[Open Mingle] End of Summer Lucky-Pot

[darkestbefore]

Who: Anyone and Everyone!
When: September 22nd
Where: Cnoc Áine
What: It is the final day of Summer and the first day of Fall so the Temple of Áine, the Irish Goddess of Summer, throws one last picnic to bid her season farewell. All are welcome, as long as they bring a dish for the lucky-pot potluck.


[ To celebrate the final day of Summer, the Temple of Áine has gone all out, decorated in vibrant shades of red and gold that already accent the hint of leaves that are changing outside the temple grounds. Although inside the walled temple, it still seems like a beautiful summer day, the leaves on the trees still a bright vibrant green. The picnic is set up in the large orchard that spreads within the temple, the trees' boughs heavy with brightly-hued apples of every flavor and crispness.

Blankets and tables are scattered beneath the trees and in the clearing at the center, several long tables are set up to be filled with dishes brought by guests. Yona has supplied some of it herself, with the help of some friends. Several roasts, carefully sliced and carved for guests. A large platter of corn still on the cob. Several types of breads, seasoned with fruits or vegetables from the summer seasons or the harvest. And apples, of course - those seem to be here and there and everywhere; in pies, sliced and paired with peanut butter or caramel or other dips, made into a buttery spread for the loaves of bread. No matter what people bring to add to the potluck, there will be plenty of food to go around, as well as wine and ciders generously offered to go with it.

There is music playing in the background, just to set the mood or for people to dance to, and the pools of water are still warm enough for people to take a soak or swim in. And when the sun sinks and the sky darkens and the air grows a little cooler, a large bonfire is lit, with hot cocoa passed around and the makings for s'mores set out for anyone who wants to have a little dessert after their feasting. One last offering to a fading summer until it comes around again. ]

Comments

Alibaba | OTA

[flamebearer]

[ While he didn't know this goddess personally, Hitsugaya had decided to come and so Alibaba had ended up coming as well, helping to carry some of the food they'd brought and setting it out on the long tables already filling up with food.

He spends most of the day sampling and trying a little bit of everything, because there are so many types of food here he's not sure he's ever seen before and he really does try to go for one of everything.

At some point, his curiosity gets the better of him, going to wander through the orchards before stumbling across the herd of horses and walking among them with a bright grin as he feeds them a few apples. Eventually, he ends up near the pools of water. Since walking had left him feeling a little too warm, he kicks off his shoes and wades in a little, enjoying the feel of the cooler water on his skin.

When darkness falls, he too can be found beside the fire, roasting marshmallows and trying a s'more for the very first time. And finding it amazing. And also sticky, since he ends up with gooey marshmallow all over his fingers, but he still looks delighted about the treat and keeps making more. ]

[lostinshadows]

Enjoying those s'mores?

[There's a hint of laughter in his voice when he comes up to Alibaba, looking at the blond in amusement as he takes in the gooey marshmallow he has all over his fingers.]

[flamebearer]

'Dese are amazing!

[ Guess who also has a mouthful of them?

That would be an emphatic yes, Lavi. ]

Have you had these?

[lostinshadows]

Definitely.

[But he looks amused.]

Might wanna take your time eating those. Otherwise you're just going to get marshmallow goo all over yourself.

[flamebearer]

[ Alibaba waves the bag of marshmallows at him. ]

Want some? THere's plenty!

[lostinshadows]

Thanks.

[He accepts the bag.]

You haven't been eating these all night, have you?

Re: Alibaba | OTA

[handsome_genius]

... Alibaba?

[Yes, that's definitely him. He hasn't seen Hitsugaya yet but he walks on over - curious more than upset.]

Ah... nice of you to come!

[He's technically part of the hosting party so trying to get the manners out of his pocket.]

[flamebearer]

[ Alibaba blinks at the phrasing of that welcome, looking a little confused by it. ]

Yoon? Yeah, I came with Hitsugaya, he's here somewhere. Did he invite you along, too? [ Alibaba would have assumed so, since they were both now his shinki. But Alibaba didn't know much about the arrangements Yoon had been making beyond that. ]

[handsome_genius]

Huh? No, not at all. I was already here.

[He looks a bit confused.]

... Do you remember how I asked Hitsugaya if he'd be okay with me having three gods including him? One of them I mentioned was Yona.

[He points up at the top of the temple.]

This place is hers. I don't remember much yet, but we're from the same place. She's, well... important.

[To him, to basically everyone, as a friend, as a princess... as a rarity among his impressions of gods early on...]

[flamebearer]

[ Alibaba blinks at him. And then at the large temple hosting the potluck. ]

Well, damn. You come from the same place as someone like this? [ He's heard that sometimes shinki can remember things but to actively go seeking out those memories is bad. This is the first time he's come across another shinki who's spoken of it, actually. ] Isn't that... dangerous, though?

But I guess it's still good if you remember someone is important, though. [ A pause, as he tries to figure out what Yoon means by that before grinning at the other shinki. ] How important, by the way?

[ Yoon, are you in love with a goddess? ]

[handsome_genius]

[ He waves his hand dismissively. ]

Yona comes from a place like this. She's a princess. I'm nothing of the sort.

[ Even as a shinki, based on that one memory with Ik-su he's just... really confident saying that. ]

But apparently we traveled together, that's all. I remembered enough that being around her so much isn't nearly as scary as it used to be.

[ He gestures up his arms and neck. ]

I got blight all up here once - but it wasn't Yona's fault, it was someone else. She's never done that to me. Still... that's why helping out at other temples is probably good for me.

[hellskitchen]

[ After eating all that food, Rin feels like he needs to take a break. So he decides to take a walk around the temple. This temple is a lot different from Add's, so it's really refreshing to walk around, and not find yourself in some weird dark dimension for countless hours.

He takes to dipping his feet in the water as well, when he sees Alibaba come up. Rin decides to greet the newcomer by playfully splashing him with some water.]

Oops! My hand slipped!

[Though if Alibaba is not into playing, Rin's willing to stop and just relax by the water.]

[flamebearer]

[ It comes as a surprise, but as it feels good, Alibaba ends up laughing rather than getting mad, approaching the other person with a crooked grin. ]

That was a hell of a slip. I don't think I believe you.

[hellskitchen]

No, really! It was a total accident!

[Though, it's hard to believe Rin when he's grinning impishly at the other shinki. He starts pretending that he doesn't have control over his arms. Flailing about and making his arms, wiggle and contort as if they are going beserk.]

Oh no! It's happening again!

[They've got a mind of their own! So Rin can't stop them from scooping up more water and splashing Alibaba some more.]

Yeah, that's also not on purpose.

[flamebearer]

[ Alibaba gets a faceful of water this time and ends up sputtering in mock outrage. But it also gives him the opportunity to flail around a bit in return. Oh hoi, maybe whatever the guy has, it's catching. Or maybe Ali's just a clutz.

Either way, he ends up staggering into the guy at just the right angle to potentially knock him into the pools if he isn't careful. ]

Oops...!

[hellskitchen]

Woah!

[ Alibaba does manages to knock Rin into one of the pools, and he falls head first into the water. Taking a few moments to re-surface. Rin shakes his head back and forth to get the excess water out of his hair.

Luckily, Rin is a good sport and is still smiling after that.] Good one!

But, be careful! I hear there's this pool dweller that drags random people into the water with them. He's a really tricky dude.

[ While he has Alibaba distracted by his words, the drenched shinki goes for other's ankles. If he manages to catch Alibaba, he might just yank him down into the pool with him.]

[bartenderizing]

[ Alibaba would notice the guy from having been able to help with moving all the food and getting it where it was needed without any trouble. Not just what he and Hitsugaya brought, but the contributions from other guests as there was bound to be a couple that couldn't go up the stairs and carry the food (or drinks) they had brought.

Shizuo only noticed the mess of chocolate and melted marshmallow on the teen. ]

You've, uh... Got something. Kind of everywhere. Did you manage to do anything other than eat while here?

[ Not that he expected many people to do more than that, actually. Some residents were bottomless pits or food hoarders. ]

[flamebearer]

[ Considering Alibaba's hair is still damp from an impromptu wrestling match into the pools earlier, that would be a yes. But he just gives the blond a grin and finishes munching on the marshmallow he'd just roasted. ]

Yeah! This temple is awesome! [ At least he swallowed before answering? ] But the food was really good, though. And so much of it! I don't even know half of what any of it was, but it tasted good?

[bartenderizing]

[ Given how some people came armed with water guns, he could've been a poor victim for all he knew. Actually looking at the kid, he notices the scars on that one arm- huh. Looks like he tried wrestling something with pretty damn big teeth. It also looked old enough that the kid didn't really know what it was from. ]

Yeah, I didn't know what some of the food was either. Guess that's just what happens when you've got so many people from different worlds.

[flamebearer]

Yeah, maybe. But that's what makes it fun, right? [ He still wasn't sure he understood much about the whole 'different worlds' thing, but he wasn't sure how much of that actually applied to him anyway so he wasn't too worried. he had his hands full enough with looking after his god, in his opinion, and they weren't supposed to think too much on 'before'.

But he glances up at the guy and waves the bag of marshmallows in offering at him. ] Want some? There's plenty!

[yasei]

[ Obi feels pretty familiar with horses, so seeing some, as he goes exploring, is nice. And there's another person there, too! ]

Are you keeping the horses company, Mister Alibaba?

[flamebearer]

[ He starts a little, peering around the mare he'd been feeding to grin at the familiar face. ]

Hey, Obi! I wondered if you were still around. Yeah, I guess. I didn't realize there were so many out here. What about you?

[yasei]

That I am~ Hello hello~

[ He waves because, why not? And grins. ]

There are a surprising amount of temples with horses around, it's nice. But I don't know if that's to be expected or not.

[flamebearer]

Well... Maybe there were just a lot of gods of those? People like horses.

[ It makes sense in his mind, at least. It's not so far-fetched that a horse is one of the animals associated with a few of the gods. Maybe especially the war ones? Although he doesn't know what half these gods are actually the gods of yet, so... ]

How've you been? Did you find your god and get all settled in? I don't think I've seen you since our first day.

[yasei]

That would make sense, horses are useful and have been around forever.

[ Not forever, but what does he know about this worlds history....or his own. ]

I have been all over the place, I guess I forgot to say hi when I saw you in passing.

[ Because he's mostly been in the shadows. ]

And I found him! He's pretty funny.