logsinthenight | 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.

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[The spirit looks confused at first, the attention switching between offered item and the man that's giving it to him. It seems to shy away from the offer at first-]

It's okay, [Xayah says,] he's giving you that for your boat.

[The boat that spirit has been trying to make from ripped up paper for some time now. It hoots gently and after Xayah's encouragement, it reaches out for the braid. The fingers of the spirit look as thin as the toothpicks and very long, brittle, but they grab the offered braid and tug back down Xayah's cloak. They have work to do.

She smiles-] They were like that at the party too...

[Oh-- spindly! Kakyoin watches the fingers dart out and back, pointedly not reacting beyond raising his eyebrows curiously - being nice, see. He's doing it. Last time he blew an ocarina badly until a spirit got mad at him, so this is progress.]

Shy? That makes sense.

[Relatable spirit... Kakyoin would also like to hide under a cloak and not talk to people sometimes. He looks down at his own stuff again.]

I don't know a lot about types of boats.

[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.

It will float and hold an object so yes.

[She stops what she's doing to watch him do it, tilting her head curiously.]

Fold this here, [her hand reaches out to curl one of the pieces in while he's still holding the paper boat,] and this here, [she curls it on the other side, making it look oval now.]

If you put the paper on top, you can make a turtle ship.

Oh— [Oh, okay, this is helpful. Precision folding he can do, but coming up with a paper boat shape in the first place is so hard. So--] Thank you.

A turtle...?

[hm......cute.....]

I'll add a face to it, too.

[She gives him a small smile and sits back, once she's done shaping the boat. It looks pretty nice, and she hands him over several leaves to use as a roof for the boat.]

Sounds like a plan to me.

[And it really will be cute.]

[So this is what they're making, only with more leaves. It's VERY cute. Kakyoin honestly thinks it's stupid-looking, but in the kind of way that he would throw hands in defense of his dopey turtle boat. It comes with just enough satisfaction of a job well done that he's fond of it, when it's done...]

Well— it is a turtle.

[It really is cute. Extremely. And Xayah loves everything about it. She wishes flowers were blooming but, well, nothing can thrive in this darkness.]

It looks good. It will carry your stone to the destination.

[She places her own boat next to his, entwined all in vines and with thorns. A complete contrast.]

I think we're ready to set these off.

[Boy, is that difference... stark. It's fine! Kakyoin likes his turtle boat, for all it looks like a grade schooler put it together. He hums, satisfied.

Let him get his shiny rock ready...]

Alright. Shall we?

Yeah.

[Carefully, she gets up, the spirit along with her, boat tightly in their spindly hands. She picks up her own and the glowing stones and heads down to the lake. Most people have left.

She waits for him by the water, careful not to step in it, nudging her stone inside of the boat. A prayer, huh?]

[He follows, carefully holding his paper turtle until he can set it down at the edge of the water and place a stone in it. Well, it looks... better when he's standing upright and therefore further from it, but still! Charming.

He is, however, not a prayer kind of person. Maybe if he stands here in silence for a long moment, he'll get away with it... the perfect crime.]

[She doesn't pray either, but she does make a wish. Whether it comes true or no it's up to the guy that's still alive. He better stay alive or else-

But since he's standing in silence, she does take it as if he's praying so she doesn't disturb him. She's respectful like that.

The silence is broken, however, by the spirit that was hiding under her cape earlier. It brings over the boat, and Xayah steps off to the side towards Kakyoin, to make some space. The spirit makes a small hooting sound, places the boat in the lake with a glowing stone in it and then dashes away into the forest.

Xayah chuckles,] So shy.

EVENT LOG: FOR EVERYTHING A REASON

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