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Please amend this to her prior post
Expecting another long winded speech before the night was over, Claire took out a sealed letter she'd prepared in advance of this night's festivities, and places it plainly for Doctor Swift to see, and deal with whenever he pleases. Until then, she will patiently await the end of the ritual.
Her Letter
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Ah, and here it was, the piece that was missing from this rite. As much as Kassidy could understand the celebration of longer nights to come and the mourning of the current shorter nights, there was a disconnect with the Bones and the flames.
But Swift's expansion cleared that up. He looked at the bone in his hand with strengthened resolve - but before he moved to the fire, he noticed Catherines indecision. He couldn't blame his friend, the choice would be a hard one for most, particularly with Claire's choice of caution. On the other hand, Kassidy rarely took the time to face the monster lurking inside of him. It was there, of course, but he never deliberately tried to aggravate it before.
4suxx over two turns
Well, Sometimes you had to. He walked forward, approaching the screen, but as he rounded the end of it and actually saw the flames, fear raced through him. His fingers slackened, and he stepped back. The bone fell from his fingers as he took a step back. The short man took an unnecessary deep breath in and slowly released it, trying to calm himself. The flames were still banked, they were controlled.
He stepped forward and picked up the frog bone again and stepped closer to the flames teeth gritted to stave off that desire to run. Kassidy held his hand out to let the bone roll into the fire - but paused it's descent as a moment of indecision hit. This was, really, the first time he'd faced his inner monster like this.
Some part of him wanted to keep the bone as a memento that this is what he was. A monster. One who couldn't face a fire or the light of day. He let the bone fall, after all, he had the rest of the frog's skeleton in his closet. He walked back to the rest of the group, and carefully sat in one of the chairs. That had been... more difficult than he had anticipated.
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Dr. Swift glances at the piece of paper Claire leaves, letting his glance be seen so that she knows he is aware of that she's left it. He doesn't comment or make any expression as to her choice to leave her offering on the altar. After all, these rites had to be undertaken willingly if they were to have any meaning at all.
He keeps a somber attitude as Kassidy makes his way to the offering fire, but the slightest smile of approval touches one corner of his mouth. It was good to see the potential Acolyte taking initiative, and he fervently hoped the other Kindred would find some insight and value in the rite.
He notices Catherine nervously glancing at her own offering, but doesn't say anything. It was, after all, for her to decide what to do. A small glance is spared for the other guests. He would not be surprised should they chose to keep their offerings or leave them, but would also more than welcome their choice to place their offerings in the fire should they wish. Whatever they chose, it was facing the choice more than anything that was important this night.
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She could feel the onslaught of panic looming.
You were able to deal with the execution fire.
It was strange, she supposed it was like the early stages of being drunk...at least that was the easiest way to think about it. Catherine had stepped closer to the fire.
That was the thing about Mekhet’s and Fire. They didn’t mix...and when they did...they mixed a little too well. As in you couldn’t find remnants afterwards.
In her head as the start of the panic set in she could feel a more rational her playing the storyteller -- saying what was happening as she was doing it.
Just one step closer.
It was an offering, through pain and force of will.
A respectful nod towards K’s chosen covenant, even if it would never be her own.
And then the Fire Snapped at her.
She could feel the serpent with in finally break the fragile cage she had it in and take over her small dancer’s body. Her eyes tightened to tiny pinpricks of pupils and she was gone.
The bone she had been hoping to put into the fire falling harmlessly to the floor.
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Thanking Dillon and accepting his offered rat bone with a smile and whispered thanks, She spies the fire.
While the Doctor relates his sermon and words of inspiration, she takes the chance to spend Will and shake off the deepest fear of flames.
Though courageous in the face of the fire, she was wary all the same. She might not fear it; but courage did not make her invulnerable.
Placing her garland of flowers at the base of a nearby column she nodded her thanks again to Dillon and then to the Doctor and limped closer and closer to the flames.
She left her cane where she stood. The walk to the fire, she felt, demanded effort of Body as well as of Psyche.
Her limp was terrible, her leg dragged...but she made it to the edge.
With a silent prayer in Latin uttered in her mind to the strange Cosmos and Beyond, Martha carefully cast the bone into the flames and hoped that it may auger good Fortune for the Future.
Nodding to the flames she dipped a curtsy to the flames and the Doctor and the slowly withdrew with a serenity that her limp worked hard to unbalance.
Then stood by Dillon and, for the moment, left her cane on the floor.
-1 Willpower to activate a useful Coil
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ooc
Dr. Swift observes quietly as Catherine approaches the flame behind the screen. She disappears from view momentarily, but then there is the clattering of a dropped bone and she quickly disappears down the side hallway he had described earlier, either to find a dark corner to hide or to run out into the empty field beyond. Neither was ideal, but both should be safe enough for her to regain control without risk to the Masquerade or herself. He simply nods once to himself.
Some might consider what had happened to the Mekhet girl in the wings to be failure, but the Hierophant knows better. This tribulation is not about succeeding or failing to approach the flames. It is about facing your inner demons. It is about facing something about yourself that most Kindred hide from or ignore, and dealing with the reality of the situation.
Then Herald Villiers aptly demonstrates this in her choice to not only approach the flames, but to do so unassisted. Dr. Swift watches passively and respectfully as she makes her way to make her offering. The Heralds obvious struggles cause his heart to twinge, but he doesn't allow himself to dwell in sympathy or be moved by it. This was her choice of how to face the tribulation, and Swift knows that the choice is important. Life and death, existence is struggle, and struggle makes us stronger. If we do not struggle, we do not change. If we do not change, we stagnate. And that was truly a horrible fate.
Dr. Swift nods once to Herald Villiers as she returns to her chosen place. He waits only a short time longer to see if any others will chose to approach the flames.
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After a short pause in which it is clear no one else wishes to approach the flames Dr. Swift nods. He stoops to retrieve the bone and note that the Siren left. He places the note in a pocket. Taking the bone she left along with the femur he himself carries he walks behind the screen. He pauses only to pick up the small bone that Catherine left as well. While his actions are not visible on the other side of the screen, he quietly places each bone into the brazier. The fire cracks and snaps at the addition of so many pieces of inconsistent fuel. The beast within scrabbles and whines to be gone, but he had faced the flames earlier, and had mastered the beast for them.
Once all the pieces are fed to the flames he makes his way back to the dias before the altar and spreads his hands. The mood is quiet and somber, as it should be. He keeps his closing statements brief, not wanting to disturb the reflection tonight's ceremony had evoked. "The rite is concluded, the fires lit. May our offerings bring us insight and protect us from those spirits that would seek to do us harm as we anticipate the bounty of Harvest. Go, now, and reflect upon the flames."
With that the ceremony is concluded and the Kindred are free to disperse or stay in contemplation as they choose. Dr. Swift will remain for as long as there are Kindred, respecting their meditations, but also available to any that wish to approach. He waits for the fire to burn it's course and will dispose of the ashes outside once it is done.
That concludes the Midsummer Ceremony! Any who wish to speak after may do so, of course. I recommend we start a separate social thread, though, so we can wrap this one in time for the Solstice next week. Please feel free to narrate your departure or continued meditations, of course, if you would like.
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