Event | Sinbrilee | Bacchanal

[ironwood]

Characters: Any and all!
Date: August 24 - 30th
Location: Sinbrilee
Situation: An ancient festival of an ancient city, all are welcome at the Bacchanal!
Warnings/Rating: Please label threads as appropriate.

Death and destruction cannot curtail the single most important festival celebrated by the denizens of Sinbrilee: The Bacchanal! The ghosts in and about the city have begun to gossip about high fashion and festivities, sending any that inquire to the Amphitheatre -- a grand, circular structure nestled in the west side of the city.

This structure bore the fall of Sinbrilee and the wear of time with dignity, having lost handfuls of archways and one long stretch of wall to crumbling decay. Despite this, it is obvious that the amphitheatre once hosted many a display and every more festivities than the mind can grasp. This was their solace and safety; here is where the people of Sinbrilee came to find the mind's escape from all that threatened them and their great turtle.

Ghosts have been busy throughout the week, clearing paths through debris and hanging great cloth banners of soft blues and greens to disguise the more blatant signs of its decline. Many hundreds of them shimmer and slid through the area, providing for tables upon tables of food, offering drink, and overseeing competition of sport and skill (some even denying death's non-corporeal curse to enter).

Here, well... Here is where the party begins!

Food & Drink | Music, Discussions, & Dancing | Wrestling & Competitions

Comments

[parallels]

You make up for any difficulties with charming kindness.

[And she does. Her head quickly drops to rest on his shoulder, near the crook of his neck. She should feel embarrassed being carried around like a little kid and she would if she weren't so sick and exhausted. There's plenty of time for embarrassment later.

At least now she's grateful for that dodgy ring of his.]

[imaginate]

[Now I'm charming? he wonders, and says nothing. It's a vicious thought, and it doesn't belong in his heart.]

[The early morning air is cool, and fresh, the lights few, but bright. There're no ghosts, they must have wandered off in search of other people. His paranoia says it's too eerie. His confidence says he can take anything that attacks them.]

[He hums softly as he walks, a jazz tune.]

[parallels]

[Clara shivers in the cool air and presses herself closer to Kyle as if to borrow his warmth. However, the clean air and the cool feeling on her face is helping her feel less nauseous. When Kyle hums the tune, there's a moment where he reminds her of her father, carrying her back from a long day at Blackpool beach. She misses him.]

Kyle, you really don't have to take me home. I can walk. You shouldn't have to help me.

[Not after earlier. At first she'd been too drunk, too overwhelmed to realize what had happened. But then after she went back to be alone, she'd realized Kyle's change in demeanor. She'd said something wrong. Just like with Jim. That was the rub really. Once you get in close, mistakes and words are so much more painful than if they're just a friendly acquaintance]

[imaginate]

[I don't have to, but that's exactly why I will.]

That's really not what you say to a friend.

[It's a gentle chastisement. Him - he hasn't had much in the way of friendship, they leave or they die too fast for anything significant, but that doesn't mean he's unaware what it's supposed to be like. Kyle's spent all of his time making his life match an ideal as much as he can, ignoring its cost, because what matters is keeping to the principle, and keeping it alive.]

[parallels]

[His words sting even if they're not supposed to. She knows she's getting this wrong and she wants nothing more to fix it or to get better. But she always stumbles. Always falls and ends up back at the bottom.

Hot tears burn at her eyes. She'll blame the drink because she's really not a crier if she can help it. She reaches up to wipe them away and emits a noise between a sob and a laugh.]

Done it again, haven't I? I keep getting it wrong. Clever Clara, can do maths and read faster than anyone but doesn't know how to properly do... this. It's really terribly embarrassing.

[This: friendship, intimacy, and love.]

[imaginate]

Hey - hey, none of that.

[A construct hand wipes them away at the corner of her eyes, its touch butterfly-light, barely there.]

Nobody really knows how to get it right. [A short, clear laugh.] Unless you're my brother.

[parallels]

[She shivers a little at the strange touch before reaching up to rub her eyes. He's right, it's no reason to be upset.]

Well, maybe he's rubbed off on you.

[Because you're a damn good friend Kyle.]

[imaginate]

[He laughs again, blushing slightly. A sincere compliment. He struggles with accepting it as it is.]

Maybe he did.

[parallels]

He did.

[She leans her head against his shoulder.]

I'm sorry about earlier. You don't have to talk about it or anything. I just... I'm sorry.

[imaginate]

[He goes tense. She didn't mean it, but this. Makes it worse. He's not forgiving. He doesn't forget.]

It's okay.

[No, that's a lie.]

Well, it's not. It hurt. But you didn't mean it.

[parallels]

I know it isn't.

[She sniffs and moves to wipe her face.]

I just. I just always tend to...

I don't open up or say yes right away. I just... can't. It's not you. It's really not. Usually, it's better with you.

[She guards herself. She won't admit it, even to herself, but that's what it is.]

[imaginate]

Don't apologise for that. I don't, either.

[They have that in common. He adjusts, lifts his real hand to wipe her face. How's she staying in the same position? Ring magic!]

Too many people in my world see being open as a weakness, and exploit it.

[Like Jim, he prefers to let them see what they want, and his trick has always been hiding in plain sight rather than daring them to contradict it.]

[parallels]

And even then. People change. Say things that hurt. Leave.

[Just like her mother left. Just like her friends at school changed and left her behind. Like how the Doctor will leave her behind someday.]

[imaginate]

[Quietly:] And we just go on.

[He runs a hand through her hair, shoulders sinking.]

Sucks to be us, huh.

[parallels]

Suppose so.

[She shifts to wrap her arms around his neck.]

But it could be worse. All the nightmares, the Doctor being here, dreams. Could have to deal with all that alone.

[She might not share everything. Or even anything sometimes. But just knowing Jim, Kyle, and Rose are there to catch her is a comfort.]

[imaginate]

Already had to do it once. Not a fan, I can tell you.

[He flashes her a wide grin.]

Hey. Wanna fly? Not fast, just being up in the air.

[parallels]

I'll pinch you if I get airsick.

[With a grin. So that's a yes.]

[imaginate]

[He leaps lightly in mid-air, and then, without warning, takes off. The wind increases in strength, whipping through their hair, but it's not cold, they both have a protective forcefield in case of insects.]

The lights are so far down.

[parallels]

It's pretty.

[She tightens her grip around his neck as she watches the lights of the city get smaller and smaller. It's pretty and thrilling. Her stomach flip flops slightly, but it settles soon.]

Thank you for taking me home, Kyle.