November Event - Dance of the Decayed

[pumpkinhollow]

[PLAIN TEXT VERSION HERE]

DANCE OF THE DECAYED

PRELUDE

It’s the morning of November 16th and it is beautiful out. The sky is cloudless, endless, a blank canvas washed with brilliant blue sprawling out in every direction. Perfect for filling with kites and bonfire smoke and joyful song.

Today is the Dance of Celestine --- a religious festival for some, a community festival for others, but a good time for all. It is celebrated by climbing to the highest accessible place (in this case, Crane’s Ridge) and being close to the sky. There will be flame, food, festivities, and as the name implies, plenty of dancing! All that’s left to do is make your way skyward!

The Journey Begins

Getting up Crane’s Ridge can be a bit of a task. Generally, miners and other workers who need to get to the higher parts of Marrow Isle’s lone mountain take the train. A simple red locomotive with passenger seats in the back and cargo cars in the back, situated on a single loop of track. However, last year’s Dance of Celestine was summarily ruined due to metaphysical complications with said train, so many are reluctant to ride it.

Not to worry! While the train does still run, the option to hike is always open, and there are some horse-drawn wagons helping to cart people as far as they will go. Plus there are the combined efforts of the residents--- wizardly sorts, winged folk, and strapping men and women all live around here, certainly some tricks to help make the journey easier can be found! However your trip looks, there will surely be helpful hands around to make sure everyone makes it safely.

More Bones to Sort

The island’s current residents aren’t the only ones joining the festival.

Prior to its discovery as the final resting place of Linette Brenning, a local mage of good standing who disappeared years ago, the well in Fall’s Promise Cemetery had been carefully sealed with anti-magic sigils because it was regularly spewing magic that caused the bones of the dead to walk the earth. Now with Linette properly laid to rest, her spirit is no longer subject to the sigils. But resting peacefully as she is, she’s still not above a bit of harmless mischief.

Which is why, as the bulk of the townsfolk reach the summit of Crane’s Ridge, the sound of rattling bones and banging drums and strumming guitars and singing accordions and thump, thump, thumping old boots coming up the trail.

A band of skeletons! All dressed in tattered old Victorian clothes! They’ve come up from the cemetery to join in the dance!

The skeletons will be here all day and cannot be destroyed or tampered with in any way that isn’t temporary. They cannot speak, so unfortunately they will not be able to meaningfully answer questions and are really only interested in partying anyway. As such, this is sadly not a lore gaining moment. They will, however, dance with you, cause hijinks, and make flower crowns with an assortment of festive autumnal blossoms they’ve brought with them.

SHINE ON, HARVEST MOON

Everything is Nice and Fine

The festival runs from the early afternoon until well after dusk. Picnic blankets are spread, logs and stones are positioned for sitting around an enormous bonfire, and a dance floor is cleared. Looks like Juniper Sweetwater and the Deadwood Five are off the hook for music--- we’ve got skeletons for that! And they don’t seem to plan to quit playing their jaunty music anytime soon.

And so, under the cloudless sky, abundant with the sounds of joy and laughter and the silliest music you’ve ever heard, you while away the lovely day. Dancing is, of course, the primary activity, specifically circle-dances with joined hands around something akin to a maypole with a weathervane on top and a lattice of flowers encircling the pole, but also just in general. There is also a large bonfire where people are writing things down on paper and tossing them to the flame--- apparently things in their life they wish to be rid of.

Old North Wind

One of the most beloved activities of the Dance of Celestine is the flying of kites. The blustering wind above Crane’s Ridge is perfect for catching fabric and sending kites up to the sky. There are premade kites that are elaborate and beautiful artistic depictions of things like clouds with trails of raindrops, suns, moons, stars, birds, dragons, and autumn leaves, which people can take turns flying, as well as plain white kites that can be painted and flown. Participants are encouraged to write a wish onto a strip of fabric and send it up the strings of one of the kites, to offer the wish up to Celestine or to the universe. What do you wish for?

Potatoes and Molasses

What would a Pumpkin Hollow festival be without the food? Especially not too long after the last major harvest of the year.

Funded by town hall, Pumpkin Hollow’s most prolific chefs are giving cooking stations and serving tables, and are distributing their finest seasonal selections! What’s your flavor? Farm to table delicacies from the local farmers, pastries from Max Maximum’s bakery, Laios Touden’s fabled monster cooking, and more! (If you look closely, you may even catch sight of Dahlia Leeds hiding behind that last station.)

Patient is the Night

The top of Crane’s Ridge is only partially flat enough to host this party. Arching over the rocky platform of the summit where the festival is hosted, there is a stone formation, tall and proud, that looks like the head and neck of a crane. It’s only big enough for one or two people to be on, making it a popular cloud- or star-gazing spot for couples.

However, as the full moon bathes the mountain in silver and mingles with the warm light of bonfire and lanterns, a figure can be seen standing up there. A woman in a shimmering gown, textured hair in a long ponytail that looks like lassoed cloudstuff. Perhaps you know her.

Comments

[spaghettification]

Siebren's eyes focus after a moment, breath catching then resuming.

"I think I need to get away from the crowd. Too many minds. Help me?"

[xiaoxiuya]

"Of course. Here, take my hand." Again fingers intertwine, Shen Qingqiu's own pulse quickened with worry as he stands and gently helps Siebren to his feet.

"Should we return to the train station, then?" he asks gently. "Or would the hiking trail be better?" If worst comes to worst, he is more than capable of picking his friend up and carrying him down the mountain.

[spaghettification]

Once on his feet, Siebren begins to float, as usual. He's not wearing any shoes, also as usual.

"If the train is likely to be crowded, let's avoid it. Please."

[xiaoxiuya]

Floating is fine, so long as he stays close enough that Shen Qingqiu can keep a hand in his. He's got this terrible worry, all of a sudden, that if he doesn't keep Siebren at least a little grounded he might just float off into the sky, never to be seen again. And that would be terrible.

"We'll walk, then," he says gently. "Just follow my lead." And with a gentle, measured pace he begins to lead Siebren over to the trail, feeling just a little bit like a child with an unwieldy balloon. It's not at all how he was planning to end his evening -- but he's quite glad he was there, if the alternative might have been Siebren finding himself all alone.

[spaghettification]

Siebren's hand grips Shen Qingqiu's like an anchor, like he's just as afraid of drifting away completely, like there's a current tugging at him.

"Thank you. I'm sorry to pull you away from the...everything."

[xiaoxiuya]

"That's quite all right. I was starting to wind down anyway." He pats Siebren's hand, smiling up at him to show he really means it. "I'm happy to do this for you, truly."

As they start to put a little distance between themselves and the party and the night grows quieter around them, he dares to ask, "Do you know what triggered all that? I know you must be tired, but...things got a little odd back there."

[spaghettification]

"I have struggled to remain within the perimeter of my own skin since the gala. Since I claimed Blanche's power. Aster told me I have her title, now, too. That wasn't what was happening tonight, though."

He sighs slowly, like he is deflating. "The pressure of so many minds, lit by so many passions was much. And I felt them at the edge of me, and me at the edges of them."

[xiaoxiuya]

"Blanche -- you mean the all-white demoness? But she was the one who --" Shen Qingqiu shuts his mouth, feeling a little pale himself. At the gala? Then it must have happened after he told Siebren about the information he'd gained from his encounter with Nyarlathotep, and how it had put him on the trail of Elias Coldwood. But he'd neglected to mention Blanche's role. So why would Siebren...? Had she attacked him?

Not the time, not the place. Shen Qingqiu clears his throat awkwardly and instead asks, "So, the distance? Is it helping?"

[spaghettification]

"She was the one who...what?" He can't just let that go so easily, now, not when her power churns in him like spun sugar in a cotton candy machine. As much as he can muster his focus in this moment, Shen Qingqiu has all of it.

[xiaoxiuya]

"Oh, goddamnit." Shen Qingqiu pinches the bridge of his nose. "Right, I walked into that one, didn't I? So, Blanche gave me some assistance in the first week of September. I let her eat a few of the memories I got from Nyarlathotep, and in exchange...well, that's about it really. With fewer memories to pick through I was able to make better sense of the ones that were left. You, uh..." He eyes Siebren curiously. "You didn't already know that? I'd have thought it would come with the territory, if you have her title now..."

[spaghettification]

"I ate her. She didn't have time to give me a tutorial how to be the Baron of Blank."

His voice is soft, distant, wounded. There is no pride in what he did, or what he's becoming. Not in this moment, when it's complicating everything.

[xiaoxiuya]

"So you're stuck figuring it out as you go along." Much as Shen Qingqiu had to, when he woke up in an immortal's body...he squeezes Siebren's hand in sympathy.

"I know you wouldn't have done such a thing without good reason, my friend. But may I ask why? How did everything come to this?"

[spaghettification]

"You overestimate my capacity for good reason. If you've gotten the idea that I am sane, that I am of sound mind...I have managed to mislead you."

He sounds almost apologetic about it.

[xiaoxiuya]

"Hush," he says easily -- perhaps too easily, but his face is full of nothing but kindness -- and in at least some part, affection. "If you can't explain it now, then we'll try again later. Let's get you home, shall we?" He begins to lead Siebren down the path again, his steps sure.

[spaghettification]

"Don't dismiss me like that. Please."

He mutters it, his grip loosening on Shen Qingqiu's hand.

"I am trying to explain. But I need you to hear me."

[xiaoxiuya]

"Don't let go!" Shen Qingqiu yelps, grabbing Siebren's wrist and holding it just on the safe side of too tight. "I'm sorry," he babbles, "of course you can tell me anything, I'll listen to whatever you want. Just don't let go. Please."

He makes himself take a deep breath. "I feel as though, if I don't keep an eye and a hand on you, you'll float off somewhere and I'll never see you again..."

[spaghettification]

"Will you feel better when I'm at home? Where you can shut the door and I'll only hit the ceiling if I manage to fly too high?"

There's less humor in those words than perhaps there ought to be.

[xiaoxiuya]

"I'd feel better, certainly, but would you?" Shen Qingqiu rubs Siebren's knuckles anxiously, trying to sooth them both with a single gesture. "I don't want to lose you, but I don't want you to feel trapped, either. I'm afraid I still need your guidance to navigate this situation appropriately. I'm sorry."

[spaghettification]

"Set appropriate aside completely, Shen Qingqiu. What do you want right now?"

It's dark but for torches set to light the way, and they're alone on the path right now. Anything could happen. They could do anything, and no one would know.

[xiaoxiuya]

"Me?" Shen Qingqiu blinks up at him, wide-eyed. "I want you to feel safe, isn't that obvious? I want to take care of you, if I can."

He chews on his lower lip, realizing -- "I suppose, looking back, there's a conversation or two that we're past due to have, but...is this really the time? I don't want to stress you out, Siebren. I care about you."

[spaghettification]

"I know that you care." There's a squeeze at their joined hands. "Making a point of having these conversations would be less important, if you didn't care."

There's a bit of a pause.

"My mind was broken, on my last orbital mission. It's not well, nor is it whole as it once was. I have reached balance, but I still sway. I have bad days, when my head is three feet to the left of my body, or when my memories feel like soup. This is what Blanche found in me to mock. I killed her, for mocking me at Dahlia's gala, and her body melted into a puddle of cheap white chocolate."

[xiaoxiuya]

"Gross," Shen Qingqiu blurts out before he can stop himself. "I don't mean you!" he tries to course correct immediately, mortified and squeezing Siebren's hand. "Just the...white chocolate thing. I'm still not over how nasty this world's demons can be." The demons in PIDW were all made of meat and obsessed with meat, and he'd never have suspected that might seem easier to handle. Maybe it's the unpredictability that's getting under his skin.

Speaking of skin... "So that's when you ate her?" he asks. "After she...melted?"

[spaghettification]

"After she melted. I wanted to know she would be gone completely, for good. Erased." Siebren looks off to one side. "And in the aftermath, my mind...well. I spent days at home alone, digesting her. Synthesizing her power. Even longer after that learning control."

[xiaoxiuya]

"Was it painful?" Shen Qingqiu hesitates for only a moment before lifting Siebren's hand to his mouth and tenderly kissing his knuckles. "I wish you'd told me. Sent me a message or something...maybe I could have helped somehow." But maybe Siebren didn't think they were close enough for that.

[spaghettification]

"I didn't tell anyone what was happening. I just called in sick to work for three days and dealt with it."

He isn't accustomed to being offered help, from people at any degree of closeness.

"It hurt a lot. I'm still figuring everything out in the aftermath."