ALL HALLOWS' EVE ( OCT 31 )
In Chantes, they say All Hallows' Eve is the night where the veil between this world and the next thins, allowing the souls of the dead to walk the streets. To disguise themselves from vengeful spirits seeking to carry out their last deeds, the cityfolk wear (sometimes outlandish) costumes, allowing them to revel in peace. Lanterns all around the city are lit to ward off evil spirits; wine and soul cakes have been left out as offerings. The civilians ask that you please don't steal them... or do, if you don't care what they think.
The festivities are more extravagant this year than ever before, despite the fact that supplies are lacking. The cityfolk need something to take their mind off of the ever-growing unease. There's a wonderful feast to behold in the city square, if you're willing to spend the coin. Locally grown meats, autumn vegetables like pumpkin and squash and turnips, and — of course — delicious baked sweets of all kinds. There's dancing and singing and general merriment, the people seeming relaxed now that the goblins have been confined into one area.
The revelry is open to all, but the food costs. Those who don't wish to pay can try their hand at begging door-to-door for sweets with the children, make some trades, or literally steal candy from babies.
The goblins celebrate the holiday in their own way, too. In their house of worship, the elder leads a prayer for the lost souls of the dead. There's copious amounts of alcohol amongst the outskirts, although they're somewhat lacking in food — it's difficult to get humans to sell to them these days. Even Graldia and her men are out enjoying the festivities, but they're also on the look-out for outsiders, ready to fight if need be.
All in all, the night goes swimmingly. With everyone on their different sides, it seems they can't fight. Then, like clockwork...
All the candles in the square go out, just as they had at the Festival of Illumination. For a moment, only darkness. Then the flames ignite again to show two bodies in the center of the square, side by side: one goblin, one human. Closer inspection shows they're dead, but they have no signs of wounds or anything that could suggest they were killed. It comes with no symbol, no words this time; it seems the culprit felt they had already conveyed a strong message. The square erupts into chaos as law enforcement pushes them back, away from the square. Word travels fast as they run back to their homes. Only one man looks on, unsurprised. His costume is scarce, and those who were jailed may recognize him, the suspiciously silent prisoner. The moment he notices someone looking at him, he turns his back and walks away towards the outskirts. |
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epidemiology2015-10-30 06:42 pm
after dark
Emma is well aware that she's expected to stay out of it. existing law enforcement has already warned her to mind her business. it doesn't mean she will, just that she acknowledges it's what they want. maybe if they were questioning people to her satisfaction she would have left it alone, but even that is pretty unlikely. something happens and she launches into action. back home, it's widely accepted.
here, it's hard to say. at least she's not the only one who thought of it. she sees graham and finishes her conversation, keeping her eyes on him until he looks up. they used to be partners, maybe it's time they go back to what they were good at.]
no subject
he has yet to be scolded by the current law enforcement, but if she told him he wouldn't be surprised. their presence here has not been widely welcome, to say the very least. the presence of strangers was not entirely welcome in the enchanted forest or especially Storybrooke, though that he understands a little better in hindsight. he doesn't think it's wrong to try and find the answers, to stop the senseless killings. if the local force won't work together, then they'll have to work on their own. )
Found anything?
( he looks her over, quickly, just to make sure she's all right. he could ask, he has a feeling she wouldn't mention it even if she wasn't. he likes to think he knows her well enough to spot if something is off. no, she doesn't look anything but determined. which is her natural state of being, he finds. )
no subject
[doesn't count, as far as she's concerned. she knew that before she started asking questions. it's become increasingly obvious that they're expected to hang back until they're needed here. to Emma, this counts as them being needed. to everyone else, she doesn't care. if prying is going to be the thing that gets answers, then she's going to pry.]
What about you?
[all right is asking for too much. she's tired. it's a bone-deep kind of exhausted, the sort of thing she connects to from having to fight her way back to storybrooke on more than one occasion. she knows how to navigate this sort of separation, but she hates it.
if all she can do right now is try to work this out, then she'll throw herself into it as much as she does everything else. it helps that she has someone to work with, here.
and helps a little extra that it's Graham.]
no subject
what about him? well, if she's hoping for answers, he's bone dry on those. if she's asking for something a little more personal... he's not sure he knows. what he is, is complicated. he's alive again, for some reason. he's got a second chance. his weariness isn't from fighting to get home, it's from trying to put himself together again. finding out who he's supposed to be now, in this new life he's been given. trying to be better than the one he was before.
he doesn't doubt that Emma would listen if he wanted to talk, but he does doubt that's what she's asking about right now. there are more important worries than him at the moment. )
Nobody saw anything. It's like the first attack, everything was dark and then the bodies were in place. No message this time, but perhaps the placement does the talking instead.
( he again wonders if it might be Regina's handiwork, but he doesn't say it out loud. his bias as far as Regina is concerned is impossible to overcome, it's safe to say he'll always wonder if she's involved in horrible things. that said there's no hint that she was and it isn't even really her style, he just can't help himself. )