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

[coldsong]

It's nice to receive that bow, and Loki returns it, but he can't help but chuckle at how pleased the man looks by the gift for his bee.

"Her name is Beeatrice?" He echoes, utterly entertained. "That's...a blatant pun, but I rather like it."

He studies the bee as she lands on the bloom, slightly cross-eyed due to how close she is. "Happy Spring, pretty lady. My mother used to keep bees. I've got a soft spot, even though I'm much more attuned to Winter than the seasons they love."

He relinquishes the bloom easily, and nods. "My children made them. Most of them are covering an angel-food cake I bought. Lilacs, rose petals, violets, and violas. There's something about edible flowers that's both wholesome and decadent."

[itdruid]

Mordred laughs openly at the comment about his bee's name. " My husband picked her name. He's a very literal-- person who loves puns. I couldn't-- didn't want to say no to such a cute offering." It's hard for him to say 'no' most things where Galeas is concerned, but this was an even more special case. How do you say no to a pun like that?

Beeatrice, completely oblivious to the conversation going on, buzzes happily. This is a good spot to be(e) right now.

"Mmm, those all sound amazing. Edible flowers are always appropriate for a celebratory occasion." Even before his transformation Mordred had loved them, but the idea of them is even more appealing now that he's an envoy. He 'hmm's softly to himself as he draws the flower in his hands closer to his chest. He'll have to go find more of them once he and Beeatrice have finished this first one...

"Thank you for sharing them. Today is a day for blessings and sharing love-- in every way imaginable. Flowers of every kind of perfect for officially welcoming spring, too." Mordred's smile brightens as Beeatrice finishes what she will of their treat and makes her way up into his hair ivy. "It might not be your favored-- season, but you honor us-- m-my Goddess and I, I mean, by sharing the flowers with us."

[coldsong]

"We considered nasturtiums as well," Loki says, "but they're rather peppery, and I wanted to keep things sweet and mild."

He's watching Beeatrice with warmth and amusement. She's almost certainly some sort of magical companion, and he can feel the energy flux in Mordred that wasn't there before--or at least, was nowhere near so strong--but at the end of the day, a honeybee is one of the cutest possible creatures with six legs.

"I may be a creature of cold and shadow," he says softly. "But I like the sunlight on my face from time to time."

He bows, a little deeper this time than the greeting nod. "My mother was the goddess of wisdom, and I honor the Norns. Your Goddess is much akin, I think, to these. I gladly pay Her, and you, the respects of the Season."

[itdruid]

"Sweet is good," Mordred agrees readily. "Or it's my-- preference at least." He chuckles at himself for that one. He gets distracted by sweets pretty often, so it's easy to get ahead of himself when he probably shouldn't.

The description of Loki's mother is lovely, and Mordred can't help the happy sigh that falls from him as he hears it. "You don't need to honor me. I represent the-- Goddess, but I'm only an envoy. What little divinity I have comes from Her, and I was human until-- only a few weeks ago." His cheeks flush a light pink at the thought. So much has changed in the short time since he and Loki met. The idea that he might be worthy of respects that should rightfully be given to the Goddess will likely feel strange for a few more years until he's fully settled into his new role.

"Could-- would you be willing to tell me more of your mother?" he asks shyly. "You speak warmly of her, and that love-- it should be shared, i-if it's not too much to ask of you. And I'd love to know all about any goddess who watches over her people with care and wisdom." Reading stories and legends could fill in the gaps, but to hear it from someone who knows the gods? That's far more valuable to the young envoy.

[coldsong]

"My fondness for honey and full-fat dairy products is notorious," Loki says. "I don't disagree with your preferences."

He regards Mordred thoughtfully and gives a mild, friendly shrug. "I do not fully understand your situation, I admit, but it seems to me you have given yourself to the care and service of the Sacred. That's admirable, when done with full intent, and I do honor it. Even if you had not ascended beyond your initial humanity, it would be worth honoring, though perhaps in a different way than one honors the turn of the Wheel and the Hands that guide it."

A shadow crosses his face when asked about his mother. As much as he loves her, as much as she's been a positive influence in his life--and still is, even now--the loss weighs heavily. So much so, that he doesn't bother to try to school his features and move past the visible showing of grief for Mordred's sake.

"She dwells in Fólkvangr now," he says. "And it will be a long time before I see her face again, if ever. But she was brave, and wise, and she taught me magic. She was beautiful and gentle, and she loved roses and bees and water-birds. And she left me one of the pins she wore in her hair, with the symbol of the spindle and thread. I always carry it."

[itdruid]

Mordred's cheeks flush with self-consciousness at Loki's praise, and he nods slowly. "Thank-- you. That's kind of you to say. I-- I don't know if I deserve such words and honor, but I'm grateful to hear the words all the same." Being an envoy is a very new thing for him still, and any amount of respect is a huge boost to his confidence. He'll be holding onto these words for a very long time as he finds his footing.

The envoy's face softens as Loki speaks of his mother. A loss as deep as this one is easy to see, and it's even more prevalent in the trickster god's description of the goddess. Mordred bows his head a little in deference to both the goddess Loki speaks of and the loss he's suffered, then offers the other a soft smile as he rises.

"I'm sorry you must live without her for so long. She sounds like an incredible goddess, and a loving mother. I pray you'll see her again someday, and that her love and memory keep you-- company until you're able to meet in Fólkvangr."

Beeatrice, sensing her envoy companion's emotions about the topic, perks up from her place in Mordred's hair and gently buzzes her way over to Loki. While she only fully understands Mordred's side of the conversation, she's in tune with her envoy enough to know the god could use a little comfort. So, unable to offer anything else, she bumps Loki's forehead gently a few times, buzzing all the while. She continues this for a minute or so, bumping various places to offer maximum comfort, then makes her way back over to Mordred for a rest. It's not much, but she had to do something to help!