[ Preparations are in full swing right after breakfast - although still seemingly unstaffed, the kitchen is a flurry of activity and careless guests may find themselves bumped into if they venture too far into the actual cooking area.
It's safer outside, where guests are encouraged to help dress the maypole with fresh cut, leafy birch twigs and a variety of colourful, seasonal flowers - ox-eye daisies, woodland geraniums, cow parsley, buttercups and lupines. There's also a table and benches to carry out into the community center garden, lanterns to hang in the fruit trees and bottles and bottles of elderflower lemonade, beer and brännvin - midsommar isn't midsommar without snaps.
A little later in the afternoon, with the tables laden heavy with pickled herring, fresh potatoes, sour cream and chives, and Västerbotten cheese pie (and a few other less traditional but perhaps more palatable dishes), guests and residents alike sit down for the midsummer celebration. If anyone wants to partake in local customs such as the little frog dance, Ingvar is more than happy to provide the music. Of course, he's just as happy to teach a few drinking songs for those who want to partake in snaps. ]
Evening
[ As the sun begins to... well, not exactly set, but take a dip towards the horizon, the long table will be cleared for dessert - coffee or tea, strawberries and cream, with the option of an aperitif of your choice. The music will continue with traditional songs, that the residents are more than happy to try and teach the guests - or just sing poorly, as is tradition.
For those who are looking for something a bit more quiet and peaceful, Valborg is spending the evening talking about the magic properties of midsummers eve, the most magical of nights. It says that if you pick seven different types of flowers in complete silence and then sleep with them under your pillow, you'll dream of your future betrothed... ]
Night
[ Those who stay out late will quickly notice that the sun doesn't exactly set tonight. You don't need much light to guide your way back to the cabins. However, as you make your way through a wooded area, you might get the sensation that you're being... watched. Like there's someone following you in the shadows. Surely that's just your eyes playing tricks on you... right? ]
[He says it a little absently, maybe a little half-heartedly. After all, he has no intention of staying here after proving it's all legitimate. His only goal is to pass on the information to the people he knows. And yet, he can't help but hope...
In any case, he doesn't get the impression that conversation comes naturally to his new companion, and while he can sort of relate, he knows how much effort it can be. It would be unfair for her to be the only one doing any of that work.]
How different is this place from where you're from?
[ Honestly, she had time to make comparisons between Sweden and Japan since her arrival. The differences were wide and sometimes overwhelming, making her question how long it would take her to get used to it.
She finds that easy to answer then, and her shoulders sag slightly. ]
It's w-wildly different. The people here are... m-more sociable and welcoming towards strangers. My country is deeply t-traditional and closed off compared to most others...
[Closed off and traditional... On a smaller scale, it sounds a little like his home. Even Nova Chrysalia became very isolated. Over time, people began to stick closer and closer to their own interests, and they stopped caring about anything outside of that. The peninsula, too, though Noel can't blame any of the locals for that. They were afraid for their lives.]
It's like that for me, too. [A faint, wry smile.] I keep wondering, where's the catch, you know? What's their motive?
[ It's not that different for Hanako, who closed herself off the world most of her life after the incident that took away her parents and then the horrors of middle school as she had to face the cruelty kids were capable of. Trusting people is not easy. She definitely thought "where's the catch?" several times when she interacted with others, especially after their eyes inevitably fell on her scars.
Even now she's withdrawn, speaking softly and not making eye contact with the guy.
However... ]
It's not unwise to be c-careful when we're experiencing new things, even though... I...
[ She trails off, biting the inside of her cheek. ]
Even though this time I want to give them a chance... t-to prove coming here was not a m-mistake.
[For the moment, Noel has given up on the decor. Instead, he fiddled with a sprig of leaves, twirling it between his fingers, mangling the end of the stem thoughtfully. He's too rough on the whole thing, the whole project, forcefully trying to make things work out. It's an oddly fitting metaphor for his life.
Something about the way she words that really gets to him. Even though this time...
To be honest, he doesn't feel so differently. Maybe not for himself, but for other people.]
I agree. It seems unreal -- too good to be true. But I'd like this place to prove me wrong.
[He hesitates to ask --she seems quiet, maybe even timid, and he doesn't want to push too hard-- but in the end, curiosity wins out.]
You don't have to answer, but I was wondering. What do you mean by "this time?"
Her posture withdraws even further, arms crossed in front of her chest like that's going to aid her in avoiding the question immediately. She shakes her head, gazing towards the maypole. ]
... I don't want to answer that.
[ She will have to explain her situation further and it's a way too personal detail to share with a stranger. Nope. ]
[Yep, went too far. He probably should have known -- after all, wasn't he the one shrugging off Serah's questions so long ago, when they first met? "Personal stuff." Everyone has their own personal stuff.]
Got it. I won't push.
[True to form, he moves on...back to the unfortunate reality of the maypole. He looks at it for a moment, a funny look crossing his face, and then looks at the pile of leaves and sprigs that's supposed to adorn it.]
I think I've done all the damage I can do, here.
[I mean, he's talking about the maypole, but boy, isn't that just a great metaphor for this disaster child's life??? wow]
[ Shoulders sagging with relief for having the matter left behind, Hanako follows the boy's gaze to the maypole and silently agrees with the sentiment, though more sympathetically. The effort was commendable, but the execution was still poor. It's not irreparable damage - actually, calling it damage at all is not so accurate either. Nothing got really broken. ]
You've done all you c-could for the local tradition... I'm sure it will be appreciated.
[ She still doesn't see angry folks around. It'll be okay.
The fact she's trying to be positive for once is terribly unusual of her. Enjoy the rare moment. ]
[He's no designer, that's for sure. Sorry, Noel, aesthetics just aren't for everyone. Anyway, he's not expressing it well, but he's grateful for Hanako's soft-spoken encouraging opinion, even if it's...let's call it overly kind. He's generally lacking in social graces and subtlety, but he nonetheless offers a bit of a smile.]
Thanks. Guess that means I should stop now, before I mess it up.
[What do you mean, "before" you mess it up?? ...In all honesty, he offers a bit of a grin to her.]
My name's Noel, by the way. Noel Kreiss. What about you?
[ She nods in ready agreement, relieved that the maypole has been spared another round of well-meaning but still bad fashion.
Seeming less tense than before, she bows her head and shoulders down in polite greeting, long and dark purple hair falling to further cover that half of her face. ]
Nice to meet you, too. [He nods - unfortunately, that's about as close as he'll ever get to a formal greeting, given that "formal" is kind of the antithesis of what he is. He twirls the last sprig of leaves he took in his hands, and then puts it down on the table, gesturing at the maypole.]
Thanks for helping me figure this out.
[Translation: thanks for encouraging him to stop before he goes even more too far than he already has.]
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no subject
[He says it a little absently, maybe a little half-heartedly. After all, he has no intention of staying here after proving it's all legitimate. His only goal is to pass on the information to the people he knows. And yet, he can't help but hope...
In any case, he doesn't get the impression that conversation comes naturally to his new companion, and while he can sort of relate, he knows how much effort it can be. It would be unfair for her to be the only one doing any of that work.]
How different is this place from where you're from?
no subject
[ Honestly, she had time to make comparisons between Sweden and Japan since her arrival. The differences were wide and sometimes overwhelming, making her question how long it would take her to get used to it.
She finds that easy to answer then, and her shoulders sag slightly. ]
It's w-wildly different. The people here are... m-more sociable and welcoming towards strangers. My country is deeply t-traditional and closed off compared to most others...
no subject
It's like that for me, too. [A faint, wry smile.] I keep wondering, where's the catch, you know? What's their motive?
no subject
Even now she's withdrawn, speaking softly and not making eye contact with the guy.
However... ]
It's not unwise to be c-careful when we're experiencing new things, even though... I...
[ She trails off, biting the inside of her cheek. ]
Even though this time I want to give them a chance... t-to prove coming here was not a m-mistake.
no subject
Something about the way she words that really gets to him. Even though this time...
To be honest, he doesn't feel so differently. Maybe not for himself, but for other people.]
I agree. It seems unreal -- too good to be true. But I'd like this place to prove me wrong.
[He hesitates to ask --she seems quiet, maybe even timid, and he doesn't want to push too hard-- but in the end, curiosity wins out.]
You don't have to answer, but I was wondering. What do you mean by "this time?"
no subject
Her posture withdraws even further, arms crossed in front of her chest like that's going to aid her in avoiding the question immediately. She shakes her head, gazing towards the maypole. ]
... I don't want to answer that.
[ She will have to explain her situation further and it's a way too personal detail to share with a stranger. Nope. ]
no subject
Got it. I won't push.
[True to form, he moves on...back to the unfortunate reality of the maypole. He looks at it for a moment, a funny look crossing his face, and then looks at the pile of leaves and sprigs that's supposed to adorn it.]
I think I've done all the damage I can do, here.
[I mean, he's talking about the maypole, but boy, isn't that just a great metaphor for this disaster child's life??? wow]
no subject
You've done all you c-could for the local tradition... I'm sure it will be appreciated.
[ She still doesn't see angry folks around. It'll be okay.
The fact she's trying to be positive for once is terribly unusual of her. Enjoy the rare moment. ]
no subject
Thanks. Guess that means I should stop now, before I mess it up.
[What do you mean, "before" you mess it up?? ...In all honesty, he offers a bit of a grin to her.]
My name's Noel, by the way. Noel Kreiss. What about you?
no subject
Seeming less tense than before, she bows her head and shoulders down in polite greeting, long and dark purple hair falling to further cover that half of her face. ]
My n-name is Hanako Ikezawa. Nice... to meet you.
no subject
Thanks for helping me figure this out.
[Translation: thanks for encouraging him to stop before he goes even more too far than he already has.]
no subject
[ Helping someone give up on their quest doesn't sound like a grand achievement. At least it wouldn't be to her if their roles were reversed. ]
I'm still s-sure your contribution wasn't made in vain.