[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

[hellskitchen]

I guess...

[Thinking about it, Rin can understand the distrust. The new gods and shinki who arrive into this new environment, and you can't be sure if they're reliable. Maybe their set of priorities are different. And it doesn't guarantee that revealing everything will get the newcomers to rally behind them. It's taking that risk that they probably want to avoid.]

They don't. But I think they should give us a chance, to prove whether we can be trusted or not. I'm sure some of us might be willing to help, and be of use.

[mithrarin]

Look at it from their perspective. A bunch of random people just showed up to take the positions of 'real' gods. I -- I can't even come up with a good analogy for what that would be like for us, but they're different. They're not, well, human, but suddenly all the people they're surrounded with are...

[Dust shakes his head, well aware he's not communicating what he really thinks very effectively.]

I don't blame them. But then again, I don't think much of a lot of what they've done, either. They may have good reasons for what they're doing, but I'm not saying they're good people.

[hellskitchen]

[ Rin understands what Dust is trying to say, even if the other shinki doesn't finish his thought. He gets the gist of it. The older gods don't know whether they can be trusted. The new gods are totally different from who and what they know, so it's only natural to be estranged.]

It's like we're aliens! Invaders from another world, and they're not sure if we come in peace, or we've come to take over the place.

[That's the best analogy, Rin can offer. He runs a hand through his dark hair.]

Well, I guess time will tell. You seem to know more about them than I do. I was just expressing my frustration from more of an outsider's standpoint. I honestly haven't interacted with any of them. Maybe the older gods will come around, but it seems it will be on their own time and terms.

[mithrarin]

Those terms worry me, considering how they treat their own. [Though Dust nods to all of Rin's comments, his agreement is tempered by his own frustrations and concerns.] And what will come of it.

[hellskitchen]

Well we can't control that. For now, we just have to do our best, and maybe they will come around.

[ Rin returns to his plate of food, some of the items have become cold from their conversation.]

[mithrarin]

And if not, or if they prove to be dangerous or... Well, I hope it doesn't come to the point where we have to do something about it.

[hellskitchen]

I don't think we stand much of a chance against the older gods, if we were to fight against them. Aren't they like ancient deities?

[If they were to fight against them, then it would pretty hard. The newer gods are more incline to work together, but would they really be any match? Can't the older gods gain power from being of their country of origin too?]

[mithrarin]

Yeah. And people keep wondering why I insist no one else has to do it if I end up having to... [Dust lets out a harsh little breath, exasperated with his friends in that moment.]

[hellskitchen]

Huh? You plan on fightin' them?!

[ And from what it sounds like, he means...alone?! Rin's curious of why Dust must sacrifice himself, so no else has to deal with it? Are things really so bad here?]

[mithrarin]

I don't want to. But if they truly are heartless, and so detached that they'll allow, they'll encourage the suffering of both the living on the Near Shore and their own kind...

[hellskitchen]

If it comes down to it, I can understand why you would. But I don't think you should do it alone. There's probably a lot of people here who feel the same way, and would want to do something about it,too.

[mithrarin]

[Dust smiles faintly beneath his hat, no real humor in the expression.]

Really? How many people here would want to take down the old gods? For the right reasons, not just because they feel like they've been slighted or mistreated.

[hellskitchen]

If the old gods are really unjust, I think you'd be surprised how many people would be willing to do so. Some people do fight for what's right, but it shouldn't be a witch hunt either. There has to be enough proof that the old gods no longer need to hold their positions.

[mithrarin]

[Dust holds silent for a moment, the only sign of his anger and intensity the way one hand slowly tightens into a fist. The fur hides the tension in his muscles, there's no white knuckles the way a human would show.]

Then where's the outrage over what we know already?

[hellskitchen]

[Rin can definitely tell that the air is tense, not so much that the anger is towards him, but Dust seems pretty frustrated.]

I'm kinda out of the loop, but if something did happen, then it's strange no one's doing anything about it.

[Were they scared, or did they not want to pick a side? Rin's not sure what the whole story is.]

[mithrarin]

Did you miss the festival that celebrated the one time a year she's allowed to be with her husband, then? Because even if you did, plenty of other people were around for it.

[hellskitchen]

That sounds like Tanbata.

[ Rin knows of it since it's a holiday celebrated in his world, but...] Though I definitely missed it. I only arrived like a week ago.

[It's certainly towards the end of September now.]

[mithrarin]

Yeah. That's the one. A big old celebration... for the one time a year Orihime is allowed to see her husband. How is that fair? How is anything about that right?

[hellskitchen]

Huh? [ Was Dust really mad about Orihime and Hikoboshi? Their legends must be ancient. The separation of the two lovers is unfair, but it's not quite as malicious as the other believes.]

Is that what bothers you? You know they've been doing this for thousands of years now. It sucks, but they make it work. That's why Tanabata is such a big deal, since everyone is rooting for the lovers to be reunited, even if it's for one day.

[Though as a human, there are things you celebrate once a year, and it doesn't take away from that particular day. It makes it even worthwhile to participate.]

[mithrarin]

So you think... a punishment that has lasted thousands of years, separating a woman from the person she loves, is okay because it makes for a good holiday?

[Dust is always quiet intensity. Which makes him actually being quietly intense as sharp as a sword, and about as dangerous.]

No chance that punishment will ever be lifted? No hope for improvement? Just one day, every year, for all time?

[hellskitchen]

Someone's suffering doesn't make for a good holiday, but the reunion of the two lovers does! You don't have to twist my words around! I never really focused on her work as a weaver as a punishment?

[ Didn't Hikoboshi and Orihime both abandon their duties when they were married? Isn't that why they've been sentenced to only seeing each other, once a year?

Though Dust seems really passionate about this. Rin doesn't understand the source of anger. From knowing the legend, he doesn't really see the injustice, since both parties seem to accept the terms, and have done so for thousands of years without rebelling.]

You make it sound like she's really unhappy with the terms set? Did you talk to her personally,or something?

[mithrarin]

She's... used to it. She accepts it as her fate, after all this time. That's what makes this all the worse -- she's been laboring under this punishment so long that she doesn't remember anything else.

It's not a punishment any more. Not when there's no hope of reform. It's just an eternity of suffering for a mistake!