Voice; Fiddlesticks 24, early-ish morning. (slightly backdated)

[mtsilver_conquor]

Colour me curious, but what are winter festivals or holidays like on your world? Back home, today would be Shiwasu 10, or Tōji -longest night and the start of winter. It's also my birthday, but that's not the important thing; it's not a big number anyway. I don't know what Alola does for Tōji, so I'll tell you what my hometown did.

[The longer she talks, the more homesick she sounds. It likely doesn't help that today's her birthday, but well. Small detail's Eva's willing to overlook.] Masara had the rural traditions of feasting, food making, drinking, games dancing, battles. You know, the normal for a coastal town.

No snowball fights though; we'd have to go to the mountains for that and we never went in the lead up to Tōji because that was bad luck. But, we did have something better: Fire jumping under the stars to bring good luck. You'd start at dusk with it low, little more than a small coal pit so even kids could jump it with supervision, and work up to a boosted jump over a half-drum of flames, though they'd only let the adults do that one.

The day I turned twenty I did so many times mum had to drag me away from it by the ear, but - worth it. So worth it...

[She trails off before ending the transmission.]

Comments

[mtsilver_conquor]

If I was going to light a fire anywhere, it'd be the garden. But, yeah, really. I started when I was four, though I'd lots of practice with unlit pits before that. Even then, I only got to jump once. Once you reach six though, you're allowed to jump as many times as you want, though.

[Sorry, chatterbox mode: Engaged.] Though, New Years in winter is kinda strange, don't you think? It's not a time when much grows... For us, New Year is a jun -ten days- before Shunbun, the Equaling of Day and Night in Spring, and it's a time we drive out the old year with the clanging of old fishing rods and nets, and usher in the new with visits to loved ones' gravesites to ask for blessings and to leave the first catch there as offerings. Well, in Masara that is. I don't recall getting money for luck, but I think that happens in Yamabuki and central Kantō more than the Tokiwa region...

I think the Clans do it, too; Satoru always had money to spend at the markets and he'd make it known.

[Wait- Ahh...]
Ahahaha. Thank you, but you really don't have to get me anything.

[blue_ice]

You're one of the people I actually like, so yes. I'm catching up on things I missed out on at home.

[ He snorts. ]

But we found the snow refreshing. Pure and white, crisp and clear. I miss it sometimes, though I never had time for traditional outdoor activities.

let me know if this isn't ok!

[mtsilver_conquor]

Ah... You really don't have to, but if you insist, I can't stop you.

[Little brother why...?]

We? [Wait, no, didn't he mention in passing he has a younger brother?] Oh, your baby brother?

[blue_ice]

Yeah. Mokuba. He loved that kind of thing. Always wanted to drag me away from work to play with him. I'd always cave eventually.

Did I ever show him to you?

[ His hand goes up to clasp the locket around his neck. ]

late :(

[mtsilver_conquor]

[There's a laugh.] Baby siblings tend to do that. Gods only know what'd happen if Mokuba-kun met Hisa and Atsu.

[... actually no. she doesn't want to know. They'd have no chance.]

I'd be honoured if you wanted to share what he looks like.