OPEN | let's change from the heart, let's shout

[nomorules]

Who: Anyone and everyone! That means you! Yes, you, c'mere.
Where: The stream and the lake.
When: July 12th, evening.
Rating: PG in case any of y'all get wild with that decorating.
Summary: Come and take part in a mini lantern ceremony, Wonderland-style. Mingle away, comrades!
The Story:





The evening of the 12th, visitors who feel like moseying their way to the stream where it empties out of the forest will be able to enjoy a summer celebration in the Japanese style. Outdoor lights illuminate the area, and tables hold all manner of art supplies and blank paper lanterns waiting to be decorated.

Didn't catch the network 411? Someone around will surely explain: it's a nod to toro nagashi, the paper lantern ceremony meant to guide the souls of the departed by decorating lanterns and setting them loose. Maybe you have a departed soul you'd like to remember, or a prayer to make. Maybe you'd just like to write a note message-in-a-bottle style. Maybe you just feel like taking the air and enjoying the sights. The choice is yours!

Either way, once the sun has set and lanterns have been decorated, the candles inside will be lit (remember fire safety, kids!), and the lanterns will be released into the water.

Gather at the lakeside afterward to watch them empty into the lake and enjoy the ambiance with some food and drink. Because we could all use a little more light in our lives, no?

Comments

[interpersonal]

( elena doesn't answer at first.

she eyes the makeshift stake, but remains frighteningly still and twice as alert. the predator in her starts to stir, a light ache threatening to push her fangs out. elena doesn't shift her stance, as it's affording her just enough balance, but the moment caroline takes a step she'll try using that to her advantage.

she aims right for caroline's ankle with her instep, putting strength into the scooping motion that follows to push her feet off the ground.

it's only a second that elena digs the heel of her boot into her friend's chest. she wants to see if caroline still has a hold of the stake. )

Yeah, Caroline. I'll stop you.

[persevere]

[She's waiting for it. She knows Elena isn't going to stand for it, that the moment she moves there's going to be a fight.

She wants it. Elena beat her last time, nearly shoved a stake in her back. Time to repay the favor.

So when she hits the ground this time, she's ready for that too, and it doesn't knock the wind out of her the way it could have. She looks up at the brunette, a bright gleam in her eye, before she grabs onto Elena's ankle with both hands as she shoves her boot into her chest.]

Do your worst.

[And then she wrenches to the side with her hands, content to either break her ankle of simply catch her off-balance. She knows Elena is a better fighter than her; the difference is that Caroline is perfectly content to kill and she doubts Elena has it in her.]

[interpersonal]

No. I'm never going to be that person again. You'll understand.

( because she doesn't.

she doesn't have it in her, not here and not now. besides, her extensive training doesn't change the fact caroline is an older vampire, and that means she's inherently stronger. the sickening twist to her ankle makes her features pinch, elena jumping back to afford herself some space.

but she doesn't give herself time to recover, because caroline won't. it's the first thing faith lehane taught her: fights will never be fair.

elena grabs hold of the makeshift stake now that both of caroline's hands were busy. she snaps it in half and tosses it away. and before her ankle has fully healed, she's already charging forward again. )

[persevere]

[She doesn't need the stake. She'll just snap her neck and then kill her. Or maybe tear her heart out with her bare hands. It doesn't really matter; the end result will be the same.]

That's because you already lost everyone. Don't act like you handled losing Damon well, either.

[She rushes forward to meet her, using the fact that her ankle isn't broken to her advantage. She reaches out, grabbing for her arm, attempting to fling her with one large jerking motion into a tree, yelling with a strained voice as she does.]

At least I didn't have someone erase my memories like a coward.

[interpersonal]

What? ( it's not the brute force that messes with elena. she knows she can take caroline. she doesn't want to, but she can.

no, it's more what caroline says.

there's a lot she hasn't lived that caroline did, and it's not something caroline could know, because they haven't talked about it. they haven't talked since this whole mess started. even if caroline did know, elena is aware that it wouldn't stop her from delivering such a low blow. she erases her memories?

it's this revelation, more than anything else, that sends elena back against a tree, with enough force the bark gives. )

[persevere]

[She watches with satisfaction as Elena smacks into the tree, blurring with violent speed to follow her. Her left forearm presses into the brunette's throat, holding her in place, threatening to crush her windpipe.

Her right hand flashes out, fingers pressing into her chest just beside her ribcage with increasing pressure, just enough that if she presses a bit harder, her fingers will sink into her flesh.]

He didn't tell you, did he? Who am I kidding, of course, he didn't. [Her fingers press harder, nails starting to break the skin.] Would this one make five? Maybe you'll forget about him here, too.

[beatupgrass]

[There's a whirring sound like something being powered up and one of the nearest trees gets nearly split in half by an errant bit of laser fire. Unlike some people, Rocket doesn't enjoy girlfights. Or any fight that he isn't in the middle of and winning.]

Ladies, ladies... You're both... Eh, I guess reasonably attractive for bald-bodies.

[He shoulders the gun just to make it clear he isn't going to fire again and gives Caroline a look that seems to be confused... and a bit disappointed.] Let her go, Caroline. It ain't gonna take, and... Murdering your friends is awful, I guess.

[interpersonal]

( oh.

this is the dude that made her a badass dagger, isn't it?

he's also, it would seem, got perfect timing. elena uses the A WILD RACCOON APPEARS element of surprise to her advantage, lifting her leg up for an effective-but-not-lethal front kick. the adrenaline wears off shortly after that, and elena gasps in an effort to draw in a breath. a hand flattens on her chest as it begins to stitch itself back together.

this is some weird ass vampire shit, sry. )

[persevere]

[Caroline stills in shock as the tree nearly explodes right beside her, and it's all too easy for Elena to kick her away. She flies backward, hitting a tree of her own with a smack, and falling on her knees onto the ground.

She wipes at her mouth with the back of her hand as she gets up, eyes flashing with anger in the darkness.]

What the hell, Rocket?

[beatupgrass]

I should be putting that question to you. [He jabs a finger in her direction with his free hand.] Whatever girlfight you got goin' on don't need to involve murder.... And wow I never thought I'd ever say that. I must be growing as a person.

[He turns to Elena and jabs his finger at her in turn.] And, as for you, just take your freaky fast-footed vampire shit that way. She's not gonna come after you.

[persevere]

[Caroline seems to weigh her options for a moment then. She could probably outspeed Rocket to that gun, break it and perhaps him in the process. But Elena would be watching for that, and she isn't sure the brunette won't be able to keep up with her enough to stop her and she'd have her back turned.

If she went for Elena instead, she knew Rocket was a good shot.

It's too risky. And not worth the effort anymore, honestly. So she rolls her eyes.]

You're lucky I'm not on the animal diet, dude. [She crosses her arms over her chest.] I'm bored now anyway.

[interpersonal]

( ... yeah, none of them are stefan. there's no way caroline or elena would be tempted to take a sip of some furry capri sun.

no thnx.

but elena does wait to see caroline's reaction to rocket, which is far more subdued. likely because she's sick of people storming in to ruin her fun. elena doesn't want to leave the two of them alone, despite rocket's directive, but elena knows she has to catch up with ryuji and akira if there is the slightest chance of damage control.

she looks to rocket. ) Be careful.

( caroline's reached a point where she is capable of anything. with that said, elena blurs off in search of two bleeding boys. )

[beatupgrass]

Don't need you to tell me that. [He inclines his head to further insinuate her needing to get lost, but she's already blurred off midway through the gesture. Vampires

Well, that happened. Rocket turns his attention back to Caroline.] What the hell is wrong with you? I smelled the blood and came running. Did you actually try to eat somebody?

[persevere]

[Her eyes roll back in annoyance.]

Um, yeah. I'm a vampire, alright? It's what we do.

[She sighs heavily, walking over to a tree and leaning against it, like standing is just too much work.]

It's not like I was going to kill him. Not until his friend tried to fry me alive.

[beatupgrass]

Yeah, and last I checked most of the vampires here aren't snacking on people who didn't consent to it.

[He knows that is a thing that happens- doesn't particularly understand why and cares even less, but the fact of the matter is those kids were not consenting to be Caroline's juice box.] Not you especially. [He's already had to deal with this shit with Rip. If he has to deal with another person losing their compassion, knowing they know things about him he's not comfortable with people knowing, he is not going to be happy.] And if I wasn't what I was- what? You woulda taken me out too?

[persevere]

It's not my fault they decided to hold some stupid wake and make me start to feel things. I needed the distraction.

[She levels a dark stare at him.]

If I wanted to take you out, I'd take you out. I don't need to eat you to do that. But then everyone would know it was me and they'd come after me and I don't really want to deal with that. They're gonna be pissed enough already.

[beatupgrass]

Wrong answer! [a touch hysterical. is this really happening. he should go back to her needing a distraction from feeling things, but he's a little hung up here.] You shouldn't wanna take me out, 'cause it's rude to kill people you actually like! Even I got enough sense not to do that and I'm willin' to shoot just about anybody!

[persevere]

If everyone would have just left me alone from the beginning, I wouldn't have had to do any of this. I just wanted to be left alone!

[She takes a few steps closer, jabbing a finger down at his face.]

So don't you start, too. You don't get to tell me what I should and shouldn't do.

[beatupgrass]

[His ears flatten to his skull and he growls. As upset as he is, his temper usually wins out. Honestly, this is the kind of behavior he usually expected to get out of people before he runs them off on his own. It's why he tries to run them off before they have a chance to hurt him.]

Tough shit, Caroline. You made it so nobody can leave you alone. So what the hell are you gonna do about it? You gonna run off? You gonna make sure I don't run back and get that vervain shit you gave me?

[He cringes. He's mad, but he's not that vicious a person. He lets his gun power down and collapse back into its cylindrical shell.] Y'know what? Do what you want. You ain't gonna listen anyway.

[persevere]

No, I asked them for one simple thing and they couldn't follow through.

[Her eyes narrow as he brings up the plant she gave him, a moment in time that feels so close and far away in the same moments.]

That might be the smartest thing I've heard all day.

[But any smugness to her voice is missing by now, and with that, she turns and heads off with a flick of her hair.]