Town Hall Meeting The Second

[winebar]

WHO: Everyone willing
WHAT: van Zieks trying to catherd, again, in order to Establish Law & Order.
WHEN: Sometime in the Summer between the various events.
WHERE: the forest, outside van Zieks' farm.
WARNINGS: chaos mostly, more will be added if needed.

[A week or so after the chaos of Hot or Not, each farm will recieve another missive from Barry Z himself, chief buzzkill, who clearly learned nothing from how things went last time. It reads as such;]

To All Parties Brought to the Island by the Harvest Goddess,

Tomorrow at 11AM sharp, please arrive at the location indicated on the map shown of the reverse of this document. The topic of discussion on the table is the potential establishment of some form of social contract and body of law. As before, I cannot force attendance, however, I would again hope everyone sees the benefit in being involved in this discussion.

Sincerely,
Lord Barok van Zieks, Esquire

[And again as before, there's a map on the back. This time leading one to van Zieks' residence, an orderly forest farm with a nice stable currently housing the horse van Zieks rode in on to make himself the boss of things, apparently.

At the time of the meeting, there are two tables that were clearly brought out from inside. There are... snacks? Van Zieks is not a chef, you will have these strawberries and fried mushrooms and you'll like it, I guess. There was an attempt. Van Zieks himself is still dressing in his less fancy- but still absurd for this weather- three piece suit.]

Than you all for coming. I understand that the topic I have put on the table may seem... needlessly dire to some, however, in the case that something does happen, it would be far better for us to already have a system in place. I do not think we currently require any sort of active police force, but rather that we should have some sort of agreed set of behavior in place, and then elected individuals to adjudicate any potential disagreements.

As far as a social contract, on Mr. Trahearne's advisement, it would follow thusly; [He pulls out another paper to read from.]
- Do not cause unsolicited physical harm to one other.
- Do not harm or otherwise disrupt another person's farm.
- Do not damage, destroy, or unlawfully take possession of another person's property.
- Do not vandalize or otherwise disrupt communal spaces for us or the townspeople.
- Do not behave in such a manner that would elicit broad reprisal against the group as a whole from the townspeople or the goddess.

If anyone has any other thoughts, feel free to share them. I feel that this is basic enough that even those of you more prone to... rebellion can agree to it.

The second matter is to discuss how to handle if someone does break these rules. While I have made clear before my prior experience with the law, I understand that a system like this can only function if there is trust in those enforcing it. Thus I think that the authority should be given to whoever the group as a whole feels most comfortable entrusting it to. So I open the floor to nominations for that responsibility.

Finally, I'd like to make clear why this is necessary. I have spoken to the goddess, and as long as it does not directly interfere with her and her means, she has no intent of intervening if something were to happen to one of us. We are not her "people," the residents of the town are. Therefore, it is imperative that we work together to protect ourselves.

[And now he will step back and hope that some productive discussion happens.]

Comments

[hearthwarming]

Ah, my... [ hmm that's a Pause right there ] ...best friend from home is a bard. We like to busk together when we travel, so I grow flowers around everyone with magic while he sings and plays his lute.

[bluminescence]

[ She has captured his attention, eyes lighting up at the mention of flowers while his posture remains laid back. Flowers and music. A couple of his favorite things. ]

Can you, still?

[ Grow flowers, he means. ]

[hearthwarming]

[ Oh! She sees that glint in his eyes, and it makes her smile. This is what she's always strove for, with her magic. To light up people's eyes and their days and fill them with dreams. ]

I can. My magic isn't quite as potent here, but... Would you like to see?

[bluminescence]

[ Kaspar, of course, nods quietly. His gaze drifts to her hands as if expecting flowers to sprout from them. ]

[hearthwarming]

[ Not quite, but she does kneel to the ground and splays her hands across the forest floor. Blessedly, she's not too drunk to mess up her incantations, so soon enough the plant life around them begins to grow and bloom and sprout every which way, until it just abruptly stops for a moment. ]

Heh... My magic's a been... dampened here, I think, but hopefully that's okay?

[bluminescence]

It is, lovely.

[ Kaspar says it earnestly, with calm delight at even that demonstration. He knew the pain of not having his light, and the relief of its return.

On a softer note, his hand reaches for her's reassuringly. But it halts almost as soon as it rises. He isn't so sure of propriety here, after years spent largely separated from anyone so pretty-- ]

And. Your magic, might return here.

[hearthwarming]

[ Her brows hitch up when she feels that gentle touch of his hand on hers. Casual contact like this doesn't bother her in the least; in fact, she has often in her life been too touchy, huggy, affectionate towards her very grumpy-leaning friends.

So when he hesitates, she meets him halfway, curling her own fingers around his reassuringly with a warm smile leveled his way to match the sentiment. ]

Ah, thank you... What's your name? I'm Ori.

[bluminescence]

[ She is the first whose hand genuinely makes his flush worse. He glances happily to their hands despite it. Physical contact and affection is something he enjoys naturally, but this feels far different somehow than with Lucia.

Given the conditions of his home and the disparity here, it is hardly surprising that his inexperience with women still comes up in the little ways. His grip is as gentle as his natural posture towards her. Even as he is already noticing their similarities.

Rightly or wrongly, he feels her presence brings a new softness that his calloused fingers relax against warmly. Someone else that he thinks may smell faintly of the forest, flowers, and subtly prettier soaps. As if his gaze is seeing her for the first time, it drifts about her hair and outfit innocently. The way he leans in slightly, like a sigh on the summer breeze, is more the creation of a bubble for the two of them than any other intention. ]

Kaspar.

[ Forgive him, his awe at her vibe after that display of magic is more obvious with so much wine in him. ]

May I... [ He slides his gaze from her hair to her eyes, whatever her style is right now he asks anyway-- ] braid your hair?

[hearthwarming]

[ Ori isn't entirely sure what to do as he appraises her, eyes roaming about her in a seemingly innocent, curious way. She knows that she is among those with more unique appearances, here, and she cannot blame others for reacting in certain ways. She can only offer them her patience and hope that they take the time to get to know her in spite of what could be an off-putting appearance. There's nothing unsettling about his gaze, nothing that would make her want to put her guard up, just what she chooses to read as an earnest awe... That she also feels may be undeserved. ]

Hello, Kaspar.

[ His question does surprise her, however, and her free hand lifts as if to check that he's not asking because her hair has become a mess. No, it's still in the same, loosely tied half-ponytail she put it in this morning. ]

Oh... Okay. Sure! I would like that very much.

[bluminescence]

[ Kaspar doesn't need any more words after that. He smiles and gently attempts to turn her and guide her to rest on whatever makes sense for their respective heights. Wherever allows him to comfortably work without an awkward angle.

If that goes well, he does not hesitate to carefully free her of that half ponytail to smooth any potential tangles with the careful combing of his fingers. His touch is unhurried and reverent, settling and adjusting her hair as if something precious as he considers his plans and how best to navigate her horns. Those too, aren't spared his gentle touch about their base, unless Ori has a mind to limit him or show any signs of discomfort with any of his ministrations.

Wherever they are outside the Zieks farm, his glass is already set aside and forgotten as he starts earnestly sectioning. These are calloused hands that know this routine so well it almost looks innate. ]

[hearthwarming]

[ This is all so incredibly soft for Ori, who's usually in the company of people who are a bit emotionally constipated or too cool for their own good. It's a welcome change, though, and probably the kind of thing that she's long yearned for but never could bring herself to admit.

It helps that she's had a bit to drink, too, but she feels incredibly relaxed around Kaspar despite just having met him... He has a bit of a quiet, calming presence, she thinks, and she hopes she can offer the same to him. There are no hesitations or qualms on her end as he gets to work, his fingers carding through her hair and sectioning it as he needs. ]

Hah, my hair's a bit of a mess, isn't it? Thanks for offering to braid it...

[bluminescence]

[ Fostering soft moments such as this like is never a goal for Kaspar so much a result of who he is. And the island has given him leave to navigate it on his own gentle terms; learning how to communicate with others in the sun. He likes the feel of long tresses against his hands, the ability to add to beauty in practical ways.

People lending him so much freedom over their hair never ceases to delight him. Though, perhaps selfishly, he styles their hair however he thinks will look best. It is fortunate that he generally has good taste for aesthetics.

Kaspar hums at the self deprecation, noncommital disagreement. By the time his wine laden words make their way out of his mouth, they are a beat too slow and drifting. ]

... I believe, most things are messy. But no less beautiful.

[ The island has been kind to him, even if he is prone to misunderstandings like accidentally, casually calling someone beautiful in the middle of carefully plaiting one side of their hair. ]

[hearthwarming]

[ Despite the chaos that's surely erupting around them not too far away, Ori allows herself this moment of respite... It may end up being her saving grace, keeping her from downing twice as many shots as she's already taken in record time.

(Too bad she will still be dead to the world, later, but at least she'll have cute braids on when she inevitably passes out...)

In the silence that passes, she finds herself relaxing all the more. She's always been rather appreciative when someone pays attention to her hair. It's not so much that she cares about her appearances much, but it is a quieter expression of appreciation that she always finds herself yearning for.

Though what Kaspar does end up saying has her breath stilling for a moment. ]

Oh... Well...

[ Welp. It's probably due to a mix of her inebriated state and this interaction that her she feels a bit flushed, that rosy tint reaching the tips of her long, pointed ears. ]

I can't really argue with that... Ehe, you're quiet, but you have a way with words, Kaspar.

[bluminescence]

...

[ Ah, that's what has his fingers pause, briefly. It flushes him happily, if a little uncertainly, even as his fingers resume their work. They still take their time, gently threading in new sections as he continues along his path from horn down to the until all of them on one side make it down. Leaving her bangs free if she's got them. And by the end, he ties it off. Did Kaspar make hair ties out of something? Yes, he did.

Anyway, he's still flushing when he moves on to the other side of her head to begin carefully duplicating the same pretty and delicately even pattern down her hair. The sectioning of both, he lays flat, just in case it needs to hold up through the sleep he suspects they will both need. Hurricane preparation and now this, dimming his light carelessly. His hair still isn't long enough to reach his neck in the back, or he would've tied it back in the summer heat.

He does nothing to hide how the color lingers at the compliment. One for his words, a sore point for many, is going to lift his drunken soul for the rest of the day. Kaspar's still smiling softly too. He disagrees with her. But the fact that she thinks it earnestly has him breathing a quieter laugh than her Ehe.

His voice is calmly content-- ]

... Speaking so freely, is new.

[hearthwarming]

[ She is met with a silence that normally would have made her worried; she has so often in her life been met with the deafening sort of silence. Sometimes, she comes off too strongly on people, too earnest, in a world where such honesty is rare to come by. Often, it has resulted in people misplacing their cynicism and skepticism on her...

But she doesn't get the sense that this is the same sort of silence. It's more comfortable, contemplative, or maybe it's the fact that they've both had much to drink. Either way, Ori doesn't mind it at all. Life has truly been turned upside down for her with her arrival at this place, and ever since then she's been a whirlwind - have to take care of this, or that, work on the farm, people to meet... But this is the first time that she's really felt so relaxed.

When he finally responds, she simply hums quietly. ]

Is that so...? Hah, I've met many charismatic people in my life, but you know... I don't think words have to be fancy or elaborate to reach people. As long as it comes from the heart... I think that's what matters most!

So I hope I get to hear you speak freely more!

[bluminescence]

[ Kaspar hums lightly, happily, and trailing off as he works down the rest of this side of her hair. Why did he admit that? He isn't so sure, but it's true, somehwat obvious, and he has something to busy his deft hands with.

She receives his words so warmly that that he runs both hands down his handiwork being sure the plants are even to the end. And those he guides forward so he can shift instead to casually settle her bangs and the pieces left to frame her face.

Of course, she can do as she likes, but Kaspar has good taste he comes to naturally. There is no pretentiousness, just the inclination towards beauty wherever he is allowed to strive towards it. In his simple, practical ways. Kaspar can't offer her a mirror, but he takes effort on his part to ask-- ]

How does it feel?

[ Having his back to almost everyone else helps. ]

[hearthwarming]

[ They really are quite lucky that his stature and their positioning sort of shields them away from the crowd, aren't they? Especially when he does something so tender as to reach over and fix the hair around her face.

At his prompting, she can't help but reach to one braid, gently twirling the ends of it between long, lilac fingers. ]

It feels really nice! And a bit cooler, now that all of my hair isn't covering my back... How do I look?

[bluminescence]

[ It could probably be the wine, but that is simply the accelerant to his honesty. With earnest words and a calmly tilted head as he takes a step back-- ]

Beautiful.

[ Kaspar forgets his wine glass on the ground, clasping his hands behind his back. He looks up towards the trees, distracted by the sound of the summer breeze swaying the boughs above them. It is something he may never tire of. Wine in a practical daydreamer, one who is poised to wander off. ]

[hearthwarming]

[ Oh. Of course he wouldn't say anything to the contrary; he's been so sweet and admiring thus far, she can't imagine that he would have gone through all this trouble only to tell her that the braids, the very ones that he did himself, look terrible on her...

But still, when she actually hears him mutter the words, she can't help the way a warm feeling flutters in her chest. She has so very rarely been called beautiful by people she's only just met. ]

Hah... Thank you, Kaspar. You're very kind. I hope we can get to know each other more... You live in the forest with Trahearne, right...?

[ She'll bring cookies one of these days! ]