Winter (Fae)

[xiulan zhou]

February 8, 2027

It wasn't for lack of interest in the Lunar New Year street festival that Xiulan had waited until its penultimate day to go into Horizont Alley. She had wanted to attend, but the logistics of doing so were more complicated for her than they seemed. She lived in London; Horizont Alley really wasn't far away at all, but it wasn't the transportation that was her concern. Instead, it was the crowds of people that put her off—not to mention so many reminders of an aspect of her life that she had had to leave behind in a lot of ways. She missed being able to celebrate the occasion "properly", even if what was on offer was an amalgamation of multiple cultures' new year festivities.

The sights and smells alone were almost enough to disorient her, and she was immediately transported back to another time and place. There were other enclaves where she could find some of the same products with little trouble—and most of her clients' gifts to her were proof of that—but to have everything laid out in the magical world was different. It was bittersweet, certainly, like stepping back into her childhood—albeit with the addition of numerous languages she didn't speak and traditions that weren't her own.

Stopping at one of the food stalls when she recognized the vendor as the mother of one of her clients, Xiulan switched back into her native Mandarin to make small talk—and a purchase of some roasted chestnuts.

fae iona cloudbreaker

[fae iona cloudbreaker]

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Absorbing the mainland's culture. That was the guise under which Fae had snuck off to London again. Though she also had work at the Ministry (more mundane meetings) to conduct later in the week, a little bird had told her that there was an event she shouldn't miss out on taking place over the span of a few days in Horizont Alley. She knew absolutely nothing about the Lunar New Year in terms of culture, but her very brief understanding was that it had to do with the change of seasons and the introduction of spring. Anything nature based she could absolutely get behind.

Dressed like a mainlander, Fae had been given a baseball cap as her 'disguise' this time. It was shoved tightly onto her head by one of the druid guardians that was tailing her from a short distance. After the semi-escape she'd had last summer at the Merlin Museum, they'd learned their lesson. Keeping her tied down was not going to happen no matter how hard they tried. With Merlin's staff in tow, she was easily more formidable than they took her for. That wasn't to say she was invincible though. Fae wasn't some dewy eyed imbecile, as much as she preferred keeping her rose colored glasses on at all times. Endless optimism was needed in this day and age. That being said, she knew there were several other security guards keeping an eye on her whereabouts throughout Horizont Alley. Being treated like some super important dignitary was odd at times like this. She thought it drew even more attention, but apparently not.

After a while of wading through the crowded street, Fae finally got fed up with having to smell all the food and not actually eating any of it. She absolutely loved the exchange of mainland money for food or books, and was busy already pulling out coins she thought would be necessary as she approached one of the stalls. "Those look splendid," she said dreamily as she watched the worker hand over a bag of what looked to be chestnuts to a woman. "How much?" Fae butted in, not realizing who she had just stepped up next to.

xiulan zhou ● 364 ● Song by Artist

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[xiulan zhou]

February 8, 2027

Xiulan paid for her roasted chestnuts and took the bag carefully from the vendor. The chestnuts were still very hot, and the scent of the sugar they were roasted in wafted off of them. "Thank you, auntie," she said to the woman, still speaking in Mandarin. It wasn't that they were related by blood; they weren't, but it was out of politeness that she addressed the older woman as such.

She hadn't fully heard that someone beside her had mentioned how good the chestnuts looked until the vendor turned to them. It was when the same person asked how much it would be for a bag of the roasted nuts that it registered with Xiulan who was beside her. Wearing a ball cap but still carrying Merlin's staff with her, it was Fae.

"Fae," Xiulan smiled, surprised to see the High Druid in Horizont Alley to celebrate the Lunar New Year. She switched back into English without thinking about it. "This is Mrs. Wang," she told her, introducing her to the chestnut vendor. Switching languages again into Mandarin, she then addressed the vendor. "Auntie, this is Fae, the High Druid of Hy-Brasil."

fae iona cloudbreaker

[fae iona cloudbreaker]

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Fae felt silly for a number of reasons: she didn't actually know what the proper etiquette was for a situation like this (or most mainland transactions) was, just that she let her excitement overcome her in that moment, and also that she hadn't recognized Xiulan standing at the vendor already when she approached. It was almost a year already from when the prophecy of Yrisle's arrival had been told to her by Xiulan, something that should have been passed onto her and the Council months earlier had her druid friends within the Ministry thought to send such an important detail along instead of keeping it to themselves. While frustrating, Fae had found that she enjoyed everything that had come out of those circumstances so far, aside from the intrusive island and everything that came along with it. That included her time spent with Xiulan, both regarding the prophecy and Yrisle, and in general.

Another thing she felt silly about was not knowing Xiulan's actual name until a few months prior, having called Julia which was apparently what she used for English speakers. Regardless, Fae knew now. "Hello Mrs. Wang," Fae grinned at the woman, as Xiulan added something in a language she didn't know. There were a lot of things to learn about the mainland still, like how much these chestnuts were selling for. "Does this festival happen the same time every year?" The druid's own celebration of springtime, Imbolc, had occurred only a few days prior. The difference in festivities was immense though, and where Hy-Brasil had and would always take the more ritualistic approach, the Lunar New Year was beyond fascinating to her. She absolutely wanted to know more, and she figured either Xiulan or Mrs. Wang would be able to help her with learning about it. But first, she needed chestnuts, and handed over what was probably too much money to the older woman, accepting a bag in return.

xiulan zhou ● 322 ● Song by Artist

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[xiulan zhou]

February 8, 2027

It was easy to forget how different Hy-Brasil was from much of the rest of the world. Though Fae's not knowing about the Lunar New Year at all might have made her seem as though she had been living under a rock, Xiulan knew that that wasn't the case. "This festival follows a lunisolar calendar," Xiulan explained, maintaining a straight face as Fae overpaid Mrs. Wang for a bag of sugar-roasted chestnuts. "It's at the same time every year, but the date is different in the Gregorian calendar," she continued. "This festival is to celebrate the Lunar New Year based on the traditional Chinese calendar, but we often call it the Spring Festival. Other cultures also adopted the same calendar, and so this is more than 'Chinese' New Year."

Xiulan looked towards Mrs. Wang, who was holding out Fae's change for her but not wanting to interrupt. She then looked back to Fae, wanting to make sure she knew that she wouldn't forget the change. Still speaking English instead of Mandarin so that Fae wouldn't think that they were talking about her behind her back, Xiulan subtly directed Fae's attention to Mrs. Wang. "Don't forget your change," she urged her gently.

fae iona cloudbreaker

[fae iona cloudbreaker]

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Intriguing! Overarching cultural differences aside, people all over the world followed the same trends of celebrating the seasons and very similar holidays throughout the year. Even the druid ones, while ancient and still requiring strict ritual practice, had threads that connected them to the mainland. Centuries of isolation really didn't make them that much different. "We just finished with our own spring celebration last week! We call it Imbolc," Fae explained to Xiulan as she reached for her bag of chestnuts and immediately popped a few into her mouth. They were hot - thankfully not tongue scorching - and she had to open her mouth into an O-shape to try and cool it off as she chewed. She hadn't expected them to be sugar coated, yet that made them so much better! "These are good!" she said through a full mouth, her words muffled by the chewing. Every trip to London had a new experience these days, and a few of the younger druids more apt with lingo said that she was becoming a 'foodie' because of her trips. Apparently that was a very common description for travelers.

"I would like to know more about the Lunar New Year," Fae stated as she finally swallowed the first handful of chestnuts. Xiulan redirected her attention back towards Mrs. Wang, who was holding out a hand with the change for the food. "Oh! Thank you Mrs. Wang," she added cheerfully, taking her excess coins back. One of these days she'd figure it all out. In the mean time, she had more food to try! "Its too bad these cannot be grown on Hy-Brasil," Fae mused as she threw more of the sweetened treats into her mouth as she began to wander towards the crowded street again. "The magic is too potent for such a mundane plant."

xiulan zhou ● 304 ● Sidelines by Phoebe Bridgers

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[xiulan zhou]

February 8, 2027

On Hy-Brasil, shared Fae, they had just finished their own spring festival, Imbolc. Fae seemed more excited about the chestnuts, however, devouring quite a few of them in no time at all. Xiulan maintained her composure but found it amusing, though she soon understood why Fae was so taken by the roasted chestnuts: They didn't grow on her island.

Xiulan said goodbye to Mrs. Wang and continued walking alongside Fae as they made their way from the chestnut stall. She reached her hand into her own bag, pried open one of the chestnut shells—easier after roasting—and popped it in her mouth, though not with the voracity Fae had. "Chestnut trees don't grow on Hy-Brasil?" she asked curiously. They grew grapes for wine that they produced there, and of course there were the so-called "Druid mushrooms", but not chestnuts. "I didn't realize that," Xiulan noted, wondering how much of the food and beverage consumed on the island had to be imported if something like a chestnut tree wasn't magical enough to be found there. "They grow here, too, I think," she considered, but her knowledge of British plant life was lacking because she was rarely anywhere to check if there were chestnut trees. "I think I've heard it's used as a wand wood."

fae iona cloudbreaker

[fae iona cloudbreaker]

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If chestnut trees grew on Hy-Brasil, she would have forgone her position as High Druid and grown them alongside the griffin grove she still tended to. Cloudbreaker farms had plenty of room for trees, and she could see her parents having little to no problem assisting her in such a task. Now obviously pushing aside her duties as the leader of the druids wouldn't have actually gone over that way, at least she would have a great retirement plan? That's what she heard a lot of the mainlanders taking about in the Ministry. Such a thing technically didn't exist for her, as this was a life position. Always maintaining the peace of the island and it's people. "They do not, unfortunately. Our plant life tends to be slightly more...magical." Though Xiulan had a great point: chestnut wood was a viable wand material. Fae paused as she thought about that for a moment. "You know, I think I may inquire about that with our wandmaker. I know very little on the craft." Aside from her own wand being willow, and Merlin's staff cut from English oak, magical conduits were still a mystery to her.

Fae blew on the next handful of chestnuts before popping them into her mouth, the seconds of extra air cooling them off to a perfect temperature. If chestnut trees could fit into Hy-Brasil's ecosystem for both wand wood and food, that would become an excellent export to the mainland. And she could have whatever it was she was currently eating whenever she wanted to. Along with getting butterbeer to their port, she already believed the druids would enjoy this treat. "Are there other food stalls? I would like to try everything. It is the best way to absorb a culture," she asked Xiulan through another full mouth.

xiulan zhou ● 300 ● Beg For Life by Tomb Mold

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[xiulan zhou]

February 8, 2027

It was entertaining to hear Fae discussing chestnuts like they were a delicacy, though she mentioned that she would check with their wandmaker about chestnut wood. The chestnuts that grew around Beijing were known for being excellent, but that was different. Xiulan hadn't been back there in years, nor did she really desire to go. Maybe that was terrible of her that she didn't show more reverence towards her parents, but it was what it was. This festival was the closest she had gotten to a sense of being "home" in a very long time, but it was also unsettling.

She didn't stay inside her head for long, though, because Fae was already asking her if there were other food stalls.

"They're all along here." Xiulan gestured with her hand to indicate all of the food and beverage offerings, with signs in English and assorted other languages. She glanced around, trying not to get thrown off by the competing languages as vendors called out to the crowds. Spotting something else that Fae would probably enjoy, Xiulan adjusted her hold on her bag of chestnuts and motioned for Fae to follow her.

Long bamboo skewers of candy-coated hawthorns jutted out towards the masses, branching out like a tree alongside skewers of similarly glazed strawberries. Some of the skewered fruits were coated in sesame seeds, others bare. "Tanghulu," Xiulan explained. More sugar, but delicious nevertheless. "These are hawthorns, and these are strawberries," she clarified.

fae iona cloudbreaker

[fae iona cloudbreaker]

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She should have known that the smells floating through the alleyway weren't solely from the sugared chestnuts. While they were certainly aromatic, seeing the rest of the food stalls lined up down the street certainly made more sense now. Especially with the absolutely delightful assault her nose had been going through since she arrived. Turning to motion at the closest guardian that she and Xiulan were moving on, Fae continued to pop a chestnut into her mouth every couple of feet, greedily devouring the bag so that she could have her hand free for whatever came next. That was one of the problems with bringing the staff everywhere with her, and trying to keep a good grip on both it and a flimsy wax paper bag full of snacks was asking to drop one of them.

The next stall had what Xiulan described as tanghulu, fruits on long, pointy sticks, some of which had a sheen to them. Curious, Fae asked the vendor how much and handed over the money accordingly, picking out the skewered strawberry and hawthorn ones. Xiulan had pointed them out specifically, so she figured those would be the best. Sticking one between her teeth, she was surprised to find that the shine on the fruit was actually hardened sugar, and her surprise showed itself on her face once again. "I will probably be saying this a lot today, but this is really good!" Fae exclaimed as she finished off the strawberry and immediately switched to the hawthorn stick. "Are these common treats in China, or reserved specifically for festivals?" she inquired as she polished off a second hawthorn. Turning back to the vendor, she paid for a third stick, and handed it over to her guardian who was sort of confused at first. Convincing him that it was fine in Brasilic, he also dug in and had a similar reaction to her own. Oh the luxuries they were missing by living on Hy-Brasil!

xiulan zhou ● 327 ● Song by Artist

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[xiulan zhou]

February 8, 2027

Fae's almost childlike sense of wonder at the street food hadn't ceased, and she quickly purchased skewers of both the hawthorn and strawberry varieties of tanghulu. "I will probably be saying this a lot today," she acknowledged, "but this is really good!" She found them so good, in fact, that she bought a third skewer for someone else whom Xiulan took to be one of the Druids whose job it was to chaperone Fae nearly every time she left Hy-Brasil.

At Fae's question about whether or not these were common treats in China or only reserved for festivals, Xiulan shook her head. "Both are common street food, at least in North China," she answered. "The chestnuts are more common in winter, and red is considered a lucky color." She tilted her head slightly in the direction of the fruits, and even under her cloak, she was wearing red robes. "I'm glad you enjoy them," Xiulan added, seeing that the so-called "guardian" Druid was also savoring the fruit. It was strange to be able to share her background as she was. She didn't think that Fae or her companion would ever get the chance to go to China, nor did she have much hope of returning someday.

fae iona cloudbreaker

[fae iona cloudbreaker]

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She would die to eat snacks like these at any point she wanted to. Hy-Brasil had its own set of treats and delicacies, but when she was subjected to eating that very small variety for the entirety of her life, it did get boring. Which was exactly why her newfound love for butterbeer had taken form. And now these foods as well. Convincing the Council to accept the drink as a new import (or hopefully an export!) was absolutely going to be easier than having a daily rotation of new food stalls in Boudicca's Grace. Even though that would be awesome to see. If they got the barrier back into working order, dealt with Yrisle, and things continued to run smoothly with the new Minister, then she knew she could approach the rest of the Council members with a proposition like that. They had to generate income as an island again first, and right now all they were doing was handling Ministry employees who happened to be conducting research on the barrier. Where they were making zero progress. At least she'd managed to figure a few things out over the last year or so.

Her guardian seemed to enjoy the tanghulu as well, and Fae quickly finished off her strawberry one. The remainder of the hawthorn stick was wedged between her fingers on the hand that perpetually held onto Merlin's staff. She'd be returning to that one for the remainder of her time here, most likely. "Are there any events happening today? Or is eating the main function of the Lunar New Year?" Fae inquired as she started to head towards the next vendor stall song her path. Once again, she had no idea what it was but it looked good. At some point she was bound to hit a limit and her stomach would stop her. Until then, she was completely content with shoving it full.

xiulan zhou ● 317 ● Song by Artist

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[xiulan zhou]

February 8, 2027

"Are there any events happening today? Or is eating the main function of the Lunar New Year?"

Xiulan laughed lightly as Fae approached yet another stall. This one was Korean, as evidenced by the Hangul written before the English-language translation of what all they were selling. "…Sort of," she supposed, though getting rid of bad energy to promote prosperity for the year ahead and ancestor worship were also high up on that list. "I think there are stalls selling other goods"—not only food—"and maybe some performances?" Xiulan wasn't carrying a map or pamphlet of any kind to check.

"This stall has Korean food," Xiulan pointed out. From the English signage, it looked like rice cakes with sauce and fish cakes with cups of broth, the latter with curved fish cakes speared on yet another skewer. "It's probably very good," Xiulan noted, not that she was overly familiar with it. Something a little less sweet wouldn't hurt, though she was amazed by how Fae hadn't hesitated at all with two skewers of the tanghulu.

fae iona cloudbreaker

[fae iona cloudbreaker]

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A festival solely targeting food and eating seemed like a great one to her. She didn't consider herself a glutton, as that would be very un-High Druid of her, but she knew how to appreciate food. And speaking of food..."Do you think there is a stall for butterbeer?" Fae inquired as she finished her most recent snack acquisition swiftly. "A friend of mine introduced me to it around this time last year, and I try to get some whenever I come here." She couldn't recall if she'd mentioned that to Xiulan during their past meetings, but liked to bring it up nonetheless. Two pairs of eyes were better than one, and she was pretty sure her guardian today didn't know what butterbeer was yet. Such a shame, really.

Watching performances sounded excellent too, especially if she had food to go with it. Fae nodded her head as she stuffed whatever was in her hand into her mouth again, watching Xiulan explain that the next stall was Korean. She didn't know how that was different than anything else she had so far, but tossed a coin over for what was apparently fish cakes in a skewer. "Everything should be on a skewer," Fae mused. Biting into the fish cake, she was met with a taste of equally fishy and smokiness. While some on the island wouldn't partake in this dish, she wasn't holding herself back today. "It is," she answered Xiulan's statement on how good it was. "I enjoy seeing festivals like this and bringing back ideas for Hy-Brasil. Some of our traditions, while necessary, are unbelievably old. I think they need modernization." Despite saying that, there had been great changes over the centuries. Now that she had read into the deeper history of Hy-Brasil in her search for Merlin, she knew when changes were implemented surrounding sacrifices during religious ceremonies and the difficulties that brought on for decades. Getting to a point one day where they could celebrate their holidays like the Lunar New Year would be grand. So many people visiting and enjoying a culture made her want to do the same with her home.

xiulan zhou ● 356 ● Song by Artist

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[xiulan zhou]

February 8, 2027

Fae asked her about a stall at which she could get butterbeer, and Xiulan was sure that there had to be one somewhere. Butterbeer was popular regardless, and there had to be drink options around. With all the stalls around, though, Xiulan didn't immediately see one where butterbeer was being sold, but someone must have had it. If not at a stall, Xiulan thought, then one of the businesses around the area would have it.

It didn't take much more than a skewered Korean fish cake to distract Fae from the butterbeer, however. Xiulan was amazed that Fae had managed to eat so much already. Fae, though, was already proclaiming that everything should be on a skewer. Xiulan nodded and tried not to crack up laughing. If Fae had her way, then everything on Hy-Brasil probably would end up being served on a skewer—not that skewers were a terrible idea.

"I enjoy seeing festivals like this and bringing back ideas for Hy-Brasil," Fae elaborated. "Some of our traditions, while necessary, are unbelievably old. I think they need modernization."

"That's understandable," Xiulan nodded. Even something like the festival they were attending was a modernized, magical take on practices that had been going on for ages. "Not all traditions need to last," she agreed. Others deserved to be passed down for generations. It was how cultures evolved and why Xiulan herself didn't do things exactly as her own parents had done. "And you have the power to make those changes," Xiulan reminded Fae—with the Council's approval, of course. The Druid people were superstitious in different ways than she was, although there were certain behaviors or symbols that she had been taught were auspicious or inauspicious.

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