[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.

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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

[needmetoo]

When the Keyblade appeared in Aqua's hand, Xion's eagerness had turned to pure shock as she'd gasped aloud. So great was her surprise she even took another step or two back. And all this before the light show had even begun.

By the time it was done, her eyes were even wider. It was beautiful and amazing and unlike anything she'd ever even seen. She hadn't known that Keyblade wielders could do that and now a part of her was itching to try it for herself... though she had no idea where to even begin.

Still, as much as she wants to speak, to comment on how amazing that was, to ask how she did that. She's still struck dumb, eyes darting over to the Keyblade with a shocked familiarity.

[aquanimity]

Whatever reaction Aqua had been expecting, it was not the shocked look Xion wore. She frowned, and walked over to the girl, Keyblade resting at her side. "Xion? Is something wrong?"

Had she gone overboard with the magic? Xion had spoken of visiting other worlds like herself, she had simply assumed the girl knew of magic as well, but what if it had been overwhelming to her? Or... she followed Xion's gaze to the Keyblade in her hand. Or did it have to do with the weapon she held?

[needmetoo]

"I..." Xion swallowed, glancing again over at the Keyblade Aqua held. How to explain this? She... Aqua had to know what it was she held, didn't she? So there was no reason for Xion to point that out.

The Keyblade had been described as so unique and special, within the Organization. Only she and Roxas could wield it, and that was why she and Roxas - or Roxas at least, she was just a mistake - were essential.

But still if it was so rare a thing... maybe the easiest thing to do was... well...

Xion took half a step back, to make sure there was enough room. Then lifting her hand, she tugged on that little connection to her power.

Kingdom Key appeared in her hand in a flash of light.

[aquanimity]

Aqua couldn't help her own startled gasp. A Keyblade wielder. Just like herself. It was almost impossible to believe, and yet there was no denying the weapon that Xion held was a Keyblade. Not one Aqua had ever seen before, but a Keyblade nonetheless.

"You wield the Keyblade too," she murmured softly, mostly to herself.

Her mind was whirling now. They'd arrived on the same day, and both bore the Keyblade... could that mean something? She hardly knew anything about Xion's past. So many questions... she didn't know where to begin, or what to ask without coming on too strong.

Aqua dispelled the Master's Defender in a flurry of light, then bent down to reach eye-level with Xion. Tentatively she held out her hand to the girl's Keyblade. "May I?"

[needmetoo]

At Aqua's request, Xion was unable to keep a very real flicker of anxiety from crossing her face. Her grip tightened on the grip a bit convulsively. The imposter had been the last person to hold it, examine it like Aqua was requesting to.

He'd called it a sham. She'd hated him for it at the time but... now she knew. She was just a puppet. A replica. Not even real. Would Aqua hold her Keyblade and realize that too?

For a few seconds passed until she finally nodded, reaching forward to place the Keyblade in Aqua's hand. That done she drew back, face set in a cringe, dreading the young woman's reaction.

[aquanimity]

Aqua waited patiently for Xion to decide, nodding in thanks when the girl finally handed the Keyblade to her. Her eyes rested on Xion for a moment longer, face drawn into a frown of concern for the girl's response, before she turned her attention to the Keyblade in her hands.

It looked like a Keyblade. It had been summoned like a Keyblade. But something was... off. She held the blade vertically and ran her hand along it, puzzled by the power she could feel that was different and yet at the same time very similar to that within her own Keyblade, or that of her friends'. Briefly Aqua's brow furrowed in confusion before she looked back to Xion, the Keyblade resting in her hands.

She didn't know what to make of it. There was power there, very real, and yet not quite right. And also... a sliver of familiarity? Almost the same as what she'd felt when she'd first seen Xion's face. Who was Xion, really?

Aqua offered the Keyblade back to the girl, mind whirling through the possibilities. Nothing was coming up, nothing in her master's teachings about Keyblades that weren't quite right. Her master's teachings. Her master.

"Xion, who is your master?" Maybe that would shed some light on the situation.

[needmetoo]

Unfortunately, Aqua's question was met with the cringe on Xion's face trading places with surprise. Tilting her head faintly to the side, Xion merely stared at Aqua, nonplussed - and maybe a slightly curious.

"Master?" she said, hesitantly. There was still an edge of unease there, but it was much less pronounced.

[aquanimity]

Aqua blinked, confusion settling on her face. "Your master - the Keyblade master who is teaching you and guiding your training," she clarified; it was entirely possible that Xion knew such a figure by a different term.

She still couldn't help the feeling of doubt, though. The girl's expression didn't lend itself to shaking her concerns that Xion had very little proper experience with such a powerful weapon.

[needmetoo]

The confusion was rapidly developing into bewilderment.

"I..." she paused, wrapping her arms around herself, self-conscious of the fact that some of the nearby kedan - who'd been awed by Aqua's performance - were doubtless watching them out of the corners of their eyes.

She lowered her voice a little. "The Organization taught me how to fight but... I've never... had a Master, or anything like that... It's always been just Roxas and me."

And belatedly, knowing who and what she was... if there were any Masters she'd probably never have gotten one anyway.

[aquanimity]

The Organization? Aqua had no idea what that could mean, but it wasn't as important as the revelation that Xion had been granted the burden of being a wielder with no proper guidance. It had always been Aqua's dream, ever since she could remember, to be a Keyblade Master in her own right, a dream she had achieved, but the path had been far from easy, and for someone so young to have no instruction at all aside from how to fight....

Aqua straightened, consternation written across her face. "Does Roxas also have a Keyblade?" she asked, though given the phrasing the answer was already evident.

[needmetoo]

Glancing up at Aqua, Xion nodded. She hesitates, wondering if she should mention so many of the other things involved - them having the same keyblade, losing hers for a time. But ultimately she holds off, for now.

"And... we don't really know, about anybody else."

Except... Sora, she thinks. But Sora was such a mystery it was hard to know where to begin with that.

[aquanimity]

"I see." Two Keyblade wielders, untrained save for basic combat, and an 'Organization' that sounded as though it never saw fit to help either beyond simple fighting skills.

It was so far from what she knew: all Keyblade wielders she knew had either been Masters themselves or pupils to one. Even Vanitas could have been considered an apprentice to Xehanort, albeit in a very twisted mentor and student situation.

The kedan who had been watching had begun slowly drifting away, and the music was noticeably softer than before. Aqua looked at the night sky; what to do about this revelation?

[needmetoo]

Xion waited, nervous about anything else Aqua might have to add. However when she didn't immediately reply, Xion looked up at her, then around, observing their surroundings for a few moments.

"It's getting quiet," she noted at last, looking around still. Were the night's festivities coming to a close? If nothing else it was starting to get colder. Milyn's candy had started to wear off, and Xion tried to bury herself a little more thoroughly into her coat and scarf.

[aquanimity]

"It is," Aqua agreed. "The festival must be winding down." She sighed softly; this was a complication she hadn't expected, and it wasn't something she could just leave alone. Not if she wished to stay true to the title of Keyblade Master. But what to do?

The way Xion huddled down into her coat seemed to shake Aqua from her musings. It wasn't hard to figure out the reason: Aqua herself noticed now the cold returning as the candy's effects wore off.

She pulled out the bag again, pulling out two more candies, and held one out. "Here. Why don't we go and enjoy the last part of the celebrations?"

Tomorrow, she could figure out what to do about this situation. Tonight, they could enjoy the rest of the evening.

[needmetoo]

Xion accepted the candy with a word of thanks, popping it into her mouth gratefully. Warmth soon spread over her again, easing some of the nervousness and tension from a few moments ago. She nodded quickly at Aqua's question, falling into step beside her to make their way back to the more crowded streets.

"Your magic really was pretty," she added.

Something she sincerely wished that she could do too. Not that pretty alone would've been useful back home but... it would've felt nice to be able to do...