A Well Earned Celebration

[bravenewmods]

[The battle was over and the god Reshiram defeated, driven away by the aid of Union and its allies. The city was safe, by and large, and as the news spread throughout the peoples of the tundra, they began streaming back into the settlement in droves. Dirty, ash-coated faces were filled with relief and gratitude when they saw that it wasn't just a rumor and that their home had indeed been spared. Not everyone was so lucky, but they'd weathered worse, of course. The people of Glacier endured, as they would always endure, and they were also a people that repaid their debts. And they most certainly all agreed that they owed their rescuers a debt.

So, as night fell after the battle, a great celebration was prepared in the center of Glacier. A wide square was cleared away in a matter of hours, and the people gathered what they could in a show of thanks. Tables of food, bonfires towering into the night sky to keep out the autumn chill, and throngs of cheering wellwishers lined the area. Warriors of glacier, men carrying swords and women all bearing axes offered enthusiastic handshakes and claps on the back. Music of all kinds was played, though tribal tunes full of horn and percussion, chanting and yodeling, and even some brass groups dominated the soundscape.

A platform for various elders was set up, and they offered speeches, of course...but those were somehow dwarfed by the presence of the divine beings that were waiting silently for the proceedings to end. Some of the gods that had come to the aid of the war parties had apparently decided to stay, though their reasons were as mysterious as they themselves. The humans would have their time, and the Servants would mingle freely throughout the evening.

Food, of course, is set out in piles. Meat, fish, arctic berries, and various pastries and the like line table after table. A smorgasbord of Glacier specialties, each with a new and unique flavor all their own, and some (such as the stew) possessing a smell that only a native could probably endure. Akutaq in particular seems to stand out among the worst offenders, but the Glacier natives seem rather fond of it, and offer it to their rescuers with great gusto.

And the rewards do not stop at simple meals. either. As the speeches begin to wind down, a woman some might find familiar walks up onto the stage carrying a singularly massive trunk and dropping it down onto the wood with a heavy thud.]

Southerners! You have done a great deed this day! We, the people of Glacier, would like to thank you and honor your sacrifice! Few would do as you have done, coming to the aide of strangers against the might of that dragon...and you have accomplished something we did not think possible. To that end, we would like to present you with the first of many gifts, a token of our gratitude and a promise that should you need it, we will come to your defense in a time of need!

[And then with a sharp kick, she cracks open the trunk and reveals a veritable treasure trove of three different stones to be distributed by her subordinates.]

Rest well, and enjoy the festivities! You are welcome here, for as long as you like! Eat, drink, and be merry within our halls!

Comments

[punchesyu]

Yeah, well, I'm just looking out for my safety! That's way more important here! I don't need another helping of The Mysterious Dish From Beyond again!

[This has already happened before...!]

[frozenflame]

Huh?

[Yukiko doesn't recall this food. And she's never cooked for Yosuke.]

[punchesyu]

Never mind, it's nothing! Just trust me on this one, Yukiko.

[He tries to say with a smile, but he's clearly worried.]

[frozenflame]

Anyway. No, I can cure stomach bugs. You should try it. That stuff isn't awful.

[She actually thought it was okay. A little strange, but raspberry is a flavor she likes?]

[punchesyu]

[He looks down at it, and sniffs it. He doesn't want to. He really doesn't want to.]

Yeah, sure....

[He takes a spoonful. Looks at it. Stares at it. It doesn't move.]

[frozenflame]

It's not going to bite.

[She takes a bite herself, and swallows it happily.]

[punchesyu]

Here goes nothing...

[He lifts it to his mouth, and he just knows it's going to be awful, but shoves it in his mouth.]

Hng-! [Is the noise he makes, as he tries not to gag. He can taste the fish in it, and it's making him sick. He even looks sick.]

[frozenflame]

[And Yukiko just keeps right on eating, oblivious.]

It's good, yeah?

[punchesyu]

[He doesn't know if he can swallow it. It's just....awful.]

Y-Yea....! [He forces himself to swallow, grimacing and looking as if he might just die.] Ahh!!! Who am I kidding! That was seriously disgusting!

[He grabs a cup with any kind of liquid, he doesn't care, and starts downing it.]

[frozenflame]

Really? What's wrong with it?

[Still eating. Also he's probably drinking wine.]

And you...might want to take that a little slower. That's not juice...

[punchesyu]

[Too late. It's gone and he's drank all of it. He was so grossed out he didn't notice what it was other than it had a weird taste to it.]

There's fish in it! I seriously don't even like looking at fish. [He stares back down at the cup, which was a little big, and blinks. He hasn't actually had wine before.]

Yeah, I don't know what that was, but it definitely didn't taste like juice. That wasn't all that good either, but it was way better than that crap! [His cheeks are a little flushed, though, from the alcohol.]

[frozenflame]

...Yosuke, you just drank a whole cup of wine...

[She tried to warn you. she really did. And that's why she's extremely worried right now...]

[punchesyu]

[He looks down at the cup in shock now. Did he really...?]

Did I seriously just drink that whole thing-? Oh man, not again!!!

[He's not drunk, but his mouth is probably going to be a little more loose now...]

[frozenflame]

Again?

[Yukiko blinks in confusion. Has he had alcohol before? She's surprised by the idea...]

What do you mean? Do you need some water? Or a purgative? I should have an herb for that...

[punchesyu]

No, it's not that! Let's just say, the last time I had something like this, it didn't go well.

[It was in Caldera. He and Waver embarrassed themselves and he doesn't want to remember it.]

I'll be fine, just as long as I stay right. Here.

[frozenflame]

...Okay?

[She thinks this is just weird. But she has a cup of weak-ish wine of her own. which may attribute to her airheadedness.]

Don't um...I mean a purgative would get it out? And you wouldn't be needing to stay still?

[punchesyu]

You seriously want me to get the liquid shits out here?

[He whines, as that is how he's taking 'purgative'.]

[frozenflame]

Not a laxative. The...other way? It'll clear the alcohol out if you're worried.

[Look, she's a trained herbalist. Trust her.]

[punchesyu]

I don't know what's worse!

[He doesn't want either of those things.]

Neither of those options sound good! I'll be okay, as long as I don't make an idiot of myself! [That is a hard task to achieve normally though.]

[frozenflame]

Right...well, here.

[She passes over a big mug of water taken from a passing server. Or it could be vodka if you're feeling evil Show]

Drink this, it'll lessen the effects.

[punchesyu]

Thanks, Yukiko.

[He takes the mug, and takes the biggest gulp he can of it. The problem is, this doesn't taste anything like water. Not at all. In fact, it burns a little, and hits his stomach hard.]

Blaaaghahg!!!!!! That wasn't water!!!!!!

[frozenflame]

[She sits bolt upright at that reaction, practically grabbing the cup out of his hand and looking worriedly around for the server, but...they're long gone. whoops.]

Uh...what was it then?

[She takes a sniff. And turns blue...]

o-oh...

[punchesyu]

That had to of been at least three shots worth-!

[And he's a lightweight too. That's enough to do him in, in about ten minutes.]

I haven't even really gotten to eat much yet either!

[frozenflame]

Then...we need to feed you.

[She turns and snaps her fingers to get Hestia's attention. A quick bit of instruction and the Blissey is waddling off and then returning with a tray of steaks and fried finneon.]

Eat. Fill up. [A pause.] Hestia, go get us some water, if you please?

Bliss-Blissey!

[Did the human boy overdo it?]

Yes. But we're taking care of him. Please go get it.

Bliss!

[Waddle waddle...]

[punchesyu]

[Yosuke gladly takes the steaks, but he doesn't touch the finneon. He doesn't even look at it.]

Let's hope this does the trick-! Before something really wrong happens...!

[He grabs a fork and knife, and tries to cut it, but his vision is starting to become only the slightest bit blurry, and he's found that his hand-eye coordination is already staring to suffer. He tries to cut the meat, but it looks a little pathetic.]