[EVENT] Bonfire Night

[ironwood]

Characters: ALL!
Date: February 21st
Location: Various.
Situation: It’s cold. Time to cuddle up and make bonfires for the warmth.
Warnings/Rating: Add warnings as needed.

As night falls the city’s lights take something of a unique turn. Instead of being lit by millions of paper lanterns, Keeliai is tonight lit by the flames and warmth of dozens if not hundreds of fires. Some of them are small, not much more than warming hearths in a barrel on a street, but others encompass squares and boulevards.

The fire lighting procession winds through the city’s streets, beginning at the first bonfire in Fire Sector. By the time full night has arrived, that procession is a snake illuminated by dozens of torches, parting from the main parade to light smaller fires in smaller streets. It ends, finally, in Central, in the Courtyard of Public Opinion, whose bonfire is second only to the initiating one in Fire Sector.

In some areas an exchange of goods arises, mostly in terms of woollens and other warm clothes and blankets. Though food is considered a public resource on this occasion, bartering small knickknacks, songs, stories and even other woollen items is not uncommon an exchange.

Meals are shared among kedan and Foreigners, commoners and emissaries--primarily stews, soups and other foods easily baked in the coals of the fires. Everyone brings food, and what isn’t contributed to the pot is nevertheless shared around after preparation. Although some bonfires are markedly wealthier than others, food and shelter is spread around to make sure everyone is safe and warm. No one goes cold and alone on this night.

---

LINKS
Fire Sector (main bonfire) | Water Sector | Metal Sector | Earth Sector | Wood Sector | Central Keeliai

OOC Notes
The five Bresilykian emissary NPC can be found moving from Sector to Sector and partaking in the various traditions of each, and so can be engaged anywhere, while the Keeliai NPCs generally are staying in their respective areas as detailed below. Please put the name of the NPC you're requesting in the subject line of your tag if you want to interact with them. Thank you!

Comments

WATER SECTOR

[ironwood]

In Water Sector the fires have spread without much fear for the architecture. Though no fire is ever left untended, the residents here make a game of blending fire with the waters of their fountains and canals, turning flame and water into art in the company of music and sound. Music indeed, is the order of this district and a pleasant mix of competing beats and tones drift over the rest of the city. Many of the handouts are types of noisemakers and simple instruments like whistles and hand drums, singing is highly encouraged, and it's not uncommon to see impromptu "bands" forming around the fires, giving each a unique sound. These performances are well received regardless of the level of skill, and even those new to playing an instrument will receive hearty applause and cheering, simply for sharing.

Milyn can be found all over the Water Sector throughout the night, moving among the different musical groups and talking animatedly to those she recognizes. In some cases, a little too animatedly, and sometimes her conversation partners may borrow the nearest Foreigner in an attempt to redirect the Healer's chatty attention.

The Cherrywood Healer has been busy working on a new project since the weather turned frigid, and also has with her a number of small bags, containing individually wrapped candies that look like glittery gumballs. Their taste is peculiar, like a cross between a spicy cinnamon and a very sour grapefruit, but when they're sucked on, they provide a surprisingly effective warming sensation from the inside out. The candies last about ten to twenty minutes typically, providing a nice heat boost to the fires. Milyn will warn people not to eat too many of them, however, and definitely no more than one at a time! She hasn't quite gotten a saturation problem worked out with these candies, and eating too many start turning people's skin glittery as well.

Milyn/OTA

[lordhotman]

Eventually Zuko migrates to the Water Sector, where he was told some of his friends would be meeting up. He spends time with Wan, but also goes off on his own at some points too. Especially when he catches sight of Milyn handing out the glittery candies.

When he sees a good opportunity, he approaches the Cherrywood Healer with the intent of talking to her.

Otherwise, he meanders around the Water Sector until he finds his friends, where he can be seen hanging out with them. Little Druk still riding on his shoulder.

[cherrywood]

Milyn is clapping along with a particularly spirited rendition of a kedanese folksong being performed by some of the others, but she pats the empty seat next to her when she spots Zuko coming toward her. "Have a seat dear," she said. "They're almost done, just one more verse."

OH HAI!

[12goingon113]

The acoustics here are amazing. Rather than one cacophonous din, there are discrete pools of sound that flows seamlessly from one to another. Each pool complimenting its neighbors regardless of the shift in tune and tempo.

Remarkably...even that one that finds its lilting way to Zuko's ears.
From the solo wooden flute comes the tale of star-crossed lovers, and the caves they once used to meet against all odds.

[theideaguy]

Sokka enjoys the Water Sector. It's his favourite place in the entire city. It's not the Northern Water Tribe, and it's definitely not the Southern Water Tribe in style, but it is as close to home as he feels. He can't help but just enjoy the vibe, even if the Metal Sector was more home in terms of the people. But instead of going back, he's looking forward, and he's spending time with friends while the bonfires light the night sky.

"I know you firebenders have all that fire inside of you to keep you warm, but I'm still surprised you don't look at least a little bit cold when it's like this out."

[oceanblue]

It was the music, surprisingly, that drew Katara to he Water Sector. The fires were amazingl, but the way the people interacted with each other was beyond anything she had seen in a long time in this place. It was beautiful, and the music only lightened the mood even more.

And her friends would be there soon to meet her.

For now, she simply wandered, sharing the food she had prepared--because honestly, everyone needed to be subjected to water tribe style 'sea prunes'-- and pausing here and there to admire the music and the intermingling of the water and fire at each stop. Here and there she would also gather up water once she had relieved herself of her burden, and would occasionally send a swirling spray into the air before catching it once more, to the delight of a few of those around her. When more and more began to notice her little game, she began to play, easily leading herself into the dance she had practiced so often with her bending.

[gathersnomoss]

Zelgadis noticed the dancer and watched for a moment, hands on the strings of his guitar. Without much conscious thought, he started to adapt the melody to Katara's movements,

[raavashing]

Later in the evening, Wan found his way into the water sector. Katara's dancing had gathered quite a crowd by then and Wan joined those watching while she went through some forms he recognized and some he did not. It was very beautiful and he could only admire how much better bending got across ten thousand years.

Eventually, though, Wan decided to join her. He might not know as many moves as she did with water, but he knew enough with fire to compliment her own dancing. Wan made like he was crossing the space that had been cleared for her on the ice and he knew a few of the kedan were giving him glares as he did so. The glares turned into smiles of delight as he dragged some of the fire out of the nearest bonfire and started moving the fire around her own water forms, entwining them and pulling them apart without interrupting her own dance. He kept himself back so she could continue with what she started and reacted to her, rather than force her to react to him.

[theideaguy]

Sokka hadn't known that Katara was going to make anything in preparation for the festival, and so when he heads over to the Water Sector from the Hotel's entrance with Katara, he can't help but be rather surprised by it. And not just surprised, but he was acctually rather ecstatic.

"Sea prunes! You made honest-to-goodness Water Tribe sea prunes!" Well, at least as close to sea prunes as you could possibly get in this crazy world that didn't have honest to gosh sea prunes.

But then of course, his excitement dies down, and he backs away from his obvious encouragement of Katara's cooking. "I mean, I guess sea prunes are alright. I should probably taste one first to make sure they taste alright for the kedan." Katara couldn't let her cooking go to head (not that Sokka ever gave her the opportunity). Besides, he really did want one; he may not admit Katara's a good cook, but she is.

[12goingon113]

There was a large group gathered around...something when Aang arrived at the meeting spot, but he couldn't quite get a clear view with everyone packed so tightly shoulder to shoulder.

Time, patience, and more than a little bit of fancy footwork is all it takes for Aang to make it to the center ring of the assembled. Once there he finds himself unable to move. She...Katara is too distracting. She's never more beautiful than when she's in her element, like she is now.

[seismometrics]

It only took a whiff for Toph to know exactly what she was being offered . . . and for her nose to wrinkle.

"Sea prunes? You made sea prunes for a festival? Really?"

There was no accounting for taste.

ota

[wintershepherd]

Jack had to pass on the proffered candies when he learned what they did, laughing it off as oh, so you want me to melt! and giving them instead to children. The night air was still cold enough that the heat from the fires didn't bother him, so long as he didn't get too close to them.

"Hey, look at you go," he said, sitting in the snow as he listened to a small toddler tooting very energetically on a whistle with no discernible tune. But the Winter Spirit was encouraging anyway. "How about an encore?"

[backwordscompatible]

He might not've been able to eat any of the candies, instead choosing to pass them off to the kids, but there was no reason she couldn't accept her share. Popping them in to her mouth, one by one, and taking great delight in the warmth that spread through her body.

"Here I thought we were trying to get the locals to like us again, and yet you're giving their kids sugar."

OTA

[walkthedarkpath]

Vergil had at first ignored the festivities in favor of reading but the new found part of him desired to go out into the streets and see who he could meet. It was stange to him, the feeling of wanting to mingle, it as not how he usually was. He blamed the other side. He no longer heard the voice, nor felt anything trapped but he could feel things he never bothered with before.

Like guilt, he felt guilty for what he had done to Valdis and Gene. He did not seek them however. He just stepped out of his apartment and made his way down the steet. His hands shoved into the pockets of the long black coat. He stopped to watch some of the festivities, he was curious about the bending clearly happening randomly, but he tried not to stay in one place too long. He aimed to be a shadow more then anything.

OTA!

[needmetoo]

It was still cold out, really cold, but with much warmer clothes and a scarf and the fires about, it didn't bite nearly as hard as it had on the day she got here.

The water district so far had been just... enchanting, almost. Between the warmth of the fires, the fire and water creating plays of color and light, and the music weaving its way around her, Xion couldn't help but be slowly drawn out of her nervousness. Because at first nervous is what she was. Keeping to herself, avoiding crowds, arms wrapped around herself even as she stared around in awe.

Slowly that faded, however, and while she still doesn't approach the crowds, her posture eased and those who looked would be able to find her, spinning in time with the music, or perhaps humming along - though given the improvisational nature of the music it was hard to really keep to the "tune."

Still, it was probably the happiest she'd been since arriving here. And before that, in some ways.

[backwordscompatible]

So many people were dancing that evening. Some familiar faces, some not-so-familiar...and a young girl who seemed to loosen up with each and every spin. She looked happy; the feeling was almost infectious by the time Zatanna got around the lightly clapping her approval.

"You look like you're having fun."

[aquanimity]

After a while, Aqua has taken to wandering the district, catching snatches of different songs and beats. The candy Milyn gave her is working wonders; the warming sensation compliments the heat of the fires, beating back any residual traces of cold that would otherwise grip her. She is careful to conserve the bag, though, intending to hold on to the majority for later use, when bonfires are not nearly so plentiful.

It's during this wandering that she spots a familiar figure, some distance from the crowds, looking more cheery than Aqua had seen before. She smiles broadly and approaches, calling out to the girl when she is close.

"It looks like you're having fun." Aqua is happy to see it, too. Though Xion is still avoiding the crowds, she is certainly more relaxed than the first time they met.

[strokeofgenis]

Genis had primarily kept to some of the other districts instead of the Water District. He had wanted to see the main event up in Fire, and he had briefly walked around Earth with his sister before ducking back through the Hotel because he heard rumours about how amazing the display was over in the Water Sector. And he was not disappointed in the least.

Of course, Genis is going to have one of those glittering gumballs in his mouth, and that alongside the blankets and the fires are keeping him warm this night. Well, that and running around like any excited 12 year old would. Everything is enchanting and amazing, and he just can't help but feel exhilarated by the prospect and promise of everything.

Which is why he won't necessarily see Xion in his path as he's walking from hither to thither, and he'll accidentally bump into her.

Oof!

"Ah, I'm really sorry about that! I didn't see you there!" Genis says the moment he discovers that he bumped into a fellow foreigner instead of a kedan.

Milyn/OTA

[aquanimity]

While it certainly remains bitter and cold out, the combination of warmer clothing and the fires springing up all around make the evening far more bearable and pleasant. Aqua is enjoying herself greatly, watching the kedan joyously take part in the festivities. She's already been pulled into an impromptu dance by an enthusiastic group, who, in the atmosphere of the night, did not take issue with her being a Foreigner.

Aqua has since excused herself from the dancing, thanking the kedan for the fun, and now sits at the edge of a fountain, watching the delightful blend of flames and water. A small part of her wonders if she might be able to add to the spectacle, perhaps a burst of rainbow lights to give color to the waters. It would take a bit of concentration, but she does wish to add into the night's delights.

For the moment, though, she is fine simply watching the happiness and joy around her.

[cherrywood]

Milyn comes up behind Aqua, also watching her celebrating kinfolk around her. When there's a lull in the music, she settles a hand on Aqua's shoulder and offers her a smile and one of the bags of candy. "Yet another new arrival! How do you do, dear?"

[theideaguy]

Sokka is, for the most part, enjoying his time in the Water Sector. Here and Metal were his favourite two parts of the turtle, but still Water felt way more like home than any other part ever did. Sure it was one of the poorer districts, but he enjoyed this place in part because of that fact instead of despite it. Most of Sokka's own friends are here as well, having finally agreed to go out together as a group, but Sokka's taken a moment away from them and approaches a fountain out in the open, and that happens to be the one that Aqua happens to be at.

He blinks for a moment before recognising who it is before him, and immediately he goes over and seats himself next to her.

"You certainly came to the Shell just in time for the festivities," Sokka says with a rather large grin. "I have to say you timed your arrival much better than I did."

milyn + ota

[akito]

[ open ]

For all that Akito likes any opportunity that arises where he can be loud without the fear of retaliation for it buzzing in the back of his mind, he stays silent while exploring the Water Sector. His sensitive sense of hearing makes every song that much more lively to his ears, though every mistake in pitch causes him to cringe just a bit - moreso if the note is sharp. It's loud and crowded and he's by himself (Bird had decided to take refuge in their apartment not long after arriving in the sector, leaving Akito without his feathered company) and usually he would be uncomfortable; worried that he might get knocked over and trampled if he wasn't careful, or overwhelmed byy being around so many people.

And he is uncomfortable, but not unbearably so. The crowds are manageable, and Akito can block out the noise when it gets to be too much for him. He finds himself lingering by any music with strong percussion or any resemblance to bird song, humming along under his breath with near perfect pitch. When he was younger he used to like singing. But then things changed and he was scared to make too much noise growing up, and ever since then Akito has stuck to humming quiet notes to himself whenever he felt the need for music or sound.

The music is worth any amount of discomfort Akito feels, not realizing how much he missed being surrounded by it. iPods and mp3 players were something he took for granted before, but if he ever has the chance to use one again in the future he'll remember just how much duller life was without it.


[ milyn! ]

One of the main reasons Akito ventured to the Water Sector had been to greet Milyn. He hadn't really spoken to her before, and since he awoke from the year long slumber Akito can't recall seeing her at all apart from the occasional random passing. It isn't that he begrudges her - quite the opposite, in fact - but something about her makes him... Not sad, but something similar? And he can never pinpoint why. Perhaps because she's so kindhearted and caring, and so giving even when the other kedan are not? And all she gets in return for it seems to be the undercurrent of betrayal by her people. Though he thinks (hopes?) that as things are improving between the kedan and the foreigners that things have improved tenfold for Milyn as well.

When Akito finally spots the Cherrywood Healer he walks up to her with only the slightest hesitation, not wanting to take up her time if she's busy yet also desiring to thank her for tending to him and the others during their slumber.

"Miss Milyn?"

[cherrywood]

Milyn beams at Akito, both pleased to see him and at the polite address. "Hello Akito," she answered, because she knew all the Foreigners thoroughly, regardless of how often they spoke to her. "Are you enjoying the night? It's quite a sight, isn't it?"

Milyn/OTA

[michaeljangelo]

The weather had been hard on Mike. Almost as hard as the loss of his last cousin.
Almost, but not quite. He was slower in the cold, and the magic warming rocks from before were gone.
Everything was gone.
All that was left for Mike was survival. Scrounging food where no one would miss it, stealing warmth where he could find it, and finding shelter anywhere out of the way and vaguely safe.

This new status quo would find him keeping as far away from large groups of people as he could, but the bonfires were too tempting. The warmth that radiated was too hard to just dismiss.

As was the draw of the candy that he'd overheard warmed you from the inside.
He needed one of these gumballs. The question then became: how would he get one?

[cherrywood]

Milyn is clapping along with a particularly spirited rendition of a kedanese folk song being performed by some of the others, but there is empty seat next to her on the bench.