Fall into Summer (OPEN)

[kleptofaeniac]

Some witch holidays were meant to be enjoyed by all, regardless of species, alliances or preference to magic. Holidays like Lammas! Think of it as witch Thanksgiving.

An old woman by the name of Agatha Chapman was of the personal opinion that there was just too much infighting between her fellow witches this year. Those Circle Midnight witches were practically children! Agatha had raised enough children to know they were just going through some rebellious phase. It would pass. But this wasn't the time for expressing such things. This was a time of togetherness! Which was why Agatha had, through her daughters and granddaughters, sent a very public invitation to the supernatural community:

~Lammas Day Celebration~

Come celebrate the great tradition of the first harvest and shorter days with a beach party and bonfire!
Food, fun, and sun! No limits on guests, bring your friends!

AUGUST 1^st 2015
12 PM - 2 AM
(public rituals @ 10 PM)

KINGSGATE CASTLE, JOSS GAP ROAD.
BROADSTAIRS.
KENT.

Transportation from the city will be provided from Victoria Station. Present this invitation at the ticket office.

You totally want to go right?


Like the invitation said, all guests transportation will be provided. The train happens to go directly from Victoria Station to the castle, which totals up to a two hour trip - giving plenty of time for people to run into one another on this train-ride. Let's get along everyone.

Upon the guests arrival everyone is greeted by the hostess; a very old, very cheerful lady who insists on being called Ms. Agatha. She introduces her daughters and their daughters. Hit on them at your own peril. After the brief introduction and delicately worded warning that no witch need reveal their coven to others, and no one need attempt to confront them about their choices, everyone is invited down the side of the slow incline of the cliffs to the beach. Time to have fun.

Lammas was traditionally a holiday to celebrate the last day of the wheat harvest. It seems like the witches hosting this party went all out in incorporating that. Golden colored canopies cover the tables that are set out for food. Along with them are large punch bowls filled with different colored liquids and a small bar for anyone who wants something a little stronger than fruit, both of which are abundant - after all this holiday was centered around a community feast. There seems to be a general theme following the decor; apples, cinnamon, and vanilla feature heavily in every dessert of pies, cakes, puddings and ice cream in very creative ways. The more savory foods, less so. But they all fall into the category of typical beach party foods.

There is a changing area towards the face of the cliffs along with bathrooms.

Another fun tradition of Lammas is competitive and athletic games! There are two volleyball nets set up, and what looks like an area for sandcastle building. The team that wins the most games, and the person who builds the best sandcastle wins a prize! The prize is a Maen Magl necklace. The stone is said to bring good luck and good health to the owner. Additionally, they can cure diseases of the eye if rubbed on one's eyelids.

If you're not interested in games, there's always the golden sand to relax and tan on and the water to swim in!

Later, after the sun sets a bonfire is constructed - you can help, but enough driftwood has been collected for the fire itself. As the sun sets, the women hosting the event let everyone know what the purpose of it is. The fire is meant to - while also help people make amazing smores, roasted corn, and apples wrapped in foil - allow the witches and everyone else in attendance to participate in the Lammas rituals. Everyone is encouraged to engage in the rituals, though no one is required to do so.

Nowadays, Lammas is the time to cast off bad habits, thoughts, and what is no longer needed in your life. This spiritual cleansing is represented by fire, and burning things. There are two that will be done tonight, but they won't take longer than thirty minutes when alls said and done. They maybe be performed in any order.

A ritual called 'Winnowing' is meant to cleanse, where everyone writes down negative emotions and bad habits they want to lose on a piece of paper. The witches in the group will all know the chant:

Blessing and curses
Come from the harvest
Return to the earth
To nourish next years

The paper is then thrown into the fire, where it will spark and disintegrate.

The second is highly encouraged for everyone to participate in, as the more people who do so, the more the blessings will be! Everyone is given nine sheaths of wheat, which they are to weave into a braid, and then attach a ribbon to the base of the braid. The witches in the circle around the bonfire should, as the braids are being done, chant:

We weave you and hail you
As queen of the corn
When all's gathered in and
When you are sown.

Once the braids are done, those that weaved them are meant to grab a piece of paper and write what blessing they wish for their friends to have, such as 'Friendship' or 'Mobility'. They must keep the blessing secret and secure it to the ribbon. The ribbons are meant to be kept till Imbolc - another witch holiday - and then be burned, while the ashes are meant to be kept on the individual until the next Lammas. Hope you'll attend that party wherever it is!

After the Ritual, there are plenty of smores to make and some lovely music to listen to while everyone gathers around the bonfire and relaxes until they want to leave. There is no curfew, but the witches hosting the party will be going back up to their flat in the castle around two in the morning.

Happy Lammas!

Comments

[entitles]

beach;

Balem wasn't usually fond of human gatherings (not in the modern age, anyways: he was quite fond of them a few thousand years ago when he could lay back and have servants fanning him and feeding him grapes), but he needed to play his cards carefully right now. It practically pained him to be expected to stay on good terms with them, and not one of them had even made him a single statue!

He spent most of the day at the beach in the water, enjoying its coolness against his bare skin. Droplets of water snapped and crackled against him, giving off small bursts of steam every time he rose from the depths.

His chest was bare, he wore nothing but his swim trunks and, of course, his collar - which may seem unusual at the beach but the metal didn't rust and he was quite insistent on leaving it on. From time to time, he laid down on his towel - covered in pictures of planets and stars, how mature - and bathed in the sun.

after the ritual;

All things considered, he was much more comfortable at night. He had put on his cloak and longer pants now, although he was still barefoot and mostly shirtless, and sat on the grass gazing up at the stars. His eyes had a strange shine to them, the brightness of the starlight perfectly reflected within them.

He held a smore in one hand, staring at it as if it just baffled him. Crackers, marshmallow, and chocolate melted over an open flame? When did the humans invent that one?

"What on Earth is this, and am I really supposed to eat it?" he said, raising an eyebrow at it as if it were going to poison him.

[detectiveofthewest]

The Beach
Heiji wasn't particularly interested in sand castles, but he did seem interested in the beach. He sat back on a brightly-colored towel, clad in a pair of dark blue swim trunks that were riding just a tad low on his waist. There was a mystery novel open next to him and he was watching casually as the swimmers came out of the water.

"White high cut bikini," he said just as a girl with a short blonde ponytail emerged and dripped her way back onto the sand. And for a brunette with a pageboy haircut: "Blue one piece!"

...He was right.

[Have some beach fanart?]

As a fox
Alternatively, a little black fox with a white-tipped tail could be found on the beach, nosing a beach ball around or possibly darting across an unwary beachgoer's towel to grab a chicken leg in its slender snaptrap before making a quick escape. Or it walked along the shore, leaving the waves to wash away the little pawprints it left in its wake.

Winnowing
The bonfire roared, the witches chanted. Heiji thought for a moment, staring hard at the piece of paper as if it might provide answers for him. Unlike most, he didn't have a laundry list of self-improvement projects for himself. He thoroughly enjoyed being in his own skin -- feeling the wind on his face and the sun on his fur. And he'd never wished to trade his life for anyone else's.

But after some thought, he did write a single word:

怨

Silently, he cast the paper into the fire.

Blessings
Wishes made on behalf of friends, however, were considerably easier to think up. Heiji wrote in tiny letters, trying to squeeze the maximum number of wishes possible onto the slip of paper in true frugal, Osakan fashion. The slip said the following:

Apollo: Health and equanimity
Sasuke: Make some friends
Clara and Magra: Stay safe
Derek: Find your home
Nancy: Freedom
Stiles: Your own path
Maera: Swift journeys
Clive: Care for yourself, not just work!
Aradia and Willard: Companionship

The last name he wrote was 'Light', the only name for which he paused before writing something down next to it. Finally, and with some care, he wrote 'happiness', thus completing the set. He felt slightly lighter as he did so -- though that was probably just his imagination talking.

[falsify]

beach;

Eames isn't much for games or swimming, at least not with this crowd, by and large he's here to observe. He's found himself a sun lounger to recline on and seems to have convinced some poor kid that he really wants to spend his day bringing Eames drinks while he enjoys the sun. Sunglasses and a linen suit and a drink in his hand.

Some cajoling on his new servant friend's part will see Eames taking off his shirt and joining in a game or two of volleyball, but otherwise? Totally just planning to Old Man it up and laze in the lounger while he pretends he's not keenly watching everyone here.


post-rituals;

He hadn't participated in the winnowing, largely because he couldn't think of a single negative quality in himself, but Eames does participate in the blessing. It takes him some time to actually come up with anything, but perhaps that just makes him look thoughtful?

He's feeling significantly more social at this point in the proceedings too, flitting around and striking up conversation with anyone who seems interesting. Maybe one might overhear a talk about potion-brewing or a heated debate about whatever, or maybe you just fancy being a bit of a cockblock. Or maybe you just think Eames looks rather dashing all illuminated by the fire as he is and feel a deep need to tell him so. Who knows?

[goroesi]

{ beach }

There's something wonderful about the beach. Just something in the air makes a part of Maera feel freer than usual. She doesn't hesitate to shed her cover-up once she reaches the shoreline, revealing her bright swimsuit as she tosses her bag onto the sand. Her first priority, of course, is to head straight into the sea. Most of her time is spent walking aimlessly through the thigh-high water, laughing brightly every time a wave tries to knock her over. There's something soothing to her about moving with the flow - though she won't hesitate to fight back if anyone tries to splash her. Otherwise, she lies on a blanket in the sand, reading a book or eating a snack, remarking on the heavenly weather to anyone who approaches. "God, isn't the sun on your face just divine?"

She can also be found hanging around the volleyball nets to watch the games, though she won't opt to actually participate. After all, she has a pair of maen magl of her own. She'd much rather watch others compete for that prize.

{ bonfire }

As night falls, Maera slips her cover-up back on, sitting as near to the fire as she can to get warm. She takes the Lammas rituals seriously, writing down just one word ('temper') for the winnowing before making a long list of blessings for her friends and clients. It'll leave her pensive by the end of the night; she lingers by the fire for quite some time after ritual is over, commenting idly to anyone who approaches: "Makes you think, doesn't it?"

But Maera's never serious for too long. Soon, she'll rejoin the party, bumping shoulders with others and roasting (more like burning) some marshmallows on a stick.

[stauncherhearted]

Beach
Nancy had shown up with a large beach-bag under one shoulder and a floppy straw hat keeping her long, wavy red hair at bay. With over-sized sunglasses on, she reached into the bag and pulled out a large umbrella, towel, beach chair, and small cooler.

Yeah, she had a Mary Pippins bag. What of it? A girl needed a place to put stuff. Came in handy with stealing.

Setting up, she took off her translucent white linen cover-up, revealing an olive green monokini, made up of two pieces extending from the top, crossing her torso, and connecting on the back of her hips to the bottom. Next step was sunscreen, before she settled in to read and people watch.

If anyone looked close enough, they'd be able to see scars across her back and legs, her usual bite scars, and, even smaller on the back of her neck was a fine white scar, marking her, even though her slave ring was long removed, as Fagin's.

She kept them covered as best she could with magic, but the darkest could sill be seen. Even so, something like the beach was rare. So, when she isn't found splashing in the water, wading in up to her thighs, she can also be found walking up and down the shore, drink in hand.

Games
Still in her floppy hat and sunglasses, Nancy's watching the games. She's kept cool by her long-sleeved coverup that grazed against her thighs, and a pair of gladiator sandals. It's the perfect outfit for a day at the seaside, and she's surprisingly proud of it. Just as she is for allowing herself to relax today. Tonight, she wasn't even remotely going to be looking. For now, she was here to celebrate her holidays, to spend time with her friends and other witches in the community. The imposed rule of 'no revealing circles' is even better.

If one of her friends is competing, she's more than happy to scream and jump for them.

Rituals
Nancy, of course, participated in both rituals. Since starting the coven, the idea of such power, such connectedness appealed to her. When it's time to write blessings, she's already gotten hers in hand, casting them into the fire. Around her, she can feel weights on her shoulders lifting off. Hopefully, the harvest season would bring lightness to the world around her.

Afterwards
Dancing, singing, Nancy's all alight. Her hat and sunglasses are gone, and she's had so much to drink, laughing. It was nice, to actually be a teenager for once. She'd let male witches, men in general dance with her. she was off-duty, and she was eighteen-years-old. Nothing could bring her down.

[acrookedchild]

beach)

Abigail doesn't go in for the games, and she only has so much to eat. Instead, she's much more content to lie in a modest swimsuit and sun herself during the hours of sunlight. She can be coaxed into the water, easily, though she doesn't waste time getting the sand off her wet skin and drying off so it doesn't stick much once she does get out.

When sunset comes, she puts on a light sweater and a long skirt to keep out the cold. Then, she eats bits and pieces here and there, sharing without thought with the others, whether they're Daybreak or Midnight or not witches at all.

ritual)

Winnowing is something Abigail has always done on her own over the years. However, here and now, she finds it difficult to write anything. Her hate drives her, her anger keeps her going. Every negative emotion is what, now, will keep her and hers alive. So, she has very little to cast into the fire, and she feels conspicuous for it.

The braiding of wheat is simple. Easy. And she does it and writes her blessing upon a piece of paper and secures it to the ribbon. This one matters greatly. This, there's cause to care about deeply.

after the rituals)

It takes a little while for Abigail to come out of the strange emptiness that follows the rituals. Still, more sweets than she needs and letting herself listen to the others having fun brings her out of it for the most part. Still, there's a particular kind of chill that continues to hang about her as she sits on the beach.

Which she does, after a time, by herself. A few feet away from the nearest bonfire, simply sitting in silence and the dark.

[constantprisoner]

[Beach, but not really]

While it was a beautiful location, Sirius was not all that interested in hanging out on the beach. He didn't really have the proper attire, and well, sitting around sunning himself was never his style. Instead, he's set about exploring, climbing the cliffs and wandering into the forest. He wasn't looking for anything particular but it was something to do.

Though several hours later, one might also encounter a vaguely familiar black dog playing with the surf.

after the ritual

Sirius is quite content to just sit around the fire and be warm. His hair is a little wet, slightly odd since he hasn't been swimming. He is, however, resolutely roasting a marshmallow. It's been years since he had one and is determined to make it perfect before he does.

[ooc: Sirius can be encountered as either human or dog. Wildcard option is also available.]

[warmheartedly]

[ THE BEACH ]

Anyone who can see Clara when she isn't invisible will notice she sticks out like a sore thumb right away thanks to two things: Her outfit being incompatible for an outing at a beach and the fact she looks a little tired as she ghosts around, trying not to go through people.

Being a ghost means traveling can be taxing. More so with the fact she's at a beach of all places and it's rather far for her. But a certain relative of hers opted to come with her friends and she wants to spend as much time she can before-- Anyways, she's here all the same and tries her best to have fun. No need to be a Debbie Downer when everyone else is doing their darnest to enjoy themselves.

So she tries to participate in some of the games! Naturally she stays away from the sports since she feels like having an invisible teammate is an unfair advantage. So she sticks to making a surprisingly pretty sandcastle that is a long work-in-progress since, now and then, she needs to take off the gloves when the itching becomes unbearable.

[ THE RITUALS, DURING AND AFTER ]

She's always been fascinated by the notion of witchcraft, especially the ones that involved blessings and good wishes on other people because what a thoughtful thing to do. Naturally she wants to participate in this when she hears it being announced and she does so. Thank goodness she brought the ghost gloves with her. They allow her to pick things up more easily, like a piece of paper and pen, and her penmanship isn't as awful.

Anyone is free to comment on the floating pen that is scribbling something on the floating piece of paper since Clara made herself invisible out of shyness, not wanting people to see her penned wishes:

For my friends: Good health and many chances to prosper.

For my loved ones: Protection and many chances to smile.

For others: Happiness and many chances to do as they wish.

And into the fire it goes. With that down, Clara now goes to find some friends of hers to chat with them.

[ Clara will end up popping away from the beach and back into the coffee shop at some point as a friendly warning. ]

[kleptofaeniac]

1. Train-ride
Kenzi is, in a word, hungover. She doesn't think things through, obviously and is nursing a headache from hell while hiding behind a pair of very big, expensive looking sunglasses in her seat. Dare to wake the beast?

2. Food

Kenzi has been grumpy and quiet up until seeing the food. She was one of the first people to grab a plate of - well, everything. There's an actual peek on the pile of food. As for a drink? Well, she's having a bit of the hair of the dog. She'll be perking up now.

3. Games

Kenzi will not be egged into playing volleyball, or building sandcastles. She just won't. You can't make her. She'll sit on the sidelines and cheer very enthusiastically for whoever is playing, regardless of whether or not she knows them - or particularly cares.

One particular match starts and Kenzi swats the person next to her on the arm. Why not make a little money while you're partying?

"Twenty quid says their team wins."

4. Beach

Kenzi isn't that active, when all is said and done. She's lounging on a towel (that isn't actually black -shocker), wearing a bathing suit that is oddly revealing, and yet not. Her hair is pinned up in a sloppy bun and she looks like she might be sleeping if not for the incessant movement of her foot at the music that's playing.

She ventures into the water for a few hot seconds, not really fond of cold water, even if it warm outside.

5. Rituals

When the time for the fire draws near, Kenzi covers up in a hoodie and chants along with the other witches. It's nice to not be separated by factions for this. Otherwise it'd be a pretty lonely holiday. Kenzi doesn't actually write any bad habits she wants to forget (she likes all her bad habits, thank you very much) but she does write some negative emotions before balling it up and tossing the paper into the fire.

Kenzi writes her blessings to Nancy, Abigail and Derek. To wish them safety. And to her mother. Kenzi writes that one last and keep the braid in her bag. Afterwards, she seems a little somber. But that's nothing a little after party can't fix!

6. After

After an awesome day of relaxing and Lammas-ing, Kenzi is ready to get smashed. Again. With a few drinks in her, Kenzi is alternating between eating smores by the fire and dancing up a storm.

[specifiercity]

( beach )

Arthur arrives late. He's made his own way to the castle after having some business to attend to in the city, so when he wanders down to the beach with a drink in hand the games have already been going for a couple hours. Dressed far too well to participate, Arthur's clothes are still more casual than usual, enough that he isn't shy about finding a spot on the beach and planting himself there. The surf is therapeutic in a way; he loses track of himself while he watches it rolling in and out, but he certainly wouldn't mind a little company.

( rituals )

Arthur has never participated in a Lammas ritual before, but he's done his research and believes well enough in these passive kinds of magics that he decides to participate at the last minute. You may spot him during the Winnowing, casting a piece of paper into the fire, though he doesn't chant. He weaves the sheaths of wheat into a braid with a small frown of concentration and attaches a few blessings to his ribbon, which he carefully puts in his pocket once he's done.

Afterwards he's friendly and chatty, having had a few drinks over the course of the afternoon. He's not much for dancing, but he'll happily roast some s'mores and apples whenever the opportunity arises.

[tippytoes]

BEACH;

Malia arrives with Derek, picking uncomfortably at her bikini underneath the longer coverup she was wearing. In all honesty, she'd rather be naked if she's going to wear this little clothing, but even if this is a supernatural wide kind of party, it's still frowned on (apparently). She sticks close to her cousin at first, but eventually branches out on her own for a while, slowing walking the length of the beach and back, watching the party goers and the ocean in turns. She's still not sure she belongs here or anywhere. She even probably looks like she sticks out a little, with how awkward she's carrying herself.


BONFIRE;

Malia sits out of the ritual. She doesn't know any witches and even gets a little sneezy when magic is performed although she does her best to stay quiet during the ritual itself. Afterwards, she's found a spot close to the bonfire but far enough away from the other people that she feels... safe. Even if she's seated with her knees drawn up to her chest with her chin resting on top of them. She stares into the fire, turning away every now and then when it gets too bright. The s'mores smell amazing, but she's never made them before, and isn't sure who to ask for help on how. So what if she's staring a bit too intently at someone shoving them into their mouth?

[emotioneater]

Bonfire

Cooper shows up after the sun has gone down, conspicuously pale amidst all the tanned and sunburned bodies roaming around. To those who know him, he's quieter than usual, even a little bit subdued. While he's recovered physically from the fae blood that was in his system, mentally, that's another story.

Still, if brooding was what he wanted, he could have sat in his apartment and stared at the walls. At least out here, he's among people, and that will help improve his mood eventually. For now, he's content to sit by the fire and methodically toast a marshmallow.

Rituals

For Winnowing, Cooper doesn't need to think too deeply. He's well aware of his shortcomings in life. Really, when it all gets boiled down to it, there's only one main problem he has. So he scribbles down a single phrase before tossing it into the fire. He watches the flames burn the words into ash. Even after they're gone, they still roll around in his mind. My lack of self-control.

The second ritual requires a bit more care. He thinks about it for a few minutes. At the end, all he writes down are two words. Life and Health. He figures if his friends have those two things, everything else will fall into place.