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.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[Lupin can almost translate the phrase that closes the message in the journal. Almost. It feels close to French, or related to it, but it was some regional variation that he never bothered learning.]

Parties are always welcome around here. They're a good way to close out a season, or get people back together after a Shift.

It's a great idea.

[It's Haitian Creole (Kreyol) for "(have a) nice day". Just for the record.]

Thanks, mon. I don't think we've met; I'm Anita.

We haven't. I'm Lupin, in Community House 5. You're not too far away.

Nice to meet you, Lupin. It's funny how many people I haven't met, even though they live close to me. I guess I'm hoping the party will help with that.

I didn't realize we had anyone who knew or practiced voodoo here. Louisiana sect, correct? I sometimes get it mixed up with the Haitian and West African branches. [ Though he should probably have realized that it was possible. Helios doesn't practice but he knows a thing or two and has made an acquaintance or two with a practitioner. Still it's nice to see so many different cultures coming out of the wood works recently. ]

It sounds like a wonderful idea though. I-I wouldn't mind helping with things if you needed any.

Pleasure's mine. You're new around here, aren't you? It just takes a little time to get to know people, like it does everywhere. The recent Shift probably didn't help things for you, but parties are always a good way to meet people.

Normally there's a welcoming party at the end of every New Feather cycle to help the new arrivals with just that. Now that I think about it, I wonder what happened to the people who were organizing it?

I just showed up recently.

...Maybe they went home?

Yeah! I'm third generation Haitian, raised Vodoun in Louisiana. ["Vodoun" is her preferred term, the one she uses, but eh, anyone else can call it what they want.] You know about--? I almost never meet people who know about my people for real, mon! Are you...did you live there, or have you studied, or...?

[She's kind of excited. Was definitely not expecting to meet anyone who even knew what she was talking about.]

That's always possible. We have Luke Skywalker here, but the source of our bimonthly parties disappears. This needs to be fixed.

Any world that's against parties is no kind of world at all, if you ask me.

Same. Fortunately, there's usually always something being planned by someone. You just have to meet the right people.

Most of the people I've met here have been nice. I guess we all have to band together in the face of adversity, but maybe the Malnosso just have...well, "good taste" is the wrong way to put it. Maybe they only pick people who are strong enough to put up with...the things they do. All the people I've met here are strong people.

[This. This is so much what he's been needing. But he's still keeping up the calm front rather than let on how sorely he's missed this kind of thing.]

Well, well, well. When'd we get another Louisianian 'round these parts?

Uh - about a month ago! Hi there! [She'd been convinced there were no others like her around, so this is pretty exciting.] I don't think we've met - I'm Anita. It's nice to meet you!

You obviously haven't seen people from the other enclosures yet. Luceti is just one 'bubble' of many on this planet, and the residents in the other places aren't necessarily as strong as those of us here.

Enchanté, Anita. Name's Remy.

[That explains it, though. He's sure "about a month ago" was while he was still stuck with the Malnosso. He feels a little better about missing someone from the bayou showing up because of that.]

Ain't gonna need a hand wit' the cookin', are you? Sounds like you got it all planned already.

I...did have it planned; I was supposed to be - well, the "master of ceremonies", I guess. Um. Do you cook?

'Course I do. Ever since I was jus' a pup. [And he's a damn good one, if he does say so himself.]

S'why I offer, chere.

Anita! I'd be delighted to go! I'll try to rope in some friends in attending too. I'm sure a bunch of them would be interested in the free food at least. And, everyone can bond a little over some good cooking.

Do you need any help with setting up this party? I feel a little bad for unleashing all of these people on you at once. So, if you need anyone to get you supplies, or ingredients, or set up or organize, I'd be happy to help!

[ Leave it to Tenten to nosy her way into everyone's lives within one comment. ]

Voodoo....

You practice voodoo.

[Jack has had some horrific experiences with that recently.]

It's technically called Vodoun, but yes. Is that a problem?

Thanks, Tenten! Actually, if anyone would be willing to help, that'd be really great. I'm definitely going to need someone to help me set up the bonfire, and the cooking might be a lot of work - I've never actually hosted this kind of party before. Usually it's up to someone much more experienced.

But don't feel bad; the more, the merrier! I'm hoping for a crowd.

Well, if you like cooking and you want to help, I won't say no. It'd be nice to have some extras hands; there's gonna be a lot of prep involved. Thanks!

[This is brand new information.]

I didn't...I didn't know there were others.

I took one of those special missions a month or so back, and there were volunteers from other bubbles there. The captain, crew, and other volunteers didn't reveal much...but we made for a damn good crew and we had a damn good commander.

There's lots of details about this place. 'Luceti' is just the name of this particular village. No one here has the full details either, because the powers that be want to keep us in the dark.

The best way to get intel is to go on those missions yourself. They get you out of this dome, and you can learn a lot over just a few days.

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