seelie; video; why this

[depicted]

[Oh, look, it's Dorian Gray! Everyone remembers Dorian Gray, right? Sweet kid, a little naive, recently got scolded at the royal audience? Well, today you wouldn't believe it, not from how very self-possessed he looks, how pleased, how utterly brazen.

One might think that someone who just got publicly called out and punished might feel more need to keep their head down and be discrete, but apparently not. Every actor needs an audience, and this actor, at least, seems to be particularly committed to enjoy the show he's putting on. Feline in recline, he speaks as one who savours language, gesturing in smooth, languid movements. He is the 1890s Aesthete come to life, in all its hedonistic glory, and he is here to share.]

How dreary we all are getting. It's the fin de siècle all over again, but with far less Oscar. Or Yeats, for that matter. [Suitably, mockingly dramatic:] "And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, / Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?"

[And here's a scoff.] I'm not feeling it. We are meant to be the court of tradition, of love, of welcoming the apocalypse. And yet I haven't seen even one orgy in my time at Caer Glaem. Frankly, I'm unimpressed.

[The headshake turns back into that canary-eating smile, and he purrs out his proposal for fixing this shameful problem.]

So tonight, at the sun's setting, I'll be holding a, ah, ritual in the Magi's Workroom. Wine from Mandragora Estates—top of the line, for those tragically ignorant of the most up-and-coming vinery in the Drabwurld—and various other substances. Children not invited.

It's a protection ritual, for the record. It would be so very unsuitable to be decadently useless in our embrace of the End. Try to bring yourself as magically charged as you can.

[ooc: THERE WILL BE NO LOG FOR THIS I am not going to put up an actual orgy log dear god. But this a thing Dorian will really be doing, any character can come as long as they're over the age of consent. Wine, drugs, and sex, all night. Technically, it really is an actual magical ritual.]

Comments

video.

[metalica]

[ And - well. Erik is a little at a loss, really, but a quick transformation and a lift of his locket and he is all smiles and red cheeks, innocence and purity a front to what is really going on behind the mask. ]

Do you intend to start a tradition, Master Gray?

[depicted]

[Well, if it isn't the prettiest rose-sending mystery. In response to that visage of purity, Dorian's own face, carved for innocence, speaks of experiences best not had. And he would love to make Adler yet another.]

I would rather think of it as one woken up. I've never watched the world end without seeing a few dozen orgies kick off.

not here. kind of.

[cerebral]

[POINTS TO EYES, POINTS TO ADLER.

okay no but he may catch a quick glimpse of angry blue eyes before someone takes him to task elsewhere.]

voice;

[detoxifying]

[ Oh sweet Maker. ]

Are you... ah-- actually suggesting...

[ Cullen doesn't think of himself as a prude, however... ]

voice;

[depicted]

[cullen you precious delicate dandelion]

Oh, no, certainly not!

[A smile.]

This is far past the point of being a suggestion.

video;

[knightscode]

[ Word origin and history for 'orgy';

Noun, 1560s, 'orgies' (plural) "secret rites in the worship of certain Greek and Roman gods," especially Dionysus. Middle French: 'orgies' (c.1500, from Latin orgia), and directly from Greek orgia (plural) "secret rites," especially those of Bacchus. The singular, orgy, was first used in English 1660s for the extended sense of "any licentious revelry."

All these dates are well after Lancelot's time. Lancelot is, alas, from the dark ages -- well before the 15th century, and thus utterly clueless as to what he is stepping into.

Somebody pray for him. ]

Forgive me for my ignorance, sir, an orgy is a ritual of sorts? Is it something from your world?

video;

[depicted]

[Oh, it's Lancelot! Dorian does not object to the idea of educating the Seelie Marshal. It feels kinda like a sworn duty or something.]

It's something from most worlds, I would guess. Have you ever had sex, Lord Marshal?

[foraneye]

[Well. This is not anything she expected from her onetime magic tutor.]

Are you serious? [She has a feeling he is, which—well.] I don't see what sort of protection that would offer.

[depicted]

[He gestures with a hand, his fingers half-opened.]

I should have tried to be a better tutor. Everything is energy, Élise. Magic is just a way of moving that energy about. An orgy is a particularly efficient way to capture both the energy of the act and the matter expelled in the process, which is of course charged full of life.

[Video]

[oathshackledbird]

Dorian?

[Diarmuid's voice and expression are both confused. The man making this post hardly resembles the one who he talked to just a few months ago at the art gallery opening. He knows that this place can change people, but this is very drastic...]

Is everything all right?

[Somehow he doubts he is going to get a straight answer, but Diarmuid can't help but ask anyway. It is what bothers him the most about this post...

Yes, that, not the idea of an orgy as a magical rite. He may only know the specific word thanks to the Grail, but sex and its connection to magic is something he is intimately familiar with.]

I suppose you could say I am a pretty magically charged person at all times...

[Being completely made of magic and all, though, Diarmuid can't help but worry that a certain golden king would not approve of him helping others in this way...]

[Video]

[depicted]

[The look Dorian gives Diarmuid is perhaps familiar from different-coloured eyes. Not red, but blue, Dorian looks at Diarmuid as if he would devour him whole, and be sure that Diarmuid enjoys the experience. How precious.]

Oh, I can imagine that you are. It has been some time, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. [Dorian says the name to linger on it. Yes, he'll devour every part of Diarmuid, and he has decided to start by taking pleasure in the mouthing of his name.] You would be a great asset to the wards.

audio;

[aslandish]

[ A soft hum. For whatever reason, Aslan sounds a bit amused. ]

A traditionalist, are you?

[ Is he joking? Hard to tell... ]

audio;

[depicted]

[Dorian knows that voice, and for the first time in all of this, he hesitates. Aslan has that effect.

It's rude.]

I would say that some things worth enjoying are more than their history.

video;

[notyetlegend]

[There's a bit of a look and a raised eyebrow before she speaks.]

You're really suggestin' an orgy at a time like this?

video;

[depicted]

[like it ain't no think]

I would suggest my point was that a time like this needs an orgy.

[psalmed]

Such a thing is tradition here?

[Well color her momentarily appalled.]

That is...that is an actual ritual?

[Focus!]

[depicted]

[Poor, poor Lia. It is time for her to learn about the joys of sexual energy. Literally.]

Oh, yes. There are plenty of rituals of this nature, reportedly potent ones as well. It's a remarkable thing, the amount of energy that a body in motion can generate.

video;

[parallels]

[There's a tired, exhausted snort from Clara. But hey at least it got her to smile. Which she hasn't felt like doing much since she woke up from her enchanted sleep.]

Perhaps you haven't been looking in the right places.

[A beat.]

I suppose there are worse rituals out there.

video;

[depicted]

[As long as she's smiling, that's what counts.]

I'd welcome any pointers on where to look. Don't tell me you've been browsing for them.

[fairyfoes]

You may have some success posting notices in the guard barracks, if the affair isn't closed to non-shardbearers.

You may also want to advise attendees to consult one of the castle healers, after the fact.

[depicted]

[If it isn't Dorian's favourite extremely zealous Seelie! He is happy to see him.]

Very good suggestions both. I'll take you up on them, and warn the castle healers ahead of time as well.

[truesight]

[ two years ago? she wouldn't be able to even remotely consider this because of her oath.

h o w e v e r

time changes things, and look maybe she's ..still a virgin and that's cool by her, she's not looking to change that, but! well. this is more interesting to her than she'll actually put into words. anyway, now that she's learned some magic and spent some time in a part of the world that's so damn free spirited, this isn't all that shocking or scandalous to her. well, a little shocking, hearing it from Dorian, yeah ]

Count me in. But only if it really is for a ritual. I'd like to see some documentation, at the very least.

[depicted]

[Dorian looks a little surprised, but not because oh no, someone is calling his bluff. Rather, he looks at Rachel, and he feels like he should not be letting this young woman get herself mixed up in such things.]

I can show you the principles of the magic if you like, but, ah, is this really your scene?

[RACHEL, YOU ARE TOO YOUNG, GO HOME]

PRIVATE. VIDEO.

[showmeyourwreath]

[Just.

This

Face.]

perma that

[depicted]

[Dorian's expression is positively innocent.]

video;

[thole]

Ah, yes. A "protection ritual", is it?

[HE IS ON TO YOU DORIAN GRAY. Also, does he want to know what sorts of deeds you have planned to take place in his workroom?]

video;

[depicted]

[In THEIR workroom! It's shared! A SHARED WORKROOM! FOR MAGIC!]

But Dorian isn't surprised. Remus would get it. He went to magic school. He knows all the tricks. So rather than being caught out, Dorian just seems more pleased.]

Oh yes, the magic is very clear. I could go over it with you, if you like.

audio;

[judicatus]

[ Well. It's probably not the strangest sort of ritual Gabranth's ever heard of, but. ]

And what manner of protection will such...magicks incite?

audio;

[depicted]

Any kind you like, technically. I'm directing the energy produced to settle as latent in the area. The energy produced, however much or little, can absorb a certain amount of damage.

video; private

[reticence]

[DORIAN GRAY PLEASE STOP TALKING TO LANCELOT ABOUT SEX

that's it that's all Faolan has to reply with just this face and the desperation and anguish it may or may not relay to its intended recipient

PLEASE]

perma those things

[depicted]

[Oh, hello there. Dorian's eyebrows raise.]

Is there something you'd like to say?

Video

[starspangled]

[Steve would tell him that he might be in the wrong castle if he's looking for that sort of thing. But that would give away that he was once in Caer Scima, that he'd been forced to visit an infamous room while he was there. Neither are things he's ready to tell anytime soon.]

You really think a party is going to help protect people?

Video

[depicted]

[It's only the wrong castle until they make it the right one.]

Do you think it won't?

video;

[aureinsof]

[INTERNAL SCREAMING. Emil has no thoughts. They're all gibberish screaming sounds and horror.]

Dorian?! [His voice definitely cracked.] Dorian what kind of ritual is that?!

video;

[depicted]

[YES THIS WILL BE FUN GONNA HAVE FUN WITH IT YEAH]

[Straightfaced] A protection ritual, as I said.

Protection is very important, Emil.

video;

[red_branch]

[Lancer knew what tantric rituals were. Hell, he'd even performed in a few rituals, himself.

The only thing was--he knew the crowd. The idea of suggesting this sort of ritual, while likely profitable--was still ridiculous.

He opened his mouth to critique that suggestion, but only ended up laughing hysterically.]

video;

[depicted]

[Someone gets the joke. So of course, there is only one response:

Not to treat it as a joke.]

Is there something you find funny about protection rituals?

{Video}

[rangerandking]

{What can he say, Dorian? There is a soft snort of amusement - or is that disbelief?}

I wish you well in your endeavors. {Though surely there is a better way to welcome the end? He isn't sure he supports the Seelie perspective. Not entirely. Giving up simply isn't in his nature.}

What are you protecting, may I ask?

[depicted]

Thanks for the well-wishes. [Shh, Aragorn, only hedonistic expressions of acceptance now. Secret alternate motives later.]

The place where the ritual is held: Caer Glaem.

video;

[cinnamoned]

[Really Dorian? Really? Dorian plz. This face.]

An 'orgy'? Really? I'm not seeing how the protection ritual comes into it. But I suppose I can't stop it if others want to participate. Just--be careful.

[Ever the mother. Even at others not her own actual children.]

video;

[depicted]

[Did she just mother them all Dorian cannot believe—]

Don't worry, Tarz has already suggested I keep the castle healers in the loop and everything. It will be as safe, sane, and consensual as possible under the circumstances.

video;

[angelolatry]

Ah, protection.....? What kind of ritual?

[Yes, this did go almost entirely over her head. Sorry Dorian. Colette is the most oblivious.]

video;

[depicted]

[THIS CHILD IS TOO YOUNG. MUST PROTECT. MUST PROTECT.]

Ever seen a ritual dance?

Video;

[bondedgryphon]

[While gryphons are known to mate for pleasure, it is typically something that is done for the sole sake of reproduction; at least from whence Zhaneel comes. The humans of Velgarth, particularly the magic users, are a wanton lot, however, and life in the military certainly gave more than a fair share of opportunities.

All this aside... Zhaneel was still rather embarrassingly pure, as among her species she was considered malformed and undesirable.

Still, there is another matter... a matter of her magic and what it could do for this ritual of Dorian's. The feed kicks on and she's in her human form, gaze flicking toward him and away again. She fidgets as if uncertain or embarrassed.]

Perhaps I could be of some aid to your ritual, were you to tell me what you would be doing? I would rather not stand idly by and watch Caer Glaem fall when I could have offered some form of help... [She could explain how she could help if he asked.]

video;

[depicted]

[While she doesn't look too young, has a certain naive air about her. For all that Dorian intends on getting away with this by claiming it's a protection ritual (which it will be!), he doesn't want to deceive anyone into joining an orgy, either. He has some morals.

So he answers carefully, not wanting to mislead here.]

It is founded on the basic idea that sex releases energy. The spell underneath the ritual is designed to catch the energy and then move it into the surrounding areas to protect it. That energy will bleed off over time, of course, but it will be able to absorb some of an attack, should one come.