folklorist | ϡ - Chapter FortyNine; This is Halloween [action|video]

[ Well if anyone is walking through the village today they’ll see Helios with a wheelbarrow piled high with pumpkins. Yes, that’s right, you saw correctly that large orange mountain is pumpkins of all sizes and shapes. Helios is going all out this year to decorate the tree outside the house and the surrounding area with Halloween paraphernalia. If one passes by House 44 on this lovely Autumn day they will be greeted with this sight. Every day the mound gets a bit bigger and the pumpkins a bit larger and more menacing looking or funny looking too. Helios isn’t going to deny help either, and he may even wander around town and start to place pumpkins around the area. The fountain, outside the bakery, and the other shops as well. The Library gets a makeover too as spider webs and chattering bats, fake but made to move with magic, flutter about the ceiling. He’ll be doing this for the entire week as it gets closer to Halloween. Don’t mind him he just likes Halloween. ]

[ It’s during one of his training sessions in the woods that he happens upon an interesting little spectacle of nature today. The video function of the journal will come on abruptly today and Helios will sound ecstatic over the journal system. Though it might not mean anything to a lot of people in the enclosure Helios is very pleased with his findings. A fairy ring sits just a few feet away from where he’s recording. ]

Ah! What a perfect time to find one of these! How many of you have heard of fairy rings before? Ronds de sorciers otherwise called sorcerers' rings in France, and Hexenringe which is witches’ rings in German. I was wondering when I would find one of these here! Oh these things are so wrought in folklore and superstition I’m rather excited to get to see one again. [ It shows Helios, you dork. ]

Did you know that fairy rings are said to be the result of elves and fairies dancing? It’s also claimed that entering one on Halloween is especially dangerous, it can cause all sorts of entrapment from the fae or even the devil himself. One superstition claims that anyone who steps into an empty fairy ring will die at a young age. While others, like the Welsh, believe that mountain sheep that eat the grass of a fairy ring flourish, and that crops sown from such a place will prove more bountiful that those from normal land. And of course the only safe way to investigate a fairy ring in to walk around it nine times, for doing it ten times to do it a tenth is dangerous and a terrible mistake.

[ And Helios will proceed to walk around it nine times while he talks.] Ah, but, of course it’s all legends and such. I’ve met a good few fae in my time, they weren’t so bad, at least not to the point of making mortals dance until exhaustion and death inside a ring. There's a good few poems about fairy rings too. But-but I won't get into that. Do any of your worlds have such myths or-or folkore? Perhaps not with a ring exactly but, you know, with other objects instead. [ He’ll stop at the ninth full circle and smile as he looks down at the ring. ]

S-Speaking of Halloween. [ Halloween tended to have bad shifts and even though his past two weren’t so fond, he still tries to have a positive outlook on the Halloween. He doesn’t want the shifts to sour one of his favorite times of the year. ] I know there’s a lot of…things that have happened recently, but maybe something to liven up people spirits might be good. Help get p-people's minds off of things and all that. [ He wasn’t unknowing towards the shift bomb or the Iron Eye, it still made his stomach turn at learning about all those people gone forever because of the decision of people in this very enclosure. ] Oh! Maybe a-a pumpkin carving contest! Those are always fun and you can make lots of pumpkin pie from the rest of the pumpkin. [ Pumpkin pie for the entire village yes, good. ]

((ooc; You can run into Helios with action from the 9th-14th. He'll be around town and the house. The 10th can be used for voice or action as well~))

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[The house is looking kind of... orange today and Max is staring at the carved pumpkins with a certain amount of fascination when Helios comes out. It's not just those, there's decorations everywhere and it's impressive how much he's managed to get together.]

I do not think that I have ever seen so many pumpkins in one place. I mean, not that I see a lot of pumpkins anyway but... this is an American thing, isn't it? Or a Romanian thing?

[ It looks 2spooky, doesn't it? Helios is so very proud of his work and it shows on his features as he beams with happiness when coming outside. He pauses when he sees Max not entirely expecting the other man to drop by. ]

Max! I wasn't expecting you. [ He smiles though and looks around at the field of pumpkins. ] It's actually Irish and Scottish in origin. You don't...carve pumpkins in your world I take it?

[ He looks surprised at that, head tilting slightly to the side with a thoughtful look. ]

[Obviously the spookiest and Max turns to grin at him, looking impressed by the display.]

I heard you were doing Halloween things and I thought I'd come take a look. It's great.

[He shrugs at that.]

It's not really a big thing, no. Not in England anyway. Halloween in general, although Samhain's getting more popular. Any excuse for a party.

Well I'm glad you came because I have a load of pumpkin pies waiting to be delivered and eaten. I was going to give them to a few people, would you mind walking with me while I do so? [ So many pies. All the pies. ]

Ah. Yes. We used to have a big party for Samhain too! I loved those parties my parents used to hold. It was rather spooky when they sent up all the decorations in the castle. They were absolutely fantastic. We should...do something for the holiday as well.

I'd be happy to. The weather's pretty good considering it's October. I'm used to it being damper.

[English weather, he does not miss you.]

Oh, that sounds fantastic. We have bonfires sometimes, and memorial services for family who passed on. and we should do something. I have a gift for you anyway.

Ah, yes, Romania would be chilly this time of year. I mean living near the mountains didn't help either, but you know. It's fairly nice out today.

[ He looks thoughtful as he nods in agreement. ] We should do something, I'm sure people would appreciate it too. I think there's a few plans for Halloween parties as well. [ He'll pause looking at the other man. ]

A-A gift? For-for what? [ Gift receiving he is not good at. ]

Here's me complaining about a bit of rain and you live near mountains. I bet you get actual snow too.

[He grins at him, looking a little bashful, and then shrugs.]

Because I wanted to. Because I felt like it and I think you'll like it.

Oh yes lots of snow. I can tell you that my students love it and not because its fun to play in. Snow days are aplenty when you have Jack Frost stopping by for a visit. I-I had to ask him to come every other year, otherwise my students wouldn't learn a thing. [ He grins back and blinks at that bashful look. Oh, well, that's a nice look for the other man. Helios' face might color slightly as well. ]

O-Oh well I-I'm sure that's it perfect, Max. [ He knows whatever it is Max has put a lot of thought into it. He'll lean over and kiss the other man on the cheek. ] I-I do appreciate the thought, so thank you.

That would help, yeah. Being on good terms with the guy in charge of snow is pretty great. I would probably only use that power for evil, unfortunately.

[He smiled.]

Yeah, I hope it is. You deserve nice things, okay?

[ Helios will slightly blush at that as he looks down at the floor. His hands fumbling with the pumpkin carving tools. Helios is not one to easily accept nice things but he knows Max means well so just this once he nods. ] Ah, w-well, I-I suppose you're right.

[ He doesn't sound too terrible sure of himself because he feels like he's been a rather bad partner these last few weeks, especially after what happened during House of M. ] If-if you really think so I won't go against that, dear. [ He is a man of few materialistic things. ]

I try to be right as often as I can. And I'm terribly stubborn too. So yes, I do think so. Don't worry. It's nothing ridiculously flashy just... something you'll like, I promise.

Ah. W-Well. I'm definitely taking your word for it then. [ He gives Max a broad and bright smile. ] So it-it's a surprise I'm guessing? I shouldn't bother asking what it is then, hm?

[ Max isn't going to tell him, is he? ]

Yup! Sorry, I'm keeping it secret until you try it. I want to see your expression when it works. [His smile is thoroughly unrepentant.]

Well fine then. I suppose I will just have to wait. [ Even if he is giving you a look Max. You know the one. ] I can't wait to see what it is then.

Be patient. You're a teacher. You should know how to be patient.

That's not true at all! [ But he smirks and laughs a little. ] Teachers can be just-just as impatient you know? But fine, fine, I'll try to curb my enthusiasm for the time being.

ϡ - Chapter FortyNine; This is Halloween [action|video]

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