Imbolc

[undergroundmods]

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The festival of Imbolc marks the end of winter and the coming of spring. It may not seem like it, but the days are getting longer and winter's grip is beginning to thaw. What better time to celebrate new beginnings and make a fresh start?

That's exactly what the witch community is doing, as Samantha Okeke takes her place as the newly anointed Mother of Witches. The event is being held at the Redbright Institute, courtesy of Sylvia Redbright the previous Mother, and will take place entirely outside. Carefully placed warming spells ensure that the air temperature in the grounds is comfortable rather than freezing.

The event begins at 5pm (after sunset at 16.52) and finishes at 8pm.

Order of Events
5pm-5.30pm: Flowers and Candles
The first half hour allows time for guests to arrive and mingle. The main area where guests will arrive first is the lawn and pavilion. Here there are two stalls selling a variety of early spring flowers and candles. A third stall is selling hot drinks where you can buy tea, coffee or brandy, a fourth is selling a variety of fruitcakes, cupcakes and seed cakes, and a fifth is doing excellent business selling plant pots filled with earth blessed by the new Mother of Witches and a variety of plant seeds. A sign on the stalls proclaims that all proceedings will be used to fund a new centre for magical innovation, sponsored by the Mother of Witches.

At the pavilion there is an altar where guests are encouraged to light their candles, lay down their flowers and wish for good health in the year ahead. It is also traditional for young witches to wear flower garlands, so expect to see a lot of flowers around in general.

5.30-6.15pm: The Mother of Witches
At around 5.30pm there will be a ceremony where Sylvia will officially pass on her crown as Mother of Witches to Samantha. Guests will be ushered through to the quad to witness the ceremony. A podium has been set up in the middle of the quad where Sylvia will wait for Samantha to arrive on a raised chair carried by four male witches. Wearing a white dress with gold lace trimming, Samantha represents the purity and fertility of the upcoming spring.

It's then time for Sylvia to symbolically hand over her power by giving Samantha her wand and setting a crown of jasmine flowers on her head. The final act is for Samantha to light the candles that have been placed around the podium, a symbol of new beginnings.

She will then give a speech, addressed to the witches of course, but she is aware that there are others in the crowd who will be interested in what she has to say.

6.15-7.15pm: Offerings
Samantha will be sitting on the raised chair which has now been set down on the podium, flanked by the four male witches. A small white cat sits in her lap. Now is the opportunity for all guests to bring gifts and offerings for the newly anointed Mother of Witches. Every coven will nominate a representative to present a gift and say a few words. It would be courteous for guests from other factions to do the same, though not everyone will.

In the meantime, the gardens are open for guests to wander around with fairy lights strategically placed to help guests find their way.

7.15-8pm: Mingling
The remainder of the event is open for guests to mingle as they please, with the quad, front lawn and gardens all open. The stalls will be selling food, drink and other wares right through to the end of the evening.

Comments

[thelittlemerman]

Finnick's not representing his court this evening but he's trying to behave as well, even though he likes approximately none of what's going on. The plan was just to watch the ceremony and then leave as soon as it was appropriate, but he's so upset about the cat in Samantha's lap that he seeks out Eames as soon he's alone.

"She has a familiar," he says, low and biting, forgoing any pleasantries as he stops to stand beside him.

[falsify]

He's been expecting this ever since he realised the cat in Samantha's lap wasn't just a cat. Eames doesn't like it, but he knows it's something Finnick would be especially sensitive to-- he's just been banking on Finnick's sense of self-preservation beating out his horror.

"I know," he says back, voice just as low, but he says it with a smile and a crinkle of his eyes as he puts a hand on Finnick's back to guide him somewhere a little more secluded so they can talk without fear of being overheard.

[thelittlemerman]

Finnick takes a deep breath like he's remembering himself, looking around with the cool, self-important gaze that falls naturally onto his face as he lets Eames guide him away from the crowd.

"Redbright never would have dared," he says quietly when they get a little farther away.

[falsify]

"Don't be so sure," his voice is practically a hiss in response. He's tired and angry, and at least with Finnick he can allow himself to be one of those things. "Perhaps she wouldn't flaunt it publicly, her politics being what they are, but people in power are often the largest hypocrites."

[thelittlemerman]

"That's what I mean, she doesn't even try to hide it," Finnick says, his whisper nearly frantic. It's more anger than fear. It might sound like the ravings of a very paranoid man, but he thinks he has cause.

"She wants people to see it, she wants people to know that she thinks of us as tools for their magic."

[falsify]

"Calm down." He puts a hand on Finnick's arm, both to try and anchor him and remind him that Eames does understand. Maybe not fully, he hasn't suffered the way Finnick has, but he fully gets why Finnick would be outraged by this.

"There's no proof that's what she thinks," he says, raising his eyebrows, careful not to say he disagrees. It's not that, not exactly. But he can't afford to assume based on this one sighting of her cat. "For all we know, it could be a bond of friendship."

Doubtful, but it happens.

[thelittlemerman]

"You can't believe that," Finnick spits back, clenching his jaw as he tries to make subtle adjustments to his body language and show that he is trying to calm down. He knows Eames isn't trying to fight with him but his terribly reasonable words make him angry just the same.

"She's up there talking about embracing their magic and unlocking their potential... I'm sorry but I can't see her caring much for our consent with words like those."

[falsify]

"I'm not stupid enough to trust a witch's ethics." He takes his hand off Finnick, folds his arms over his chest and takes a casual look around to double-check no one's listening. He can't feel any magic, but that doesn't mean no one's nearby. "But I also can't go around warning people that the new Mother is all for binding fae based on the fact that she has a familiar."

[thelittlemerman]

"I'm not suggesting that," he says, almost petulant, like he's beginning to get a little embarrassed that he started this conversation at all. "I just think we should watch out for her. She must know this is an insult to us."

[falsify]

"No-- you're right." Any witch with a fae in her lap either must know or is painfully naive, if it's the former they should be cautious and if the latter then she's really not suited for the role, is she?

Eames frowns thoughtfully, wondering where best to go from here. How best to keep themselves safe.

"It might be worth it to have a sniff around her coven," he says, floating the idea rather than outright saying they should do it, "see if we can find out exactly what her position on us is."

[thelittlemerman]

Finnick takes a deep, steadying breath as he looks around at the people they've distanced themselves from like he's discovering a new person to hate everywhere he turns.

"We need to move quickly," he says. He knows they can't stand here hashing out a plan but he feels anxious to get ahead of this in case it is the worst case scenario.

[falsify]

"We do," Eames agrees, "but not tonight."

He's quiet for a moment, thinking, and adds, "call me, let me know when you're free this week. We'll talk more then."

[thelittlemerman]

Finnick already knows when he's free. He doesn't work in the mortal world and he doesn't have any responsibilities of a lord anymore, but instead of telling Eames he's effectively available all the time he just nods.

"I will."

[falsify]

Eames nods too, and breaks off with a smile — more for the guests than for Finnick — and claps him on the shoulder as he moves to go back to the gathering proper.

"Best behaviour tonight," he says with a teasing lilt as he departs.