Remember Remember

[abjurer]

Who: Anyone and everyone
What: Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night celebration
When: The evening of November 5th, of course
Where: Out in a conveniently clear patch of land outside the village where nothing will set on fire.
Summary: November 5th is Bonfire Night for all of those of British origin and for anyone else, well, fireworks and a bonfire and good food can't exactly hurt right?
Rating: PG



It had taken a fair amount of work to get this set up, but by the time people arrive, there's a large bonfire roaring in a cleared out area and a table of food and drink set out for anyone feeling a bit peckish. He has gone all out; pork pies and mushy peas,
parkin, bonfire toffee, all of these are set out along with whatever else he thought people might enjoy. There are also drinks of all kinds, from juice to mulled wine and beer.

Of course, the main event is the fireworks, which are let off once everyone has arrived and settled down to watch them.

Comments

[luckynumberthree]

Simon showed up early to help where he could, once he found out there was someone else doing all the hard work required to organize this thing. He was terrible at organizing, but lugging in wood's something he's had lots of practice at in recent months and hey, he happens to really enjoy this celebration. Mostly for the setting-things-on-fire part and less about the politics and all that, which he happily continues to ignore in favor of hey, burning things!

He'll be hanging out around the bonfire and helping Max with the fireworks if the other man is crazy lets him. He's also hoarded back some supplies for a treat that's totally not British at all, but he doesn't care, he made a promise to a girl and he never backs out on his dates.

He'll be keeping warm by the fire or wandering around to chat up whoever shows up and generally enjoying the evening out.

[tryit]

She walks up to him at some point in the night, footsteps quiet. She carries with her a mug of mulled wine, eyes transfixed on the fire. Without looking at him, she says:

"Happy Fifth just doesn't have the same ring as wishing someone a Happy Fourth."

[luckynumberthree]

Simon snorts from where he's sprawled comfortably on a log, legs stretched out towards the fire in front of him and glances up at her in amusement.

"Americans," he scoffs teasingly, rolling his eyes at her, then pats the log beside him in invitation. He's nursing a beer at the moment, which isn't unusual for him and he looks a little relieved at the interruption from whatever thoughts he'd been immersed in while watching the fire.

[tryit]

She doesn't hesitate to sit next to him, moving close enough that their thighs touch. Her knees bend to rest weight on her toes, glancing at him just for a moment before turning her attention back to the fire. Her elbows rest on her the top of her legs, mug captured between her hands.

"Your point?"

[scootch]

Ellie had gotten his ping earlier - she'd been waiting for it anyway, since he said he'd be in touch - and she's eager to see what all the fuss is about, so she arrives pretty soon after he does, creeping up and poking around the area curiously. Before too long, she'll venture over to bother him instead.

"Soooo, this is what you meant? Setting stuff on fire?"

[luckynumberthree]

"There you are," Simon grins from where he's sprawled in front of the fire, comfortably propped up against a log. He waves her over to join him. "I was beginning to think you chickened out on me."

[abjurer]

Max was pretty grateful for the help honestly and Simon wasn't exactly bad company. Finally though, the bonfire is lit, just starting to crackle into life, the sky darkening, and he can finally sit down and have a drink. He grabs a beer from the table, offering a bottle to Simon. "Hey, thanks for the help. Appreciate it."

[luckynumberthree]

Simon takes the beer with an appreciative nod and a grin. "Thanks, mate. And you're welcome. I was hoping someone would do the organizing part of this. The actual bonfire-building is more fun."

[tryit]

A party is a party. And when she saw the advertisement on the journal, well, how could she resist?

She stands relatively close to the bonfire to keep warm despite her purple beret and wool coat, hands wrapped tightly around a mug of mulled wine.

Remember, remember the fifth of November and all that.

[abjurer]

He's glad to see that people decided to turn up. It feels a bit more like home right now, something familiar and comforting and it's something he needs right now.

He's manning the drinks table when Kate approaches, and offers her a smile. "Can I get you something?"

[tryit]

She's studying the table, already debating the drinks and food options when Max asks. Slightly startled, Kate looks up. And then proceeds to shrug.

"What would you recommend?"

[greenjacketed]

Sharpe was not often a partying sort of man. At least, not this sort of party -- though he remembers the bonfires of his youth and the rowdiness of St. Giles on every fifth of November. The bricks would glow red and for days beforehand he and his guttersnipe comrades would beg money in the more industrious parts of London. Well -- beg money and pick a few pockets while they were there.

Tonight, he turned up mostly because he was lonely. Miss Faith Long was still missing from the village and he would see fit to drown out the fact that he missed her with a deep mug of wine and perhaps some casual people-watching. As such -- draped in a greatcoat and leaned over with his elbows on his knees -- Sharpe could be found sitting on a bench. He soaked up the bonfire's heat and had a friendly word for strangers and acquaintances alike.

He didn't like the fireworks, though, and might be caught slinking further back when they shoot off. They remind him far too much of rockets flung at fortress walls back in India.

[stillplaying]

She wasn't intending on leaving the house that night. Or, more honestly, to leave Prim's side. But she didn't want to remind her sister of the anniversary of something neither ever should have lived through. Spoiling Prim this past week has probably been bad enough. It'd probably be good, good for both of them.

It's the bonfire that catches her attention far before she remembers the words Richard had spoken before leaving earlier in the evening.

Though she walks by the food and drink table, she doesn't pick anything up. Instead, she walks over to Richard's bench and, quietly, sits down next to him.

[greenjacketed]

"Decided to stop by, did you?" His eyes, at least, looked pleased to see her there. He clapped a hand to her shoulder in a firm and welcoming gesture, and then fell back to his side of the bench.

[allbloodyhail]

He dropped onto the bench unceremoniously, turning to the man he was already starting to think of as a friend.

"You're not hiding, are you?" A gentle tease as Spike immediately moved to get out his cigarettes.

[greenjacketed]

"From who?" He asked with a slight laugh, leaning back and settling his mug on a knee. "Ain't no constabulary here, mate. I reckon this fire could get a bit larger yet and we'd have nothing to fear."

A moment passed. "Evening, Spike."

[250mhzwabl]

With the weather as damp and chilly as it's been all day, the man's coat and strategic positioning are all Jack needs to see to know that he has precisely the right idea. So he won't be long in wandering over to sit nearby, resting his plate of food on his knees as he settles into the bright halo of warmth around the bonfire.

"Evening," he greets pleasantly, pork pie momentarily forgotten in favour of wrapping his hands around his own mug of wine.

[greenjacketed]

Sharpe -- recovering from the tension between being mid-drink and wanting to greet a man -- merely nodded, at first. Nodded and turned his shoulders so he could at least partially face him.

"Evenin'," he eventually rumbled as he passed the back of his hand across his mouth. And then he looked at the pie. "Tell me if those're any kind of decent, would you?"

[allbloodyhail]

Spike could be found traipsing about the fire and perusing the food tables alike -- why would anyone would traditional English food? From that point on he will be spotted with a beer in his hand and a story for anyone who wanted one, or just flat-out seemed lonely. He was no stranger to the feeling, after all. Maybe bonding with his countrymen would do him some good.

Or just remind him why he left in the first place.

[swordprincess]

Karla comes to the gathering solo as usual, though the solitude doesn't seem to bother her. Slowly, she walks around the fire, taking a glimpse of who's here. Then she'll take a look at the food and pick up a dish or two to eat. Then she'll sit down (coincidentally) a few feet away from Spike as she begins to eat slowly, savoring the new taste.

[allbloodyhail]

"How can you eat that?" he asked, in direct contradiction to how thick his accent sounded just then. He's bemused, flicking his ash into the fire.

[folklorist]

Helios will come and help setup the place before everyone else arrives. He'll be laying out food and gathering up wood for the large bonfire in the center of the space being occupied. He will also have a bag of marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate bars set aside for anyone who wanted to make s'mores.

But once everything is in full swing Helios will be moseying about and talking to people who stopped by for the festivities. He'll mull about the fire and the food area trying all the different foods available for consumption.He'll mostly stick around Max for when the fireworks start and watch them with him until they're over.

[abjurer]

Max is sociable at the best of times and takes his duties as host seriously, flitting from person to person before disappearing to take care of the fireworks, some real, some illusory. It's a weird thing. He isn't exactly homesick, but a little piece of home like this, a well-loved celebration, it makes him ache a little. They'd always had amazing fireworks back at home.

he does eventually calm down, going to sit near the fire with a beer and some hot food, enjoying the warmth of the flames.

[swordprincess]

Curious as always, Karla heads to the gathering, to see what it was about, and to see who else was attending. Maybe she can visit a few acquaintances, or make some new ones. She's not picky about who she talks to.

She will try the food, too, of course. She tries a little bit of everything to get a taste of the different worlds.

[mountain_sage]

Saleh attends this gathering, still determined to overcome his fear of fire. However, as he approaches the fire, he doesn't feel what he expected to feel. No heart pounding, no nerves tensing. He feels as comfortable as he ever had. To test it further, he ignites a fireball in his own hand with his magic. Again, he controls it skillfully.

He puts out his own flame, as the bonfire is more than enough to light the night. He stares at the fire, comforted by the warmth, but also puzzled, as he had a feeling that the fear couldn't have gone away this quickly as a result of his efforts to overcome it.