[Mini Event] [RQ] Liquid courage

They were close.

The concerns of Flora and others that they should pivot to some new project had not gone unheard, and Hadama was well aware of the absurdity of focusing on rum in a time of increasing strangeness and trouble across the world, but at the same time they were so near to their goal that it seemed even more damaging to give up now. The Port brought travelers from across Caido to their doorstep, and a little luck could go a long way to keeping their land safe, if undertaken with other measures.

So the King swam in the choppy waters of the canal, tail moving slowly to keep him in place as he waited for his friends and citizens to gather and voice their opinion on what flavor of rum would be best. The Flowerbirth sky was blue, the waves were lively, and the sea birds called brightly overhead. Next to Hadama was a large green vase, and three piles of colored stones from the Rainbow Road. Votes could either be cast publicly or privately, depending on preference.

When it seemed as though enough people had gathered to make it a fair vote, the Tidebreaker raised his voice.

"If you want white rum, cast a white stone," he rumbled. "Dark rum is a black stone. Spiced rum is a red stone. If you want to advocate for your preference, now is your chance."

So saying, he yielded the floor to any who wished to sway the opinions of their fellows as the voting began.

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This is an ME to decide what type of rum will flow in the Luck Fountain in Kaiholo Port. Anyone is welcome to participate, but only Torchers can vote. This thread will close in one week, or whenever a clear winner is determined!

Andromeda

The noble was not accustomed to traversing such rough waters, and it showed. Her face contorted with frustration and exhaustion, and her hair tangled around her in thick, wet braids. She worked hard to keep her head above the surface to be able to hear her King, but inside her mind she damned him for calling her so close to the surface and towards the unusually high and ever-present waves.

With a desire to go home quickly, and stay at the bottom of the ocean for however long this shit lasted, Andy grabbed her stone without much thought. A lack of pomp and circumstance, she plopped a red stone in the basin.

never be so kind you forget to be clever

Okay, so yes Flora did think continuing with this was stupid, even though it had been her idea. Her totally anonymous Notice Board idea. And, for the record, she still thought it should be whiskey.  Even so, she wasn't going to not vote.

Besides, she knew something no one else did about a certain King, and for that reason, the Doubletake was positively glowing.

Sashaying her way across the sands and plucking up a white stone, Flora dropped it into the vase as she eyed Hadama. "I still think whiskey would have been better." She titters theatrically, raising her eyebrows before flouncing back to linger and await the outcome.

JACK

hellraiser
risk taker

Listen, alright, no one has asked Jack, but rum isn't the worst thing to focus on in his opinion. If the world is ending why the fuck not end it drunk as a skunk, right? He's been watching proceedings since Hadama's initial arrival, sitting comfortably on a low wall and wondering if it's possible to collect all three stones and yeet them into the vase at once.

Probably, but it's also a moot point. And so after Flora struts her stuff and hisses her venom, the captain follows. He considers selecting a dark stone, but ultimately settles on red, tossing it into the face and offering a lazy salute to the king before threading back into the crowd.

full speed ahead
'til i'm dead

JUDE

the light of dawn is coming

Jude shows up alone, looking shellshocked and pale. Everything has come crashing down in the span of a week and he doesn’t know what to do. He’d returned home to keys to a new apartment and a note, and both still sit crumpled in his coat pocket.

He doesn’t remember getting to the meeting. He doesn’t know why he even came. Maybe it will help fill the void of loss and panic that seems to be engulfing every inch of his mind to focus on something as simple as the flavor of alcohol. Something he’s only ever had sips of at best before Koa. The memory of the treehouse is like a knife to his chest, and he moves towards the stones in a graceless stumble, intent on chasing it away.

He picks the first color he sees - white - and drops it in the vase before hurrying to the outskirts of the gathered group before he loses control of the bile rising in his throat.

ready to return everything the darkness stole

"Noted," Hadama said, bemused at Flora 's flouncing, but inclining his head in gratitude as she cast her vote. Merfolk and humans alike walked or swam up to the vase and cast their stones, and though there was little excitement over the proceedings it was understandable.

The world was moving once more, and in unpredictable directions. The project that had begun more than half a year ago out of joy was now being rushed to conclusion out of necessity. But the mermanta planned for the long term. The current instability would, eventually, be dealt with and the Fountain would serve its purpose in peaceful days to come.

Or the current problems would not be dealt with, and the future would not matter to any of them.

As long as he ruled he would plan for the former, however, and resist the latter as long as he could.

When the line trickled out Hadama chose a white stone of his own to drop in the vase before nodding at the attendants. They upended the container and the votes spilled out across the stones beside the canal. Red and white shone in nearly equal measure, while black stones were few and far between. The colors were swiftly separated and counted in full view of those watching, and in the end the votes for White Rum squeaked by with the victory.

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~Fin~