video; un: x; 12/21 (during the Solstice)

[apogeal]

[The video opens onto a long shot of singing people dancing around the base of a huge tree. Naked singing people! Not all of them, but many of them, though some are wearing white robes instead of going totally nude. That's right, it's the majestic and emotional climax of the Nicnevin Solstice tradition, apparently being liveblogged by someone who is not participating in the naked musical antics.

The shot holds for a few solid moments, and then the phone camera swings around to a large, muscular man sitting a short distance from the action, under a tree, also naked—except for the black wrap tying up most of his hair. It takes him a second to steady the camera and aim it well at his face, but only a second. He actually seems to be decent at working this thing.

He says:]

So, this is "magic"? I want to understand. This ritual is more than a symbolic gesture of bonding? Is there proof? Or is this simply what people accept?

And if there really is more here than symbolism, how have they done this to us?

[His body jerks in a tiny shiver against the cold—boy does it look cold out there, but he's trying hard not to show it, and with that little tell, he turns off the camera with a flicker of annoyance. Cold!]

Comments

text; un: manslayer

[hitokiri]

what nobody explained all this basic shit to u when u showed up like the rest of us
or are u just stupid

video | un: maruchan

[fujimaru]

[ Meanwhile, Ritsuka's got a cup of cocoa and appears to be very comfortably curled up somewhere that is inside, nice and warm. Her sweater is fuzzy. She's just exuding maximum cozy right now.

And she blinks slowly, like a mildly bemused cat. She saw that, right? She definitely saw that. ]

Sorry, I've got no idea. But, uh, you might wanna dress more warmly than that, mister.

text; un: mcmm

[groundzeroes]

[Holy shit, this guy is like... ripped. He also seems kind of intense? The question is sensible enough, though.

Rei opts to respond with text, because he is also at the Solstice event (and um, questionably clothed,) and the chance that this high-strung guy could somehow spot him and come running to do god knows what is more of a risk than Rei is willing to take.]

When you put it that way it is pretty fucked up how this place digs into us, right? Invasive.

The inability to understand how exactly it works is what makes it "magic," imo. It has rules and rituals and shit, but there's a limit to the explanations. Otherwise, it'd be science.

video; un: adler

[disasdeer]

Why would anyone have needed to intervene for us to have magic? Can't it just be the nature of people from other worlds upon setting foot here. Some things just are, you know, magic?

Because the second you leave this place, you'll be back to exactly what you were before here.

[ One more thing. ]

And just because they asked you to strip doesn't mean you have to. Also doesn't mean you have to share with the class that you decided to do it, too.

[Text; UN: DemonsandSugar]

[cultivatingsin]

You're gonna lose your extremities.