Glada Vappen!

[suomi_thunder]

Aarne hadn't celebrated holidays properly in over a year which left him feeling disconnected. Giant bonfires in the streets and rampant reindeer were frowned upon in most civilized cities, unless of course the punks were involved, then that was arson not celebrations.. ok, well for the punks it was a celebration but not for a Saami.

In the Nexus though, oh here he could do whatever he wanted, or that was what he had learned in his few visits. He had been planning and cooking and collecting. The gods probably don't even know where he stirred up reindeer from in the Nexus but he has and Mouka was happy to have a job keeping them corralled. His usual rock gear is augmented with his family necklace and oddly doesn't look too out of place with rest of his wildness.

He didn't have a lot but parties always started this way. The host had some things and then people came and brought more booze and food, ordering all kinds of things. Aarne did bring Mead, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and a a bunch of lemon tippaleipä batter. He had cooked some but this was something he could show visitors how to make on their own. The honey mead based sugar in a large bowl. Strips of dried reindeer meat and juustoleipä, a Finnish reindeer milk cheese, are out on the table too. There are fruits; strawberries, apples, and nuts which were common as well as a cream from reindeer milk traditional to the culture and nearly like unfermented yogurt.

That all done he looked to the huge pile of logs that he had gotten from various people around the Nexus. The Sami added leaves to it to create smoke at first to attract others. Before lighting it he put up a banner of hide dedicated to the Akka, the female fertility spirits, decorated with the same imagery as his traditional drum. It was sentimental, the first drum he ever learned to play.

Drum in hand he poured kerosene on the log pile and lit it. The reindeer spooked at the sudden fire but soon calmed, especially when the tall Fin went among them.

Comments

[chiaro_oscuro]

"My name's Ben." A perfectly Earth-sounding name, and Ben wonders when the newcomer will figure out that the tall man in dark clothes is a visitor from another galaxy entirely. He offers a hand.

"That's an offer? Wouldn't mind trying something."

[suomi_thunder]

"Aarne." He takes the hand firmly. It might take awhile or none at all, though his streak for accepting people is wide. He would rather have people who were very different around.

"How strong do you like your drinks?" He can make something based on how drunk this person plans on getting. While waiting for an answer he starts constructing a traditional plate of tippaleipä with sugar, fruit and milk cream. Most southern people likes tippaleipä since it was similar to Funnel Cake though the Finnish variety was lemon and had a bit of sour to counteract the sweet.

[chiaro_oscuro]

Ben warmly shakes it. That tradition isn't that different between galaxies, thankfully, and he's not so alien that he doesn't know what it means.

"I like them strong. I'm what your people might call a telepath - my powers are beyond that, but that's the one that's the easiest to explain and demonstrate. But it means I prefer to drink rarely, though harder when I do. I don't believe in wasting opportunities." Aarne might see Ben's mouth water as he smells the tippaleipä, and he chuckles a little when his stomach rumbles. "Ah, that smells delicious."

[suomi_thunder]

"We have telepaths in our culture that speak to the ancestors and the spirits." Whether that is a metaphor, symbolic or real it is hard to say. Aarne took it at face value and believed it.

He offers him the plate and it is stacked high because he both loves sweets and not quite sober. "Reindeer cream is higher fat than what they serve in the south."

He figures it needs to be said as a warning because the thick, almost fluffed butter, texture was surprising to people. "Mead is traditional with this but weaker. I brought what my family makes and it is almost as strong as whiskey."

He hasn't even waited for a response before he starts pouring some in a wooden cup for Ben.

[chiaro_oscuro]

Ben nods. "I've heard of such things, where I come from. I believe the dead never truly leave us." It's something he can personally vouch for - spirits are a thing where he comes from, as well as communing with ancestors. He's never seen a Force ghost personally, but he's well aware that they exist.

His interest immediately switches to his meal. "Thank you." He looks for a place to find a seat so he can enjoy it properly. Aarne will see him lick his lips as he looks over the stacked plate. He'll make short work of it once he sits.

He looks over to the wooden cup. "I'll have to thank you for the drink, too."

[suomi_thunder]

"We are named for the dead. The man I was named after was known for being able to endure harsh winters and help the people get to spring safely." It's good to hear that Ben has some similar beliefs. In his own world there aren't many that he gets to speak with who have anything remotely similar to his beliefs. It feels good and shows in his smile. "How do you contact your ancestors?"

While Ben eats his cake, Aarne prepares another drink for himself and goes to sit with Ben. He won't speak unless Ben does, simply sit and drink with him, but it is polite to ensure someone doesn't eat alone.