ϡ - Chapter FortyTwo; Mythica in a winter wonderland. [action|voice]

[folklorist]

[ Good afternoon Luceti; if you’re in town today you’ll notice some large lumbering pure white figures walking or flying about. No they aren’t harmful in the least, although the creatures they take after might argue otherwise, and they are not yetis or other such things that come out in the thickest of snowfalls. What they are the products of one derpy headmaster feeling the Christmas cheer thanks to the effects the Malnosso have put in place and him waking up very early in the morning after the snowfall last night to make said creatures. There will be various mythological snow creatures walking about today though none of them can make much noise or do much of anything, they’re pretty docile actually and if you wanted to you could probably even ride on top of them; they won't mind, really! There will be a dragon with icicles for horns and teeth in the town plaza and it'll greet people who enter the town with a happy flick of its tail. Helios will be there for a good portion of the day also making a majestic Griffin, and a snow unicorn. That’s not to say these are the only things that’ll be popping up. Other mythological creatures might be seen around as well. Phoenixes, mandrakes, minotaurs, kitsunes, Kodama in the more forested areas and even a Nue. The list is really endless and Helios has been having too much fun doing this again this year. There's a stand nearby as well with hot chocolate and other warm beverages as well. As for the mythologies most of them will be life sized but nothing too extravagant or outlandish. The tallest would be around ten or so feet tall, while others miniatures in size. They’ll all be moving and just mulling about and you can be sure they’re movements are quite like the real things if you’ve ever encountered one.

The mythologies can be interacted with through the entire day with Helios sometimes in accompaniment. And later into the afternoon Helios will be found in the town square with his snowy dragon companion making your standard issued snowmen, each one getting their own complimentary hat, scarf, and pipe. He'll take a break and eventually pull out his journal for a short little network post. Maggir and Luminair aren’t with him, due to the cold, but the snowy little dragon following Helios around sure does resemble his baby dragon back at home! ]

Ah I love it when it snows like this, there’s an ethereal sort of calm that comes with snowfall don’t you think? The way it falls silently and blankets everything in white...it’s rather beautiful and it’s come just in time. I was wondering if we were going to get any this year. [ He sounds pleased that they have though. ]

If, if anyone remembers from last year...I-ah, made a bunch of-of snow mythica around the town. S-So if you run into any today don’t be alarmed! They’re made purely out of snow a-and they're very friendly too! They tend to, um, take after the one wh-who makes them. [ Clearing his throat now. ]

If anyone has any other creatures from their own worlds they’d like to make and animate, I can certainly take requests! You’re more than welcome to ask too, don’t be shy! I do love making snowmen and it’s almost Christmas! Spreading the holiday cheer is what it’s all about right about now! Santa would probably be proud, he is a very kind and generous sort of man; he always was very good with giving out the compliments, too. Speaking of myths...has anyone heard about a being called Yuki-onna? It’s one of the better known ones in my world, Japanese in origin, but they stories describe her as a tall and beautiful woman with black hair and blue lips. She's said to be quite cold, figuratively and literally, but she also has a more motherly and good side to her too. The Snow Queen is another one, based on Yuki-onnas, and then there's even Jack Frost too! Jack Frost is...well, he's a personification of cold and crisp winter weather. He's also a variant of Old Man Winter, but the important thing to note is that Jack Frost symbolizes the youthful nature and wonder of children playing in the snow. And then there's Kuraokami, a dragon of rain and snow in Japan. He's quite the talker as well, but very good at ice sculptures. I learned that the hard way.

[ Helios laughs because that was a bad bet to get into. He totally knows this from experience guys. Not like anyone is surprised anymore. ]

I wonder if Santa will stop by Luceti too. Ah, well, that’s left to speculation at this point. It makes you wonder if the people here had someone like him to go around and give presents to them too. Or if they even had a holiday like Christmas at all. [ So many questions, so many left unanswered! ]

I do hope everyone has a good holiday though; you can never get too into the spirit of things.

[ Finally around later in the evening all the snow mythica will go back to being their snowy, sculptural selves, and can be found throughout the village in regal more natural poses. ]

Comments

[windandrain]

[Saori had followed Helios out on his wanderings, watching from a distance with great interest as he conjured the snowy beasts. She listened to his broadcast with mild interest, and her demeanor was vastly improved from the previous week's troubles. She'd put her own demons to rest for a year and was happy to join the awkward conjurer in admiring the beautiful creatures he'd called out of the white.

She was not fond of snow, and while she could not work it directly, or replicate feats like his own conjurings from it, that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy his workings or company. She'd grown dearly fond of the man and the more she thought on it the more she was beginning to realize that she might be ill-equipped to keep a promise she'd made to him months before. But she said nothing. It was Christmas, and he did not need that particular burden.

So, she decided to join him, playing with magic. A flicker of wind caught up beside him as he walked, the gust carefully arranging snow into the shapes of small fish wearing santa hats, little kami that danced around his head in an eerie, procession accompanied only by the sound of the wind forcing them to hold shape.]

Helios, you love this season, don't you?

[folklorist]

[ Helios stops in his tracks when those fish and kami pop up around him. He smiles, amused, and laughs happily as they swim and dance around him. He loved doing this sort of thing on the first snowfall of the season. It was, in a way, something to give back to the community as a whole. It helped keep spirits up and it helped lightened people's moods, including his own. So when he hears Saori's voice his smile only gets wider as he turns around to greet her. She looks somewhat happier than he's seen her in the last few weeks and that's always a good sign for anyone around here. The snow falling makes it a bit hard to see through, but he waves her over with an enthusiastic flourish of his arms. ] Saori! Hello!

[ A laugh as he rubs the back of his head sheepishly. ] It-it's a bit obvious, isn't it? I do concede that I like this season...quite a bit. [ As if it weren't obvious enough, derp. ]

H-How are you today Saori? [ He knows how she doesn't fancy the cold or snow, so it's a bit surprising seeing her out here. It's probably taken a lot for her to travel out with the weather like this. ]

[windandrain]

[She steps forward, the little fish-kami swirling in a circle still. Holding out her hand, the shapes fly over and twirl around her fingers, dancing in the wind.]

It's very obvious, and it's lovely.

[Bundled as she is under layers and layers of heavy clothes, with thick boots and good blood circulation she'll be fine. Saori's not interest in snow, no, but this is lovely.]

Me? I'm doing well enough, thank you. I was wondering what had you out and about earlier than me this morning. And then I saw a snow-kappa waddling down the street and knew it had to be you.

[Action]

[faithfulflame]

[After heading into town from the shrine for a bit of shopping, and perhaps to escape a small procession of pure white phoenixes that had suddenly decided to make it their home, Rei was unsurprised to find Helios in the square. And when she saw him working on another spell, calling forth yet another magical construct she understood exactly what her teacher had done.

With a thoughtful look in her eye, the miko approached, snow boots crunching in the white.]

So you're behind all of this? I should have known, Helios-san.

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ Helios' head shoot up from his making of a rather majestic looking fae to look at Rei. His eyes shine with an inner happiness that hasn't been there for quite sometime, he laughs and nods. ]

Up in the very early morning making most of them, yes! I-I hope none of them have caused you any alarm. [ He smiles as he looks over at the snowy little dragon by his side. ]

[Action]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei's eyes glitter with interest as she approaches, looking at the dragon and noting Helios' own obvious joy]

No, why would they? They're snow-creatures. Some of them I recognize. You did all of them though?

[keyandstar]

[ Lirael is seriously considering trying to ride the dragon but... that wouldn't work, would it? ]

[folklorist]

[ And the snowy dragon is just looking back at Lirael with a quizzical expression. Well, as quizzical as one can expect a snow construct to look at you. It's tail will swish back and forth as it moves slowly through the snow towards her. It might dip its head downward, as if in greeting, but it is silent for the most part. The only bad thing about snow constructs is that they can't make sound.

Helios will be nearby though, only watching for a second before coming over. ] I think he's offering. T-To let you ride him, I mean.

[keyandstar]

... you think so? I wouldn't want to... I don't know, break anything.

[ The snow mythicas are so beautiful, and she's made a mental note to try making animated snow figures herself some time using charter magic.

She steps up to the dragon, putting a mitten-clad hand against its side. ]

All these creatures are wonderful, Helios.

[action]

[not_a_troll]

[Loki has absolutely no clue what is going on but he sure as hel is riding a dragon. Made of snow. And he is absolutely freezing but this time fun beats cold.]

Helios, gander upon this!

[Slowy he moves to stand on top of the dragon's head.]

Oh what miracles has brought the great Loki to stand atop a dragon? Isn't that something you might ask yourself when being faced with a sight as majestic as this?

[Loki tends to forget that being wrapped in warm fabric and looking more like some form of a Mexican burrito is not the epitome of cool.]

[action]

[folklorist]

[ Helios will gander and then laugh as well. He'll dust his hands free of snow as he watches Loki with a very cheerful grin on his face. ]

A miracle indeed! I am curious about how you got up there. You seem to be enjoying yourself though.

[Voice]

[removeimpurity]

Helios? [Syre's voice is almost timid, as though ashamed to ask.]

What... What are mythica? [Otherwise known as 'please tell me of your strange Earth creatures, Helios'.]

[Voice]

[folklorist]

Syre? [ He sounds a bit concerned at her tone, in the beginning. But it quickly turns into happiness, pure and unbridled. ]

Come outside to the town and I can show and tell you all about them! [ But it might be a bit chilly for that. ]

[Voice]

[most_unwanted]

I'm familiar with many of those myths... and I don't doubt that they all exist.

[He's always wanted to believe, but there's even more reason now.]

As for requests, how about a couple of the classics? Bigfoot, or maybe the Loch Ness Monster...

[Voice]

[folklorist]

Bigfoot and Nessy, hm? I think I can manage those. You're a fan of the classics then, Mulder?

[ He sounds amused and there's some shuffling on his end as he gets to work on those. ] I remember meeting Nessy when I visited Ireland to speak with a few Druids. She was rather nice, actually, a bit shy but...very hospitable.

[Action]

[fleurdesel]

[Adele's spent the better part of the month thusfar in either her office at the clinic or the upstairs library of house 44- keeping to herself in quiet contemplation of what she'd lived through this season last year. But with Helios spending quite so much time outside in the cold it would be remiss of her not to bring something to warm him. Sometime in the afternoon she treks out through the snow to his side, a basket slung over one shoulder and a bundled blanket tucked under the other. The day is bright and lovely, bitingly cold- having to skitter and dodge the milling mythica is a bit of a challenge but she manages to find her way to Helios without dropping anything or sliding into a snow bank. She counts that as a win.]

They are as beautiful as ever, Helios!

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ By the time Adele arrives in the afternoon a few of the mythica are still as statues at the moment. The amount of power needed to run this specific enchantment is a bit larger than most. Helios will be taking a break and sitting on the ledge of the fountain, warming his hands with a thermos of hot tea. He looks pensive, thoughtful, almost distant as he watches the mythologies mull about the square. But there's an ever apparent smile on his lips as he watches them. It's only when Adele greets her that his eyes refocus and he gives her a happy smile. ]

Thank you for saying so Adele. H-How are you enjoying the first snowfall of the season?

[Action]

[lostinmyway]

[Grune remembers the snow mythica very well from last year. While on their previous visit, she had spent a great deal of time playing with them and enjoying their company, today, she's content simply to watch them go about their business and interact with the people of Luceti.

She will, however, make certain to approach Helios at one point during the day.]

Your creatures are lovely, Helios. Thank you for giving the people of the village something to smile about.

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ Helios remembers last year quite well too. When Giles and Ginia were here with him to enjoy it. He is busily making touch ups to the snow dragon after it had under gone a few free rides throughout the day. He turns and smiles back at Grune, nodding with a happy genuine smile. ]

Oh it's really no trouble. I enjoy doing this as much as people enjoy interacting with them. It's...funny, I remember when Giles and Ginia were both here last. [ He laughs a little, shaking his head. ]

Christmas is a time of cheer after all. I-I just wanted to help spread it.

[Action.]

[quicktoanger]

Well, I had been hoping to see some sort of holiday festivities, aside from that... elf in my apartment. The decorations were nice.

But I had to admit, the dragon earned a stare.

That was... cool.

[Action.]

[folklorist]

[ Helios is just going to pop up from behind that dragon with a beaming smile. He is totally packing it with snow as it shifts and huffs with a wisp of snowy breath. ] Harry! Hello! Enjoying the snow I hope?

[thebellthatbinds]

[Sabriel is out taking Ranni for a walk, watching the steadily growing puppy jump and play in the snow with a fond smile. It had taken a little time to get used to the extra routine of caring for the dog but ever since Saori had entrusted the little creature to her care she has been happy to be so busy.

Distracted as she is, Sabriel doesn't notice the unicorn striding elegantly past until Ranni gives out a high bark and starts chasing after the snow figure's heels.]

Oh...my...

[Wow...now that may just be one of the prettiest things she's ever seen.]

Ranni, don't chase it!

[folklorist]

[ The snow unicorn is silent and graceful as it canters ahead of Ranni and Sabriel. It'll turn back to face the two of them, rearing up in silent majestic beauty, before tossing its head and cleaving at the snow laden ground. Helios will be nearby making a simple construct of a snowman. He doesn't register Sabriel or Ranni at first, as his back is facing towards the two of them. ]

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert really shouldn't be surprised at Helios' skill with magic anymore. But he is. This is the sort of thing that you can't not be surprised at.

He stops mid-walk to watch the majestic, slender snow-unicorn step across a drift, studying its motions with the quiet precision of a biologist.]

... A... u-unicorn...?

[It's a good thing his irritating elf isn't in the immediate vicinity, because she would be making a mess of things.]

[Action]

[folklorist]

[ No he really shouldn't be, but it sometimes surprises most people anyway. Helios is laughing and watching a few phoenixes fly about when that unicorn steps into view. Helios looks over at Robert then and then makes his way towards the scientist with a smile and a wave. ]

Robert! Hello! How are you? I-I see you've found one of my mythica. This is almost like deja-vu. [ It was a unicorn last time too, wasn't it? ]