InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "It's a samsquanch!"

Aidan J. Reilly (redclayheroics) wrote in marinanova,
@ 2013-07-03 22:36:00

Entry tags:

aidan reilly, calliope-caliborn, dirk strider, euphemia li britannia, helix wamtani, hikaru hitachiin, lacus clyne, miranda lotto, sougo okita, yuuri shibuya, zelgadis greywars

225 // video+action // open
[ Closed action, Helix ]

[ He's nervous as they head down to the beach, backpack filled not only with presents but with a few choice items as well. Ritualistic. A ceremony he hasn't been a part of for years and that normally requires a month of preparations but here they are in the land of last-minute-surprises and Aidan can't pass up this opportunity. It's as close as he'll ever get to a Winter Solstice celebration ever again and although it isn't a pig being slaughtered and there's no designated boulder here, he'll do what he can with what he's got.

Hands bare and reddened by the cold, he reaches out to grab Helix's hand as they walk. Nervous. Excited. ]

[Video; open ]

Hey, y'all. Happy holidays and uh... and all that. [ Unsure if he did that right. They don't do Christmas where he's from and that's very much the point of this transmission. ] I was thinkin', I bet there's plenty of us that don't celebrate th' way the Wardens've set this up. We've got people from all over the worlds after all, it'd be weird if everyone did it just like this.

How do you do it back where you're from? Do you celebrate... Christmas or is it somethin' else?

Oh, and uh... I'll be doin' a little celebration type thing of my own down at th' beach, if anyone wants to join. Just a little somethin' from back home... bring a cup, if you're comin' down.

[ Action; open. Aidan can be found down at the beach together with Helix. They've set up a fire in one of the fire pits and anyone interested will get an introduction to the godless earth-worshipping religion that Aidan is a surprisingly devout follower of. He can also be found scurrying over the dome throughout the day, delivering GIFTS to friend and foe alike! If your character isn't on the list but has some kind of CR with Aidan, feel free to assume they got something useful and generic like a pair of gloves or a scarf! ]

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	redclayheroics 2013-07-05 05:22 pm UTC (link)
	[ He's surprised to see Cal there. Surprised, but not disappointed and perhaps he's nurturing some small hope of kindness winning out over awfulness. He smiles brightly at the cherub and stops picking at the bandage wrapped around his left hand — a bandage that is already spotted crimson where the self-inflicted wound bled through. ] You came! (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ophiuchus 2013-07-07 02:33 pm UTC (link)
	Temper your giddy glands. [Caliborn plops down close to the fire; uncomfortably close were he human, but just fine for him as a cherub.] I'm not here to sing Kumbaya. Or whatever the fuck it is that you're undoubtedly going to bore me with. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	redclayheroics 2013-07-08 07:03 pm UTC (link)
	[ That certainly dampens his mood a touch. ] I don't know what a Coombajah is, but we ain't havin' any here. If you're not gonna take this seriously, you can just go. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ophiuchus 2013-07-08 07:39 pm UTC (link)
	[Caliborn's good mood tends to work inversely to the moods of those around him. So once Aidan starts scolding, the cherub starts smirking.] Thank you for complying. [To his giddy gland demand.] Given that I walked all this way? I'm going to stay put. [He then presents his cup.] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

redclayheroics
2013-07-09 10:17 pm UTC (link)

Yeah yeah... alright. This is supposed t' be for everyone, after all. [ He pulls out a bottle of vodka from his backpack, unscrewing the cork. ] Now, I don't expect you to do what I tell ya or nothin'... I mean, it ain't your traditions after all but it'd mean a lot to me if you'd hear me out at least before I give you somethin' to drink.

Think you can do that?

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ophiuchus
2013-07-09 11:30 pm UTC (link)

[Caliborn gives him a long silent stare.]

[On one hand, it hardly seems worth it to endure for some drink he could, if he wanted to, go get himself and enjoy without some human yammering endlessly at him.]

[But on the other hand, he is also feeling too cold to leave the fireside, and thinks maybe at least he can get more fuel for being an asshole out of the deal.]

[And so, Caliborn just sort of flops over sideways on the sand, propping his head up and very unintentionally taking on A Pose.]

Whatever.

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redclayheroics
2013-07-10 09:20 pm UTC (link)

Don't worry, I'll keep it short. [ Or he'll try, at least. ]

You already know we're farmers. Th' earth is everything to us — our home, our work, th' thing that keeps us alive. We owe our lives to it and once a year, we renew our promise to take care of it just like it takes care of us.

On Crimson Eve — that's ten days before th' Solstice, but I kinda had to improvise today — we slaughter a pig, gather up its blood an' pour it over our sacrificial boulder out in th' field. [ Lifting a hand to show off the bandage. It's dappled with blood. ] If you ain't got a pig, you can just... well. You got eyes, you can see what I mean.

Then today, or on th' actual Solstice... we gather up th' whole village an' build a bonfire 'round th' sacrificial boulder. Then we spend th' night drinkin', eatin', dancin'... no rules. No work. It's all about havin' fun until around midnight we gather 'round th' bolder again. This is th' last part. Th' thing that seals th' pact for another year.

[ He pours himself some of the vodka before reaching over to give Cal some in turn. Good listening, buddy. ]

First you pour some on th' ground. Just a bit. The rest you drink.

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ophiuchus
2013-07-11 03:46 am UTC (link)

[Listening to the story was hard, and Caliborn may have made some "blah blah blah" motions at what he considers to be the less interesting points, but he did remain quiet. It wasn't a great story, but better than the lead-up to harvesting.]

[Caliborn sets his cup down in the sand so Aidan can pour, but instead of idly sitting by, he decides not to keep his hands to himself.]

[He stares at the bloody hand, and tries to grab for his wrist. No move is made to hurt Aidan further, or do anything especially awful. If he can manage to grab on, his grip his tight, but purely so that Aidan doesn't pull away.]

[Just wanting to look.]

You stabbed yourself. For a weird human death-and-drinking celebration.

That's almost. Nearly. Acceptably tough.

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redclayheroics
2013-07-12 12:38 pm UTC (link)

[ He does tense as Cal makes a grab for his hand, but doesn't try to pull away. Rule number one when caught by a feral beast — don't struggle. It'll only make it worse. Breathing even he lets the other take a good long look, even flexes his fingers some to force out a few more drops. ]

Yeah? [ And there's the smile. The surprising — even to him — beaming smile that can only come from getting a compliment he didn't even know he was yearning for. It's hard, being an average guy in a world full of superheroes and hearing that he's tough... hell, not even Helix tells him that. ]

Thanks... I appreciate it.

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ophiuchus
2013-07-13 02:31 am UTC (link)

[Caliborn rolls his eyes and lets go.]

Take your rank-smelling human blood hand back. [He picks up the cup, takes a sip of vodka-]

[If snakes could bristle or puff up, that is probably what Caliborn would be doing right now. As it is, he tenses up tight, forces down a few gulps to save face, and then spits a little into the sand for good measure.]

[He's sure that inferior human tastebuds probably can't detect how truly atrocious it tastes, but he's also wondering how the hell his sister managed to choke some down, too.]

Look. I even participated in your drink-wasting ritual.

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	redclayheroics 2013-07-13 07:26 pm UTC (link)
	[ He pulls back but keeps his eyes on Cal, stifles a burst of laughter into his vodka. It's kind of great, seeing someone choke on what is essentially lemonade compared to the rotgut they serve back home. ] You did... I guess you're one of us now. [ Smiiiiiling. ] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ophiuchus 2013-07-13 07:44 pm UTC (link)
	[Caliborn leans back at that.] What the fuck. No. Hell no. [Ticking down with his claws.] First of all. That's disgusting. Second of all. I didn't cut myself. Third- [The alcohol strikes, momentarily dazing him and he loses his argument.] -No. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	redclayheroics 2013-07-13 08:04 pm UTC (link)
	Th' cuttin' part don't matter... sharin' a drink though? Yeah, that means you're part of th' family. Didn't I mention that? [ Grin grin. ] Guess I should welcome you, huh? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ophiuchus 2013-07-13 08:16 pm UTC (link)
	Shut up. I don't got family. [Caliborn staggers to his feet. The downside of being chained up in a laboratory your whole life is that, no matter how familiar you are with the look of sand, actually standing on it is a whole other matter. Especially while drunk.] [He slips around a bit.] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	redclayheroics 2013-07-15 10:09 pm UTC (link)
	[ Not laughing. Not laughing for a second. This is not funny. Shut up. ] ...What's so bad 'bout family? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ophiuchus 2013-07-15 10:25 pm UTC (link)
	I'm not dignifying that question. With any answer. [Caliborn sways in place as he tries to figure out how to work his legs without falling over.] [And then dignifies the question while he's processing his limbs.] Your- your "cultures" and "societies." Working together. Getting along. Cherubs don't have that crap. We don't need that. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	redclayheroics 2013-07-17 06:49 pm UTC (link)
	Huh. [ A bit of a pause for effect. ] That's weird cause I could've sworn you were enjoyin' yourself whenever we did stuff together. Like... like weedin' or playin' video games at th' arcade. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ophiuchus 2013-07-17 06:51 pm UTC (link)
	[Caliborn points at him. He pauses not for effect, but to come up with the best possible rejoinder.] Shut up. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	redclayheroics 2013-07-17 07:26 pm UTC (link)
	[ Just.... obeys and grins. Gotcha. ] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ophiuchus 2013-07-17 07:28 pm UTC (link)
	[If he weren't so flustered and mad right now, Caliborn would be happy about Aidan doing what he says.] [He can't think of much else to say or do with this situation, lest he give the appearance of proving the human right, so he just gives Aidan two middle fingers (albeit awkwardly because of the cup in his hand), and then turns to walk away.] (Reply to this) (Parent)

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