[OPEN, Mingle] Yamsgiving

[lasthumanvoice]

Who: Cecil and EVERYONE
What: Another Harvest Celebration
When: Beginning of Pumpkinfest
Where: Center of town
Warning(s): Discussion of the Gala and its attendant CWs may come up

1. Yes, we're happy as fish [Food Prep, Oak and Iron kitchen]
Cecil's made a point of seeking out the best known chefs in town to help him put everything together for this meal. While sweet potato dishes are the star, at least one available with every course, he's hoping to hit a broad variety so everyone can find something they like. He, of course, is peeling and chopping his eternal sweet potato to make sure there's enough to go around.

(Of course you don't need to worry about him with a knife! He's fine! Don't you know he was once a boy scout?)

If someone needs an extra hand for their dishes, though, he's happy to lend one. There's an attitude of camaraderie and cheer in the room, with Cecil even breaking out singing at one or two points in the evening.


2. And gorgeous as geese [The Meal; Festival Green]
Everyone's invited to the feast. That is, in fact, the whole point. Cecil's always been pointedly neutral in the town's tensions, working as the most unbiased media monkey he can. He's the Voice of Pumpkin Hollow, and that means not taking sides between Dahlia and Neil and the Temple and whoever else. But after the gala, he's made a choice to act, to try to foster goodwill and warm feelings. This isn't the stone stew he offered during January's famine, this is a Redwall-style feast.

So, between glasses of mead from Kasprak Farm and dandelion wine, everyone is invited to fill their plate with candied yams and zucchini bread, roast chicken and venison donated by one of the Enforcers. There's a homemade cranberry sauce with citrus wedges and dandelion-leaf salad with an apple cider vinaigrette and toasted acorns for garnish. There's pasta with a homemade pesto sauce and cheese. Desserts, too, are plentiful, some even flavored with...chocolate. But many are not, and feature sweet potatoes. Muffins, pies, etc.

Find a table with a friend or a stranger, and indulge. This is a warm-fuzzy type thing--feel free to use it as a mingle.


3. And wonderfully clean in the morning [Cleanup; Also Festival Green]
Cecil is, quite honestly, expecting to be the only person to stay and clean up. He's been up since about five in the morning and he's dragging a bit at this point. Oh, he did take the time to eat, so he's not starving, but like. He could use help putting the Green back to rights.


4. We've got everything, we're growing everything [Cecil Wildcards]
[You know how to find me to plot.]

Comments

Re: CW: Mentions of child abuse, child soldiers

[imjustaman]

Hopefully it wasn't as horrible as Sephiroth's childhood of being groomed to be a child soldier by mad scientists, but perhaps it was actually similar to that.

He nods thoughtfully. "Controlling emotions isn't easy," he agrees. And he frowns at this news. "What happened to all of them?"

Re: CW: Mentions of child abuse, child soldiers, mass death

[makesrocksfloat]

Rey wouldn't want to let herself think about Finn's upbringing or her own, not when the focus was someone else. Suffering seemed to be common and it shouldn't be that way.

"It's not," Rey agreed fervently. "It's really not." She knew about her problems with her temper. Luke Skywalker's fear when she focused on the Dark side cave. Those things scared her and made her wonder about herself. And when asked about what happened to the Jedi, she sighed and looked down. "They were betrayed. There was a Sith Lord--a Dark sider--hiding in plain sight and he corrupted the most powerful Jedi and turned him against them. Hardly any survived."

Re: CW: Mentions of child abuse, child soldiers, mass death

[imjustaman]

It definitely shouldn't be.

He listened to the story with a troubled frown. The mention of the most powerful Jedi reminded him of how he had been the most powerful in the military organization back home and had in the end failed everyone.

"He was corrupted or he lost his mind?" he wondered. It was troubling either way, of course, and he didn't feel that losing his mind was an excuse for all he had done. But he couldn't help asking for clarification there.

CW: Mentions of child abuse, child soldiers, mass death

[makesrocksfloat]

Rey didn't know what to think about Kylo Ren's motives any more than she absolutely had to. Yes, what happened with Luke seemed to set him on his Dark path, but would it be inevitable anyway? He killed Snoke to save her...or he would've done it anyway and she was just the convenient excuse?

And she really didn't want to think of all the ways he tried to be his grandfather.

"He...most of this was rumors 'til recently for me. But he was a powerful Jedi who married in secret. Jedi aren't supposed to do that, they're supposed to be calm and not really--I dunno how to say this--not really date? Get married? But he did anyway. She was going to have babies and I, I guess that made him really protective. Which another person took and warped him into someone evil." Sometimes, the galaxy seemed like the story of the Skywalker family, its rise and fall and repeat.

Re: CW: Mentions of child abuse, child soldiers, mass death

[imjustaman]

It was hard to say about things like that. About so many things.

He pondered this story. "How tragic," he said at last, frowning. "They do say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Even he, when he had cracked up, had believed his intentions were good: that humans had stolen the Planet from his alien "mother" and he had to help her reclaim it.

CW: Mentions of child abuse, child soldiers, mass death, patricide

[makesrocksfloat]

"They do? I mean, if it means what I think it means, you're right. All he wanted to do was protect his family, but I think protectiveness can turn into possession and obsession easier than most people want to admit," she said thoughtfully. Not that she'd ever known what protectiveness felt like, other than her time with Finn, Chewie, and...Han.

Rey wondered if Han knew his son would kill him. Wondered if Han would change anything if he could. But she stopped herself before she wondered about Han's murderer.

Re: CW: Mentions of child abuse, child soldiers, mass death, patricide

[imjustaman]

“Yes,” Sephiroth said quietly. “It unfortunately seems that is true. If normal solutions aren’t working, people can grow desperate.” He had seen that so much with people on his missions.

Zack certainly had never dreamed Sephiroth would crack up and turn against him … against everyone. If only he could take it all back…. But that, of course, was impossible.

CW: Mentions of child abuse, child soldiers, mass death, patricide

[makesrocksfloat]

"Yes. There's no telling what desperation might make a person do and then justify to themselves that it was the right choice." At that, Rey did have to think of him and his determination to burn the past to the ground.

But that link was broken. She couldn't feel him in the back of her mind here. Small mercies, she supposed. However small the mercies were, she'd take them. The Maker knew she wasn't used to getting any in the first place.

[imjustaman]

"Indeed."

Sephiroth was wandering down a dark path now in his thoughts. He shook himself out of it, trying to smile. "I'm afraid I've led us down too grim a path for the occasion," he said apologetically. "I apologize."

Zack the Umbreon wagged his tail.

"My name is Sephiroth. This is Zack," Sephiroth said.

[makesrocksfloat]

So was Rey. She knew that if it was within Kylo Ren's power to follow her here, he would. It was only a matter of time. But what if this planet was so far into the Unknown Regions, he wouldn't be able to? It was nice to think about at least. She needed to gather her wits and decide what to do when she went home, so this...stay could help?

"It's all right. Not everything's simple or happy." She certainly knew that for a fact. "No need for that. I can handle it."

She wasn't quite certain what kind of animal was at his side. She knew she'd never seen one before.

"And I'm Rey. Good to meet you, both of you. Where are you from? Originally?"

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth, on the other hand, longed to see those he was thinking of ... although he wasn't as sure they would want to see him. He had been the calamity, rather than the ones he was remembering. And he had often followed Cloud around, as Kylo Ren would follow Rey if he could. Cloud was no doubt relieved to be free of him now.

He nodded, but was still fine with changing the subject to something lighter.

"And it's good to meet you as well," he said. "I am from a planet called Gaia. I'm not sure where Zack is from. I found him here. Apparently he's one species of animals collectively known as Pokemon. They aren't native to this world."

[makesrocksfloat]

Rey doubted Kylo Ren would be pleased to come to and find Rey gone. He'd likely assume she'd ran away from him after all and take it out on what was left of the Resistance. So she hoped he would come here from the same point. A lot of trouble would be prevented that way.

She needed lighter, otherwise she'd spill details she wasn't willing to let go of just yet. It would take time. Time to think, time to get to know people, time to fully come to terms with her choice.

"Gaia? That sounds pretty," she remarked. And she examined the bei--Pokémon more closely. "He kind of reminds me of Porgs. Cute. How'd you get him if he's not a native being?

[imjustaman]

"There are beautiful places there," he agrees.

He studies the dog-like Pokemon with a thoughtful eye. "What is a Porg?"

And he shrugs. "Apparently the Pokemon just appear here from their world. It's very mysterious. They've come more than once. Those that don't bond with someone leave after a couple of months."

[makesrocksfloat]

"Is there a lot of water? Or a lot of green places," she asked. Both would be best, but she didn't think she'd ever like snow. Not just because it reminded her too much of Starkiller Base but because it was just plain cold. She was sure she didn't like cold.

"It's something in the eyes they share. Even though a Porg is a bird, odd little birds with calico feathers." Rey had never seen anything like them before, all Jakku had had was carrion birds.

"So the Pokemon are kind of like us? We come here after a near-death thing, though. Has anyone said that's how it works with them?"

[imjustaman]

"Yes, there is both," Sephiroth replied. And snow too.

"I see," he muses. "Are they very friendly?"

And he pauses, pondering. "I don't think anyone knows," he admits. "Although there are some Pokemon actually called Ghosts. I'm not clear on if they're dead or if somehow they're an actual species called Ghost."

[makesrocksfloat]

Then I'd like to see it, if I can. Green, growing places...they're beautiful." Rey didn't think she'd ever get tired of them. She could've spent months if not years on Takodana if it wasn't for what happened.

"Sort of. They're shy at first and they're definitely not for food." She still had no idea how Chewie had done it, all it took was one look from those big, dark eyes and Rey put them in the 'not food' line immediately.

"Ghosts," Rey scrunched her nose. "Like Force ghosts or something else?"

[imjustaman]

"Perhaps someday you will be able to," Sephiroth says. He hopes he can go home someday ... that somehow he can help protect the Planet he tried to destroy in his madness. And maybe if he makes friends here, they will have the chance to see it too, if they want. Idle thoughts.

"Because of their shyness or because they don't taste good?" Sephiroth asks.

He looks a bit confused. "What is a Force ghost?"

(CW: patricide)

[makesrocksfloat]

"I'd like to. But I don't think I'll have the chance to go to one and stay there for a long time like I'd like. The Resistance is apparently always moving to keep the First Order off their backs." And she'd be there, there to advocate for mercy. Mercy wasn't show to Han Solo, but maybe Kylo Ren would show it to his mother.

"From what I can tell, both. And their eyes are so big and so dark and so sad. They're not like a bantha, where people are used to getting protein from." Rey wasn't, of course. She knew she had a lot of learning to do about healthy eating, but wasn't sure where to begin.

"People who die on the Light side of the Force have the ability to manifest themselves as Force ghosts--looks like them, acts like them, talks like them, is them. I've never seen one in person, but I've heard the legends," Rey said in an almost apologetic tone of voice.

Re: (CW: patricide)

[imjustaman]

"I see. You're caught in the middle of a war?" He could deduce that much from those titles and that statement.

"Hm. Yes, I'm sure Zack would have begged people not to eat them," he said with a smirk. Then, realizing his error, he added, "Ah, Zack the human, whom I named this Pokemon after."

He listened thoughtfully. "Their consciousness, their spirits then. But surely those on the Dark Side also have spirits to carry on with?" Or perhaps it was just that they were unable to get anyone to see them.

[makesrocksfloat]

Rey winces. "Yeah. And this isn't me bragging, but I'm important to both sides. One of them wants to use me as a symbol of hope in the galaxy, the other just plain wants to use me."

But wasn't that somewhat untrue? The longing look in Kylo Ren's eyes as he whispered 'please' couldn't mean merely a friendly...something. She wasn't sure what. She never had the chance to know what before.

That made Rey chuckle. "No, no, it's okay if both wouldn't want the porgs to be eaten. I don't want to and I've wanted to eat just about everything." To sometimes disastrous results, but she'd survived them, hadn't she?

"I...this part I don't know, I had the sacred Jedi texts on the Falcon, but I didn't bring them with me to the Supremacy. I would guess...that the spirit of someone on the Dark side gets so corrupt and evil that there's nothing left of them when they die." Another reason to save Kylo Ren from himself. She could add it to the list.

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth listened with a frown. "That makes it very complicated," he said sympathetically. "I know what it is to be used by one faction in a war. I have never been used by both sides at once."

He chuckled. "I don't know how the Pokemon Zack would feel, but my guess is he would just want to play with them."

And he frowned again at this. "That is a terrifying thought." Supposing it was true, he was certainly grateful he didn't live in that world. For all the evil he had wrought while insane, he was still whole. He was still here to try again to be good.

sorry for the delay, didn't get the notif!

[makesrocksfloat]

Rey gave her best brave face. "Yeah, well. I suppose with so few Force users left, we're all too popular." Though, that was one way of putting it.

"Could be fun? I never really got to play growing up, I think I might miss it if I knew what it was like." The closest she'd ever came to play was lightsaber practice. She'd known it was something she'd need to improve on and fast, but she'd also always enjoyed exerting herself. And okay, she also liked to slide down the sand dunes on a big enough piece of scrap, maybe that counted as playing?

But that made her sober up quickly. "It is. At least if you're one with the Force, something of you remains and--and I think aware? To be honest, I'm still sort of iffy about that part."

That's okay! It's so frustrating when that happens!

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth nodded. "It makes sense," he agrees. "But I'm sure that doesn't make it easier." It didn't for him.

A sad and odd thing they had in common. "I never really played either," he admitted. "I wasn't allowed to."

He nodded. "At least they have that. Your teachings on the Force remind me of the Lifestream on my world. It's a powerful spiritual energy comprised of the memories and even the people who came before. It sustains all life on the Planet and can be used for good or evil. Some believe that when you die, you relinquish all individuality to become part of the Lifestream. But at least some hearts are too strong for that."

Zack. Aerith. Angeal.

Himself.

❤️

[makesrocksfloat]

Rey looked down briefly. "No. It doesn't."

But that statement confused her a little. "Not allowed? Did you have a job you had to do?" It would make sense if it was something like having to scavenge to earn portions on Jakku. It seemed like those stories were a lot more common than she thought they might be, considering what was done to Finn.

The description of the Lifestream, though...that made her nod eagerly. "I think it's the same way with the Force! I know that it's supposed to be possible to tap into all of the strength of all past Jedi, but I'll be honest that I haven't tried yet. Can you contact the strong hearts from your world," she asked, eyes bright.

CW: Mention of child soldier

[imjustaman]

"Yes," Sephiroth says. "I was being groomed to be a soldier from childhood. The scientists who raised me never wanted me to change my focus from that."

He is intrigued to hear he seems to be on the right track. "I believe that's possible," he says, "although I haven't tried it."

In his insanity he hadn't been interested in seeking out old friends in the Lifestream. He might now, if he thought they would want to see him, but he doubts the Lifestream is on this planet. He doesn't sense it here.