deercountry | TANABATA ⟶ July Sanctuary Log

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TANABATA ⟶ July Sanctuary Log

Sanctuary - TANABATA

"SEE YOU AGAIN, MOM"

The "star festival", celebrating the one time of the year when star-crossed lovers could cross over a sea of stars to meet again. One based on hopes, wishes, and the fervent desire to see each other again. Following the departure of Amaterasu back to the sea, wolf momgod of all who is responsible for the Guardian Saplings including the one Sanctuary has been founded around, Sanctuary is hosting the best approximation to a Tanabata celebration as the Trench will allow. Why? Because hope keeps the trees alive and strong, and Tanabata is about people having hope -- and would have been happening around the same time.

And because people miss dogmom and she would have liked it.

The festival is taking place at Sanctuary, but all Guardian Saplings can be paid visits. Paper for wishes and decorations have been set up at each/given to the other caretakers.

A Sea of Stars
The main hall has been transformed into a living night sky, with jars of hope from the moonlit butterflies back in April hung with care high up, each repacked with a single orb of hope per small vial with care, creating a river of starlike glowing lights overhead. The windows have been covered to aid with the nighttime effect, in addition to helping to keep out the light of the Beast Moon after dark. The gentle glow, as they are literally the tactile hopes and dreams of people, provides a small purifying, uplifting effect to everyone underneath. The light ebbs and flows calmly. The hall is cool as well, thanks to the pale/cold bloodstone cooling system that glows like moonstone along the walls and keeps the indoor areas regulated.

In the evening, as the sun sets, the new choir bell will ring out as well, cleansing corruption entirely from all who hear it. The lights gently pulse in time with it.

Wishes and the Guardian Sapling
The sapling is no longer in bloom, but despite the sweltering heat in full glory. Paper wishes are hung in its branches, along with origami streamers in colorful paper of cranes and other shapes. A bustle of activity is in the cloisters around it in particular, with most tables set up there to keep the courtyard itself clear. Origami streamers are hung in all the doorways leading out to it as well, creating the effect of string curtains, and there are paper lanterns as well.

A life-size stone statue of a wolf bearing a striking resemblance to Amaterasu has been erected next to the sapling, with her most radiantly happy canine expression she could sometimes get. There is room to place offerings for her, and people are encouraged that she would like "all the foods."

Colorful strips of paper (tanzaku) have been cut and placed out on a table in the cloisters surrounding the courtyard, where one can write their wishes for the next year down on them and hang them on the guardian sapling. They come in the following colors with a helpful, but... somewhat hard to read note with arcane handwritten note:

Red will help with wishes relating to ancestors and family, and giving thanks.
Yellow is the color of friendship and is the best choice for wishes about relationships.
White is the color for determination and responsibility, and for making personal resolutions.
Blue represents tranquility and trust and will aid wishes aimed at self-improvement.
Purple is the color to choose if you want to improve your brainpower and skills.

Food and Activities
Following all of the best creative recreation methods available to them in Trench, the cooks in the kitchens have been trained by Megumi Fushiguro, among others, on how to best serve culturally appropriate dishes. These foods are served free at little vendor booths in the main hall (with people encouraged to help out and help serve!) and include pawprint mochi (the inside is either chocolate or strawberry), pickled sakura mochi, mitarashi and tricolor dango, chilled somen with a yuzu-soy dipping sauce, various types of filled onigiri, and cut watermelon in a variety of shapes including stars, sunbursts, and pawprints. Many have been made with small amounts of the Paleblood jam from June and have mild corruption cleansing effects as well. Various kinds of tea made from the dried or pickled cherry blossoms and/or leaves of the guardian sapling are being served as well, and they have a corruption-cleansing effect and have been noted as tasting "heavenly". Some of the jams have been cut with fruit juice/lemonade and frozen into popsicles as well... you're welcome, CorruptionPops are now a thing.

Various demonstration and activity tables have been set up including origami, with... questionably penned instructions from Palamedes in an arcane style for several shapes including cranes, sunbursts, stars, and wolves. Various Sleepers familiar with the practice have also been encouraged to set up there and help teach people how, and everyone is encouraged to hang their completed crafts in the guardian sapling. Most of the paper is red, white, pink, and gold. Paper lanterns have been made as well and light up various parts of the whole festivities.

A few vendor booths are set up, including one "selling" white yukata, trimmed in red and gold and bearing a distinctive star pattern on the back of it and intricate embroidery. Most Sanctuary members would receive one for free if they expressed interest, and anyone else can receive one for volunteering their time and helping out. People are encouraged to wear them for the celebration if they didn't have their own; these are styled in honor of Amaterasu.

Koz Orphanage has been specially invited as well, and children from it can be found running around during much of the event and given various activities to do or items to play with.

Sparklers are available for individuals as well, also courtesy of Viktor. Perhaps there might even be glowsticks from someone... :)

Fireworks and Closing Celebrations
On the final night, all the wishes will be gathered from the trees and collected in a ceremonial firepit. The wishes are burnt in order to release them to the heavens to be heard—and perhaps by Amaterasu still at sea—and will be ignited by several Sleepers with fire abilities (Shouto Todoroki, Megumi Fushiguro).

As they're burnt a fireworks display will begin overhead, launched from the steeple up high, courtesy of Viktor and anyone else assisting him in the matter. Anyone outside watching them in the courtyard will have the effects of the Beast Moon diminished by the blessing in effect from Moon Presence. The choir bell will toll a final time at the end, to clear the effects of any lingering corruption, and signal an end to the festivities.

WHAT

Sanctuary is about humane beast purification efforts and corruption relief. Renovations began in May 2022 and room clearing and rebuilding is still in progress. Beast patrol efforts and purification started more in earnest in June-July.

All roles are volunteer on an as-you-can basis up to full time, with time reimbursed by food, shelter, care, and community support. And because it's run by people who BLEED SENTIMENTALITY EVERYWHERE in addition to being founded on discovery of a Guardian Sapling, it's hosting a Tanabata celebration in conjunction with honoring the memory of Amaterasu.

WHEN

Starting July 7, ending after a few days in a final celebration and ceremonial burning of the wishes.

THINGS OF NOTE

Tanabata
➢ Please feel free to presume your character could have helped out with setup if they have any ties to Sanctuary or characters here! If they would provide a food, service, or game they are free to have a table set up.

➢ This event is open to the whole of Trench and would have been freely advertised as such, including as a safe place to treat effects from the Beast Moon and corruption.

General / Member Update
➢ Sanctuary has been blessed by Moon Presence for the month of July, thanks to the efforts of Luna and Sansa. All negative effects of July and the Beast Moon are lessened within its walls, and anyone meaning Sanctuary or the people in it will be physically repelled. Lunar flowers have begun growing up the sides of the monastery in earnest like morning glories as a result.

➢ as of June, coordinated efforts to patrol Trench on their own and save Beasts and people both have begun. Members will be on a group chat in order to coordinate with each other and reach out to purification Sleepers when encountering Beasts. Everyone is encouraged to work in teams, especially to partner with someone who can purify Beasts or corruption.

➢ a training facility has opened up, with currently self-defense hand-to-hand combat classes being taught by Jason and others willing to train others encouraged to come forward. Fighters on patrol and wardens will be contacted to let them know about open sparring times so members can coordinate better in fights. There is an indoor room with training dummies (that fight back courtesy of Viktor) that opens up into an outdoor space between two of the long halls that can also be used.

➢ with the hidden archives now unlocked, scholarly members of Sanctuary are encouraged to help study them and uncover other artifacts—and especially the strange new locked door discovered within.

➢ there is a family of batcat kittens old enough to be crawling everywhere throughout the building now. They might still be learning manners and latch onto you in an overexcitement to taste your blood from time to time.

➢ the large communal baths have been cleared out and renovated, thank god. They run on being open to male-identifying characters for one set of hours, female-identifying for another, and the rest of the time operate on "nobody cares". Privacy screens are hung between the tubs though—one side is regularly cooled down with ice for the hot months.

➢ with more people needing safe harbor during the Beast Moon and rising violence from natives during July, more actual rooms have been cleared out and are free to use for anyone who will also help work to maintain the place (chores, grounds keeping, etc.). There are always spare beds in the infirmary wing as well.

➢ members who patrol or purify beasts/fight in some way now have access to various relic items that have been donated for use for when they are actively on patrol. These will eventually be tracked in the member spreadsheet... eventually. Just give them back when you're done.

➢ Viktor and K's efforts have resulted in the lunar generator coming online and bringing lunar lighting and cooling throughout the building via a cold-pale bloodstone network. Rejoice!

➢ There is now a small, hidden stash of coffee bartered from Dabi. Someone might have to pry it from Viktor's jittery fingers.

This log is WIDE OPEN for Tanabata festivities and serves as the general log for Sanctuary for the month. Go wild and do whatever you want, have fun with your top levels, etc. :)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[she is helping. mostly she just wants to be close to them and is already napping away, as viktor leans into pal in turn. comfy.]

Time how long it takes you to find it, at least. This is a serious matter to delve into. [as for the pen that's just Free Real Estate, so. her loss.

he starts writing himself, a scratchy bunch of letters and numbers, then 'I was right.' underlined underneath.

nope, doesn't miss jayce at all. very normal and not melancholy for a moment.] It was for the Hexclaw, he was so sure about the heat distribution because he frequently overestimates the output from the gem. I tell him constantly he is too careful, always so careful, and still he is stubborn.

[Only comfy time with the tree now... truly this is the meaning of the holiday.]

I know where almost everything is in your study; I'll have it inside of an hour. That's a bet.

[Bet him something!! Not including the pen, that's obvious. He watches Viktor scratch down his figures, an amused hum escaping him at the underlined jab, and he doesn't need to ask. Viktor writes Jayce formula notes and Palamedes writes Camilla a small novella about everything that's happened for the past several months, he gets it! They handle the same problem in totally normal ways, the pair of them.

Still, it's bittersweet to think about. Melancholy in the pleasant way of nostalgia, without even delving into how nostalgia might even apply now, after all this time, to seeing their friends. He doesn't ask, simply shifts to loop his arm around Viktor's, loose and unassuming and affectionate, and shuffle to the next blank strip in his wish pile.]

Safety first, I suppose. [blah blah, local gods keep getting on their asses about being reckless, blah] You figured it out? With the new gem?

A bet? Very well. We'll need stakes though. [he glances over, idly watching the writing, then idly watching pal himself.] If I win come back out to the Earworm with me. It's been a while.

[he's never been huge on bars but he doesn't hate them- in truth he rather likes the atmosphere, the nostalgia of it. here it's double, that first date not a date, probably when he started settling roots for his stupid little crush that bloomed into this.

it'd be fun. maybe they can try a color different than blue, if he hides the pen well enough.

but his eyes go back to the formula, a quiet snort.] I did. I... wanted to know. [and he was right, and that was that. he rests his head against pal's shoulder, reading his little novella as he writes.] What do you think she'd say about all this?

Oh- noise. [Bars... but he does like the Earworm better than The Red, for plenty of reasons, so alright. He shrugs one shoulder, like, it's on? He's going to win, but he'll also probably go to the dang bar anyway, because Viktor asked.] Alright. If you win.

[Etc, etc. They can try whatever color the pen is, for a nice bit of continuity just for themselves. Palamedes hums - of course Viktor just wanted to know (tm) and then solved a huge problem, that's so like him. Absolutely no residual nostalgic emotions at all.

The novella currently is about moving out of the bunker, because that's the kind of thing Camilla should be updated on, in case she comes back and finds it empty.]

Which part? [scribble, scribble...] The festival, the murderous egos, you? She'd like you, you know that.

[....hmm,] I'm not sure she'd have left the beach without getting a swing in on anyone who looked at me too long, stubborn girl.

What do you get if you win? [because pal's going to win. even if he went as wild and sneaky as he could viktor's pretty sure pal would still figure him out. that's what made the challenge fun.

maybe he could put decoy pens hidden everywhere. maybe that would throw him. a pen needle in a pen haystack. he still thinks pal would find a way to win and just have way more pens in the process.]

The festival, the murderous egos and incredibly poor decisions. [whether she'd like viktor is a matter viktor would like to earn himself anyway, so that matters less.

that fact makes him chuckle.] Your glasses probably wouldn't have broken. [he puts aside his paper for jayce, picks up another.] I hope she'd have better taste in food at least.

A pen. [haha....] I don't know; a sense of satisfaction? I'm not sure I need anything else.

[He only gambles to prove a point, after all, so that is what it is. Look forward to the inevitable bar date, possibly feat. lots of pens he brings along to make a different point.]

Well, she always spots the things I'm too in my head to notice, so she'd understand what you're talking about when you talk about cooking, I suspect.

[She has a more cultured appetite, if only by Sixth standards? That's something, all things considered. He adds a note in the middle of his unrelated paragraph: -Fruits were giving us a hard time for a while! because he's thinking about food now.]

Frankly, I'm concerned. About her, being down there this long. There's no way of knowing if something went wrong, you know? And no way of checking, either.

It's not a good bet when you don't have even stakes, you know. [viktor snorts, a little nudge of his elbow as rio trills in her sleep.] The problem here is I know I could ask you for anything sincerely and you'd make the effort, and vice versa. It makes the betting angle hard, really. Our fault for being too eh... sappy, I suppose.

[that's a word for it. be a shittier couple for better bets, i guess.

ah, this just makes him want cam around more.] I bet she could help me pinpoint your preferences too.

[the dream. that question gives him pause though, or that thought more than a question.]

I'm not sure time means as much to the sleeper squids, or the ocean. Why else would some die for less than a week and some for months? There is no real semblance of order to it.

[or maybe there's some will to see palamedes without her, how he copes, which is a thought he keeps to himself as unhelpfully grim. conjecture. unpleasant.]

Alright, if I win, then— [uhhh hmmm uhhhhh] Junior can come to the house sometimes.

[They can leave him upstairs? In the new house, which presumably they've mumbled about if not actually gone out and claimed as their own just yet. Every house needs one good skeleton boy to hang around upstairs and tidy up, obviously. That's all he can think of.

He hums, thinking of Cam, nudging Viktor in the side ever so gently with his elbow. She would put his eating habits so on blast, more than Viktor's own notes-- would it be worth it. Maybe for them. He, personally, would crawl into a hole and hibernate for the summer.]

She's not dead, [he says, idly but too quickly to mask his other concern, that "sleeping" squids and "dead" squids are fundamentally the same, whether or not she had to die to go back into the sea. Her absence, he's living with; his own deaths, he's processed; Camilla's death is unacceptable, especially if this place not only took her away while he slept but also killed her about it. Good god.

So, hm, no, no good possibilities. Squid theory at least keeps him talking.]

I spoke to Nico about that. There's a possibility it's emotional preparedness to return, and not physical damage, that plays a larger part in the 'time of death'. [haha] My squid-brain must have been exhausting itself daily to try and activate my contingency plan, or I'd have washed up sooner.

[so, normal things.]

Assuming that it's our own will that creates the bodies we have here, outside of the ocean, of course. But that only applies to those who've died; I've encountered far less concrete data on what happens when one just... goes.

Yes, you're terrible at this. It's a deal though. [another thing he would have caved on, but there you go. junior gets to hang out at home, now that they'll actually have space and not constantly be watched by an orange skeleton.

he rests his head against pal's shoulder, plucking up one of the red paper's.] Can I use this?

[but ah, yes, he does have a bad habit of considering the sleeper squids more dead than alive. sleeping seems the most fitting, almost on the nose.]

That does sound like you. I think there's another level to it all as well, maybe something tied to the magic of this place, or the blood. Perhaps even the pthumerians and patronage.

Mine is Dorothea, by the way. I learned that recently. [he twirls his pen idly.] Perhaps she is one of those in a deeper sleep now. Her will certainly doesn't seem to be in question.

[A big win for Junior!! He chuckles and wiggles the moon pen in the affirmative; yes yes, take the paper, he has Too Many.]

I told you about my River bubble. [Putting it mildly,] Of course I'd tried to replicate the theory again, so when it didn't work...

[He shrugs, absently doodling a little squid with a pair of swords in the corner of his current Cam-page. This is indeed Camilla the Squidth.]

I don't know; a mind can get caught in a loop even before death. It's as good an explanation as any for my taking so long. But you're probably right, or the average time to return from the sea would be much shorter or much longer.

[For disregard for personal trauma in favor of getting back to one's loved ones, shorter, and for actually having to face one's mortality, longer. None of this "oh, a week is enough" nonsense the sea is pulling.]

Dorothea is... year's end, if I recall. The first time I woke up, it was during her 'time'. [sigh!] Perhaps she could wake up and tell Mariana to relax.

It makes sense. I always did find your months of it rather odd statistically. [squid pal tiring himself out with Bubbles? makes sense. sad sense. also a lot of interesting thoughts on how aware the squids are.

he scribbles onto the red paper, the basic gist just 'give house sextus a fucking break.' pretty much just as blunt, because if red is for family then well... a nice housewarming gift for the new place would be not having to deal with bullshit constantly. just some of the time.

he is not hopeful that one is coming true.

the red paper gets pushed aside, glancing back over.] It's a matter I'd like to at least get some proper numbers on, but you know well how troubled a subject it can be to just ask about. I already get in enough trouble for prodding people with questions.

And yes, Fushiguro also has her as a patron. He says she gave him a lucky charm that stole luck from others and is, in other words, useless if you don't wish to cause harm. [aka rude as hell.] Maybe next month's will be able to do it. Who is it? I should keep better track of these things.

Mm, well, unfortunately for the theory, I'm not keen on trying again. It was embarrassing enough the first time— did you know I told Paul, [ah, and if he pauses for the slightest moment, never mind it,] that I would be fine, in whatever was to come from his visions? And lo: I am not fine.

[Stupid. Stupid Trench, stupid ocean. He glances at Viktor's red wish with a huff that's just a fraction too tired to be a laugh, because he's not very hopeful about that one either. These infant days of their esteemed House, misspent on annoyances and maneuvering around bad decisions.

Ridiculous. He wiggles his pen at Viktor, because,] You're too direct for the more sensitive population; baby steps.

[Anyway, what kind of a stupid charm is that... He squints, brow furrowed, both in judgment and to remember his mental Patrons Chart. Oh. Well.]

You're not going to like it; I'm fairly certain next month is Mariana's domain.

Frankly if you did try again I would be incredibly cross with you. [said like a passing joke but. yes, none of that. the pause at paul has him shift a little closer, arms brushing now, hand moving to press against pal's wrist and run a thumb over his pulse.]

It is always like that. The idea of being prepared is a gentle lie more often than not. [a shrug. a little grim but when it came to death it felt true. nothing wrong with a gentle lie once and a while, even if he didn't generally care for them.

he snorts about being too direct, which-] I do not understand why they cannot simply ask to drop the subject rather than the dramatics. Annoying.

[and ah. viktor puts down his pen to run his hands over his face, letting out a frustrated sound against his palms. after a moment he drops them, refusing to get into a rant about the fool who put them in this situation.]

Maybe we should add to this pacifying Mariana effort going on. It feels like pandering to me but at least it's something. [and things are going to get ugly next month, he's sure.]

Only incredibly? [Hmm hmm, no, he knows. He leans into Viktor more fervently for a moment, a press of understanding and - thanks, for the silent Paul-related sympathy, before he sits straight again. It doesn't stop him frowning, although it's less that yet again this place made him a liar, and more... well, he's not sure.

Camilla had just gone; he wasn't all there, he can admit that, but nor was he rushing into danger to escape that emotional turmoil. Mostly, he's embarrassed. It was really humiliating, actually. Damn.

So what he says is,] I'm usually prepared. It's the sea that's wrong.

[Which is a little goof-ass and petulant, but whatever. He reaches for one of Viktor's hands when he's done lamenting their Entire Situation, tangling their fingers together and holding tight. It's fine, or if not fine, it is tolerable. They can get through tolerable.

But, with all the skepticism of someone who no longer trusts anyone with ideas about Mariana no matter what their alleged plan is, you know, one of the six basic human emotions,] What effort?

Underselling is a little more amusing than the truth of the matter. [that he'd be a fucking mess despite all rationality telling him to simply sit and wait patiently. ah emotions, if only they had an off switch.

his lips quirk humorlessly at that answer, lifting pal's hand to kiss the inside of his wrist. eh, sometimes he deserved to be a little goof ass and petulant. especially after everything.]

I'm not sure. People trying to calm her down, I suppose. I can't say I think it's a particularly good idea. [again, pandering. still, at least it was doing something and he hated being idle.

he squeezes pal's hand, then sighs.] Here's to hoping we don't have to put off the operation.

Don't explain it, I'll start getting misty. [Potentially true? He hasn't sobbed on the bathroom floor in quite a few months, but if something could make him tear up, it may very well be the thought of-- anything Viktor might do, were he to suffer a third death. He still says it with the airiness of a joke, even as he leans his head down onto Viktor's shoulder and rubs his thumb over the back of his hand.

It's fine; they can leave that line of thinking well enough alone.

Anyway... that sounds... wack? What is the plan? First, though-] I'm not putting anything off for anyone, not even her.

[That's a definite, he's sick and tired of putting off taking care of Viktor because of stupid Trench bullshit, and parading around trinkets for a sea god throwing a fit does not appeal. To wit,] Doing charity for her so she'll stop throwing storms at the rest of us? I don't know if I have the patience.

Besides, someone has to look after the rest of these people while the powerful kick over each other's sandcastles.

It's not really a conversation for parties anyway. [he murmurs that, turning his head to press his lips to pal's hair. definitely thoughts that could be left alone rather than poking.

that declaration has him exhaling in amused agreement.] I'm thinking the last week of the month. It's usually calm enough then, and we'll have time to perfect things before.

[again barring intense drama. here's to hoping.] I knew there was a reason I married you. Aside from the charm and access to comfortable ponchos.[aka that's the spirit. who has the time or patience for any of this ridiculous bullshit? tantrum somewhere else.]

I just hope the Trench native's attitudes get better. If anyone gives you a dirty look again there will be words.

[The last week of the month; Palamedes takes a moment to let that settle, to turn over the idea of it. The goal of helping Viktor has been long-term, and it's been nebulous, and it's been turned around and reversed and bothered and interfered with and-- it's a different feeling, to hear Viktor set a date for it. Terrifying, to be sure - but with a generous helping of determination threaded through it, giving it weight.

He lifts his head to nod, agreeing.]

Time to work out the details, of course. End of the month.

[It's set! It's confirmed, and he plops his head back down on Viktor's shoulder with a short sigh, and then a chuckle.]

My manifest charm feels like it's been manifestering. [endure.] If I step outside this building, I'm going to lose it, professionally speaking.

[Is that corruption or just being fed up with everyone outside these walls? Who can say. Both, maybe. Counter to his own skin-crawling impatience with the populous, though,]

People have been giving me dirty looks?

[there's still a lot to do, though he's been putting in the work enough he feels confident they'll have all they need well before the date. still it is something to put a proper pin on the calendar, and he chases away the more unpleasant possibilities. dying on the table, surviving but it still not working, some mad turn forcing them to give up yet another avenue the way remina did.

he rests his head against pal's. best to move relentlessly forward, though maybe more carefully this time.] I guess I'll ask Allen if we can stay here again.

[viktor makes sure to sigh with all the exhaustion of having to hear the words manifestering here, in front of his salad.] I take it back, the charm is all an illusion I conjured to spare myself the truth, that I bound myself to a man who likes puns.

[he's not smiling, you are. anyway this time he gets a scoff.] Yes. The rare times we've been out I noticed it. They're all under whatever unpleasant spell the Reckoning brings but I only have so much patience.

[Mm, the many ways this operation could go wrong are - things to be aware of, for sure, but Palamedes is likewise trying not to think about them. It's no good to be overconfident, but he's a normal level of confident in their ability to pull this off. A normal amount!! It should be fine with a normal amount.

He hums, because Allen will never say no to them staying here, but as always it's polite to ask. Ah, but, if he can lift the serious air to indulge in a little sap-] We'll celebrate, the first night we can go home with you completely well.

[So, see? Endure his puns for the sake of his sap, for he regrets neither. He pulls Viktor's hand up to kiss the ring on his finger with gusto, to prove this point: truly, Viktor is stuck with him.

This is why he doesn't notice people giving him dirty looks, he's too centered on Viktor whenever they're together, oops. That sounds like a them problem, in any case.]

I love you, too. Try not to punch anyone, or we'll have a repeat of that broken nose I had to set after your drinking buddy slugged that guy.

[of course pal is a sap about it, complete with the ring kiss which has viktor letting out a helplessly amused breath.] Maybe you can show me your proper dance training, finally. As lovely as last dance was I'm not sure it counts.

[at least for showing pal's warden mandatory play nice at fancy parties training. it's a little much to imagine though, not dying, new house, something to celebrate. he's much better at it all but a wealth of riches still makes him suspicious and guarded, so he can't quite bring himself to expect the outcome.

maybe just a little hope though, as a treat.

he has to snort at that.] He deserved it, and I make no promises. Jason taught me to punch properly for a reason and this is surely it.

I should have known from the start what a wild maverick you are.

[Just kidding, he's known all along that Viktor will throw hands (or scathing commentary at the ministers) when needs must. How attractive of him, to throw hands for Palamedes' sake— but keep it in check while the people around town are ready to throw hands right back. That's all he asks.

Although, of course, he is busying himself pressing another set of kisses to Viktor's other, unoccupied knuckles, but it's implied. Probably. Here, the first knuckle...

Ah, yes-] You'll be merciless about my dance training, but if that's what you want.

[woe! woe is palamedes!!]

I'll wear my nicest greys. And these boots. [the yellow ones.]

Our first unintended date was a criminal activity. That should have clued us both in. [viktor says as if he's still pointlessly proud of the fact they stole a chalkboard. a crowning achievement in the trench, forget all the other stuff.

and fine, he'll resist the urge to taser someone for pal's honor. frankly he'll just happily stay in and not deal with the bullshit going around. they have lungs to make after all, research to do, etc etc. also fuck the heat and storms, inside is better and pal's indoor agenda is rubbing off on him.

it's very hard to be merciless about anything when pal is kissing his knuckles. is it the event that makes him less concerned about pda or is it the fact he's slowly unravelling from certain, flinching habits involving the public eye? mystery. spoilers, it's probably the latter.]

If you are somehow a worse dancer than me you will deserve it. [he says with all the fondness of a man who will indeed be the worst.

his head ducks to laugh though, coming up to say,] You know I like the new look you've been going for, boots and all.

Hmm, I think it was more criminal to subject ourselves to those drinks.

[The mysteries of the Blue Drink haunt him to this day. Only the scrap of napkin with all the incoherent novel ideas that he still has tucked away in a notebook somewhere can provide a clue to the moment blue took over his brain.]

You like to be right, [he says, still holding Viktor's hand with both his own. That's right about general things - dancing, here - and the excessively long ongoing argument about Grey vs. Any Other Color, at once. The boots are comfortable? He'll give them this.

He bows his head to kiss the third knuckle again, above the ring, then sits back against the tree.]

I've memorized everything I can about the anatomy of a lung, [which? Probably means he did some sticking his hands into rib cages, at work? Never mind that.] How is your side progressing?

I don't know, I'm rather intrigued by what the other colors taste like. Healthy curiosity. [maybe purple will be less suspicious. probably not, but there's one way to find out and it's subjecting themselves to more.

viktor doesn't bother to pretend that isn't true, just looks vaguely pleased at pal for noticing.] Oh, did my letter to Jayce give me away? [he settles to rest properly against pal's side, leaning against him.]

Well enough, though I won't know until we start testing it with living tissue. [and that's not counting seeing how a sleeper body accepts or rejects all of this. fun.] It's... daunting. This is the sort of thing that we should reasonably be testing for months before even considering live test subjects.

TANABATA ⟶ July Sanctuary Log

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