Summer 11 - Medieval Week Mingle

[norrhamn_residents]

Okay, so maybe Norrhamn isn't as big of a tourist attraction as Gotland. Maybe it's not home to the best preserved medieval city in Scandinavia, complete with ring wall and twelve church ruins. Maybe it can't even compete with the near Mediterranean climate that Visby has during those late summer weeks, but Norrhamn knows one thing — how to do a lot with very little.

Welcome to Medieval Week - Lite Edition

The beach on the eastern side of the Island has been decked out with as many wooden tables and benches as is logistically possible, while still leaving some areas free for games and dancing. There's a wooden stage set up close to the woods, and a couple of racks of lovingly sponsored time-appropriate clothes available for those who want to blend in with the times.

Entertainment: To set the mood, management hired a band of Baltic musicians that will take up the stage for most of the day, playing well into the night. There's also dumb-ass jester performances from time to time, usually while the musicians are taking a break. The biggest event however is the fire show that starts up as soon as night falls right by the edge of the water.

Games: There's not quite enough room for an actual jousting tournament (my heart breaks) but there's a whole heap of stick horses for those eager to make their own. You're also welcome to take part in any number of feats of skill and strength, like rövkrok, armwrestling, or pillow-fighting on a slick wooden log. For those of a more intellectual persuasion, there's also a number of medieval board- card- and dicegames available.

Food and drink: Oh man. Oh man? There's so much food. Like, if some of the early guests thought that first welcome party had food in abundance, you ain't seen nothin' yet. Between the whole spit-roasted wild boar, through the pea soup and pork, the saffron-pancakes with dewberry jam, the roasted root vegetables (no potatoes in sight), the smoked pike-perch, the freshly baked spiced breads, the apple- hazelnut bread pudding, no one will go home hungry*. Wash it down with flagons of mead, spiced wine, beer brewed on honey and hops, or perfectly alcohol-free elderberry or lingonberry lemonades.

*There is of course thirium alternatives for the android population.

For those interested in more info on the actual Medieval Week, here's a link

Comments

[burntviolet]

[ Her shoulders go stiff at the gesture, but thankfully it's not her scarred hand being touched. She wouldn't let anyone touch her scars, no matter who it is. At the very least she's not yanking her hand away. Jack is a friend, although he's a bit too affectionate. ]

I-I... can't promise that. I'm here because I w-want to change.

[forever_jack]

[He feels her stiffen and kicks himself under the table for getting carried away. Touch is such a natural way for him to communicate his feelings that he forgets that not everyone is as receptive to it as he is.

So he withdraws his hand gently and gets on with his meal, trying not to make a big thing of it.]

No, no, don't get me wrong, change can be good! I can't believe how much I've changed, especially in the last few years, because of Ianto and Spike.

I just meant, don't stop being so sweet, eh? It's a very valuable quality to have.

[burntviolet]

[ With her hand freed, Hanako also retracts and occupies it by holding her own portion. Jack preventing silence from making things awkward is thankfully what she needs right now. ]

Hm... I only b-behave in a proper way, because it's common sense that I d-do that.

[ ... As she notes to herself, she should first work on her resistance to praise. ]

[forever_jack]

[He chuckles.]

If only everyone felt it was common sense to behave properly!

[He takes a swig of beer, then adds, gesturing with the mug:] I mean, don't get me wrong, most of the people here are great, but there are an awful lot of people in the rest of the universe who could do with a dose of common politeness!

[burntviolet]

[ She can hardly disagree with that statement, having met a share of people with a clear lack of respect for others. Kids from her middle school years, especially. The guy she clashed with here may count as one, too.

A meek nod. ]

They may have their r-reasons to act that way, but it would b-be fruitful if they learned to treat others better...

[forever_jack]

It would! It would make things so much easier if everyone just respected each other! [Spoken with the world-weariness of someone who's lived through far, far too much violence and rioting and war to have much patience with those who won't learn to get on with one another.

He glances at her thoughtfully, as he finishes off the last of his meat, and hazards a guess.] Did you get a hard time at school, from those who ought to learn to respect people better?

[burntviolet]

[ Hanako's expression sombers, her only visible eye shadowed as she bows her head down. ]

Only in middle school. Back then, there was n-no support for children w-with disabilities and so I dealt with rather c-cruel schoolmates. My high school was one d-designed for people like me, so things w-were easier...

[forever_jack]

[He shakes his head remorsefully.] Children can be so cruel. But you've had a better time at high school, then? They looked after you better?

[burntviolet]

I was given a therapist, a-and the teachers were constantly updated on my conditions so they helped me accordingly. My schoolmates... none of them w-were any cruel. I suppose it was also because the school's r-rules were very rigid about bullying, but...

[ She trails off, shrugging. ]

I couldn't connect with almost a-anyone in there. It was the s-same situation as my orphanage...

[forever_jack]

[He nods, glad that at least there wasn't anything overtly nasty there. It sounds like a definite step up from her middle school.]

Perhaps you're just the sort of person who doesn't find it easy to form connections. [He gives her a commiserating smile.] I don't find it easy myself. I mean, superficial connections, sure! But actually properly letting people in, letting yourself feel for them? When you've lost people, it can be hard to let yourself really connect with people again, in case you lose them too.

[burntviolet]

[ Hanako regards her now cold food a look, before setting it aside. She wasn't that hungry and this topic is not helping her appetite any better. But she still feels like this is something that should be talked about. ]

After losing my only two f-friends... I wonder if coming here is going t-to help me find deeper connections after all.

[forever_jack]

[He feels bad for making her lose her appetite, but he does feel like this is an important conversation to be having. He hopes she'll make up for not finishing this meal later!]

Yeah, I don't know about that. [He purses his lips.] There seems to be quite a quick turnover in this place, doesn't there? You get talking to someone, and then you never see them again! Doesn't make it easy to form relationships with people.

[He shrugs.] Perhaps instead this will be an opportunity for you to feel comfortable with just being yourself? Might make it easier to loosen up next time you do find someone you really want to connect with?

[burntviolet]

That's one of the issues a-about this place... even though that means people have s-solved their issues and went back home on their own will. [ Indeed it doesn't help her efforts to talk with others if she doesn't have a chance to meet them again. When it's going to be Jack's turn, as someone who helped her out of a difficult moment and stuck around longer than most others, how will she react...?

It's a thought that erodes her mind and twists her stomach. ]

Being more like m-myself... even though I won't be able to form a lasting bond with anyone?

[forever_jack]

Yeah, it's good that they seem to be sorting themselves out. Perhaps their issues were lesser than ours to begin with!

[Certainly, he doesn't feel a desire to leave here any time soon. He has a lot to work through!

Sensing a tremor of uncertainty from Hanako about that very thing, he smiles warmly, and once again has to stop himself reaching out to cover her hand with his own.] Well, there's me, I guess. I know I'm not exactly a perfect kind of friend for a teenage girl, but I'm not going anywhere for a good long while and even when I do... We could keep in touch, if you wanted?

[burntviolet]

[ It's not perfect, but it's fine like this, for now. Her mind tells her, implicitly, giving her a bit of mercy from the slew of terrible thoughts it often subject her to deal with. Jack would remember her even if he left, wouldn't he?

The chill of the night can be felt through the top of her hands as she rubs them softly with her palms. ]

I wonder if they will allow us to keep c-contact if one of us leaves...?

[forever_jack]

[Jack would absolutely remember her if he left.]

Why on earth wouldn't they let us stay in contact? And even if they wanted to stop us... [He taps the wide leather strap of his wrist computer round his left wrist.] This thing's pretty good at finding people even across different times and dimensions, so you know. You give me your cell number - your normal one, not the one they gave you here - and I can call you from pretty much anywhere!

[burntviolet]

[ Hanako's face morphs into a nonplussed expression as she looks over the device. She had seen Jack wear it and never asked him about it even though it looks more advanced than the technology at her home. To think it had such crazy functions...

When she realizes time is passing and she's been spacing out, the girl gasps and quickly goes to check her pockets. Of course her regular cellphone is at the cabin. It was pointless to carry it along if she wasn't calling anyone from her school or orphanage. ]

I-... don't remember my old n-number, but I'll look when we go back to our cabin. [ It's silly, because it's only about giving out her cell number, but there's an emotion it gives her that stirs positiveness in her. The same as when she first exhanged numbers with Lilly. ] I will, o-okay...

[forever_jack]

[Oh, it's much more advanced technology than anything Hanako would ever have seen, its workings more or less a mystery to anyone other than Jack. He watches her examine it with affectionate amusement, quite happy to just sit and finish off his beer while she's occupied.]

It's a deal. Though it's fine if you change your mind too! Absolutely all up to you. No pressure.

[burntviolet]

No, I decided. I'll g-give the number to you.

[ She can't move forward if she doesn't accept other people in her life. One loss, though crushing, doesn't equate eternal despair.

With Jack, she thinks it'll be okay. Probably.

Hanako tears her eyes off the device, bashfully looking at her roomate. ]

... Thank you.

[forever_jack]

[He smiles warmly, feeling honoured that she'd trust him with this. It's rather good for his ego.]

Thanks, that means a lot. I mean, I'm pretty terrible at actually calling people and asking for help, but you never know, I might actually do it, with you. [It feels different with Hanako than with Ianto or Spike. Fewer intense feelings, less history. Easier to connect, without so much riding on it.]

And once I've got your number, I'll hook it up so you can call me too, wherever or whenever I happen to be. You ever need someone to talk to, I'll be there.] He tilts his head, considering.] Hell, you need someone to come and save you from monsters, I'll be there!

[burntviolet]

[ Hanako merely nods along, but in her heart she's glad that Jack will make such efforts for her. In return, she will have to do her best calling back when she wants to check on him. No half backed attempts, either.

This may not quite be a solid friendship, but it's close enough that she feels warmth from it.

A feebly amused snort, directed at his last sentence. ]

I doubt there are monsters here... a-and there would be n-none in my world, either.

[forever_jack]

[He grins, a little sadly.]

Monsters come in human shape as well, you know. [A rather dark glance.] Sometimes they can just be inside your head. And that kind of monsters can crop up anywhere.

[burntviolet]

[ Just like that, her expressions dims into something sober, sad. Inner demons. She knows quite a few intimate details about them, though she'd rather not. Jack is straightforward but helpful. Hanako needs to hear those things. ]

I know. If it's that s-sort of monsters then I guess I c-could give you a call.

[forever_jack]

[Jack may not be very good at actually talking about things, but once he does? There's no beating about the bush. He'll tell it like it is.

And he has more than enough of his own demons crawling around inside his head at the moment to really appreciate Hanako's resolution here.

He smiles.] Deal. You promise to call me if you need someone to talk to, and I'll promise to do the same.

And obviously that goes for while we're still here, as well. I may not be the most helpful at giving advice, but I'm always willing to listen.

[burntviolet]

I know. You d-do your best.

[ Should be lucky that she got a reliable roomate, even with the initial bumps on the way. Her boundaries had been set and things have gone better since then. Jack never protested her limits with human contact and she's most grateful for it. ]

It's good that we're still hanging i-in here.