folklorist | ϡ - Chapter Sixteen; this is halloween [voice/action]

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ϡ - Chapter Sixteen; this is halloween [voice/action]

Halloween...Halloween. [ He sounds contemplative and hums a little before continuing. ] What to say about it. [ A pause there's the sounds of something be unwrapped probably a candy knowing Helios's sweet tooth. Then almost automatically there's the sound of 'mmm' in the silent background. How has he not gotten a cavity yet? ] I do hope the ghosts in the castle behave themselves this year. They love playing practical jokes around this time...April Fools isn't any better. [ Damn ghost kids always making trouble for him! Good thing he doesn't have to deal with it this year, haha! Though Ra might light the castle on fire... ] Ah...best to not think of such things. [ He'll just clear his throat because oh the horror, his poor castle. ] I distinctly recall that Halloween's roots go back to Samhain and the Celtic festival held in light of that. But today it's widely distributed and practiced pretty much everywhere. Samhain is...er Gaelic for summer's end. It was originally a harvest festival as they were generally more prominent back in the day you know? [ He laughs. ] What with farming relying on the sun Samhain was the end of the lighter half of the season and the beginning of the darker one. Something like day lights savings time or the summer and winter solstices.

Ah but! There's a catch! Many people believe that on this day the border between the living and dead became so thin that spirits could cross over and thus allowed the dead to cross back over from the living world into their own. This event brought up the custom of wearing costumes and masks which people did back then to help ward off the spirits and were used them to calm them down. I'd imagine pumpkin carving came from the old tradition of carving faces into turnips to ward off evil spirits as well.

It's such a wonderful holiday, very rich in folklore and the transition into modern culture is fascinating! The story of Mongfind for example is a folktale for this specific holiday. Modern times has done away with most of that but you know...the spirits of our deceased are always passing over, perhaps more so on that day than most. [ That's totally not a creepy thought nope. He's actually perfectly neutral in saying that it must be the dork in him. ] Ah what typically goes on here during Halloween, trick or treating I would hope? Oh! Perhaps a haunted house or a walk through the woods would definately be eerie. The spirits don't seem to be acting any differently though. [If you only knew what was in store for you Helios. ] Hm...I do wonder if the indigenous population here even knew what it was. There's just so much we don't know about this place. [ Sighs. So many questions yet so little answers. But back to the treats... ] But the best part about Halloween is...the candy! [ He sounds like a five year old don't mind him. ] What's everyone's favorite type? You can never go wrong with having too many favorites either!

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The town nearby also looks lovely during Christmas time. When everything is decorated it's like...visiting the North Pole.

I haven't seen proper snow in a couple of years. It's snowed once since I've been here - divine intervention must have been involved somewhere.

From what you've told me I wouldn't be surprised. I could always ask Kuraokami to pay you a visit. [ He says that with some amusement. Why yes he does mean the Japanese dragon snow god. ]

[...you do mean him, don't you, Helios? God, Giles is jealous of you]

Might take you up on that, actually.

[ It's probably the only perk of having another dragon god as a "friend"...actually in E-mun Ra's case it's the only perk, because he's an ass. ]

Excellent! I'll be sure to notify him about it. I hope you and your colleagues are not opposed to dragons though.

[There's a thoughtful pause]

...there's the one. I think. Not sure if it's still around. We certainly haven't gone looking for it.

You mean you just...let wander off. [ He's amused don't mind him. ] Hopefully it doesn't get into the sewers. There'll be an urban legend of dragons in there next instead of alligators.

We let it fly off, thank you. [They're not incompetent, after all]

There were...bigger concerns, that day. Like the Hellgod trying to melt the walls between realities. The dragon was one of the few things to make it through. And no one wanted to go and look for it later just in case we found it.

[ He just laughs. ]

Melt the walls between realities? That's...fascinating. Ah, I mean, not the Hellgod part or what you must have gone through! But...my you certainly have seen your fair share of things.

Unfortunately, yes.

After the seventh time, you would think that even the apocalypse would become less impressive.

I'm not sure. Even after seeing as much as I have...I'm still impressed at the mythological creatures in my world.

So am I, sometimes. But they still don't seem nearly as interesting as the ones where you live. [Or, if they are, they're interesting in far too many unpleasant ways] It's mostly vampires.

Mm yes well the ones by me sometimes have their days. Blood pills can only satisfy them for so long. Ah but none of the human students have ever been hurt! [ Too much. ] It's quite a strict place despite everything living behind it's walls. The phantoms usually keep me informed if something ever goes awry.

I would think the sheer fact that it hasn't fallen down around you is proof of how strict it must be.

It's also magically fortified to prevent it from doing so. There's...far too much residing within it to leave it unprotected like that. [ Unless he doesn't find an heir to take over his school soon. Or dies while it's still in his name then it'll crumble but let's not think about that. ]

Well, that's useful.

What do you teach at this school, if you don't mind my asking?

It most certainly is! The barrier only allows students and faculty to enter it. So there's never any problems with rogue demons or something getting in. [ Except that one time... ]

It has a fairly standard curriculum. Math, Science, History. But there's also Mythology and I sometimes teach magic--ah not in public, naturally, that's more of a secluded class than anything else. Reserved for the wizarding students.

I spoke to someone a few weeks ago who said she was a student witch.

I'm starting to wonder if you and her are even from the same planet as I am.

Oh really? What was her name? [ Because he's spoken to someone like that, yup. ]

Ah well this multiple worlds business is confusing but fascinating nonetheless.

Hermione. Very helpful. Very intelligent. [He liked her a lot]

Ah! Hermione, yes, I've spoken with her a few times before. She's very intelligent a wonderful student I must admit.

She told me quite a bit about the spirits - it's mostly been her notes that I've been using.

[Mind a subject change, Helios?] So. Apart from the candy, how do you celebrate Halloween? Most of the traditions are ones I recognize.

Ah is that so? If only my own students were as proactive as that. [ Just going to laugh. ]

Hm, ah well, I usually hold a Ball at the school for the students. But aside from that not much else really.

That sounds nice.

I've heard that the Organization put on a ball as well, last year. Hopefully they won't try it this year.

Ah yes I've heard that from various people as well. [ A sigh. ] Let's hope for best hm? I don't like to be so pessimistic but after what they've done in my brief time here I'm sure they'll keep up the tradition. But at least we have close friends here to not make it...so bad.

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