SPIRIT VALENTINE'S DAY! (PLAYER PLOT MINI-EVENT!)

[sunborne]

♡ SPIRIT VALENTINE'S DAY! ♡

When one wakes up on the 14th of February, it doesn't take too long to notice that something is going on outside.

The biggest giveaway is the music that fills the air of Beacon's usually quite days. Acoustic music of the spirits singing. Lovey-dovey pop songs being played by someone's tablet. Excited chittering and cooing from frisky spirits courting one another.

Taking a peek outside reveals that, yep, something is happening: Beacon looks like it's been hit with a bomb of a fightingly and saccharinely sweet degree. Hearts are haphazardly glued to walls. Pink and red streamers hang from roofs and trees and the occasional tall spirit. Glitter - so much glitter! - has been thrown around and is still being thrown around by giggly, happy spirits who have hearts and more doodled on their masks.

It's Valentine's Day and it seems the spirits are going to celebrate it in style.

NOTES - This is the player-run mini event: Spirit Valentine's Day! Prompts can be found for the event if and a top-level for those who have secret admirer spirits can be found in the post! Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!

PROMPT 001 ♡ HOW SWEET IT IS.
The first obstacle you'll face is the fact the spirits are feeling a little too sweet thanks to the generous mood in the air.

Approached by a spirit, you'll find yourself being offered a tray of suspiciously pretty confectionaries to passerby. Too pretty, you think, and further inspection will reveal why you should be right to wary of the cookies and cupcakes: Some of these sweets are actually made from painted cardboard, glue, paint, and glitter. No matter where you're from or who you are, eating this will not be good for your health.

If only the spirits understood that - They're aggressively generous, practically waving the 'sweets' under your nose and will clearly not stop until they see someone eat the offered sweets.

PROMPT 002 ♡ UNCHAINED MELODY.
Music seems to be playing a big part of the holidays, between Day blasting sappy dance pop songs from his tablet from where he'll usually be stationed out - that goofy grin of his showing he knows exactly what he's doing right now - and spirits dancing and singing along. It's almost charming.

What's not charming, arguably, are the groups of spirits scurrying around Beacon, cornering unfortunate individuals to be an audience to their singing of love songs. Well... It's less of them singing out love songs and more of them screaming out love songs. Screaming out love songs in their almost incomprehensible language, fuelled by the fact they're weirdly out of synch with one another because the fates seem to have it out for you today.

You'll need help getting out of this one, or quick thinking. The spirits will not allow you to leave anytime soon. They are relentless. They are aloud. They cannot be stopped until together you and they will break the chains of loooove.

PROMPT 003 ♡ IN YOUR EYES.
Due to their close relationship with Daylight, spirits know that his world's Valentine's is celebrated by its participants with one's face covered in symbols and marks in order to denote how one will be enjoying the holidays.

Wanting to make the holiday inclusive - and very excited to play with the face paint Day is happy to share with them, the fool - spirits have doodled marks and scribbles on their very own faces. Not only that but they are continuing their too-generous streak and can be found attempting to offer to paint others' faces - Whether they like it or not. It'll be a common sight to see some spirits running about, waving paint brushes and rags dipped in glittery face paint or, trying to spread the cheers by any means possible.

Paint WILL be lobbed at the faces of those who are attempting to escape the holiday mood!! Come back here!!

PROMPT 004 ♡ AT LAST.
When all is said and done, most of the spirits will dart back into the forests, clearly in high, ah, spirits after a successful day of what they thought was wholesome holiday celebrating!

But some spirits, who were raised with manners and still have them, end of the world or not, are lingering behind to help in the cleanup of the holiday's aftermath. Glitter is swept from the ground. Streamers are tugged down. Wrappers and ribbons are picked up and placed in sacks that the spirts have brought along.

The spirits are making good progress in tidying up but a little help could go a long way. Especially for the poor, smaller spirits who are struggling to tug around the sacks of designated wrapper trash.

© tessisamess

Comments

[worthallthis]

Soldat reaches up to scratch under and behind Owl Friend's feathers, on the back of the spirit's head, and sings the "thank you" phrase, brows up in mild surprise. Is this what all of what Daylight's been doing has been about? Shit, their friend could have just asked themselves... but they suppose if they really wanted to surprise them. Since they don't have spirit-words for "coffee" and such, they tap out on the metal arm, "I do not even have your coffee today. Sorry."

[sunborne]

Owl Friend pantomimes a huff and gives a fond shake in reply, seemingly insisting they need no such thing. You better, is their answer, certain and to the point, in a way only the spirits of Beacon can be. You here. Gift already.

And that means Soldat should get his own...! With a rustling of their feathers, Owl Friend looks over to Day and lets out a series of hoots and whistles. It might be too quick to pick up for those still learning the language, but the words 'gift' and 'give now' can be picked up.

Daylight recalls his bubble as Owl Friend stretches out their talon underneath the bubble shield, allowing the item to finally be seen now that it's no longer hidden from view and falls into Owl Friend's grasp: It's a pretty origami star charm, carefully made, and it looks like it can be clipped onto hoops and such. Judging by the way some of its edges are torn and dented, Owl Friend made it with their own two, um, hands.

Another interesting thing to note is that it has some of Owl Friend's own feathers attached to it, dipped in glitter so it dangles at the bottom like a star trail.

[worthallthis]

Oh. That's actually. Really sweet. Soldat has to blink a few times to clear their vision again. (C'mon, no crying, Jesus. You really are doing that a lot, lately. I know!)

The gift is almost as bad (as good?). Soldat really doesn't have much decorating their room, just a couple of their own origami pieces, the star from the Night Market, and Daylight's paper flowers. That someone else went to so much effort is. Weird. And nice. And yeah, they might in fact cry if they're not careful.

They're grateful, suddenly, for Morse, because they can tap out the question instead of trying to force it out past the lump in their throat. "Did you make this? It is beautiful."

[sunborne]

Owl Friend lets out a happy chirr in confirmation and they launch into an explanation behind the process of making the charm - Possibly. With how excited they are to see Friend approve of their gift, they're getting a little caught up in the spirit of the holidays.

Thankfully, Day will step in at some points, explaining the most important details to pick up from Owl Friend's detailed process.

"-and they think using their own feathers will lend you some protection when out in the woods. Hence the little addition of the trails." Day smiles at this point, looking fond. "They were really insistent when making the charm. He shuffles through his messenger bag/belt, carefully pulling out some feathers to show to Soldat. "They made sure they only got the best-looking feathers from themself."

[worthallthis]

So wait, not only is it pretty, and thoughtful, and personal, it's some kind of... signal to other spirits to leave him alone? "Protection?" Soldat looks between the charm and Owl Friend, then translates the question into Morse: "This will protect me?" Well, now it's not just going in their room, they're keeping it on their person. Maybe attached to their lantern.

Or maybe in a pocket. Somewhere it can't be damaged. They absolutely do not want to damage their friend's gift. (We're running out of room in our pockets. Make new ones? Hair. Asset, I don't know if it's a good idea to weave something long and glittery into our hair. Not actually sure I know how, anyway.)

[sunborne]

Owl Friend, now calmer after Daylight gently cautions them to dial it back just a bit, replies back:

Should. Show friendship. Show good-friend. Owl Friend goes on to explain, in their own words, that the charm should show the other spirits of the forests that Soldat is their friend and, thus, can be considered trusted. Hopefully, it gives him safer passage when he goes into the woods but even Owl Friend knows how fickle their fellow spirits can be.

"So- Um- What did they say?" Daylight, it seems, doesn't know morse code. He's been listening patiently to what's going on but his confused expression and question (complete with a raised servo) shows he's hadn't had the best of luck.

[worthallthis]

"They say. It's for safe passage. It might help other spirits recognize me as. Their friend. To trust." They reach over again to smooth down Owl Friend's feathers, scratch at their favorite spot, crooning the "Thank you," in the spirit language. Then, tapping on their arm again, they add in Morse, "I would wear it just because it came from you." And because it's not super ugly like Aziraphale's sweater.

To Daylight, they add, "Gotta teach you Morse Code sometime, buddy. Helps a lot."

[sunborne]

Daylight's winglets flutter at both the explanation and the offer to teach him morse code. Neat! Learning new skills!! He's totally down with it and flashes a thumbs up to his friend to confirm his thoughts on the matter.

"Aw! That's super sweet of them to do. I'm glad you like their gift. They worked really hard on it whenever we met up and stuff." Day then beams at Owl Friend, letting out a series of melodies that Soldat could be interpreted as: See! Following your instincts is good!

Owl Friend lets up a happy trill back, glad as well. First aimed at Day and then aimed at Soldat, their feathers fluffing happily to reinforce their joy. Friend okay? Others noisy?

[worthallthis]

"How did you even meet them?" Soldat asks, because what the hell, they thought Owl Friend mostly kept to their neck of the woods, and Daylight is almost never down this way.

For Owl Friend, in Morse, while they ask Daylight that (because hey, they are highly skilled, they can hold two conversations literally at once), they say, "Very noisy very close. Better out here."

[sunborne]

Daylight grins and shrugs, deciding to keep that encounter as a mystery. (Because the uncool answer - Day blindly asking who Soldat's spirit friend that was spoken about in the townhall meeting and blindly running about the woods, asking about owls like a total weirdo - is something he'll like to take with him, thank you very much.)

Owl Friend, oblivious but happy, replies back, Stay here! Much better. Everyone bad. Their feathers ruffle at this point, huffing in annoyance at the memory of their fellow spirits. Very messy. Be careful! Mess everywhere. Sticky. Ick.

[worthallthis]

Uncool, maybe, but also kinda sweet. Soldat gives him a Look at the avoidance, but doesn't press, instead crooning an agreement back at Owl Friend, and then tapping, "I'll stay a little while. Still have my patrol." But they're early for said patrol, having wanted to get the fuck outa Beacon while they could, so there's time.

For Daylight's benefit, they add dryly, "Though I bet Daylight has places to be. Saw him helpin' those sticky spirits, earlier."

[sunborne]

Aaaaand that is Daylight’s cue to smile a too innocent smile, raising his servos up. “Oh boy! Look at the time!” He looks at his wrist, pretending there’s some sort of unseen mechanism that allows him to see the hours. “I think it’s time I help clean up the messy sticky stuff that may or may not be edible.”

What now.

“You guys have a good time, okay? I’ll do what I can to lead some spirits away from here if I come across them!” It’s the least he can do for the two. Day can handle a bit of mayhem but these two deserve some peace and quiet for the holidays.

Especially for this holiday when the spirits have been introduced to the concept of glitter bombs.

[worthallthis]

"He is going to go clean up after others. And keep them from bothering us until I leave on my patrol." Tapped in Morse for Owl Friend's benefit.

Then for Daylight, they juggle the knife and charm both to the metal hand so they can put the flesh one on his arm. "Thanks, Daylight." Not just for the privacy. This whole thing is just really sweet of him to organize. Even if he and the other spirits got a lot carried away.

wheezes as i finally wrap this thread for your threadtracker's sake and also :>

[sunborne]

Daylight's smile softens at Soldat's words, his winglets wriggling in contentment and joy. "Anytime. I'm glad that all of this chaos is helping some people out! Glitter or no! You guys have fun, okay? Happy Valentine's Day!"

Owl Friend gives an appreciative hoot in return, waving goodbye to Giant Metal Friend, trying their best to commit Giant Metal Friend to memory.

Honestly- For the rest of the time Owl Friend and Friend spends time together, Owl Friend is obviously trying their best to be the goodest friend and companion they can be with Friend, whether it's appreciating their presence or talking much as they can back.

They want to make this a good memory to look back on, when the time finally comes.