[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

[akito]

Watching Yunxu leave, Akito can't help but feel moderately relieved himself; he doesn't think Yunxu is a bad person, but that doesn't mean the man's presence isn't one that unnerves him. Akito's keen eye notices Meisheng's slight change in demeanor and he keeps it in mind, though doesn't intend to pry. Instead he takes Yunxu's absence as an open invitation to take a seat next to the woman himself, tucking his knees up against his chest and pulling his large winter jacket over them. A nice cozy little ball of warmth. That is what Akito is right now.

"I wanted to thank you for your help," he says, once he's made himself comfortable. "With, um... The advice on how to get a place to live, ne? It's good to have a place of my own."

[ironrule]

"I'm glad I was helpful," says Meisheng, settling into her seat and drawing her jacket tighter around her shoulders. "And I'm glad you found a place. Do you like it there?"

Her face is, quite unconsciously, shifting its features into something not quite human and not quite animal - something soft and matronly.

[akito]

If asked to describe Meisheng's current features in words, Akito wouldn't choose matronly; soft, yes, and kind. But never having any sort of motherly figure in his life, he wouldn't know the first thing about recognizing the trait in others. He just knows that Meisheng's features are soft and kind and make him feel warm and comforted.

"It's nice! It's not very big, but it's just me and Bird, so we don't need a lot of space." Growing up in a trailer and a cage, Akito appreciates lots of space but oftentimes can find it just as daunting as having no space at all. "The location is convenient for me, and the price is affordable. It has a roof and walls and it's mine," he grins into his knees. "I like it a lot."

[ironrule]

Even Meisheng would probably admit that, wrapped in a large thick winter coat as he is, Akito is adorable. She hasn't heard of marshmallows, but that's the sort of metaphor she would no doubt employ.

"If anyone bothers you," she says, "or tries to say you shouldn't be there, come to me before you..." She searches for polite words. "... defend yourself. I'd rather resolve such situations without any party getting hurt."

[akito]

At the reminder that no, he isn't really an accepted member of Keeliai's society despite doing a good job of making a small niche for himself. The kedan are growing more tolerant of him yet tolerance is not the same as acceptance.

"...I will," he agrees slowly, thinking it over. "If someone is trying to hurt me I'll make sure not to retaliate in self-defense."

If it will help bolster better relations between him and the locals, Akito can handle a beating. And if it's just something inconsequential like vandalism there wouldn't be any reason to defend himself anyway.

[ironrule]

If only all the Foreigners could be as reasonable as their younger members seem to be. Perhaps maturity decreases with age among the Foreigners? Or perhaps rebellion against authority is universal. Meisheng doesn't have the tools or the inclination to find out.

"Thank you," she says instead. "Though I don't foresee you having any trouble. The initial rush of bad blood seems to have subsided. How is your delivery service?"

[akito]

"I hope not! The Metalworkers seem to like me enough that I shouldn't have many problems where I am," he comments, clearly quiet happy that he's gained the tolerance of most of the Stark Industry employees. While many of them won't engage him, there are more than a few that will indulge in his questions and attempts to learn. "The delivery service is going well! I have enough income that I can afford things now, ne? It was fun shopping during the last landfall."

[ironrule]

Meisheng resists the urge to ask how often the Metalworkers or Woodsmen use Akito's delivery service - Yunxu would no doubt appreciate the information, but he appreciates the service more, and while questioning isn't covered in the contract, Meisheng is reluctant to push her luck. Particularly where a child is concerned.

"I'm glad to hear it," she says simply. "And you're enjoying the bonfires, I hope?"

[akito]

He takes a moment to look around him, absorbing the colours and warmth bursting through the cold. "Mm, it's nice. Are you enjoying them too?"

[ironrule]

"More than I believed I would," Meisheng admits in a somewhat rare moment of sharing. Then she falls silent and watches the fire, a certain relaxation and small smile confirming that her silence is by no means a dismissal - or even a self-awareness of having shared too much.

[akito]

Akito watches her, curious about her relaxed demeanor. It isn't at all what he's used to from her, and he has to admit that it's a nice change. He lets the silence hang between them comfortably before speaking up again.

"Why does he make you so uncomfortable?" Realizing that it's probably a rude thing to ask, Akito backtracks a little: "Ah, I just mean that... You seem happier without him near you..."

Actually, that probably isn't the best thing to say either, so he ducks his head into the fur lining of his jacket. It isn't like Yunxu abuses her - Meisheng is too strong for that, and the man does seem to respect her, if her position is any indication. Still, first Zanru's change in mood, and now this apparent fissure in Meisheng and Yunxu's relationship? It's all so confusing.

[ironrule]

Has she been so transparent? That won't do. Meisheng laughs, as though the thought is a silly one - and on some level, it is - before tipping her head back and looking up at the sky. "Family is very important to us," she explains. "It's occasionally easy to forget when one has the entire city to think of, and I'm sometimes blinded by the responsibility. Nights like this..." She gestures to the bonfire in front of them, where kedan children are playing and their families are freely sharing a large meal. "It reminds me why I wanted the responsibility. If I seem happier, that's why."

[akito]

The two of them are family then, if he's understanding the topic change correctly. Akito peeks at her again over the lapels of his jacket, watching her watch what's going on around them. He looks to where she gestures and feels his heart simultaneously warm and clench painfully. If his family - his team - was here, they would all be doing that together, too. Akito would be surrounded by people who cared for him.

"Family is important. Family of heart, not just of blood."

He thinks of how he shares blood with Kaito but can't remember ever feeling like family with him until after everything was over. They are family of blood, and only recently back home did he become family of heart - the same amount of love as ever, but with less fear or reservations.

"I'm glad you're able to enjoy a night like tonight!"

[ironrule]

Family of heart. In principle, Meisheng agrees; family is started by love between two unrelated people, after all. But if she could understand Akito's meaning, she wouldn't agree at all. Friendship, in kedan society, is on a very different tier from family.

His enthusiasm nonetheless makes her smile. "And I you," she replies, before settling back into the companionable silence they were enjoying before.

[akito]

He chews on a smile, pleased enough with the quiet, but eventually more of the questions he's been meaning to ask come to mind and he breaks the silence. "Meisheng-san?" Akito keeps his voice quiet, not wanting to disturb the atmosphere too much. "What does the word 'daseng' mean in your dialect?"

This time he's asking just out of curiosity for the language rather than trying to pry into things he should just leave alone. Akito wonders if there's much difference between the Snakes' dialect and the Metalworkers'.

[ironrule]

"Daseng?" Meisheng gives the question some thought, her angled brow furrowed. "It sounds familiar, but I don't think it has a meaning - at least, not one I'm aware of. It might be someone's name."

For a moment, she seems content to leave the matter there; then her more usual demeanour flashes briefly and she sits up, turning a curious gaze on Akito. "Why?"

[akito]

It's strange that the Metalworkers would be more familiar with a certain word than the Snakes, but interesting at the same time. "Ah... I saw the word somewhere, and I've been trying to learn the language! And I haven't been able to figure out exactly what it means."

Not a lie, really, and so Akito doesn't feel guilty at all for his reply.

"I asked a Metalworker and got an answer, but they also said it had different meanings depending on the dialect. I didn't realize there were many different dialects in Keeliai!"