logsinthenight | EVENT LOG: THE NIGHT WE MET

EVENT LOG: THE NIGHT WE MET

characters: everyone.
location: the path from downtown beacon to the harbor; all over town.
date/time: february 16-21.
content: the forest spirits send off their friends to join the aurora. memory opals drop from the eerie green lights above.
warnings: n/a.

i had all and then most of you, some and now none of you.

For most of the day on February 16, all of the town's forest spirits can be found along the stretch of road between downtown and the harbor, clearly setting up for, uh, something. They're piling snow onto the pathway, creating a miles long sled trail that starts outside the Landmark Inn and ends at the very end of the harbor's dock. Not only that, but the forest spirits are also not super willing to explain what they're up to! They're busy, you lantern-havers.

By the time evening rolls around, the spirits have set up wooden railings alongside the snowy path, as well as a warming tent, hot chocolate booth, and announcer stand outside of the Landmark. Oh, and a starting banner for the race! It's dogsled time!

Throughout the event, Beacon's downtown and harbor areas will be completely overrun with forest spirits, all there to bear witness to this holiday celebration—this holiday is for them, though, not you weirdos with your naked faces. Point is, none of the spirits will be hostile at this time! They're more interested in interacting with each other than with Beacon's residents, though if pressed, a kind spirit might be willing to explain what's going on:

The aurora arrives in Beacon for about a week each year, and the forest spirits believe it to be "friends in the sky". The lights are old friends of theirs, it seems! And each night while the aurora shines above the town, the forest spirits send off a handful of friends to join the aurora! The spirits ready to join the aurora build sleds of their own and assemble mighty sled teams, sometimes comprised of dog spirits and sometimes... other stuff. Then, when the aurora is at its peak in the wee hours of the night, the sled teams will ride off one by one, racing down the snow-covered path all the way down to the harbor, where they'll finally rocket off the dock and out over the lake, picking up more and more speed as each team gallops wildly over the water before arcing up into the sky. Once the spirits are barely a speck, they'll hit the aurora and burst into a shower of light. Beautiful stuff!

See, since the aurora is made of light, forest spirits launched into it are killed on impact! Isn't that wonderful! The forest spirits seem to think so! What is death to a dead thing!

All of this information can be learned through handwaved/played-led interactions with the forest spirits during the event. They'll all be focused on saying goodbye to their friends and cheering them on as they stream through the sky, but they're happy to welcome lantern-havers to join in the celebrations. The hot chocolate is free and only tastes a little bit like mud, so. Enjoy!

•••
For the entire duration of the event, the aurora will dance in beautiful silence overhead, lighting up the whole town with its eerie green glow. Every so often, handfuls of opals will rain down like meteorites from the lights above, and these opals each contain the memory of someone currently in Beacon! They can be found all over town, landing on paths and atop buildings and maybe even rocketing straight through your ceiling to crash into your living room. Perhaps a forest spirit decided to hide some shiny rocks in your cereal box or under your pillow... Better hope the Postmaster General doesn't find your opals before you do, though. That spirits sure does love their rocks. Point is, who knows where the opals might turn up?

On that note, if you signed up for a random event, we'll be RNGing characters to receive these random events throughout the event! The event may happen in response to a toplevel on this event log, or we might turn up in your IC inbox... 👀 These events will be entirely random, meaning we could dole out any number of them at any time, so it'll be a fun surprise for all of us.

If you missed signups and would still like to toss your name in the ring, go right ahead! Signups will remain open throughout the event, though we can't promise everyone who signs up will get something.

And finally... Each day, we'll post a list of the forest spirits joining the aurora! What, did you want to know in advance? The forest spirits have never been a particularly organized bunch, so they're winging this—which means more surprises for you. :)

Enjoy the races and the lights and the opals, residents of Beacon, and remember: WHAT IS DEATH TO A DEAD THING!

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[Maes always does his best not to dwell on his own death. It's hard at times, given how many photographs he has and the recent acquisition of a certain memory jar or two. The opals raining from the sky are not helping that either. The recent encounter in the woods with the spirit stealing people's face was also a bit of a sticking point. A reminder of how quickly things could end and who got left behind in the process. He really does try not to dwell, but then curiosity comes rising back and he picks up another opal and relives it all again.

When the memory finishes he's left with several thoughts. His first thoughts are of Daylight and how much he must have missed his folks to do something like that. Surely other people had held his hand or shown him love...but that was really no replacement for lost parents. His thoughts drift back to his own childhood at first, thinking of when he would hold his father's hand at the funeral of his sibling...since his mother (his father's wife) was no longer there to do it.

But, like everything, it comes back to his own family for Maes and the more immediate guilt. Despite it being over a year now, despite Roy and Riza's assurances than his family was fine, he can't help but let the tears come as he thinks about his own daughter reaching for a hand that's no longer there. Maes' is pretty sure no statute exists of him either, just photographs like the ones he carries that are a pale comfort.

Maes wipes at his eyes and realizes he had settled down in the snow without thinking. He gets to his feet, brushing it away and composing himself. Daylight doesn't need to see him like this, but it would be wrong to keep a memory so precious. Even if they're just statutes, they're reminders of his parents.

Daylight is easy to spot, even among the spirit crowds, and Maes decides to just cut corners and uses his Astoria-granted ability to teleport over to him. No sense lingering in sadness, Maes cheerfully chirps his greeting.]

Yo! Day! Busy as always I see. I have a present for you!

Mr. Hughes! [ he laughs, surprised by the sudden appearance of the man but pleased to see him. ] Hey! I hope you've been doing well.

[ now in the colours of lively spring, day's peppy greens and pretty pinks and blues has him standing in strong contrast of the whites and greys of the snowy environment. almost ironically but day seems to content (or, at least, at peace) with his new set of colours.

he raises his servo, giving a subdued wave in greeting while asking for his spirit friends if he and mr. hughes can have some time to themselves. day's smile is a little fainter than usual for some reason, not as cheerful. did something happen...? ah, well, he's clearly happy to see a familiar face amongst the throng of spirits. maybe he's tired after helping the scurrying spirits all day. ]

You do? Oh wow- That's really nice of you, Mr. Hughes! Thanks! [ he doesn't ask right away what it is. he has a feeling he knows what this could be and, truth be told, he's... a little unsure if he can bring himself to touch it directly. let alone accept it after- well- after his firsthand experience with the opal. ~~it hurts knowing now that, despite all this time, he wasn't even-~~

but mr. hughes went out of his way to locate day, track him down, and give it back to him in person so no one else got it and he was sure the opal came to the right person. that means a lot to the teenager. so hence the big smile, a cheerfulness that ~~mr. hughes may have experienced earlier~~ day is quick to bring up. ]

[He was an idiot not to have put it together before. He should have seen the signs of youth in his voice, even if it wasn't always clear in the way he looked. Maes was a little more accustomed to strange shapes and sizes given his time with the Circle, but it still was hard to shake a prejudice of bigger must mean older. But the way he addressed people, the way he treated the spirits, and the idealistic way he seemed to think they could all get along.

Youth. It all screamed youth and Maes had been working under the assumption that Daylight was older somehow. Not that it necessarily changed how Maes would treat him, Daylight had certainly prove himself, but it did change how Maes would probably approach Daylight from here forward. It was like working with Alphonse all over again.]

I've been all right, all things considered.

[No sense talking about the horrors of the forest and that one spirit. That was all in the past and they had a new problem to deal with at the moment.]

I've been taking up a new hobby. These stones are showing up just about everywhere and I've always been pretty good at finding things. Seemed like the thing to do was to help people find these stones of theirs.

[He fishes his in pocket, producing a stone for Daylight carefully held in one of his knitted gloves he'd collected from the trees but had not used as bartering material. The glove was a deep, rich purple.]

It was...[It wasn't good or bad entirely. He's not sure how to classify this one.] well, I could relate to it in a lot of ways. I can't deny that I'm a nosy person, but every time I pick one of these up I feel like I'm crossing a line somehow. So, here.

[He offers it up for Daylight, though if he wants to take it along with the glove he can.]

[ so it was one of his opals. he's not sure he's happy he got it right or he's happy he's prepared for the worst-case scenario by now. (and isn't that something? already he's scared of what he might see because of-)

daylight's cheerful smile now turns wistful and hesitant. but, all the same, he hesitantly reaches out to take the opal and sense of gratitude he feels towards mr. hughes is undeniable. better to have his opals by his side than scattered around or, worse, played around with the spirits if they got their hands on it. (for some reason. they're being pretty weird thanks to the aurora borealis-like lights overhead. even for the typical spirit shenanigans he's grown used to, he can't make head or tails over this.) ]

Thanks, Mr. Hughes. It means a lot to me. [ okay- maybe it's getting obvious by now that he's trying to stall the inevitable picking up of the stone. but given his last (and first) experience with the opal and how jason was acting up to it, day wants to believe that this opal is a good one. mr. hughes isn't being worried or anything like that.

so day takes a one last (and very deep) vent before he accepts the opal, picking it up bare while bracing himself for the memory he'll experience. because he needs to know what others may have seen, in case-

are you sure about this?

yeah. i'm sure, nightbreak.

-in case of that. yeah.

by the time that daylight comes back from the experience, his spark hammering from the shock of seeing his best friend and remembering how much he missed her and the others back in his world, he looks ready to burst into tears. daylight's vents audibly hiccup and hitch from the wave of emotions that slam into him butbutbut he's able to hold himself together. thanks to all that prepping/stalling from earlier, he manages another smile at mr. hughes. ]

Man, I'm glad I can't cry! This- This would really make it awkward. [ he laughs, awkwardly but happily while he clutches the opal close to his chassis. ] More awkward, I guess?

Thank you for giving this back to me, Mr. Hughes. It's nice being able to see my friend again. And- And to remember that event. It was the first time I saw my... my parents up close and it wasn't in pictures or videos like that.

[Maes can't help but wonder why Daylight seems so cautious. He would have pegged him for the type to be very into this sort of thing -- sharing seemed to be a big part of his M.O. But maybe there was more to Daylight's past than Maes knew. Sure, there had to be happy memories, but everyone had their dark times or things they'd rather not be pulled out in public.

Maes probably has more memories like that, so he hopes not too many of those show up.

He doesn't press though, just giving Daylight his space to process what the memory held for him. Honestly he wishes he was better at reading the other, Maes is used to interpreting human body language and facial expression not...whatever Daylight is. Not that Daylight is particularly subtle, so it becomes clear when the hiccup starts that he might be a little upset.

Normally this might be where Maes would give a comforting squeeze to the shoulder or tossing a casual arm over the person to comfort. Unfortunately, Daylight is easily twice his height, which makes that sort of thing difficult. He settles for patting a hand, giving him a reassuring smile.]

That makes one of us. I think there's some justification in emotion with some of these memories.

[He wasn't quite admitting that he'd gotten teary, but it was between the lines if he pressed.]

It means more to you than to me, so of course I had to bring it to you. [He removes his hand, slipping it back into the pockets of his coat.]

I know something about longing for family when all you have is a photograph.

You do?

[ daylight perks up when he hears what mr. hughes has to say. really? he knows what it’s like to feel… this sort of loneliness when it comes to your family. (or, rather, lack of it.

his servo twitches, the memory of trying to hold his parents' hands and not really doing is surprisingly affecting.)

and much as day can be a bit of a ditz — okay, a heck of ditz, really - day can realise what mr. hughes is trying to hint here in the conversation. he looks at mr. hughes, optics flickering in surprise and dawning realisation. ]

… do you have a child, Mr. Hughes? [ he thinks mr. hughes is at the right age to be a father — that's the name, right? — and he's always been patient with day. a sort of patience usually found in either guardians, nice captains, or creators. (he could just be reading a lot into this moment)

daylight pauses for a bit, wondering if he should ask this next question or not. in the end, his curiosity gets the better of him. ] Can I ask what their name is?

[Maes looks surprised, his smile dropping. Shit! He's a terrible father.] Oh! Oh no! Did I never tell you about my beautiful daughter and wife!? Gah! I'm usually so good at going on and on about her...

[Granted, he had only really started talking to Daylight recently. Still, that didn't seem like a good excuse to him. He sighs.]

Still...I guess we have had a lot going on to keep me distracted. Hold on a second...

[He starts scrambling through pockets and then stops, getting a better idea.

He looks back up at Daylight.]

Rosinante gave me one of these stones that has a memory of Elysia's third birthday party. Wanna see that?

[ judging by the way daylight’s winglets literally spring up behind him in utter, utter joy, he seems pretty excited by the offer. a birthday party? full of fun and excitement and celebration for someone? it's been decades since he saw one celebrated in the terran way, so he's excited by the idea!

but- okay- he tries to play it cool. he knows how precious these sort of memories are to the ones who own the opals. more than ever with the possible knowledge/confirmation that they won't be going home if they help this world. daylight, at least, knows it's a big thing when someone offers to let you see one of theirs.

... the keyword here being 'tries' because he lets out a breathless sound of glee and, then, a breathless breath of words: ] Ohmygoshyesplease!

[ ... ahem. keep trying, day. ] If only you really want to, Mr. Hughes. [ day smiles here, softer and sweeter, while he has his winglets pull back down to something more relaxed and calm. ] It's really nice of you to offer - and I would love to know more about your family! But only if you're really comfortable with the idea.

[Maes offers a kind smile, his shoulders relaxing a bit.]

It's fine. It's not a memory I mind sharing. I think it makes it easier to talk about them, the more people who can understand why I love them so much.

[It sometimes made him sad to look back on these memories and based on what he'd seen of Daylight's memories he could relate. He would rather focus on the nice things though, since there was plenty to be sad about already. Maes pulls out a handkerchief and reaches into his pocket. Much like his photos, he'd decided to carry a few of these with him from now on. A more tangible reminder of what was behind him and, despite everything, what he hoped to return to in some way.

He holds the small, rose colored opal out to Daylight.]

Besides, it feels like a fair trade.

[ even now, day hesitates a bit when he reaches out but it's now for a completely different reason.

between the wild rollercoaster of knowledge and feelings that he's been experiencing ever since he learned the truth, day finds himself... scared to see this memory? that's the best way to describe the way he frowns for a bit, the way his winglets flick down as if to protect themselves but he doesn't understand why. he knows mr. hughes is a good man. he knows mr. hughes' words can be trusted. he knows there's no reason to feel a sudden bout of doubt and trepidation over the memory of a birthday.

he tells himself that as he reaches out with conviction now. daylight touches the opal-

today just happens to be my darling little elysia’s birthday~”

yeah! my birthday!

-and he later comes out of the experience gasping. the flood of emotions - both his own and from the memory - rush through him and do so with an intensity that leaves him reeling. it's almost(!) causes him to drop the opal in the process but he still has enough sense in him to hold it tight in his servo, close to his chassis.

because day knows something precious when he comes across it. day lets out a half-sob, half-laugh, using his free servo to absentmindedly rub at his optics though he had no ability to shed tears. it just... felt good to do, in between letting out great heaves and chokes and bouts of laughter. ]

You- You loved her a lot. [ day manages to get that out at last, finally able to look at mr. hughes properly after managing to pull himself together. just enough that he can smile at the man, beaming in both joy and sadness. ] Your wife and you Elysia... You loved them so much. I can... I can tell they really, really, really loved you too.

That was one of the... That was a really good memory.

[There's a moment where Maes wants to apologize. He hadn't realized how much his own emotions would roll off onto others as they witnessed it. He doesn't exactly know everything about what Day is going through, but he has a sense that if there is anyone here that can appreciate that balancing act between joy and sorrow...it's Day.

After all, wasn't that the feeling he had experienced when sharing Daylight's memory?

Daylight is too big to really give a proper hug or even a pat on the shoulder -- something he tends to do with people -- so he settles for patting the part of Day's leg he can reach in reassurance and empathy.]

Don't worry. I've had similar reactions to some of the memories I've been getting lately of my own family. It can be painful...but it's just so nice to see them smiling too, you know? I'm glad I could share this with you Daylight and I'm glad you could appreciate it.

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EVENT LOG: THE NIGHT WE MET

iii; bittersweet

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