[OPEN] MIDSUMMER BONFIRES

[thewatchers]

Midsummer Log
IC Comm | Network Comm | OOC Comm | Navigation

Midsummer is a time of great power and significance for many magical and mortal communities around the world. As is traditional, Daybreak has turned their substantial student body loose on campus and Soleil for the evening of June 20th, in the hopes that it will be a much-needed release from tension and the worries of both studies and the current state of the world.

A. Treats
The Midsummer had evolved from celebrations of summer’s arrival of various levels of solemnity to ruckus festivals, which means wares and charms line the quad and in the streets of Soleil. The scent of fresh berries and fruit fill the air, sticky chocolate cakes cook in outdoor ovens, and meringue strawberry tarts tempt anyone to stray from any attempts to keep to any diet.

The highlights are good luck charms, hand-made and mildly enchanted to keep the warmth of the summer rays. More disposable charms, made of paper and wood, are available to be customised and burned in the fire as an offering for blessings for the dark months ahead. Some even write confessions - for good or ill - and burn them, as a sort of purification.

B. Bonfires
What is Daybreak’s midsummer celebration without bonfires? As they did the year before, staff and students alike have been asked to help build up some truly spectacular enchanted fires to celebrate the solstice, a magical turning point for the year. These ones burn more brightly and fiercely than ever, providing a scorching challenge for those who intend to leap over the bonfires for good luck and blessings. Depending on who leaps over the flames, they change into dazzling arrays of different colours, though it’s up to the discerning eye to determine what the colours mean - if anything.

And, of course, they can simply be used to cook many of the treats on offer around the quad and Soleil. Marshmallows are a popular choice, but there’s no reason not to experiment.

C. Combat
Unlike last year’s celebrations - which were rather more peaceful - alternative ‘entertainment’ has been arranged to reflect the nature of the blessings asked for in this time of turmoil, as light pushes back against darkness. Several fire-lit stages and arenas have been set up for the purposes of providing prospective challengers a way to engage in forms of ritual combat. Debates, songs, riddle-battles and performances are as equally valid as more time-honored, traditional forms of physical combat to clash with one another and start anew. Old grievances can be settled, latent feelings expressed, and new rivalries born under the watchful warmth of the solstice’s flames; emotion is power, after all.

D. Wildcard
There are magical bonfires everywhere, food and drink to be found in abundance, and plenty of interesting things to watch. For the night, you’re free to roam where you wish, as long as the bonfires burn.

Comments

[bejustorbedead]

A. Charms and braids

[The professor's hair now hits down to his hip, and as he was browsing the stalls, some of the students and a few kids from the village flagged him down, before ushering him to sit down, and with ribbons and paper flowers, they started to comb out and then braid his hair, to his slight confusion but he does down resist. He does smile and wave at anyone he recognizes during this. Or perhaps you're one of the ones styling his hair]

C. Dare ye challenge the teacher?

[His hair was still festooned with ribbons and flowers, but he paid no heed as he enters the combat circle, drawing out a wooden sword, accepting all challengers in the sword fight, even accepting two on one challengers. Dare you challenge him in the light of the bonfire, or check up on him between matches?]

D Wildcard
[Throw anything at him]

c

[stavros]

[Kokoro doesn't generally fight with a sword, of course, but she grabs a wooden one anyway and nods deeply in greeting.]

My greetings. Some may find this ill-advised, but I see no reason not to participate.

C

[spelleton]

[ Ekkehardt would normally be checking up on Ky, but for today, he's entering the arena as a challenger rather than a medic. He's armed with a wooden sword he's chosen to shave down a bit, making it a knife instead. ]

It's been a while since we've faced each other, Mr Kiske.

[stavros]

[a]

[Kokoro stands near a booth for desserts, seemingly waffling over a few different cakes. She turns to flag down the nearest person.]

The sweets are tempting indeed. What say you, what looks better?

[b]

[Kokoro gulps. The bonfire jump is a tradition of course, but they do seem taller this year... She looks around and shakes her head.]

A Belmont steps down from no challenge. I will prevail!

[She takes a running start, and despite any worries, actually manages to clear the fire! ...before tumbling and landing on her face on the other side.]

A

[silksoul]

[ Sweets are one of Hornet's few indulgences. She practically jumps at being flagged down, but since she's talked to Kokoro enough to form a slightly positive opinion on her, she cautiously steps over. ]

...The tarts look less heavy than the cakes. I would pick one of those, myself.

B

[lifeforced]

[She's tempted to say that the landing was a ten out of ten, but Becky's not sure how well Kokoro would take to being teased, so she keeps a lid on that.

What she does do, however, is run on over to offer a hand to pull the other girl up. If Kokoro does take that hand, then any of the pain from that faceplant will fade just a bit quicker than it normally would otherwise; she doesn't have to do her thing, but Becky's doing her thing.]

If I tried to do that I'm pretty sure I'd be jumping through the fire rather than over it.

[untilitisdone]

B1.

The Slayer had passed over most of the treats. He had something simpler in mind.

He was currently seated by one of the bonfires, with some chocolate bars and graham crackers and marshmallows. One of the marshmallows was, at the moment, impaled on the end of a stick, which the Slayer held near the fire.

Anyone want smores?

B2.

After some urging, the Slayer finally agreed to jump a bonfire. He cleared it easily, leaping a dozen feet into the air without difficulty, but when he did the fire exploded behind him into a giant, brilliantly red column of flame, casting stark shadows on the surprised faces of everyone nearby.

The Slayer stood there for a moment, thinking about this, then shrugged and sat back down at one of the seats around the bonfire's edge, as the flames returned to a more traditional orange.

C.

The Slayer declined to participate in the combat challenges. He didn't think he could hold back well enough to avoid hurting someone. So he just stayed in the crowd, and watched. But as he did, there was a tension about him, like a predator watching prey. The fake violence of the ring called to him, reminding him of the real thing. He clenched his fists so hard his nails drew blood from his palms.

What was he DOING here, pretending to be a person? He was a weapon, to be pointed at all the evils that Hell could conjure and unleashed. King Novik had said "Until it is done."

It wasn't done yet.

Maybe he should just take his gear and as much ammo as they would give him, and go back to that dark pit in the Outlands. It was where he belonged.

Sira | OTA

[emergensirations]

Treats

They pass through the streets, weaving between the legs of passer-bys, looking up longingly at the wares. Fruits, sweets, everything under the sun, all bright and colorful and pretty. They can imagine how they'd taste.

But of course, they can't have them. They haven't gotten to see festivals like this too much. Their human hosts had often considered it risky and, they supposed, their hosts were right. But they think about all they would show and give their hosts, if they could. Maybe...


Sometime later, certain people might find sweets left at their desks or dorm rooms. The Boss, even though that felt weird. Ekkehardt too, for his help. Adriel, of course, they left a whole basket of things. They thought of kit, but kit would be in the same position. And then, because they couldn't think of anyone else who might like them even a little, they decided to just leave some sweets in the open, seeing who might accept the mystery gift. They had no hosts but... this was something, right?

Confessions

They take something else from the market. It's a charm, a blank bit of wood with room for writing on. They sit by the fire with a pen, thinking and thinking and thinking. But they don't know what to write.

Should they wish for a new host? For freedom? Should they wish for luck with Adriel and the angry spirit that lived within them? Should they curse those who made them angry? ... Or should they wish for surviving Nightfall at all...?

They make a plaintive noise and kick their feet.

[unlogic]

A:
[With the variety of accessories that Desidera has accumulated over the past several months (and is currently wearing), thinking her already all charm'd out would be understandable. However, only one of the things she has on her is an actual charm, with the explicit purpose of summoning Valvatorez should she ever use it.

Regardless of whether the things on display are charms or not, she's considering adding to her collection, but one thing keeping her from fully committing to the idea is that anything obtained here wouldn't be associated with any one person in particular; everything she has so far, she views as a symbol of one friendship or another, and she thinks she would prefer to keep things that way, to the point that just getting something for herself would feel a bit weird.

So, while she looks back and forth between things, she isn't making any moves to actually acquire anything just yet. Maybe she should look at getting something with the intent to gift it to someone else...?

Or someone could surprise her with something instead, if they wanted.]

B:
[Initially, Desi is content with simply watching the flames, but after having things explained to her, she considers making the leap; though she doesn't consider herself in need of it, a bit of extra luck is something that she thinks would benefit her roommates—her boyfriend and the AI that they've been providing a home for.

After taking some time to think about it, she decides to go for it. She stands up, still watching the same bonfire that's held her attention, then walks back several feet before running at it and making her jump. She doesn't completely clear it, the topmost bits of flame licking at her as she goes over, but when she lands—rolling with the momentum so she doesn't put herself off-balance by trying to stop too quickly—she looks unharmed.

The fire itself changes in color to an otherwise-impossible black while still somehow giving off a reddish-orange light, but after a few moments, it returns to normal. She regards it with more curiosity than anything else.]

Ah...is it supposed to do that?

D:
[insert wildcard here]

A

[alreadyhuman]

[ As it turns out, someone is here to surprise her. He'd missed Desidera's birthday, and he's been working on something for months to make up for it.

So here he is, with a package half-buried in his coat in an attempt for it to be a Surprise. ]

Desi! What're you doing?

[hattersgonnahat]

A - Charms
[Of course Puella was going to be all over the charms, they were very pretty looking things and could be surprisingly useful, so she bought a few of them to keep.]

[But that wasn't just the reason why. When she made it back to the fire she pulled a few of them out. Taking the charms completely apart felt pretty mean, but she did want to dissect it a little to figure out how it was made. Runes and charms were basically the same sort of thing, and it was the easiest way to learn it.]

[Although, nothing was going to come close to the first charm Puella made. That one was extra special for a reason.]


C - Combat
[Puella was not at all much of a fighter, despite all of the dangerous missions she kept going to. But at the moment there was an opportunity she volunteered to fight next, to see if her magic and combat skills actually had grown since the last time. It was a mock battle anyway so what was the worse that could happen?]


D - Wildcard
[Surprise me~]

c

[stavros]

[Apparently they're not only putting people of the same age group together -- makes sense, given they all faced the same enemies. Kokoro nods seriously as Puella steps into the circle.]

Very well. Let us see how you fare.

[hawkwardness]

A & B

[One year. That's how long it's been since he was invited to Daybreak. And just as he did last year... he's taken a bit of wood into his talons, standing on one leg and nibbling at it with his sharp beak. More than sharp enough for his purposes, he chose a softer type of wood deliberately. It'll eventually become a bird-shape, and be dropped into the fire. What he wishes for, he doesn't say. He's been quieter than normal lately.]

C

[Later, he's found a unique set of 'weapons' and laid them out on the stage. Time for some genuine, bird-safe combat practice... with a nerf sword and a nerf dart gun.]

< Hey. Want to try fighting me? >

a

[stavros]

[Kokoro looks over at Tobias, puzzling over what he's doing for a while before it hits her. She claps in approval.]

Ah, good work. Your dedication to your craft is admirable.

C

[hattersgonnahat]

[Well the nerf sword seemed pointless when he could just fly away. ...Might have to go with the gun.]

How are you gonna fight?

OTA!

[hatesdragons]

A. [Though she is surrounded by mirth and chatter and tasty aromas, Emille has a particularly solemn air about her this evening. She has been mostly staying away from the crowds, but now she has wandered to a charm stand and is perusing the burnable ones that the merchants have dangling in the evening breeze. Her hand weaves between different tags in a detached but serious manner, looking for the perfect one. Or two. Or three.

Once she's purchased them, Emille can be found off to the side, writing something in Japanese on them in felt-tipped pen.]


B. [Emille has been waiting on the outskirts of the bonfires for a while, hoping to find one that isn't surrounded by others so she can do what she came to do in peace. Eventually one opens up, so the small woman walks up to the raging fire and reverently deposits the three charms one at a time. Each one burns up into a different color as soon as they hit the fire: red, yellow, blue. She closes her eyes and clasps her hands as if in prayer for a moment, then stands back to stare down the fire. After all she's been through, Emille should be afraid of fire, but it instead renews her desire to fight. She murmurs into the air,]

It has now been two years. Rest in peace, Mother, Father, Sister. I will avenge you. I swear it on my life.

[With her duty finished, Emille turns to disappear into the crowd. A very, very faint blue glow can be briefly seen behind her by those who are spiritually attuned.]


D. [Emille isn't in the most cheerful mood tonight, but she will respond if spoken to/interacted with for any wildcard scenarios.]

A

[spelleton]

Hard at work, I see. [ Like he has any room to talk, frankly. His hands are clasped behind his back. He's taking a break from combat to browse the charms, thoug he has no real interest in them himself. ] Are they for luck?

[escardos]

a. treats
[ you know who can't say no to the street food in the soleil stands? flat! you can find him in the town, blue eyes wide as he takes in all the colors and excitement surrounding him. it's probably the best mood he's been in in months, considering everything.

in fact, if he spots your character, he'll probably run up to your character, holding up a caramel apple. ]

I ended up buying two of these-- you want one?!<

b. bonfire

Man, that bonfire sure seems tall, huh?

[ the voice comes from flat, his smile mischievous. his blue eyes are set on the fire, the crackle of the flames almost like music to his ears. ]

Do you think you can jump over it?

c. combat

[ flat doesn't seem like he's that much of a fighter. and that is because he absolutely isn't. hell, as he's in the ring, he doesn't even have any real weapons on him. ]

You know, why don't we do something different? Instead of fighting, why don't we go play chess or something! Or video games? I brought my Switch.

c

[stavros]

[Kokoro was standing ready in the ring until Flat showed up, and now she's just... scratching her head.]

You signed up and you wish not to fight?

B

[subconmodo]

Depends. You plan to bet on it, kid?

B

[hattersgonnahat]

[Judges the height.] ...It doesn't look that high. Probably.

[Mario's obstacle course challenge from a year ago was worse than this. Though surprisingly fire was the one thing it didn't have.]

[spelleton]

[ Ekkehardt, surprisingly, can be found primarily in one of the arenas - not as a medic, as might be expected, but as a combatant. He's sworn off using his bandages unless specifically requested, and is armed only with short lengths of wood to represent his much-loved knives, though a wooden spear sits comfortably nearby.

He's smiling pleasantly, clearly comfortable with the whole affair. If you'd like to challenge him, now is the time. ]

[subconmodo]

[Avery claps his hands together as he approaches Ekkehardt, grinning ear to ear.]

Good news, Ekke! You've been volunteered to help me out with this whole sparring thing! What an honor, eh?

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Ah, Ekkehardt!

[Moriarty calls out, from nearby in the stands - giving the other man an approving grin.]

Out to blow off some steam, is it? Would you mind a match between us? A friendly competition, of course.

[hattersgonnahat]

[She had noticed that Ekkehardt generally knew when she was sneaking up on him. It kind of made it a little less fun, to be honest. Which is why this time it seemed much more sudden and without much warning, save for the little sparkles of purple glitter, and peers over his shoulder.]

You were going to play with someone too? [That sure was...one way to call the sparring matches.]