Héctor (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
unpocoloco) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
daybreakacademy2019-10-25 09:09 am
unpocoloco) wrote in daybreakacademy2019-10-25 09:09 am
Calacala calavera la noche invita los muertos bailan con mi canción
WHO: Héctor OTAs, MUSIC CLUB, and anyone wandering in on the Día De Muertos mingle
WHERE: Around Soliel and campus, in an expanded music classroom, and Lumiere Floor Three respectively
WHEN: Through October and into November
WHAT: A BIG LOG MASH UP WITH Héctor preparing for the day of the dead, MUSIC CLUB MINGLE, and a Día De Muertos mingle
WARNINGS: The big spoilers, nothing much else atm
A Helping Hand
The set up starts early in the month. Acquiring all the needed items to properly fill out the ofrenda while staying in France means a lot more care is required in hunting things down, ordering early, and begging the french chefs of Daybreak to make orders for copious tropical fruits not typically sold. Finding a florist who will go the extra mile to acquire the flowers they need proves even harder, never mind one who will get the sheer amount. At least, worst-case scenario, Imelda's always got some cempasuchils on hand.
At any given time in his waking evening hours, Héctor can be seen trying to haul boxes this way and that. The healing done on his bones is weakening a little, his leg starting to give him problems again. Perhaps one wants to give him a hand.
Calaveritas de Azúcar
In the days leading up to the Imelda may likewise be busy. There's a lot to cook and prepare after all. Nevertheless, Héctor tries not to leave all the work to her. It's rare to see him doing anything with food, but he seems to be working with a sticky white paste of some kind. It's evident what it's for once he's finished working all the molds into shape. Eventually, he's managed to shape several blank white sugar skulls. There are tubes of colored frosting and decorative pieces featuring ribbons and candied flowers and gems. There's an empty chair at the table where he works.
Las Flores
la Toussaint isn't something he'll be witnessing this year, technically. He's got too much tend and mind, not to mention actual school business. But with all his ties to the dead, his family lost and the ghosts he only just learned he could see this year, he heads out one night near the day, hauling as many flowers as he can-- the kind that are easier to find around France, the tiny little mums that come by the barrel. He couldn't come for the official grave sweeping, his schedule being what it is, but in a way, that's for the best. It means that he doesn't have to pretend he isn't chatting with every spectral figure he can, opting for Spanish when English gains no understanding and doing the best he can with French from there. He lays out the flowers over the graves and settles with his guitar. In honor of Old Garcie, he plays La Vie En Rose for the spirits lingering there and any other requests he knows how to play.
He does the same at both gravesites but lingers for a longer time at the one in the forest, holding the graves of the forgotten. He can be found throughout the night.
Music Club - [MINGLE BELOW]
It's been a long time coming and it's nothing if not ambitious with all he's set out to do this month, but The Music Club gets its official opening. Posters go up around the school to advertise the event. It's advertised as a club for musicians and music aficionados, a space for people to play together, offer and receive lessons, share and discuss any musical interests with one another, and simply enjoy music.
For the first meeting, an expanded music classroom has been taken over, reinforced with runes for better acoustics. Storage closets line the walls with just about every kind of instrument, plenty of spares available to be borrowed, not to mention electronic equipment for mixing and sampling. It is a wealthy school after all. There's even an enclosed side room for anyone who might like to go a little crazy on the drums, or practice matching the high notes of their favorite singers.
The main central floor is quite large, open to fit a number of instruments and the people playing them. Chairs are stacked on the side, available to be used or kept out of the way depending on the type of practice that's happening. Club participants could even turn it into a game of musical chairs if games of musical trivia are a little too serious for their tastes.
One corner has been arranged into something of a lounge area with bean bags and comfier seating, mats, rugs, and pillows around on the floor. An old fashioned record player has been hauled in to sit in the corner, a less-old-fashioned boombox with CD player near to it. There's a selection of headphones to borrow and listen more privately if one wishes. There's also a set up of the infamous video game; Rock band.
A board on one wall advertises lessons, who's teaching them and what instrument they teach, and when those lessons are available, as well as the dates and times for any upcoming personal performances. There's even space just for some interesting concerts in the area people would like to invite others to join.
A selection of snacks and drinks have been lain out for those attending. There are also name tag stickers featuring musical notes, with little notes suggesting people add their favorite song to the sticker as well.
Día de Muertos - [MINGLE BELOW]
Halloween and October pass on by, one man working on setting up into the night, and one woman busy at work in the day as the rest of Daybreak wraps up their festivities. By the late afternoon of Día De Muertos, floor three has been completely taken over.
Tables have been pushed to the wall, covered, and made into a massive ofrenda. Lain out over a delicate tablecloth, framed photos of various people sit. Gifts and trinkets are lain with the pictures, amongst spilling piles of marigolds, fruits, breads, and other foods. Sugar skulls sit with the pan de muertos, along with offerings of water and other drinks. The fruits pile on the floor. Fuschia cockscombs, purple orchids, yellow chrysanthemum, and white amaryllis settle in vases not claimed by the cempasuchils. Candles burn bright upon the table, many plain but a few with the image of the cross or the Virgin Guadalupe. Burning with them are sticks of incense and dishes of copal. Set apart is a dish of fresh earth and a plate of salt. Amongst it all are cheery statues of grinning Catrinas and Calacas in suits and a few small toys for any young spirits around the school. Although not traditional, an alebrije or two has made its way into this ofrenda, mostly in thanks to the spirit guides Imelda works with, such as Pepita who presides over the festivities. Over it all is a great arch of marigolds. Elsewhere around the room, Papel Picado hangs above, along with strings of purple and yellow paper chains.
Another table sits aside from it all, cluttered with candles and flowers and food, but to a lesser degree than that of the ofrenda. The food there is cooked fresh and made for the living; tamales, calabaza tacha, atole, champurrado, hot chocolate with cinnamon, conchas, mole, and countless items more. It's really all too much for one person alone and so guests and passerbys are encouraged to take more than their share.
(There is also a small cake, set aside specifically for Maverick. A few wrapped gifts sit on this smaller side table, decorative paper strings hung around it.)
The Karaoke machine is in its same place on the floor, though it's hardly the only music for the evening. Besides Héctor himself, quieter music in the Spanish language drifts about the common area, interspersed with lively mariachi style recordings. There's just enough space to dance if one wanted to.
Anyone with an awareness of ghosts may find a few stopping in to visit the party. Whether or not that the case for every visitor, everyone is welcomed to leave an offering or even a photo on the ofrenda if they wish-- things can be hard on the magic side of the world and sometimes loss can creep very close. Despite that, the celebration is a joyous one. Anyone close enough to the Riveras is invited into Lumiere's third floor commons for the evening and even those simply curious as to what's going on are allowed to stay if they wish.
It's very carefully hidden, and it'll only be found by those who look-- and know where to look for that matter, but there's a smaller unframed photo of Héctor himself tucked in amongst the ofrenda's flowers. Next to it is a very small bag of chapulines.
When night falls, the celebration begins.
(Later into the night, for those who stay that long, a laptop is pulled out, two identical men and one teenage girl waving out from the screen, speaking rapidfire Spanish. The room behind them has been done up with as much extravagance.)
WHERE: Around Soliel and campus, in an expanded music classroom, and Lumiere Floor Three respectively
WHEN: Through October and into November
WHAT: A BIG LOG MASH UP WITH Héctor preparing for the day of the dead, MUSIC CLUB MINGLE, and a Día De Muertos mingle
WARNINGS: The big spoilers, nothing much else atm
A Helping Hand
The set up starts early in the month. Acquiring all the needed items to properly fill out the ofrenda while staying in France means a lot more care is required in hunting things down, ordering early, and begging the french chefs of Daybreak to make orders for copious tropical fruits not typically sold. Finding a florist who will go the extra mile to acquire the flowers they need proves even harder, never mind one who will get the sheer amount. At least, worst-case scenario, Imelda's always got some cempasuchils on hand.
At any given time in his waking evening hours, Héctor can be seen trying to haul boxes this way and that. The healing done on his bones is weakening a little, his leg starting to give him problems again. Perhaps one wants to give him a hand.
Calaveritas de Azúcar
In the days leading up to the Imelda may likewise be busy. There's a lot to cook and prepare after all. Nevertheless, Héctor tries not to leave all the work to her. It's rare to see him doing anything with food, but he seems to be working with a sticky white paste of some kind. It's evident what it's for once he's finished working all the molds into shape. Eventually, he's managed to shape several blank white sugar skulls. There are tubes of colored frosting and decorative pieces featuring ribbons and candied flowers and gems. There's an empty chair at the table where he works.
Las Flores
la Toussaint isn't something he'll be witnessing this year, technically. He's got too much tend and mind, not to mention actual school business. But with all his ties to the dead, his family lost and the ghosts he only just learned he could see this year, he heads out one night near the day, hauling as many flowers as he can-- the kind that are easier to find around France, the tiny little mums that come by the barrel. He couldn't come for the official grave sweeping, his schedule being what it is, but in a way, that's for the best. It means that he doesn't have to pretend he isn't chatting with every spectral figure he can, opting for Spanish when English gains no understanding and doing the best he can with French from there. He lays out the flowers over the graves and settles with his guitar. In honor of Old Garcie, he plays La Vie En Rose for the spirits lingering there and any other requests he knows how to play.
He does the same at both gravesites but lingers for a longer time at the one in the forest, holding the graves of the forgotten. He can be found throughout the night.
Music Club - [MINGLE BELOW]
It's been a long time coming and it's nothing if not ambitious with all he's set out to do this month, but The Music Club gets its official opening. Posters go up around the school to advertise the event. It's advertised as a club for musicians and music aficionados, a space for people to play together, offer and receive lessons, share and discuss any musical interests with one another, and simply enjoy music.
For the first meeting, an expanded music classroom has been taken over, reinforced with runes for better acoustics. Storage closets line the walls with just about every kind of instrument, plenty of spares available to be borrowed, not to mention electronic equipment for mixing and sampling. It is a wealthy school after all. There's even an enclosed side room for anyone who might like to go a little crazy on the drums, or practice matching the high notes of their favorite singers.
The main central floor is quite large, open to fit a number of instruments and the people playing them. Chairs are stacked on the side, available to be used or kept out of the way depending on the type of practice that's happening. Club participants could even turn it into a game of musical chairs if games of musical trivia are a little too serious for their tastes.
One corner has been arranged into something of a lounge area with bean bags and comfier seating, mats, rugs, and pillows around on the floor. An old fashioned record player has been hauled in to sit in the corner, a less-old-fashioned boombox with CD player near to it. There's a selection of headphones to borrow and listen more privately if one wishes. There's also a set up of the infamous video game; Rock band.
A board on one wall advertises lessons, who's teaching them and what instrument they teach, and when those lessons are available, as well as the dates and times for any upcoming personal performances. There's even space just for some interesting concerts in the area people would like to invite others to join.
A selection of snacks and drinks have been lain out for those attending. There are also name tag stickers featuring musical notes, with little notes suggesting people add their favorite song to the sticker as well.
Día de Muertos - [MINGLE BELOW]
Halloween and October pass on by, one man working on setting up into the night, and one woman busy at work in the day as the rest of Daybreak wraps up their festivities. By the late afternoon of Día De Muertos, floor three has been completely taken over.
Tables have been pushed to the wall, covered, and made into a massive ofrenda. Lain out over a delicate tablecloth, framed photos of various people sit. Gifts and trinkets are lain with the pictures, amongst spilling piles of marigolds, fruits, breads, and other foods. Sugar skulls sit with the pan de muertos, along with offerings of water and other drinks. The fruits pile on the floor. Fuschia cockscombs, purple orchids, yellow chrysanthemum, and white amaryllis settle in vases not claimed by the cempasuchils. Candles burn bright upon the table, many plain but a few with the image of the cross or the Virgin Guadalupe. Burning with them are sticks of incense and dishes of copal. Set apart is a dish of fresh earth and a plate of salt. Amongst it all are cheery statues of grinning Catrinas and Calacas in suits and a few small toys for any young spirits around the school. Although not traditional, an alebrije or two has made its way into this ofrenda, mostly in thanks to the spirit guides Imelda works with, such as Pepita who presides over the festivities. Over it all is a great arch of marigolds. Elsewhere around the room, Papel Picado hangs above, along with strings of purple and yellow paper chains.
Another table sits aside from it all, cluttered with candles and flowers and food, but to a lesser degree than that of the ofrenda. The food there is cooked fresh and made for the living; tamales, calabaza tacha, atole, champurrado, hot chocolate with cinnamon, conchas, mole, and countless items more. It's really all too much for one person alone and so guests and passerbys are encouraged to take more than their share.
(There is also a small cake, set aside specifically for Maverick. A few wrapped gifts sit on this smaller side table, decorative paper strings hung around it.)
The Karaoke machine is in its same place on the floor, though it's hardly the only music for the evening. Besides Héctor himself, quieter music in the Spanish language drifts about the common area, interspersed with lively mariachi style recordings. There's just enough space to dance if one wanted to.
Anyone with an awareness of ghosts may find a few stopping in to visit the party. Whether or not that the case for every visitor, everyone is welcomed to leave an offering or even a photo on the ofrenda if they wish-- things can be hard on the magic side of the world and sometimes loss can creep very close. Despite that, the celebration is a joyous one. Anyone close enough to the Riveras is invited into Lumiere's third floor commons for the evening and even those simply curious as to what's going on are allowed to stay if they wish.
It's very carefully hidden, and it'll only be found by those who look-- and know where to look for that matter, but there's a smaller unframed photo of Héctor himself tucked in amongst the ofrenda's flowers. Next to it is a very small bag of chapulines.
When night falls, the celebration begins.
(Later into the night, for those who stay that long, a laptop is pulled out, two identical men and one teenage girl waving out from the screen, speaking rapidfire Spanish. The room behind them has been done up with as much extravagance.)
no subject
And so he jumps a little when he hears Ekkehardt speak. His face immediately blooms into a grin.
"Ekkehardt! Yes! Come here!"
Coco likewise blinks, taking in the elegant masked figure standing by her Papá. And when she registers he's speaking about her, she flushes a little, then putting on a sheepish half-grin that looks stunningly familiar.
"Papá! You didn't!"
Héctor's laugh is shameless, denying nothing. He says, "Mija, this is my doctor and my very, very good friend, señor Ekkehardt Gehring."
"Oh! ¡Hola, Señor Ekkehardt! ¡Mucho gusto! Don't listen to Papá, he tells fibs."
Héctor's hands go over his heart.
"Mija, you wound your Papá!"
no subject
He bows to the girl on the screen, feeling quite fond of his friend when she smiles and it's an expression he recognises. He's seen it too many times on her father's face not to recognise it. Her words even get a laugh out of him, as stiff as he usually is.
"Ah, but he tells such good ones," Ekkehardt says, stepping closer when Héctor indicates he's amenable to it. "I quite like them! That's how we met, did he tell you?"
no subject
"Ay, he does," She agrees with a nod, and for a moment Héctor's beaming.
Then that smile freezes on his face when Ekkehardt mentions their first meeting. He glances nervously.
"No!" She says, moving in eagerly. "He won't tell me anything! Every time he asks he just says something silly! Will you tell me, Señor?"
no subject
It's not, technically, a lie. Shrouded in half-truths, but not strictly lying.
no subject
"Well, I suppose I could finally tell you now. It's a special day after all. You see... I was having some trouble. You know I don't always feel so well." Coco nods, her smile weakening for just a moment, but they both carry on. "Mi amigo here had noticed. He tried to help me and it was very embarrassing, as he says. I kept insisting I could walk along just fine, but I couldn't. I was flopping and falling over the place no matter what I did. Because the truth is..."
She holds her breath.
"I have become a fish-man."
Coco splutters and blurts, "You have not!"
"I have," He says solemnly.
"No."
"Ekkehardt is also a fish-man. That was how he knew my secret."
She laughs helplessly, "He's not! Papá, you're fibbing again!"
"Finning."
no subject
"He's very good at hiding it," he says seriously. "Lots of makeup, and of course, your father is good at disguises."
There's the slightest crack of a smile in that impassive facade to betray the joke, however.
no subject
"Papá, please!" Coco protests.
He's very pleased with himself though. Especially to have managed to entertain Ekkehardt in the process of this. Coco's arms fold over her chest, even amused, and that look belongs to an entirely different person.
"This is what he does every time! I've told him everything but all I get is smelly fish," She says.
"Hey now, that's not very kind to Ekkehardt here."
no subject
"Oh, believe me, I've heard worse. It's what happens when you're a doctor, you know. So if you want to call me fishy, that's absolutely fine."
no subject
Héctor is far too busy laughing to apologize for his tricks. Despite her attempt at accusation, she looks fondly on him as he laughs. It's clear Héctor's not the only who has been missing someone.
"Well, I would rather call you nicer things," She declares. "Being a doctor is hard work. Especially-- er, are you a magic doctor? Everyone around here is normal..."
no subject
He doesn't want to take up too much space, especially given recent developments with Héctor's situation. He'll try to keep things brief, then.
"I am a magic doctor, yes. But I'm also a non-magic one. Magic is only useful if you have other experience to back it up, at least in my line of work."
no subject
That's a way to put it.
"But that really is cool," She says more seriously. "You'd probably have to work a long time to learn both sides of it." Her head ducks a little, not of shyness or embarrassment, but because she's considering something. The moment passes and she lifts a smile to Ekkehardt properly. "Thank you for looking after Papá while I can't. It really means a lot to me."
"Ay, Mija..." Héctor breathes then, touched enough he reaches out. He can only hold the computer's edge instead of her face but he looks at her with that mix of sorrow and love all the same.
"That does remind me though." He draws back. "I did have something to thank my old friend here. Would you be willing to wait a moment, love? I'll be just a second, promise."
"Of course, Papá." She beams at him and he returns it before standing and looking to Ekkehardt.
"Just over here," He says, and he leads, stepping out of the camera's view and towards the ofrenda.
no subject
He's caught off-guard by Héctor wanting to show him something, though; but he has no reason not to follow, so he does. This kind of festivity isn't a tradition he's used to, so he doesn't know what to expect.
no subject
He speaks quietly too, a hush to keep her from overhearing, but he's got a grin.
"Día de Muertos is a day to honor the dead. The memories we made with them and the bonds we share. I didn't see why..." He reaches into the ofrenda. It seems his own photo is not the only one he's hidden, this one printed off. It's a stolen shot, something done when (he assumes) Ekkehardt wasn't paying attention. Just a little slip of paper. He stands it up against some of the marigolds. "... that couldn't apply to you too."
In front of the picture are a couple of things he's spied Ekkehardt trying, as well as a few other sweets and breads. He reaches out for a piece of pan de muertos and his fingers pass through like a ghost's. Only, upon his hand, a transparent gold copy sits.
"Turns out, there's a lot of magic that comes from a collective belief and shared time. Happy day of the dead, my friend." He holds it out to Ekkehardt.
no subject
For the first time since Héctor's known him, he looks well and truly startled. While these traditions aren't unknown to him, they're not for him; it's not something he'd ever thought it was possible to apply to himself.
But the surprised expression softens into a smile, rueful and awkward. Sincere. He takes the shimmering, golden offering like he's holding something fragile, something he doesn't want to risk breaking.
"Am I supposed to eat this?" It's a genuine question. He's not quite sure how this goes.
no subject
But it warms him, and the smile more so. These are the sort of moments that mean the most to him. These moments where he can express to those people he cares about and they see it too.
He laughs, not mocking, but amused.
"Yes!" He says, beaming. He explains, "Everything on the ofrenda is made with the intention for spirits to take it. You and I aren't quite spirits, but we're more soul than body, I think. At least enough that the magic here applies to us. Anything you wish to try here, you can and should be able to. I've been going at things all evening."
If Ekkehardt should deign to take a bite, he should be able to taste it. It's a sweet bread, sugared and coated with a sort of orange zest. But past that, and with anything else Ekkehardt might decide to take, is a sense of energy, rejuvenation, a strange taste that calls of nostalgia, memory, and love. It's subtle, but it should taste slightly better than the earthly counterpart. It doesn't settle in the stomach or anything like that, simply vanishing-- or perhaps becoming part of whatever energy pushes them on.
no subject
Héctor's surprise makes it clear that he's not used to seeing such responses. The least he can do for the man is to show that he leaves more of a mark on people than he believes.
He's not exactly going to refuse the food after such an invitation, so it doesn't take long for him to actually eat what he's been offered. Surprise shows clearly on his face when he can actually taste it, the way he hasn't been able to taste things since he died.
(Tasting things is something he's never missed or lacked for, despite knowing his sense of taste has been significantly diminished, but he understands, logically, why it's desired. This is a much more visceral thing.
He doesn't think he misses being able to taste, still. But it's a pleasant reminder of what he used to have, an echo of someone twice dead.)
"Well, it certainly works," is all he can manage, after that. But that slightly awkward smile stays; it's nice. He has little to say about it, other than that it's nice.
no subject
He finds himself watching Ekkehardt's face the whole time, which no doubt adds to the oddness of the situation. Ekkehardt has always been harder to read and so he watches for those minute details.
The reaction makes him laugh aloud. It's warm and bright as the fond look he wears.
"You don't have to have more if it's strange. I know it's been some time. But it is all for yours right here," He says. "Thank you, for being a friend."