is the perfect time to hang out on the beach and splash around in the ocean. Participate in some summer fun at the beach and earn more animals for your barn and coop.
1. Swim in the ocean, build a sandcastle, or bury someone in the sand. Do any of the following for one of the following animals: cow, sheep, alpaca, or goat. This task can be completed once.
2. Participate in Hot or Not. It’s an annual tradition! Submit yourself or comment on someone else for a single chicken or rabbit. This task can be completed once.
local happenings
The Crescentview Times newspaper has chronicled the latest happenings around the island. A physical copy of the paper will arrive on your doorstep early in the morning on Summer 1st.
Recently, a group of townspeople have taken it upon themselves to check out the abandoned mine. They’ve made good headway on opening up the path in the hopes that would-be explorers will be able to take to the mines and find some of Crescentview’s fabled gems and minerals buried in its depths. They expect to be done by Summer 15th.
A strange “gurgling whisper” has been reported by some concerned townsfolk living in the mountains. The concerning sounds are coming from one of the lakes at the foot of the mountain. Supposedly, the voice is asking for offerings of... something. The townsfolk have yet to identify what exactly is being asked for.
A hurricane has been brewing off the southern coast of Crescentview. Meteorologists have yet to determine whether the hurricane will make landfall or not, so stay tuned for more updates.
mod notes
⬥ Welcome to our second event! We want to thank you all for participating in our game and contributing your efforts to it. Thank you for playing!
⬥ A second event post will go up in mid-Jan.
⬥ Please plot over at the Jan 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!
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Hehehe! I wouldn't be surprised if Sir Kaeya was out getting up to mischief. Hopefully things haven't been all bad with the two of you living together. ( she loves u, Kaeya, but she knows u can be a cheeky fox!! )
Oh! Uh ... ( she scratches her chin bashfully. ) To be honest with you, I really haven't eaten all that much today. I've only had an apple, so ... I think food sounds good! If it's no trouble.
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With a nod, Diluc guides Amber into the kitchen and seats her at the island bar, pulling open the fridge. Just as he said, it's very well stocked. Look at all these tomatos.........]
Living with Kaeya comes with its own share of problems, you might imagine. Still, his efforts are what keep our pantry well-stocked, so I'm not complaining.
[Whipping out a pair of steaks wrapped up in parchment, Diluc reaches for his trusty skillet.]
Well, how do you like your steak?
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( Amber can't help but giggle fondly. it's nice that he's keeping the house stocked. it's just like Kaeya to be the most interesting combination of responsible and mischievous. the outrider definitely hopes that she has a chance to catch both himself and Diluc at the same time, because company from home is always good.
at the mention of the word steak, however, she immediately lights up and gasps in pleasant surprise. )
Did you say ... steak!? That's my most favourite food ever! ( her eyes are practically sparkling! ) I like mine on the medium side! Just a little bit rare suits me. ( AHH! this is soooo wonderful! she is one happy lady right now. ) Thank you so much, Master Diluc!
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You and me both. Would you care for some potatoes and onions on the side?
[Mond folks are so simple, aren't they... meat n taters......]
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Yes, please! ( she'd offer help but her cooking is. mmm. (thumbs down emoji) )
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Of course. I'll have your meal prepared momentarily.
[...Or in like, you know, several moments that are really more like minutes. At some point, she'll notice Diluc grabbing more meat from the fridge and gradually crafting an enormous tower of steaks, potatoes and cheese that he then presents to her on a platter. They can (and probably should) share this. This thing is fucking imposing.]
Here you are. Feel free to have a bite and let me know what you think of the flavor. This is a specialty of mine.
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( excuse me?? SIR??? WHAT IS THIS PERFECT TOWER OF MEAT BEFORE HER EYES!?! Amber may as well have died and gone to heaven because this is too good to be true. her voice hikes up to an (incredibly adorable) excited squeak, and she covers her mouth with both hands. the kind of reaction a woman would have if a man got down on one knee and proposed to her ... except it's, y'know, a tower of meat. )
Master Diluc...! I can't believe this is your speciality! ( SHE LOOKS AS THOUGH SHE IS ABOUT TO BURST INTO TEARS, TBH!! (but the good kind) ) This may be the best day of my life-! Okay. Okay, I can't go another moment without getting to try this...!
( she severs a bit of the meat off with her fork before putting it in her mouth. her expression then melts into one of utter bliss as she swallows, practically glowing with joy. )
This is ... the best steak ... I've ever eaten! Oh my gosh! ( and she'll just go ahead and keep eating it!! ) Sooooooooooooo good! And there's three of them!? ( mmmm! ) Y'know, my speciality is a steak too. The Outrider's Champion Steak! ( (don't eat it) ) But I never would've thought to pile three steaks on top of each other! This is just ... the best meal ever!! Aaaaah!
( suffice to say, she really likes the meal, Diluc. excuse her as she happily consumes it! )
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Ah... Her praise is almost overwhelming, but he's spared from a fraction of embarrassment by the massive pile of meat towering before them. Makes for a good shield to guard the tiniest hint of pink that sneaks onto his cheeks.]
You've got a healthy appetite, don't you? That's good. With as much running around as you do, it's important that you eat well.
[And a woman who isn't afraid to shove thick slabs of meat in her mouth is pretty sexy, but you won't catch Diluc admitting that out loud.]
...I'm glad you like it. Not everyone is as fond of the staples as us Mond folk are, so I'm pleased to be in such good company.
[He'll gladly shove his meat in your mouth any day, girl.]
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Mm! That's probably why my appetite is so big. Being an Outrider means you're constantly moving. All the land I cover, the investigations I do, the Hilichurl camps I take out, the bad guys I drag back to the city to throw in jail ... it's all done on foot! You need to have pretty good stamina for a job like that. Luckily, I was blessed with a very high one. ( ;))))))))))))))))
but also ... god, she works SO HARD!! does this woman deserve a break?? YES. yes she absolutely does. it's crazy to consider that she does the entire outrider's squad work all by herself. she somehow has the energy to achieve it, but this place is definitely teaching her a thing or two about having time off. being able to enjoy meals after work in mond was always a luxury, but now this is just enjoying a meal for the sake of enjoying it. it couldn't have been a more perfect one, either.
once she finishes her meal, she places her knife and fork together neatly on her plate before reclining with a satisfied sigh. )
Wow, Master Diluc ... I'm speechless! There are no words to describe how good that was. That was the most incredible thing I've ever eaten!
( that's high praise!! it even knocked her beloved sticky honey roast out of the park as far as her food rankings go! )
I cook my own steak a lot of the time, but my speciality is nowhere near as good as yours! ( (it sucks) ) So if you ever want to share some meat cooking secrets with me ... I'd really like that!
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Amusement tugs his lips into a smile, and while he gets up to take her dish to the sink, she's given him an idea. Well... He'd left the massive meat tower up to her, but perhaps he should eat something too? Amber's cooking can't be that bad, but he's............. also not gonna take his chances.
After washing her dish, he rounds the counter to offer her a hand, a thin smile still on his lips.]
Well then, why don't I teach you now? I'll even sample the result and let you know my thoughts on how it came out.
[He'll even take her hands and guide her through it! It'll be like that movie where the dead dude helps the lady sculpt pottery except it'll be Diluc helping Amber sculpt a steak that won't fucking kill him.]
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but here ... something has changed. has this generous meal of a perfect steak tower ignited something inside of Amber's chest? absolutely. and it's surreal - because she wasn't expecting this. there's no denying that Diluc is a very handsome and well respected man in Mondstadt (not to mention filthy stinkin' rich), which is bound to be attractive to many potential suitors. but Amber doesn't care about money or status. the way to her heart is a good meal and, well, he's certainly achieved that.
during the washing up, she turns to smile at him with a bright twinkle in her eyes. she definitely looks so much happier after her little cry earlier - now she's satisfied with a tasty meal and something ... just a small little something tickling away inside of her chest. )
That would be perfect. I definitely want to experience this sort of steak again. Just once isn't enough, you know? ( with a light giggle, she is happy to assist him with drying the plates and stacking them on the side, and returning any apparatus where it needs to go. Amber can't seem to stop herself from smiling, either. she's usually always smiling anyway, but ... the warmth she feels inside is undeniable. )
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I can't blame you. This was a recipe my maid Adelinde taught me as a boy, and over time, it's only gotten more sophisticated.
[in what world is a massive tower of meat sophisticated]
Well then, go ahead and show me what you can do. I'll be here to guide and instruct you as necessary.
[Surely nothing could go wrong with allowing Amber to heat the pan and season the steak? Surely??]
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Well, usually I just ... sort of wing it! ( DOES TEYVAT HAVE E.COLI????? SALMONELLA??????? AMBER IS PROBABLY IMMUNE TO EVERY ZOONOTIC DISEASE BY NOW )
I cook my steak outdoors while I'm on duty! Every time I do it, I just kinda - whoop! - throw it right in there. While it's cooking, I'll go occupy my time by looking at the birds or doing some stretches ... and when I smell smoke, I know it's ready!
( GOD HELP HER )
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...I see.
[How is this woman still alive? How is anyone around her still alive? What were the archons thinking giving her a Pyro vision? So many questions, but with that poor steak's deliciousness hanging in the balance, there's no time to answer any of them.
Diluc coolly slips behind her, arms wound over hers, and takes her hands to guide the pan and spatula around. Help.]
Our cooking techniques are starkly different. In that case, just let me lead your hands, alright? This is the most effective teaching method.
[IT IS NOT, but Diluc had to throw that last bit in there to avoid Amber's feelings potentially getting hurt?! Just let him hold those dangerous hands, bb.]
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O-Oh...! Thanks! I'm really grateful. My Grandpa never had the time to teach me how to cook ... ( NOT THAT ANYONE WOULD'VE GUESSED ) And I really didn't have anyone else around to either, so ... ( aww, Amber. her inability to cook is kind of understood when her past is taken into account. but it's okay! she's here to learn as much as her brain will allow her to take in while experiencing this ... very interesting teaching method. )
Well, if there's any way to make my steak taste like yours, I'm all ears for it.
( she's been through harsher critique in her life than a cooking lesson! she's a big girl. she can take it!! )
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...Not that Diluc isn't also a bit distracted? He swears he can feel Amber's heart beat against his chest, or maybe that's his own? In either case, he's committed himself to this, remaining right behind her to carefully guide her through the process of making an edible meal. God, it's fucking hot in this kitchen.]
It's never too late to learn. If you ever need instruction, you can feel free to call upon me.
[He can't guarantee he'll literally hold her hands through the process every time, but he also wouldn't... mind........... cough.]
...As far as making your steak taste like mine, my recommendation is that you season it well and flip it regularly. Leaving it to sit on one side while you rush off to do other things will result in that side burning while the other remains raw.
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( when he explains it like that, the penny drops. Amber notices that he's turning it often and keeping a close eye on it, which is not how she cooks hers. just like she explained and as he pointed out, she runs off while it cooks which causes the sides to be uneven and poorly made. as she's watching, she's starting to understand that she may need to pay attention while cooking in the future if she wants her steaks to taste anything like his. it's definitely enlightening! )
You know, I always did wonder why the steaks I make never turned out like the ones I'd eat elsewhere. Mine would always be really squishy on one side, and super crunchy on the other. ( yikes ) But yours, though? ... Mmmmm. It was like pleasure in my mouth.
( what? that sounded lewd? she can't tell. she's just being honest! )
Maybe when this is cooked, you should be the one to eat it. I'll try a bit, but ... I did just eat three steaks. You deserve a meal too.
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But like— yeah?! Did that have to sound so lewd? Unfortunately for Diluc, his mind goes there, heart beating noticeably faster against Amber's back before, blessedly, it's time to plate the steak and withdraw. He should've opened a window in here.]
That's the plan, is it not? Though I did intend to eat your cooking, we'll call this one a collaborative effort.
[He's just gonna slide open a window to bring in some fresh air before heading to the dining table to eat their mutual handiwork. He... feels a bit silly saying this, but—]
Good work, Amber. It's delicious.
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( she sits opposite him comfortably, just ... absolutely beaming. she looks so happy! the traveller never told her that it's delicious!!!!! he just nodded his head with his mouth full of food. this is the first time anyone's said it tastes great! which has made her more than a little smitten. )
I have you to thank for that! And I think I'll definitely take you up on the offer to call upon you for further cooking instructions.
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Well, you know where to find me.
[...But speaking of this place they live in against their wills???]
How are you settling in? Have you found any suitors of interest yet?
[That question's half-facetious on account of Diluc not taking this whole "you absolutely have to get married" business very seriously, but he can easily imagine a girl like Amber has all the dogs barking up her tree.]
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( if she were eating, she would've choked on her food. whoops! but it shouldn't be that much of a big deal to talk about, right? it is why they're here after all. )
I, um ... well, no, I haven't. ( at this current place in time she's only been here ... what, maybe a week at best? she understands the intentions of the Goddess and the purpose she was brought here for, but Amber thinks that the Goddess could've chosen a more fitting woman. )
I don't really know why I'm here, to be honest with you. I was so high-energy when I was younger I'd hear things like, "you'll never be wife material!" and "boys won't like girls who run around like that!" ... Which is silly but, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't change myself. How can the Goddess expect someone to fall in love with someone like me? Of course boys never really appeared on my radar either, because I was so focused on becoming an Outrider just like my Grandpa. And then when I took over his platoon entirely, that left me with no time to do anything apart from work.
( she idly combs some of her fingers through her long brown hair. ) I guess there were a few boys in the Knights who showed interest in me, but ... ( she sighs. ) I felt used. So, I gave up.
But now I'm here and expecting to get married to someone in a matter of months? It's a lot to take in. I-I mean, I've always wanted to find love, have a family again ... but that just felt like something to pursue later. Not while I was so busy being an Outrider ... there was no time.
( oh! she's certainly waffled on here, hasn't she? )
Sorry, Master Diluc! I don't know why I went off on a tangent there. I guess, for the first time in my life, I've been able to really sit down and think about love and courtship. I still carry those feelings that I'm not attractive the way that a "proper woman should be" ... I guess they're a lot stronger than I thought. If I'm lucky enough to ever find love, then ... I'd be happy for that. ( she sighs. ) Maybe after a miracle.
no subject
But what really raises his hackles is the suggestion that those who did show an interest in her left her feeling used. Far be it for Diluc to imply he understands a woman's struggles, but it defies reason that anyone would not treat Amber just as well as she deserves to be. There really is no accounting for taste, is there?
Finishing off his meal and setting his utensils aside, Diluc observes her in silence as she speaks, watches the way that acute pain twists at her delicate features. In the past, he'd only ever seen Amber with a smile on her lips. Seeing her like this... In one sense, it's refreshing. On the other hand, she should never have had to feel this way.
Well then! With all that said, it's time for some brutal honesty.]
Whoever convinced you that you aren't attractive — be it yourself or those naïve boys who wasted your time — is a fool. You're a fine woman, Amber. Any man would be lucky to have you, but there are few who can match up to you.
[With that sermon delivered, Diluc takes his sink to the kitchen and cleans it off, but he returns to Amber and settles beside her right after.]
What you need is someone who can match your pace and carry the same spark you do even when life gets challenging. I suppose this is what they mean when they say a good man is hard to find, but it's the truth, isn't it?
[It's not much, Diluc imagines, when he sets a hand on the small of her back in a show of comfort. Long gone are the days where he was foolish enough to believe that a cheeky grin and tight hugs were all it took to ease someone out of their woes.]
Don't wait for a miracle, Amber. Trust that the right man will come along and prove his worth to you in due time. Don't let this nonsensical Goddess push you before you're ready, either.
no subject
when Diluc nestles beside her, Amber can do nothing to stop the warm red glow in her cheeks as she blushes from the praise and his close proximity. her eyes widen a little when he rests his hand around the small of her back, and she can feel her heartrate skyrocketing again just like it was back when he helped her cook. Amber isn't too sure what's happening in this moment, but she's absolutely glowing from the inside out. for a woman as conversational as she is, she finds herself a little taken aback at just how lost for words she is. despite normally being so charismatic and confident, she feels ... stable. relaxed. happy. like flowers are blossoming inside of her chest.
it's a special kind of warmth that she'd never get from her pyro vision, certainly. )
... Thank you, Diluc. ( oh - looks like she didn't refer to him with 'master' this time, either? perhaps it's because Amber feels as though the comfort and support he's given her today has had him feel more like a friend than a host. and truly, that's what he is to her. while she does wish that she reached out to him sooner back in Teyvat because of all their similarities and shared pain, she's glad that it's lead to this moment. her eyes dart and drift between his gaze and the table, perhaps out of nerves, but eventually she fixes them to his and just takes a quiet moment to appreciate how striking they are. )
You've been so wonderful today. I ... ( maybe bravely, or perhaps foolishly, she places her hand on his leg. ) I can't remember the last time I felt so happy. Thank you for everything you've said, and everything you've done for me, I ... ( she trails off, undecided on where to guide her next sentence. "care about you deeply" was a phrase that threatened to leave her lips, but articulating this is a lot harder than it seems. but not wanting to drag it out for too long, she finally manages: )
I just feel ... so glad I've gotten to know you better in this place. I never imagined we'd have so much in common and you really are such a thoughtful, caring person. Just like you said to me ... anyone would be lucky to have you, too.
no subject
He really is no better than the men he'd just berated, is he? It's been so many years since he's felt this way, since he's looked at any woman with as much interest as he does her, and it's almost overwhelming. Is he any better than the likes of the Knights? That's a question he's been asking himself a lot lately.
To a degree, there's no helping it. He wants to see Amber pursue happiness and fully believes she'll find it if she keeps on running forward, and in whatever ways he can, he'll happily support her. He can't see himself as anything but a stepping stone on her path, however, a friend she can turn to in times of need... but nothing more.
Someone like him can't make her happy, surely. Not in the long-term, not in any way that matters when he's committed himself to the life he has. Still... He'd like to see her happy now, erase some of the doubts on her mind and make her feel the way she deserves to feel— like a lovely woman inside and out, a bright spark, a burning flame. It really can't be helped, the way his hand lifts of its own accord to frame her face, so soft and slender beneath calloused fingers. Now that he's gone this far, he can't go back. He'll have to be truthful.]
...If you ask me, there's so much more I could be doing for you. Don't bear the weight of the world on your shoulders, Amber. You have me now too.
[It helps to have a friend, doesn't it? Even Diluc knows that all too well.
Regardless, he doesn't wait for her answer— isn't certain he even can, not when he understands just how hard it is to accept help when you're determined to make it on your own without the need for outside assistance. Whatever answer she might intend for him is swallowed up by his kiss, chaste and soft and lingering.]
no subject
Diluc will notice that there are no signs of stiffness or hesitance in Amber's body language. her frame doesn't stutter or quake, allowing him to draw the conclusion that she isn't showing resistance to his advance on her. she's relaxing into it completely, allowing their kiss to deepen with brazen desire, a small pleasurable hum spilling from within her.
resting one hand on his thigh still, she pulls up her spare hand in order to cup his cheek, unconsciously shifting her weight in her seat in order to get closer to him. it isn't long before both hands find his face to fondly brush his skin while allowing their kiss to follow a natural progression into something much hotter, and far more intense. )
Nnmmh ...
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& wrapped!