anita_hero | Second Spell // Written

[Anita debates what form her post should take for a long moment, but in the end, the answer is obvious: she's a little nervous at the prospect of hosting her first St. John's Eve party, something that constitutes a big responsibility in her world, so a written post will seem most confident and allow her to edit as she goes.

With that in mind, she opens her journal to a fresh page and picks up a pen:]

Hey, everyone. As some of you may know, St. John's Eve is coming up on the 23rd of this month. What you may not know is that where I grew up in the Louisiana bayou, we liked to celebrate with a big bonfire, lots of food, and all our friends and family.

Of course, I won't be able to make it back to the bayou this year, so in the interest of sharing culture and having a good time, I thought I'd host my own celebration here in Luceti. There'll be a bonfire, I'll set up some music - if anyone's interested in providing live music for fun or for compensation, please let me know ASAP so we can work something out - and we'll have a whole lot of traditional Creole food, which, if you haven't tried it, allow me to assure you is delicious.

Most St. John's Eve celebrations in the Vodoun style involve religious ceremonies, the cleansing of bad spirits and sacrificial chickens and stuff, but because I doubt there are many other vodouists in the community (and due to a similar lack of live chickens), we'll probably skip most of that. I think the gods will forgive me on the grounds that I'm currently not on the right planet. However, if anyone's interested in what goes on at a traditional celebration, drop me a line! I'm happy to answer any and all questions.

So, this party will take place outdoors near Community Housing Building 4 (you'll be able to see it by the fire) on the evening of June 23rd, say, starting around 6pm. Dress code is casual, food will be provided, and it's BYOB, although alcoholic and non-alcoholic punch will be provided. If anyone's interested in something like this, let me know here or just stop by on the night of the party. All I ask is that if you do plan to show up, please let me know about any dietary restrictions or food allergies, because I'll be doing most of the cooking.

Bònn jounen, everyone!

[Satisfied, she closes the journal and heads out to the Battle Dome to practice some moves.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah, sure, I'm up for it!

[After a thoughtful pause, he decides to ask her a burning question, however tentatively.]

No offense, but... is that whole stickin'-needles-in-a-dummy thing real, or... is it jus' somethin' y'see on TV or in movies?

Thanks!

[These questions used to offend Anita, but now she finds them kind of amusing. People are just curious, after all.]

None taken. The answer is yes and no: there are people called bokor, a small subset of vodouists who tend to use their powers for evil. But they're not the norm, and I'm not one of them, so you can count on me not to make a loa doll for you or turn you into a zombie or something.

So the whole zombie thing ain't just stories?

[...That's heavy.]

I didn't really think y'would be the sort, but I jus'... wanted t'make sure, I guess.

[That doesn't really sound good, does it?]

Sorry... m'probably comin' off as a real jerk.

Nah, you're okay. People always have questions when they encounter something they haven't before. As for the zombies, the only one I ever saw was made with two jiggers of rum in a tall glass, but where I come from, I can't rule anything out.

Huh. [He shelves the thought for the time being, looking rueful.]

Bet people ask y'this all the time, huh? ['You deal with it very gracefully' is implied but left unstated.]

If a whole bunch a' people kept askin' me if I box 'cause, iunno, they think I'm real into beatin' people up or somethin', think I'd get steamed real quick.

I get a decent amount of questions, but it doesn't bother me anymore. Most of the time, people are just curious, so I try to help educate them. Sometimes it's kind of nice, actually. People ask me about me and I can ask them about them, and we both learn something.

Speaking of which, why did you take up boxing, if you don't mind me asking?

Hm... [He hadn't really thought of it that way, but it's true enough - these sorts of questions can open up a dialogue. It just depends on how one dealt with them.]

Nah, I don' mind none. [He absently rubs at his nose with the back of his hand, thinking.] I'd watched some matches with my pa, an' Rocky with him my first time - that was a big part a' gettin' this dream in my head an' knowin' what I wanted t'do. I thought it was the coolest thing ever - still do, heh. [He lets out a breathless laugh, but it's not long before his expression sobers.] But I was also thinkin' that boxin' would... it'd, uh, teach me how t'protect m'self 'cause I wanted t'get back at people pickin' on me in school, an' all. I was real mad an' tired a'... tired a' gettin' beat an' bein' pushed around all the time.

[A beat.]

But Doc taught me t'be the better man, y'know? Keep it in the ring an' don' be a bully, he'd say.

[Smiling faintly, he looks to his lap, longing in his eyes.] He always had the right thing t'say... even if I didn't get it all the time or if it'd hurt t'hear it.

[Anita can identify with some of that. Not all of it, but some...getting picked on for being different; feeling threatened. Finding ways to brush it off. Having a mentor who...isn't here.

She misses her dad. But she smiles a little and puts a hand on Mac's shoulder.]

Sounds like you have some cool people in your life, mon.

[With mild surprise, he looks up as he feels the gentle, reassuring weight of her hand and musters a little smile of his own.]

Back home... he's definitely one a' the coolest.

[He wouldn't know who else to name because Doc is also his closest friend.]

...What about you? Know somebody like that? [Everyone should. He's felt pretty damn lucky.]

Edited 2012-07-06 16:47 (UTC)

Sort of. My uncle Ishido is like that. My daddy was, but he's...not around anymore. Exactly. [Long story.]

...Oh. [His lips press into a line, ruefulness written all over his face.] M'sorry.

[There's an awkward, heavy pause on his end as he considers how to be of comfort whether or not she needs it.]

Mine ain't either... so I kind a' get what that's like. Well, not exactly 'cause y'dad wasn't my dad, but... [He trails off, managing a smile he doesn't entirely feel.] Yeah. Y'uncle sounds pretty cool, though... definitely a guy t'keep in touch with.

It's okay. It was years ago. [She shrugs. Her parents are...a long story. She still has them, but now they're four years old. Yeah.] My uncle is pretty cool; overbearing sometimes, but cool. I was going to be living with him until college in the fall, but I sort of got transported to an alternate reality.

What was your dad like? Did you know him?

Well, they say time don' pass back home while y'here... so y'won't miss a minute a' time with y'uncle, at least.

[Trying to consider the positives.

His eyes soften in thought.]

M'dad was a good guy... honest an' hard workin'. Really wanted me t'do well in school so I could one day run my own business or be my own boss, an' so people could respect me, y'know? He'd also tell me things like, hey, somebody's always got it worse so be thankful for what y'got. Stuff ain't gonna fall in y'lap either 'less y'real lucky, but that don' happen t'many people. If y'want somethin' y'gotta earn it. Stuff like that.

[He decides to omit the detail of his father not approving of his intentions to take up boxing.]

He sounds kind of like my dad. He always said it was important to him that I just be happy, no matter what I did in life.

[He nods thoughtfully, shifting his focus onto her.]

An' are ya happy with whatchya doin'?

Second Spell // Written

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