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.

[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. ]

[offtracks]

Of course! Perhaps I will bring by some food!

[ A gift? That does seem to be something that's done around here! ]

[wovensecrets]

Oh? As long as it isn't too much trouble, that would also be quite welcome...

[ It goes without saying, the improvements to the Canopy as a whole have helped in this regard for navigation. New weather conditions aside, anyway. ]

We tend to end up with a lot of bread around, but that's about it.

[ Despite taking charge of the 'rooms', someone still hasn't quite fully approached the concept of cooking for herself yet. ]

[offtracks]

Bread is so much more common here!

[ Sure, it existed in Hisui, but rice was the far more common grain! ]

How do you both feel about rice?

[wovensecrets]

Mmm! Certainly no objection to that, either. It's been some time since I've last had a taste of onigiri...

[ Though something else about his statement also might need correcting. ]

Oh, and I should note, if you'll be visiting... we also have Aegiomon staying with us as well.

[ Gesturing with her hair tendrils in the direction of a skiddo in the nearby vicinity. ]

[offtracks]

Ah! We have not met! I ought to introduce myself, perhaps!

[wovensecrets]

I think that's a splendid idea. He always seems happy to meet new people, and has an inquisitive mind.

[offtracks]

Ah, excellent! It would be terribly rude to venture into his space without even an introduction first!

[ The invitation from Archnemon makes it alright, but it's still not really up to Ingo's standards of courtesy! So off he goes! ]

[timeexistseverywhere]

[Having heard his name from where he was at, Aegiomon was thankfully already on his way over. It's not like he meant to overhear, he just...doesn't exactly have a very common name and these goat ears pick up everything.]

Did somebody call for me—? Woah...

[Aegiomon pauses, looking up at Ingo with wide eyes. Wow, an adult who is actually taller than him, that's been rare in this world...for whatever reason. His expression may come across as fear at first, but then his little tail starts to wag.]

Cool...

[wovensecrets]

[ Don't mind her, she'll just be back here while the introduction commences, though she does give a little wave to Aegiomon with a tendril to confirm that she had just mentioned him to the approaching Typhlosion. ]

[offtracks]

Good evening! My name is Ingo! Miss Hattenna and I were just discussing my making a visit to your home - I have been here for nearly a full year now, so I have known her and Guilmon both for some time!

[ It's a little strange to think about. Ingo's not sure if he can mark the exact day or not, but it was certainly after midwinter, wasn't it? Probably another few weeks is all. ]

[timeexistseverywhere]

[Seeing Archnemon wave from behind Ingo is certainly enough to help, but he can't help but be alarmed by Ingo admitting he's been here for almost a year. Quite some time, indeed. Does he miss his home? Does he have friends waiting for him back there? Was he human before, how does he feel about being a monster now? So many questions and none of them make it out of his mouth. Instead, Aegiomon realizes he should probably say something right about now. They're only in the middle of an introduction, and standing around shuffling questions in his head just makes him look silly.]

Oh! Um, hi! My name's Aegiomon, it's nice to meet you.

[Manners are important.]

I'll try to keep my side of the room clean while you're over.

[offtracks]

Oh -

[ He hadn't meant to imply he was unclean! Oh dear! ]

Why - yes, of course! Is there anything that you cannot eat? I would like to bring a dish!

[timeexistseverywhere]

It's just...I started learning how to draw recently, so I have a bunch of...papers everywhere... So...

[He sheepishly paws at the ground with his hoof. If anyone's implying he's unclean, it's him.]

Let's see, uh...I definitely can't eat meat anymore. Which stinks, because I used to love meat... I mean, unless it's, like, really good, I'm willing to put up with the stomachache. Don't tell Hatenna.

[offtracks]

Ah, that is unfortunate! It tended to be a staple of the midwinter festivals in my world...though, here it is traditional to not eat meat on the festival day, or so I am told.

[timeexistseverywhere]

I'm totally okay with that tradition, heh...

[He pauses, then decides he can no longer keep his questions to himself.]

So...what sort of world did you come from, anyway?

[offtracks]

Oh, it was very like this one! Except humans and Pokemon lived much closer together - I was a human, then.

[ It's been a year since. Has he always said that he "used to be" a human? Maybe let's just not think too hard on that right now! ]

[timeexistseverywhere]

[Alright, confirmed. A former human. Aegiomon's little leaf tail wags more.]

I still can't believe Pokémon and humans live in the same world together, that's awesome! I'm so used to Digimon being from the Digital World and humans being from, well, the human world.

[Maybe if they lived together like humans and Pokémon, they'd be much closer, too... Ugh, if only. Although, if humans can be in multiple worlds, who's to say there isn't a world out there already like that? The possibilities could be endless...]

So do you like it? Being a Pokémon, that is. It must be way easier for you since you already come from a world where they already exist, but...I also don't know how comfortable humans are with changing...

[Sorry, Ingo. He is a child and you are very cool and interesting.]