HOLIDAY HOTPOT MINGLE LOG

[bladeofnymeia]

WHO: Firoza Istus, Ren Amamiya, and YOU!
WHAT: The results of the Holiday Hotpot player quest - and an open invitation for everyone to gather together and enjoy a hot meal!
WHEN: Monday, December 15th
WHERE: Bottlecap Bay, down on the beach
WARNINGS: I can't think of any, unless hot soup is a warning?

It may be a bit nippy with the wind coming in off the ocean, but the beach is the best place to construct and keep up a few large bonfires, if summer's events were any indication. Three pits have been dug and filled with firewood, and set up with large pots with dividers, full of savoury broth divided into a comforting, creamy concoction and a spicy, sweet surprise - options, after all, are not just a considerate consideration, but necessary!

There's plenty of food to add to these pots - lots of wild mushrooms plucked just before the harsher frosts claimed them, sliced berries, nuts, seeds, various leafy greens still clinging to their color, wild carrots and wild potatoes, seaweed...tofu? There's tofu. Some Pokemon in the Bay must make it and sell their excess, which is very generous of them. And, unless someone decides to surprise everyone with rice, there's bread to soak up all that lovely broth!

Looks like this is something you do together with others - cooking the bounty provided by your fellow otherworlders-turned-Pokemon, that is. The sand is thankfully, somehow, not wet, so you can sit there, wrapped up in your winterwear or a bolt of pressed wool provided for the occasion, watching your delicious meal simmer as you swap stories and laugh and have a good time, perhaps even make new friends with those outside of your assigned guild!

Which is exactly what your hosts, Ren and Firoza, would love for you to do! Don't be shy - come on and join us! There's plenty to go around!

[OOC: if you feel so inclined as to bring something along for the hot pot last minute, go right ahead! The more the merrier!]

Comments

[offtracks]

[ Ingo's food stores have been holding up well enough. Besides, communal meals are all the more important in winter - they can help to keep up morale. So he comes along with some contributions of his own, dried seaweeds and tubers. Out of deference to how odd some people were about hunting on the Pearls not so long ago, he leaves his fish and meat behind.

Sitting loaf-style on a bolt of wool, he doesn't have any clothing of his own save for his habitual hat. The weather is far easier to bear in this body! ]

I am quite impressed that they found such a dry area to hold this!

[ Unless, of course, he gets wet. Water seems to always feel frigid to him since he became a fire-type, no matter how warm he knows it ought to be. ]

[bladeofnymeia]

[The additional food is welcome! There's enough thanks to everyone's efforts, but it's. It's nice to have, you know? To have and to share. It just makes it feel more cozy.]

I didn't think anywhere inside would be suitable...even if it would be more ideal.

[Fresh air is better for good food anyway!

Also. Here is Firoza, happy to trundle over and see Ingo all loaf'd up. He looks comfy!]

We're very lucky the sand is dry for now. Come tomorrow, that could change.

[offtracks]

Doubtless not! Nowhere here seems properly set up for having flames indoors!

[ The tunnels are certainly not properly ventilated! The Cheri guild is up in the trees! Ingo's less familiar with Lum Berry housing...but, even so. ]

I've found it rather difficult to control my own well enough for cooking. Heating our quarters is one thing, that does not require much finesse.

[bladeofnymeia]

[If they had a nice big space to like, do a big party...that'd be good indoors.]

I think our best bet is to bestow flames upon the wood and control it that way - even I can do that.

[A shame Alphinaud isn't here to put his impeccable firewood collecting skills to use.]

But either way, your warmth is needed and appreciated, no matter the finesse.

[offtracks]

It is no trouble!

[ Really, it isn't! He does this half the time anyway; though he himself is more hardy in the cold than he used to be, it still feels good to burn.

Anyway - though he knows Firoza's species, he isn't familiar down to their movepool. ]

What fire-type moves can you learn?

[bladeofnymeia]

[Subtle headtilt.]

...I...don't think I can learn any.

[Seems like Nidoran can only learn Sunny Day as of...Gen 8? So. Not really ideal for lighting fires.]

[wovensecrets]

Right? It does seem like a reasonably-thought out location...

[ Certainly, she's never quite experienced something like this and is even more personally surprised to be enjoying it, considering how most gatherings like this tend to be more on the exhausting end. Give it time, maybe. ]

At least, it doesn't feel too closed in... the breeze is a bit bracing, but it's not like we're on the mountain path.

[offtracks]

Ah, my camp back in Hisui was on the mountainside! Only about halfway up, but quite above the cliffs. It is a bit nostalgic, especially now that I am feeling the cold less keenly!

[ Though he certainly remembers that Miss Hatenna does not enjoy the cold much. ]

How are you finding the winter thus far?

[wovensecrets]

Aside from the obvious problems, there's refreshingly not too much to complain about.

[ She likes being alive. The last inclination of anything being horribly wrong had hopefully departed with that Froslass. Not that it stops paranoia, but it's so much better to not think of those things. ]

It doesn't usually come with pleasant reminders, so it's good to enjoy the time as it is.

[offtracks]

I am glad to hear it! And I am always available for a visit, should you wish it! I can get about in the snow well enough!

[ Ingo would spend a few weeks in the winter with the Clan, around festival time, but the snow did tend to limit his travels otherwise. It gets lonely; he very much appreciates visitors then! ]

[wovensecrets]

Oh? Now that we've done considerable work to improve Guilmon's quarters, it definitely is more agreeable conditions for a visit. Please, do.

[ To both water-proof and fire-proof is a bit of an Effort in the canopy. Easily justified when the efforts aren't explicitly beneficial to herself. ]

[wovensecrets]

[ What an exciting time to be around! Normally, Archnemon isn't one for gatherings, but there was something about this particular quest that had certainly drawn her attention. ]

Oh, this smells even more scrumptious than I had anticipated...! Let's dig in.

[ Normally she's much more reserved. But as long as there aren't too many conflicting emotions at play by others, or an overwhelming amount, maybe it would be fine? Either way she'll try to find a safe out of the way area once the cooking portion is done to enjoy the results of their hard work.

Granted she's more invested in the food than sharing stories or anything like that, but... well, she's a listener. She won't shy away from a chat if someone approaches...

... Or if someone is just happening to rouse her if she does end up dozing off... ]

[timeexistseverywhere]

[Aegiomon isn't sure if he's ever seen Archnemon in this much of a good mood before. He kind of had a feeling when she invited him to go hunt for ingredients, but he never expected she'd be so excited by the end results.

It's nice.

Much like her, he doesn't have any stories to really share. ...Mostly because he hasn't been alive long enough to learn any, and the ones he DOES know...involve him in some way. He's not really ready to share those yet, this is supposed to be a happy time. So, uh hey! Soup is fun!]

Wow, you must really like soup, huh?

[Said with a smile and a chuckle.]

[wovensecrets]

It must seem a little simplistic, but it's just the sort of meal that can be satisfying with all the flavors it brings together!

[ ... She really likes soup. She's also not used to being this energetic and open about it, but maybe that's the nice thing about just. Not thinking about it. ]

And tends to not take too much, due to the amount of ingredient combinations. What do you think?

[timeexistseverywhere]

[Is it really that simplistic? With all the ingredient combinations, flavor outcomes, dos and don'ts, Aegiomon was thinking it was way more complex than he originally thought.

He still thinks the fact that there's a divider is the coolest thing ever. Two flavors in one pot? Wild.

Still, he can at the very least understand the sentiment and nods.]

It's good! I really like how the mushrooms taste when you let them cook really long, heh...

[As if to emphasize his point, he plops one in his mouth and chews happily, savoring the flavor. He's been partaking in the creamier broths for obvious reasons.]

I kinda wanna try the spicy one, but...doesn't it hurt? Why do people like spicy food?

[wovensecrets]

You could try a little and find out what you can tolerate... just be prepared with something cool to drink.

[ Another why question... normally she'd make a face at hearing the word, but she is aware he is genuinely innocent in this regard. It's almost tolerable when it's not asking the existential and is instead curiosity. Talking, being sociable, was that just because of the better mood? It was weird - but she was not about to think about that.

Either way, she has her own balanced portions of the hot pot in front of her, so she pauses a moment while she considers the question. ]

If it's done right, the flavor should outweigh the heat... and adds a little different flair. But, as for "why", you're opening yourself up to many types of responses as well. You might hear that some like it hot for the sake of it, or just to feel the pain or just to feel... something~ others might just think they're adding more to what they find bland or tasteless. Others still, just won't touch it at all to avoid the mere thought of pain, others just can't eat it because their bodies won't allow it. And then you would have to consider that there are different levels, different varieties-- like unexplored worlds, in a way.

[timeexistseverywhere]

...

[She's right, he could try it and just figure out that answer himself. Even with her explanation, he still eyes the broth warily.]

I don't really get it, but...okay, I'll give it a shot.

[The idea of purposely inflicting yourself with something like that just to feel something makes him kind of.......sad, but treating it like an unexplored world also makes it sound kind of exciting??? He eyes the broth one more time, then at her just in case she has any last minute warnings, and when there isn't any he finally takes a small sip.]

[bladeofnymeia]

Are you alright over here?

[Oops. Sorry, Archnemon, you went off by yourself and one of this little gathering's intrepid hosts is making sure you're doing okay, but it seems like you nodded off-]

Ah, my apologies! If you'd like me to let you rest, I can leave...

[wovensecrets]

...Hm?

[ Oh. That's an apologetic sensation rippling over her senses. Someone is concerned... in the vicinity... but at least the shift in emotions is able to disrupt the wave of tiredness from the excess of content emotion. Ironic how that works. ]

It's -- fine, I shouldn't be napping at a time like this anyway.

[bladeofnymeia]

It is also cold, and not ideal for a nap.

[I mean, warm fire nearby, but also...cooking over the fire? And eventually it'll go out? And that leads to unfun times snoozing in the cold.]

I could fetch you a drink if it would help?

[wovensecrets]

Unfortunately it's not exactly a physical problem that can be solved...

[ Being sensitive to emotions cuts both ways, positive or negative. She motions aroundherself with one of her hair tendrils. ]

Your efforts have made a lot of people satisfied here, after all. Participating was always a risk.

[positivestars]

[She's been a little awkward about coming to the hotpot, having not taken up the quest- but it is good to see someone she hasn't seen in a while!]

Hatenna-san! It's good to see you again. Is there a part you're looking forward to most?

[wovensecrets]

[ That's a familiar voice. She raises a hair tendril in greeting before looking back over the spread in front of them. ]

Oh? I'm just waiting for the opportunity to enjoy the efforts of our hard work... the seaweed was a lucky find, after all.

[ She understands that some people might have just arrived there for the comraderies whether or not they'd taken place in the ingredient gathering. She's just been goal-focused this entire time... ]

Where did you end up assigned, Maya-san? It's been some time, hasn't it...

[positivestars]

Ah, so that's what you guys contributed? Thank you for your hard work! I'm sure it'll taste delicious!

[She finds a place for herself to sit, not too close, not too far.]

It has, hasn't it! In the Guilds, you mean? Mightyena-san asked me to join the Oran Berries. She seems like a very kind individual, and I like the guild! What about you, Hatenna-san?

[wovensecrets]

Ah, so you've been in the Spire. That makes sense. I'm in the Cheri guild. It keeps me busy enough.

[ Rather, she keeps herself busy in various ways. Other people might have Opinions on the leadership but she tends to avoid stirring that pot.

Speaking of her hard work, she is taken a little off guard by the praise. ]

The kids probably should have more of the credit. We did quite a lot of searching, but a tasty meal is an excellent motivator.