[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

[mithrarin]

[Dust's sense of humor is not at its most radiant right now, so the lack of comment is really for the best.]

It's ice cream. Maybe not quite the right style for the party, but... it's ice cream. [And that's enough in and of itself.]

[handsome_genius]

Why wouldn't it be the right style for the party?

[He rubs at his neck.]

I've only ever seen it in a bowl with chocolate and that was one time a few months ago.

[mithrarin]

I mean... [Dust motions to the tables.] Everything else looks cooked and prepared, like a proper meal. I just... showed up with stuff I bought in big plastic cartons.

[handsome_genius]

Yeah but that's how this stuff stays fresh, isn't it? I only had it the one time, but it's best cold! So you brought it the right way to enjoy.

[He's kind of stoked about the concept of desserts.]

[mithrarin]

Could've homemade it though. Maybe that's what I ought to learn to do...

[Well, now his thoughts are on a dangerous path.]

[handsome_genius]

[As far as Yoon's concerned, this stuff is basically made with magic. Technological magic but certainly not something he imagined he could do on his own.]

There's a way to make this yourself? I hadn't thought that was possible... Ah! Wait! You must have to use that refrigerator!

[Which is a BLESSING to a cook.]

[mithrarin]

I'm sure there's a way. Not that I know what it is, but why else do we have phones that can find the answer to pretty much any question?

[Dust spins his phone out of his pocket, pretty much unable to just grab the thing without style, and unlocks it to start a search.]

[handsome_genius]

Oh. Right.

[Damnit he always forgets that their phones can do that.]

[mithrarin]

[And Dust doesn't. He may not understand technology that well, but he can use it. Never forgo a potential resource.]

Oh, this is convenient. You can just get an ice cream maker. Put in the ingredients and let it do the work...

[handsome_genius]

That must be such an expensive machine if it can do all of that and not need any additional steps!

[He's imagining something as big as a stove.]

[mithrarin]

No, no, there's mixing and some other stuff, but it's what makes the ingredients into... [Dust trails off with a slight, confused frown.] Salt? I'm not getting something here.

[handsome_genius]

Well, if there's something to read about how it works, then that's no problem! I can read!

[This is something to be proud of where he comes from.]

[mithrarin]

[Dust isn't going to question that, merely lift his phone slightly.] Yeah, there's answers for pretty much everything you could ever want to know here. Starting with ice cream.

[handsome_genius]

What's it called? I want to read it later.

[He of course is still thinking in Book terms, but he pulls out his phone anyway. He's at least figured out how to get to the phone settings.]

[mithrarin]

Uh, it's just the searching thing. I looked for 'making ice cream'. [Dust shrugs, wishing he had better ways to express himself. Maybe learning more about these phones needs to be his next goal.]

[handsome_genius]

Searching thing. Alright.

[Even Yoon's pretty sure that's not what it's called. But okay, he'll ask Yona later.]

[mithrarin]

Look, I'm learning this all too. It's not anything I'm familiar with even subconsciously.

[handsome_genius]

Really? But you sounded like you knew a lot about it.

[How to make ice cream may as well be magic to him, after all.]

[mithrarin]

Not... I mean, I know how it works, but I don't know how it works, you know? I'm told it's like... asking a giant library, but that can't be how it really functions.

[handsome_genius]

Man, I'd much rather ask a giant library... at least then it would probably be organized in some way I wouldn't have to ask twice. I'd be able to find things on my own the second time.

[But mostly that's just him griping aloud, not mad at Dust now that he understands where Dust's coming from.]

[mithrarin]

Takes a lot more effort though. And libraries are harder to keep current. [He shrugs slightly, since neither phone nor libraries are really his thing. He's just getting by.]

[handsome_genius]

Keep... current?

[Yoon has to think about that. The phrase is what he doesn't understand.]

Like... books that are so badly damaged from age or accidents you can't read them anymore?

[mithrarin]

I mean, making sure they have the most recent answer to the question. Libraries don't talk about local restaurants if you're hungry, and the maps aren't as easy to work in the Near Shore... I wouldn't have been able to use a library to find the hundred soft-serve ice cream trucks a while back.

[handsome_genius]

Things change that fast around here...

[Yoon gets it. He's just used to a much slower pace of life.]

I'll take that into consideration from now on.

[mithrarin]

Yeah. [Dust isn't certain what a reasonable pace of change is... he has so little experience with it, after all.] The Near Shore's a fast place. I'm not sure how anyone keeps up with it... I guess they just move forward in the areas they know.