ph_logs | [OPEN, Mingle] Yamsgiving

[OPEN, Mingle] Yamsgiving

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.]

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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?"

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."

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?

"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."

"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?"

"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."

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?"

"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?"

"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.

"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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

"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.

Rey looked concerned. "I have a friend back home who had the same thing happen to him. They took him from his family and, well. Tried to turn him into the perfect soldier. I'm sorry that happened to you, too." The empathy was clear in her voice. No matter where she went in the galaxy, there seemed to be suffering. A childish part of her felt that it wasn't fair, but life never seemed to be fair anywhere either.

"I wonder...is it something you can use from here? I haven't really tried to feel the Force, but since this is another place and the stars didn't seem right." She wasn't nervous about what she'd do without the Force, she'd been able to defend herself long before she knew she could use it, but she wasn't sure how well she could protect others.

It was a far cry from the life she'd led on Jakku, having to look out for herself first and above all other things.

"Thank you. I am sorry that happened to your friend. Was he ever able to find his family?" He still didn't know what it would be like to have the love of a parent, even though in his insanity the creature Jenova had fueled his belief that she was his true mother. He had eventually learned that the main scientist who had raised him was his father, which hadn't been a happy revelation. The man had been the furthest thing from loving.

"Hm." He pondered. "I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to try." Perhaps he would try reaching out to Zack ... and Angeal....

Rey looked away briefly. "No. The only ones who'd know that would be the First Order and they're not exactly used to sharing." Which was an understatement. She'd went to the Supremacy to see if Kylo Ren could be saved, only for him to seize power for himself.

She could only hope that her presence would eventually turn him around.

"I think it could help? We can't be defenseless here, can we?" The thought was alarming, especially since she didn't have Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber with her.

"I understand." All too well.

"We don't seem to be defenseless. I have at least quite a few of my abilities from home," Sephiroth says. He doubts being able to contact loved ones from home would add to their defenses here so much, but it certainly would be comforting ... he hopes. They would want to see him, wouldn't they? After trying so hard to save him?

Rey smiled a little sadly. "It's a little sad to find out that, well. Some things never change, no matter where you're from."

"Okay. I'm going to have to find a field and see what I can do. Do you know of any fields with rocks? Or anywhere with a lot of green, growing things? The Force seems to be concentrated in places with a lot of life." That, and green places and vast amounts of water still amazed her. She didn't think they'd ever stop amazing her after life on Jakku. Space was beautiful, but it was also cold. Rey liked the feeling of the sun on her face and the shadows of green trees growing around her.

Sephiroth nodded. Sadly true.

"Hm. There's the forest, but it's dangerous to be there for long," Sephiroth said. "I'm sure there's fields with rocks somewhere, maybe out near where the farms are, if there's still uncleared land. And there's the beaches."

Rey cocked her head to one side. "How dangerous is dangerous? The occasional happabore or reaver raptors looking to pick your skin off the bone?" And she took in the rest. Farms! Beaches! Not like the rocky, harsh terrain of Ahch-To! It couldn't be...she couldn't be better off here.

No. It couldn't be unless Ben Solo joined her. Not Kylo Ren, Ben.

Sephiroth smirked a bit at that. "The monsters in the forest seem to be more than occasional, and yes, their goal seems to be killing and eating. Or sometimes infecting others. There have been some wolves doing that lately."

He smiled a bit at her expression as he told of the other areas. He could see that excited her. It was beautiful here, he had to admit.

[Hey, y'all! As the poster of this mingle, I'm still getting all the tags for this in my inbox. As it's significantly over a month from the time I posted this log, would you consider moving to an overflow thread on someone's journal?]

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[OPEN, Mingle] Yamsgiving

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(CW: patricide)

Re: (CW: patricide)

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

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

❤️

CW: Mention of child soldier

Re: CW: Mention of child soldier

Re: CW: Mention of child soldier, bad parents

Re: CW: Mention of child soldier, bad parents

Re: CW: Mention of child soldier, bad parents

Re: CW: Mention of child soldier, bad parents

Re: CW: Mention of child soldier, bad parents

Re: CW: Mention of child soldier, bad parents

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(OOC Note)