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Voice + text / un; Chasseur / Announcements and poppies ~!

[For anyone tuning into the network and are interested the screen flashes to show a picture and Belgium's voice.]

Hello to all of you brewers and alcohol enthusiasts out there~! I'm here to announce a festival for all of us enthusiasts and the general public to get together to enjoy some delightful spirits on Christmas! Or a form of Christmas I suppose, whether or not you know what that is, doesn't matter though. The purpose of the festival is to help promote local breweries from around Camelot. While other business and local restaurants are, of course, free and welcomed to pitch in. The main point is that of alcohol and building up networks, discovering new tastes and generally having fun during the mid-winter month.

We already have a permit for space downtown (She'll insert a link to a location for it) and will have plenty of space for everyone. Though if you wish for your business to participate I would still recommend that you sign up for it early on to reserve some of the better spots~! There will be a small fee to help cover the costs of reservations and anyone who signs up to help as part of the staff. Though, based on projected sales, that really should be negligible.

Hm, what else...? Oh! If you have any suggestions, or wish to help out then let me or one of the other attendants know and we can get you set up! We'll probably need security, a wait staff, and people to help with set up and break down. Of course you shall be compensated for your time and effort as well~!

II - Text / un; Chasseur

As an aside, I was sick with the... flu earlier and ended up sneezing up a bunch of poppies. I was going to plant a few in my café and give the rest away. For anyone who wants to help just let me know. You'll be treated to some snacks and cocoa as well as be given however many flowers you'd like.

Just... the only thing I ask is that after you're done planting, take a few seconds of silence. It's important. Please.

[ooc: As a note, while she says sign up, everyone interested doesn't need to officially sign up for anything if they want their character and their business to participate in the future~! *edits are due to me not making up my mind also found a picture of Santa holding a glass of Trappist beer and couldn't resist.]

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I don't doubt you could use a hand baking some proper bread to go with this festival, eh?

[ Bright and cheery as usual, sunshine despite the overcast, snowy weather. ]

[Gasp! Gareth, you ray of sunshine you! Despite the stress and excitement of the month Belgium is perking up immediately. Enough to match that bright cheery attitude!]

Of course! I'd be more than happy for your help, Gareth. Bread, sweets, and cookies to help go with everyone's drinks. Oh, I can also teach you how to make speculoos and stroopwafels~!

[She might be squeeing just a little and looking quite giddy!]

I'd love to learn! I also wanted to try a Ginger Beer scone recipe, that'd taste pretty good for the season!

That does sound fabulous! My goodness, I'm getting way too excited just thinking about it! We could also try making some dutch oven walnut bread, with raisins! If you ever need help with anything then my kitchen is always open to you; both of them~!

Ooohhh, I just so totally love this month~!

[There were a few giggles now. Quite obviously she's thrilled at the prospect of being able to both have Gareth help her, and be able to celebrate her favorite time of the year with her.]

The cold reminds me of Orkney, though it didn't snow quite as much until late winter. I've always had a fondness for the winter months.

That and there's quite a bit of charity work to be done, important for a knight!

Oh yes, Mr. England and his brother's homes are quite wet aren't they? Hm, though Orkney was further north, with Mr. Scotland, isn't it?

But yes! It's all part of the spirit of the season. Giving gifts, aiding with charity work. I imagine that you've put yourself up to your ears in charity work though. So please try not to overwork yourself too much~! The season is still meant to be enjoyed, after all.

Oh... [ a sigh. ] Don't worry. I think I've gotten the "don't overwork yourself" speech at least three times already.

[ It's almost as if all of her friends and loved ones know she has an extremely bad habit of doing so. ]

[Gareth, overworking herself? Perish the thought! Belgium does give her a playful pout though.]

Good, then I better not hear about taking on too many things, ma bon chevalier~! Or anything sketchy! Even a knight needs to rest and enjoy themselves! [And then a small smile.]

So...! Let's do our best to put as many things aside as we can... and have some fun. Okay?

Edited 2021-11-21 05:16 (UTC)

[ With Gawain's absence, tbh, she doesn't blame people being a little more firm in assuring she doesn't wear herself thin. ]

The last thing I'd wish is to be someone my lady should worry over, of course.

[ Knowing she tended to do so anyways, well... She was going to try to be better, at least. ]

Let's make this a merry holiday!

[Gareth you're going to relax, and you're going to like it bae! She can bet that Belgium will start getting all up in her grill if she sniffs out a whiff of overwork!]

Then there you have it, no overworking yourself! If you need help doing just that. Then your lady here is an expert on relaxing~!

[In other words...! Don't be afraid to lean on others even if your in game toolkit makes you a bodyguard-tank.... :T]

Yes~! Let's make this a fun close off for the year, Gareth!

[As agreed when they last spoke, Walter shows up at Trappist Café the following afternoon. He's wearing the same dark wool coat and pale gloves as he did in the video feed, though out in public, he also wears a scarf and mask, the latter mostly concealed by the way in which the former is wrapped about his neck; he did promise to be masked on venturing out in public while this illness is about, but he really doesn't care to be tracked down by that desperate nurse.

Measurements jotted down in a little notebook tucked in one of his pockets and a wreath of red poppies on his arm, the raven-haired boy dusts the snow from his pant legs, then cautiously steps inside the café doors.]

[Both Belgium and the few employees she had, were wearing masks themselves. They'd already enforced the whole thing on their patrons as well. Really this all... felt a bit too familiar.]

Oh! You made it!

[She smiles at him from her place behind the counter The smell of freshly made goods, both pastry and otherwise wafted through the air. Sweet, savory, and mixed with the smell of alcohol, teas and coffee. The shop itself was filled with familiar Christmas decorations and was quite warm and welcoming. Near the front windows sat the planter boxes for said poppies. A few were already planted inside but there was still more.]

[It is a strange relief to see others wearing masks. Having been born a full decade after the 1918 influenza pandemic that came to be known as the Spanish Flu, he is both aware of the potential deadliness of such a disease... and entirely unaccustomed to the sight of people wearing masks in response to a spreading illness. He'd actually picked up doing so in response to seeing the would-be nurse wearing one. It had made enough sense to him then; the magic masks had been enough to protect them from the spores in the Forest of the Fisher King, so perhaps they could offer some manner of functional barrier to germs here.

At least, such was his thinking.

That said, he is a little disoriented to see so many others doing so. But he perks up fairly quickly on hearing the lady's voice.]

Yes. Good afternoon, Mademoiselle Chasseur.

[Come to think of it, he never did get her proper name, or introduce himself, did he...]

You can just call me Belgium!

[She probably should have just used her other name here. It slipped her mind a bit, given that she's mainly been around people that recognize her at a glance by this point.

She'll go ahead and wander up to him. Smiling from beneath her mask.]

Oh, wow you like some hot chocolate? You must be freezing!

Hot chocolate would be nice, thank you.

[He wonders quietly at her name. Could she be named after the country?]

Are you from Belgium?

You got it~!

[There was a hum of a cheery tune as she went to work fetching him a mug of fresh, hot cocoa! Along with a warm cookie.]

Oh, yes... but well, I am Belgium.

[She is Belgium.]

[She.... is Belgium? Belgium, the country?]

I don't think I understand. Could you explain it to me?

Oh, sorry I'm to used to people just... nit questioning it.

You can sort of think of me as like... a spirit?

[Best not think too hard about it.]

[Walter, despite having lived a harsh life for his limited years, has not lost his curiosity. He deals with the supernatural on a frequent basis, but this? This is new.]

...The spirit of the nation, given form?

Mm, the spirit of the Belgian nation taken form. [Hence why the day is rather important for her.]

So long as there are those who consider themselves to be Belgian, or the idea of Belgium or a Belgian people exists, I'll be around.

[At least he wasn't looking at her like she grew a second or third head? To be completely and utterly honest though? The lack of any of her people here made her feel sick. Like, really sick.

She's been doing a good job of hiding it though! The nation walks back with a steaming hot cup of hot chocolate for him. Made from... well, Belgian chocolate. So it's super good. Seeing a theme here?]

...Remarkable.

[Walter is staring. But not quite in the way one would when they think someone is touched in the head.

It feels surreal to him. They had but recently liberated Brussels when he ended up in Avalon's lake. To meet such a figure here...]

Oh, is it? I would have thought that being spirited away to a place called Avalon would have dampened it.

[That's how most seemed to react! She shifts herself from foot to foot at the staring. But yes, she very much, and very gleefully, remembers kicking Germany out of her house for the second time.

Among other things. She was from current times however. So a lot of that was well in the past. Heading the EU, dealing with NATO and the UN were her top priorities now. Again among other things.

Despite recent drama this was very much a vacation for her.]

Not in the least, though I do not doubt that it makes it easier to believe things one ordinarily considers outlandish. I am used to dealing with the supernatural back home, but my experience was solely in supernatural threats. Meeting someone such as yourself is... well, this is the first time for me. And that you should be Belgium, of all nations...

We only just recently returned your government to Brussels, in my time.

[Noticing her shifting movement, he lowers his gaze to the cup, extending his hands out to accept it.]

[She goes ahead and hands him his cup. It's nice and warm and smells very good! Hm, but the liberation of Brussels. There were a few points in time she could recall where her house was liberated.

Though considering his evident knowledge of the poppies she figured he came from sometime after The Great War. Given he also said returned the government, probably the Second.]

Hm, September of 1944 then. It was quite nice having my home returned to me. Like, really nice! Even in the sorry state it was left in. It felt like forever, then there was Normandy and the push in the Scheldt....

[Among other things.]

Well! Things all turned out well in the end!

[She is exactly right. September of 1944 is the very month he was taken from. Suspicious movement in the Ardennes made his mission especially urgent, and now he has an extra someone to think of when he returns to it.]

So I've heard.

[Claire had told him the Allies won. But as much as a relief it is to hear it yet again, he still needs to make sure that happens when he goes back.]

My congratulations to you, Mademoiselle Belgium. Once we are done with the poppies, we can drink to your freedom.

Ah, but I shall keep to the hot chocolate.

[He's not much one for alcohol. Especially in public.]

That's fine, I've also got tea and coffee if you'd like after finishing that up.

[A cafe is still a cafe! Which means...! He can pretty much loiter around and do whatever he'd like afterwards.]

Oh! But if we're going to drink to my return home I can't say I readied a speech or anything! [There was a small, playful giggle. She wasn't even dressed in her khaki uniform right now! Just a dress with a flour-covered apron. Not exactly the rousing stuff of a triumphant return!]

But yes... I'd like that!

[Tea. It's practically a magic word, the boy noticeably perking up as it is spoken.]

Then drink we shall.

[That said, he steps over to the counter to set the cocoa down, removing the poppy wreath from his arm once he has done so.]

I ordered this from a local flower shop. If we are still around this time next year... well, whatever passes for a year here, with time frozen... the owner was happy to oblige my request for a custom order.

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Voice + text / un; Chasseur / Announcements and poppies ~!

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At the Café

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