MIDSUMMER'S MINGLE

[thewatchers]

MIDSUMMER CELEBRATIONS

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As both finals and the first Herald approach, darkness and uncertainty loom on the horizon. The celebrations held on the evening of the 21st serves as a way of cleansing fears and uncertainty - a time for reconciliation, peace, and reflection, purifying the old to make way for the new.

The midsummer celebrations take place in Soleil’s town square and the surrounding woods. Students can join the large bonfires set up by the staff, or have more private bonfires of their own if they so choose. Specially treated fuel and firestarters have been employed for the evening, to prevent accidental (or deliberate) arson; the bonfires that come from this equipment and fuel will never catch alight anything not deliberately thrown into the flames.


A. TOWN SQUARE
While the town square is usually bustling with all manner of people, today it has been cleared in order to build a number of large bonfires. Robed attendants stand quietly by each one with selections of herbs and flowers, as well as paper and wooden charms that can be folded or marked; these can be thrown into the flames in order to burn away symbolic representations of bad luck.

Attendees can freely take these offerings and feed them to the flames, or bring their own offerings - whatever they see fit - to burn.

A small selection of food is also on offer - small cakes and simple buns in both sweet and savory flavours. These, too, can be fed to the fire if you so choose, though they were made to be eaten.

B. THE WOODS
For the solstice, the woods around Soleil have come alive with light and sound. The various unused structures that litter Soleil’s woods are seeing some cleaning, too; you may come across robed attendants, older students and various staff attending to old graves and abandoned ruins, or building bonfires of their own. Many of them hold lamps on poles and sing songs - simple, traditional hymns about the rising of the sun.

If festival attendees desire peace and quiet, or privacy to build their own fires and reflect, the woods are well-suited for that purpose. Those who choose to take fuel and go into the woods will be cautioned that as darkness falls, supernatural visitors may come out to share your fire. Though they are entirely harmless and silent, seeking only to make their own offerings and lost in their own thoughts, their sudden (and strange) appearance may be alarming.

C. REMNANTS OF FIRE

After the bonfires have burned to embers, attendees will be offered the chance to jump or run over the glowing coals, as is traditional practice, for good luck. Whether as a test of nerves or a possible chance for a little extra luck - whatever your beliefs, it probably can’t hurt.

Unless you spend too long dancing around on the coals, of course, but that’s up to you.

Comments

[buddinghopes]

A
[Lia is, understandably, fairly quiet as she lingers near a fire. She hasn't tossed them in yet, but she does have offerings to toss into the fire--paper charms of a koi and an owl. She simply watches the flames, either turning the charms over in her hands or eating one of the small cakes or buns.

... It sure seems like she's got more to hope for than she thought she did, huh.

Anyone around is free to poke her, though she might startle a bit if they do.]

C
[Somehow, Lia's managed to stick around to this point, and, honestly, stupid teenager that she is, the chance to jump or run over the coals is something she's giving legitimate thought. If someone nearby is looking like they're giving it thought, Lia will turn to them with a small smile.]

Want to give it a shot together?

A

[alreadyhuman]

[ Oh, it's the nice student who helped him get a book once! Technically not a stranger, so he feels a little less apprehensive about wandering over. ]

Um. Hello...?

[ Is she busy? He'll go away if she is. ]

[buddinghopes]

Oh!

[Vivi's voice jars her out of her thoughts and she smiles faintly.]

Hey there. Enjoying the celebration?

c;

[transfusionem]

[Adelaide looks between the coals and Lia, before grinning.]

Sure!

[She laughs, pushing her hair out of her face.]

Want to make it a race?

[buddinghopes]

[She grins and nods.]

Sounds good to me!

A

[playitagain]

[Someone new...!

Nana lights up a little on seeing Lia lingering over by a fire. She can't say why she likes seeing someone new, but it's...nice. Nana walks up a little behind her, then she crouches down next to her, and glances sideways.

She smiles and waves a hand at her, when she does.] The fire is really pretty, isn't it?

A

[foolishjustice]

[He walks up next to her, holding his own snake and koi fish.]

Thinking we have much bigger worries than we originally thought?

[transfusionem]

a;
[Adelaide doesn’t bring her own offerings - doesn’t really consider if that would be better or worse than taking some of the charms on display. Maybe it would work better if she’s putting more effort into it, but any amount of burning would be good, right?

Right.

She hesitates on the edge of the fire, before tossing in a charm shaped like a cat. Once it’s done, she turns to the person next to her and lets out a little laugh.]

Well… Fingers crossed that works!

[She could use a turn in luck.]

b;
[The woods, Adelaide has decided by now, are a great place to be. She wanders from the town square to the woods, where she eventually stops by a bonfire.

She crosses her hands behind her back, watching the flames as the supernatural toss in their own offerings. She doesn’t seem bothered by their presence, though she looks their way whenever one passes her.

When she sees someone she recognizes from Daybreak, she meets their eyes and gives them a small, crooked smile.]

c;
[This is clearly the best idea possible. Adelaide claps her hands together as she looks over at the burning coals, before turning to the person next to her with a grin and a twinkle in her eyes.]

This seems pretty coal, don’t you think? A sooting end to all of this!

[She laughs to herself, before sizing up the coals. She can probably jump this no problem…]

B

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya offers a quick smile back, Odd-Eyes shortly behind him as he points at a seat next to Adelaide.]

Hi... is this taken?

C

[infestedcouncilpresident]

[It felt to Kohaku like the best way to stop her roommate was to take matters into her own hand. Before Adelaide could come up with another pun, Kohaku sprang forwards and leaped MOST of the way across the pile of gently glowing coals. She hopped and skipped the last few feet while cursing and kicking up clouds of sparks and soot.]

Fuck! Shit! This was! A bad! Idea!

A

[playitagain]

[A little part of Nana wants to dive in and save the cute cat charm, because it's cute. She silences that part. Nana jumping into flames to save things is some kind of metatextual commentary on her character.

She watches for a second, then walks up to Adelaide, and waves as she gets closer.]

Did you wish for something nice, Adelaide?

[unpocoloco]

[Héctor's not about to jump over the coals-- no, no thank you, he's good-- but punning? Now that makes his eyes light up. Dad-mode activating...]

Certainly a night we'll all re-ember.

[onebetter]

A
[ James is sitting by a bonfire further in the corner, scribbling passionately into a notebook. From time to time, he throws a bit of paper into the fire.

Though this evening is meant to be for relaxation and recreation, he simply can't sit still right now. Their first big fight is coming and he needs to be prepared. Preparation means finishing the Rune Armor he's started building. All the papers he's drawing on feature a mechanical suit in all its detail. The base shape always remains the same, but the details change from draft to draft, while discarded ideas wander into the bonfire. ]

C
[ James isn't really superstitious, but there is always some plausibility to myths in the world they live in. Hm. ]

Do you think floating over it counts for anything?

[ Just asking this into the group. ]

a.

[marmoron]

[It's towards the end of festivities that James will find a four legged glowing friend trot up to his side, tail wagging in greeting. A short distance away is Keith, standing with his hands in his pockets and looking vaguely annoyed that the doggo has made this detour. He watches for a moment though, then tears his eyes away from James and Cosmo entirely.]

C

[hippocarnival]

It can't hurt it, right? [It might be useless, but at least it's a kind of useless that doesn't detract from anything. Yuya's spent the night pensive and untalkative at any of the fires, but as he stands up to face the embers it's the first time he smiles.]

You want to go first?

A

[ohgoodgrief]

[Yang walks back after dropping his offering in: not one of the many charms for sale, but a computer print out he brought with him; it looks like a double columned list of some kind. Looked, at least. It's all embers and ash now.

He glances at James, then down at the drawing.]

Working on something, James? Rune Armor, if I had to guess.

[stavros]

[a]

[Kokoro doesn't look particularly comfortable, and she's eyeing the bonfires and supplies like she doesn't have the right to join in, but she will take some of the snacks. And maybe wave people over with a smile if she sees them.]

It's almost like I remember.

[c]

[Kokoro takes a deep breath, looks steady, takes a running start toward the coals...

And, uh, trips and falls on her face before she even gets in range of the remains of the bonfire. Well, then. She groans and turns over, covered in dirt.]

No one saw that.

[betheman]

[OUT IN THE TOWN]

[The idea of creating and burning charms isn't exactly unfamiliar to Gongenzaka. It's not exactly a daruma, but with the battle with the Herald approaching on top of his own recent changes in life, he can't help but catch the little things that are similar with regard to supersitition.

So he's writing something upon a paper charm. He'll be wrapping it around the wood later, but for now he looks fairly serious as he writes. And writes. And...

Actually on a second look, he isn't exactly writing a lot, just spending an inordinate amount of time on each stroke of character.

wow]

[IF YOU GO INTO THE WOODS THIS EVE,]

[...Well, you probably wouldn't be in for That grand a surprise. Gongenzaka after all, is a somewhat common sight now even at night- the sight of a bear in school uniform is...well. Expected. And he is of course in school uniform- he doesn't really have casual clothing as a bear, and frankly wearing his pj pants would be ill advised. Said bear can be seen hauling wood over for everyone's bonfires, or alternatively just taking a seat to enjoy some hot tea. It's hard work, helping about with fire making!

He's not really sitting in the best lit area though, so don't be alarmed by the odd silhouette that might meet your vision.]

[HOT HOT!]

HMNN!

[Who expected this? ...Probably anyone who's seen Gongenzaka train, really. The hot coals have been laid out mostly for jumping over. But at his own request, Gongenzaka is taking the second option.] Right..! I, the man Gongenzaka...am starting, now!

[Namely running over the hot coals. In his bare (bear) paws, of course.

On the one hand, he's fast.

On the other, that might be why the 'track' is so long.

To his credit, he doesn't give a single shout! Though once he makes it to the end he falls rather uselessly onto his back, panting heavily at the cost.] Hahh...hahh...hah...

[....are those paws...smoking a bit?]

[Hot hot]

[unpocoloco]

[He hadn't been paying attention, honestly. Just doing his own thing, noting the kids having fun but making his way through. Then, suddenly, Gongenzaka the bear is running over coals. He stares, speechless in surprise, until the boy makes it to the end. He walks over slow, eyeing those held up paws.]

Uh... Gon? Do you... need to go to the infirmary...?

out in the town

[alreadyhuman]

Wow!

You have really good handwriting! [ Well, even if the amount of time he's spending on each stroke might be a lot, Vivi is definitely impressed. ] How long did it take you to learn how to write those?

[soft_focus]

[TOWN CELEBRATION]

[As is typical with any sort of gathering based event, Reira has tangently learned the 'rules' of everything and thus gone off to act as she sees fit instead of asking for any clarification. What she's observed is clearly the answer, short of someone actually getting upset about it.

And with so few people actually getting upset with her about these sorts of things, she's grown Very Brazen.

Reira can be seen carrying some cakes. She can also be seen carrying some buns. She can also be seen carrying at least one wooden and one paper charm, marching off in a particular direction that might just point to what she's about to do and someone should probably step in before she throws an entire meal into the fire.

She thought it made sense alright.]

[DARK WOODS...]

[Wherever someone goes into the woods, it's going to be eerie until they're right next to a fire. But then again, it might just be eerie while they're next to a fire as well. There's...rustling. Like something's approaching. Starting, and then stopping. Marred by crunching twigs, the sounds of crickets ceasing as the movments grow nearer...nearer....

Near-]

...H'llo.

[...Ah, it's Reira.]

[FIRE SIDE SNOOZING]

[Where exactly Reira's spent much of the evening is something known only to her- and maybe one or two others. Mostly though, it's just her. But when she does actually show up properly, she looks rather unkempt indeed- there's actually ash on her face somehow, which is strange to be sure.]

HhhhaaAAAaauauuuuhhu....

[...It might also be past her bedtime. She's only nine after all.]

spooky woods....

[alreadyhuman]

Oh! Um, hello.

[ He's not particularly bothered by her sudden appearance. He's definitely seen stranger and more dangerous, so as far as he's concerned, she's okay. ]

Are you gonna burn something too?

[ He gestures to the small fire. ]

[heromedal]

A

Rex's compulsive eating habits strike again- the second food is in arm's reach, he's shoving it into his mouth like someone is going to snatch it from his hands and while he's busy chewing he's putting a few items in the pockets of his huge coat. He doesn't seem much interested in the festivities aside from the food.

But...

It's Indrik Time.

Rex's unusual animal companion is having a whale of a time at the festivities. The golden scaled, pony-sized cow faced creature is prancing from fire to fire and doing the same as his master- sampling the goods ravenously. In Indrik's case, this is swallowing coals even as they blaze, matching his fiery mane. Joyfully crunching them, rainbow sparks shooting from his nose as he bleats happily, Rex keeps an eye on him but he hasn't headbutted anyone yet so it's going well!

B

As someone steeped int he magical world like few are from birth, Rex does observe a few practises. But doing it quietly and out of the way is always better. He's further out than most students would go, mostly hoping to avoid people questioning the stack of black cards he's slowly tossing into the flames. Indrik is taking a breather, snoozing away by his feet while Rex uses one hand to flick the paper into the flames and the other to scratch between Indrik's cat-like ears. Each card lets out a thick, black cloud that disperses with what might be a wail of despair and if you tip your head just right, maybe those clouds look like faces that fade to skulls.

C

"Indrik, no!" The sound of galloping hooves follows the shout, as the lizard tailed chubby creature sprints towards the embers and power slides into them mouth first, scooping as much into his mouth as he can. His fangs snap shut and firework sparks burst free, as Indrik starts to roll around in the coals. Once he's in there, Rex doesn't see much point in pulling him out so just... stares. No doubt like many others.

c

[stavros]

"Is that... safe?" Kokoro watches warily, hand at a bag of what looks like water bottles just in case.

[heartofasamurai]

[The Solstice is a time when Seiji's clan does observe some traditions, but of the culture and of the magical. The day is longer, the light is stronger. But with that comes the voice being louder, more clear than he would have expected. He needed a distraction this day and thus chose to attend the festivities, but getting too close meant feeling the emotions of those around him too acutely. Using a spell to cut off his empathy as best he can is perhaps a step too far, but it is a step he chooses to make for the sake of the evening. He stays at the edges, looking to those who also seek solidarity and solitude at the same time.

The cards are hard to ignore for someone like Seiji, but muting his senses does make it seem less noticeable. It is discourteous to judge another's traditions, even if you may not understand them yourself. Rex is his roommate, but they often miss each other, maintain a cordial distance and politeness. He does not dislike him, but Seiji could not say he knows him well as of yet either.

Instead, he tries to approach the subject from an open place of interest.]

Do your people enjoy Midsummer as they do here, in France?