logsinthenight | EVENT LOG: FOR EVERYTHING A REASON

Entry tags:

EVENT LOG: FOR EVERYTHING A REASON

characters: everyone.
location: the harbor.
date/time: september 6-7.
content: characters and forest spirits send off paper lantern boats in honor of those who have died..
warnings: character death

a somber kind of serenity.

When you arrive at the harbor, there are already boats in the water, and the lighthouse's red beam flares in slow pulses over the lake. The moon's a bright first quarter and the stars are out in force today, all reflected on the glassy surface of the water. It's uncharacteristically calm, this weather, so take advantage.

Rastus is down at the water's edge, tending to a large mound of pebbles that looks not unlike a miniature bonfire from a distance. The stones are all ordinary, having been collected from the beach, except Rastus has enchanted them to glow with a soft, yellow light. The enchantment will only last a week, but that's ample time for this little ceremony to send off those lost over the past two months. Or to send off something less literal, perhaps.

Next to the pile of stones is an array of craft materials—just the basic supplies like paper, markers, glue, and scissors, but more than enough to accommodate everyone in attendance. A handful of forest spirits (some you may recognize from the party!) are standing nearby to assist in paper-folding or boat-crafting if you're out of your depth there. They, along with Rastus, urge you to join in. This memorial is as much about you as it is anyone we've lost, after all. The boats can look like or represent anything you like.

Releasing boats lit with pebbles out onto the water will fill you will a sense of peace. It's a somber kind of serenity, but it's a relief nonetheless, whether you're mourning the loss of a friend or letting go of some other part of yourself. You're welcome to release as many boats as you like, too. It's not like there's a shortage of rocks around here, and even if the craft materials run low, there's plenty of other stuff around town that could be used in a pinch.

The forest spirits are in attendance, as well. Some are helping with the crafting, yes, but most are taking part themselves, building their own little boats to send out over the water. Their crafting involves more of a hands-on approach: Chomping and tearing and crinkling into unique shapes and textures. They stand out from the townsfolks' designs on the beach, but once the boats drift far enough into the surf, it's impossible to tell which vessels belong to which group. Feel free to NPC your own forest spirits for this event and refer to the OOC info post if you have questions about how they might behave.

On the final night of the event, a sound starts up along the treeline, one you haven't heard in some time, perhaps. Crickets. Cicadas. Katydids and beetles and the shrill hum of a mosquito in your ear. It seems insects have returned to Beacon from... wherever they were hiding, and the night air is now vibrant with their music. No more eerie silence back in town, where the sounds of the lake are snuffed out by the trees. It sounds almost like a real forest now.

And it will stay that way after this event ends, too. Maybe you were enjoying the time away from bugs or maybe you were longing for some sign that, yes, this world was alive once, but either way, the insects are here to stay. Well, until winter, at least.

QUICKNAV
comms	\|	network • logs • memes • ooc
pages	\|	rules • faq • taken • mod contact • player contact • calendar • setting • exploration • item requests • full nav

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

"Perhaps you were, but not here. No one belongs to anyone." He's not even going to ask what either of those things mean, because the truth of it is - it doesn't matter here. There's a lot of things he doesn't understand about the other places people come from and this is another to add to the pile.

"None of us are what we were."

[It's not what Kol thinks. Well, okay, Jason is a pretty boy and he is very kind, but he hasn't shown the spirits any more affection than he's shown anyone else. So either they have a really low bar for human kindness or there's something else going on here. Jason has a hunch what it could be, but he didn't think it would follow him here.

Jason takes it in stride, though he resists the urge to roll his eyes at Kol's reaction.]

No more than anyone else has...they might just like how I smell.

[they wouldn't be the first.]

Although...my boat did turn out pretty good.

[He holds up a reasonably well done origami boat, it glows softly with light from the rocks. There's a slight smile as he holds it up, it's hard not to be proud of his own work. The smile is noticeably a little sad though, like making the boat has brought back some memories for him. Kol might even notice on the side some strange lettering -- it looks Greek.]

[good, because if it was just for pretties he might have to judge you, Kuai]

Something. [OH BOY MORE WATER FUN] Odd, isn't it? That the water around here seems to be a barrier to our progress no matter which direction we go. Rivers that try to drown you, creatures in the lake...

Fire that doesn't catch nor properly burn. A lack of light. And then water surrounding us. It seems connected but I can't fathom how.

Yet anyway.

The demonstration makes it easy. The Soldier follows her movements as exactly as larger hands can. "I see." It thinks it does see. It knows the math of calculating a shot against wind and motion, the weight of a bullet versus gravity, but now it's learning the math of folding paper. This is a much nicer lesson.

Maybe. Maybe not. But it's only been a week of conditional freedom, and the Soldier really isn't ready to consider life without handlers, without orders. The handlers here aren't so bad, anyway. How do you imagine being something else when you don't remember anything else?

You don't, not right away, anyway. So it continues to focus on its paper folding, expression drifting down into a frown.

Sorry, Kuai. It seems like the Soldier just ran out of words.

Yet, indeed.

[they've gone a bit without directly talking so it's only fair that he asks] How are things, otherwise? Any interesting explorations?

[Yeah... ocarina is not a way to go if you don't know how to play it. Good to have around but, if you can't use it, keep it away. There's a soft smile on her face for a moment, but it's quickly gone and she clears her throat.]

It's not about the boat, you know. The boat is a vessel to carry your thoughts. The offering is important.

[But she still picks up a piece of paper from him and turns a little towards him, placing it in her lap and slowly starting to fold the edges.]

Just enough to hold the rock...

Would a bowl do...?

[No, he's not serious; he does want to make something that looks like a boat at least a little. He picks up another piece of paper and watches her make folds for a moment before trying to mimic them himself. Show him your wisdom...]

I'm not much of a builder, that's all. But it should look... right.

[ !!!

daylight looks up as his winglets perk up in surprise. upon seeing and recognising a friendly face - man, it's weird to see jo with greyish hair. - daylight relaxes and flashes her a bashful but appreciative smile. ]

Thanks, Jo. That means a lot to me. [ he looks back out into the waters, his expression becoming more wistful and thoughtful. ] Auntie Laura and Uncle Leeds helped me learn it after I begged them for months to let me take on lessons.

Apparently my parents were really good at it. I wanted to share something with them.

I would?

[ so he's out and about in seven years, and not in a coffin with that bloody dagger in his chest. kol wears his surprise at that — and the fact that they're close. ever since he found out about hope… he never really had the time to process it, but he always figured he'd be the uncle nik skims over when reciting bedtime stories about the family tree. ]

You were probably not even a year old when Nik finally told me about you. [ he shrugs, although it's not to come off callous or flippant; kol feels the need to move in a situation he doesn't quite know what to do in. he hadn't expected nik to ever introduce him to hope; instead, he figured he'd laud it over his head as some sort of punishment, like he does with almost everything. at least he can say he knows his niece in the near future.

he sighs, becoming comfortable again with his declaration of: ] Then I died, thanks to your Uncle Finn. I hope you don't like him. He's a bore.

[ It's not quite the push and pull Riku had become used to, growing up, Riku's the one doing most of the pushing and pulling, but M.K. doesn't cave easily and that makes it better. To be fair, he didn't have it here either, the only challenge left to Riku was to watch his best friend fade until Sora decided what he needed to do.

There's an intractable edge to the other guy that takes himself far too seriously. Of course he'd call even the slightest kindness shown the spirits sappy. It invites defensiveness, though he speaks of killing them again and he puts up his palm. ]

Easy--

[ They're both interrupted by the return of the forest spirit, proudly showing their lantern, it's damningly obvious copy of the blue butterfly on M.K.'s own, and he can probably feel Riku's smirking gaze on him as he folds his arms. ]

Man, you are hopeless.

[ To the spirit, Riku bends to take a look. ]

If anything, this one should be giving the art lessons. Nice job.

Well, as long as there's a bed, it's fine. Right? [Walls were a good thing, too. And a roof, but starting to list all the basic things about a living space seems just a bit too weird, and Quentin snaps his mouth shut, fingers busy twisting around the ocarina.]

Yeah, my friend found somewhere, too. It's uhm, maybe it's the same as yours? Because it's a triangle house? A cabin, really. Not much space but it's enough and really, no one knows just how long we're going to have to stay here. I hope it's not forever. [The spirit trills at them, the voice soothing and soft in the dark night and Quentin huffs a breath before sitting up a little straighter.] I really hope it's not forever.

[Ah- you know, he's not going to say it out loud, but some part of him is relieved to hear Quentin has a friend around. He just seems... skittish, that's all. But never mind that, put a pin in that for later, ahem.]

I can't imagine it will be. [Because the Keeper will get rid of them one way or another, but--] I'm pretty confident something will have to change eventually.

[yeah! positive thinking!]

[ Close enough is close enough in her books. She's about to return to her folding, not sure what else to say when he just casually... calls her out. Coraline winces slightly. ]

Uh... yeah. Didn't really have anything to add so...

Yeah, I was afraid of that. I don't know where-- uhm, when? you're from? But where I'm from? Things changing is never a good thing. It's always-- always just one more horrible, shitty thing after another and just when you think it can't possibly get any worse? The universe proves me wrong. Like, every. single. time.

Just look at this place? I mean, I don't mind dying so much, but. This place? The threat of World Eaters and what not? And we can die again? What's up with that? Sure, some people came back, but. Uhm. [So not his thing to say anything about and despite not really knowing Daylight outside of a few texts on the screen, Quentin doesn't want to mention his... problem. So he just busies himself with blowing the ocarina again. At least it keeps his hands busy and stops him from saying too much.]

Not permanently.

[He responds quickly, hoping to keep her from being too worried about that.]

Not when we clearly need to work together to survive. But I don't know what else is out there. What if there were other people here once, in other cities around the lake? What if there still are?

[nah it's all cool. His tone is light and casual, anyway]

Not everyone has to. As long as people are willing to listen and consider.

_{[Now that does get him to sour, and he shoots the other boy a look from over top of the spirit, eyebrows pulled flat in the exact kind of indignation inherent in someone reading the serious into the casual. Who is he to tell him to ease off and heckle him in the next breath?

The difference is all in the growing up--the kind of boyhood joshing Riku looks back on with nostalgic warmth is as foreign to him as Riku himself, all starlight silvers and bright eyes. There'd been Bale, who would've said anything to anyone if it put him ahead. And Tate, the pair of them bonded by confinement. Castor would've killed him as soon as look at him, and Eli? He'd been the most friendly with Eli out of all the loyal dark ones, but he'd also been Eli's superior. He wouldn't say he'd had the sort of relationship with any of them that had allowed for this.

Except for maybe Tilda, and that's a startling comparison with her so close to the surface of his thoughts.]}

Nobody asked you. _{[Oh so very petulant!]} What do you even want?

_{[Taking aim at Riku is as good an excuse as any to ignore the spirit as long as he can--a failed effort, as it tugs at him again, wanting acknowledgement from the one who taught him the new drawing in the first place. He presses his lips together, still fixing the top of Riku's head with a dark look, but when he relents, it's with a noticeable milder tone.]}

Yeah, that's right. It's... _{[Nostalgic in its own way.]} ... good. It's good.

[ She relaxes slightly at his words, glad she doesn't have to make an escape with her numerous boats. ]

Yeah... a lot of good points were definitely brought up so... thanks I guess.

[She is. She's also been missing from there, at least while sleeping. Jo does still up for a drink.

When the girl apologizes Jo shakes her head quickly.]

You don't need to apologize. I was just curious. [It seems like a very large number of people to be thinking of tonight. Surely not all of them are dead?]

[ Some of these spirits can understand their speech, but some respond more to the tone, the intent than the words themselves. Riku thinks this might be the case, as he watches M.K. gentle his tone and offer reluctant praise and witnesses the forest spirit nearly shiver happily under the approval.

That's...

Cute, he thinks, well past the age when he used to wonder if it was acceptable for a guy to call something cute, or sweet, without immediately tacking on some derisive criticism, like sappy, though he's still guilty of that, too.

So this guy hasn't hardened so much he's forgotten to be kind.

Riku straightens up, smiling down at the forest spirit, and continues his conversation - if he can even call it that - with M.K., considering it's mainly been almost a game of tit for tat between them, with the other boy as prickly as ever. He can't say the value here is as a distraction. He-

Kind of-

Senses a kindred spirit in there, closely guarded the way Riku guards his own heart. Someone whose darkness feels familiar. ]

I don't know... company? Why does anybody show up to these things? Huh-?

[ Another forest spirit presses paper into his hands, with a melodic chirp as it mimes gnawing on it. Assuming the spirit means to encourage him to get working on his own floating lantern, Riku looks over at M.K., shrugging. ]

Guess it's my turn. You see any scissors?

That's what I'm talking about.

[She does remember that he came off the ferry very recently, but did he really not notice?]

There weren't insects before. It was always quiet.

[See, this is why he's glad Quentin has friends... all this paranoia... He understands, but he doesn't think about so much, really.]

You're kind of a pessimist, aren't you? [he is just saying, but he holds his hands up a little placatingly a second later] Don't get me wrong, I understand... But I suppose besides dying, things have gone well for me, lately.

I'm from 1989, by the way. Japan.

_{[He's half-tempted to push the spirit away, anything to get it to stop waving that butterfly around, anything not to have to talk about it--

In lieu of taking his discomfort out on the spirit that has really done nothing wrong except entertain itself, he takes it out on the one moving target he can.]}

If that's the case, maybe you'd have more company if you didn't mouth off so much.

_{[Never has a more laughably hypocritical thing been uttered on this planet and he's utterly unrepentant about it, lifting his chin and crossing his arms, as if daring Riku to explain why he's once again inserting himself into the flow of M.K.'s heavy thoughts to hassle him. He's scarcely finished delivering his retort when the antics of his puffball companion seem to draw in more spirits--thankfully, to bounce around the legs of the other guy. Tit for tat indeed.]}

I thought this was for saps?

_{[The fact that M.K. has failed to claim any of the lantern paper he and the spirit had drawn on as his own exempts him from sap status, or so he'd say. He isn't actually here to send a lantern off. He hadn't even meant to memorialize a symbol of the dead--it'd been a whim, nothing more. If he should be honoring anyone, it should be with a symbol of Azra, of his people.]}

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 10 of 19

EVENT LOG: FOR EVERYTHING A REASON

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject