Thirteenth Sacrament: Summer

[11121_assumption]

[ The video snapped on, revealing a warm, summer garden, as the sun was setting and casting long shadows over the ground. Walter was standing, in jeans, a black tee and with a green plaid shirt left open to cover his arms, in the middle of a gathering of Pokemon who are all paying eager attention. He had evidently summoned them about something and was telling them about it...the Pokemon who turned on the camera set it down in the tree they had been hiding in, although they didn't reveal themselves. ]

-the Sun has been generous to us this year, with such a warm and bright summer. So now is our time to give thanks. To celebrate, before the September Equinox. We will need wood, for a fire to cook and dance by. Food as well. And...blood, as a sacrifice. [ Certain pokemon, an Audino and a Floette especially, look concerned about that. But others, such as the ghosts, are grinning eagerly and getting excited at the prospect of a sacrifice. Walter lifted his hands to calm them, speaking in his soft, firm voice. ] I have made plans for that already. Don't worry; there will be no death involved.

We will celebrate in two weeks, before the warmth of summer completely fades. In that time, we will prepare. [ He gestured certain Pokemon forward to give them unique jobs; gathering wood, preparing a fire pit/bonfire- when he's interrupted by Assumption, who stepped forward with a cry to get his attention. The two held their gaze, communicating without a word. Finally, Walter nodded. ] I suppose...we could invite some guests.

[ The gathered Pokemon perked up and began to shift, some roaring or cackling. A blood offering and visitors? This was definitely an occasion now! ]


(( OOC: Walter' will receive messages after his Gear has been brought down from the tree. ))

Comments

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[badluckbabe]

Wow...Diana really wasn't kidding about you. Handsome in a particular way.

Blood sacrifice huh?

And that makes who happy?

[11121_assumption]

Diana has been talking about me? [ No, of course she had. But he did wonder what she had said. ]

It is an offering to God, to show dedication to Her. Just as man first offered a serpent to the Sun, and begged for salvation.

[badluckbabe]

Well we hang out together a ton so it makes sense she'd talk about this guy she really likes and thinks is interesting. I was dying to finally see for myself since she's not complimentary of most people.

Wait so like...which god? Because where I come from we have more then one.

[11121_assumption]

[ Wait. Handsome? Walter tightened his grip. No. Diana wasn't doing that. Handsome in a 'particular way'. It was the same as Cynthia. Handsome but filthy. It was the same. Diana just... found him fun to mess with. He's going to focus on the part that doesn't leave a sour taste in his mouth. ]

There is only one, in my world. The God who was born of the Sun. She was born when a Man asked for Salvation, as I mentioned, and a Woman asked for Joy, and offered a Reed. The Sun felt pity for the state of humanity, and birthed God. She brought Order to the chaos of life, but died after using the last of Her power. And now we await Her return, to open the gates of Paradise.

[badluckbabe]

OK. I can follow that.

[She's heard of weirder more terrible religious backstories, but still...]

And why was man offering a snake to the sun for salvation? Did the sun want a snake? Is it like an innuendo thing that leads to birthing god?

video;

[keep_surviving]

[Ooookay, some slightly worrying parts there but we'll get onto that later.]

You're having a party, Walt?

[You don't really seem the party type, Walter. I mean, your last one was organized by birds.]

[11121_assumption]

It seems I am. I intended to simply celebrate with my Pokemon, but Assumption argued his case.

[keep_surviving]

[Go Assumption!]

Well, they do say the more the merrier when it comes to parties.

[11121_assumption]

Mmm. But I had not intended for this to be a network wide invitation. [ He needed to catch whoever had turned on the gear... ]

[Text]

[notmyrealname]

A sacrifice?

That's an interesting party event.

[11121_assumption]

[ Why is everyone hung up on a little blood? ]

It will only be my blood, as an offering to the Sun. It is symbolic of the Man who offered a Serpent to the Sun, asking for Salvation.

[notmyrealname]

I've read stories similar to that. I never delved much into them.

Part of your religion back home?

[11121_assumption]

Yes. This celebration is to honour the Sun, before winter comes. There will also be an offering of flowers to give thanks for the joy we have experienced this summer.

video;

[notvaljean]

Hi, Walter.

[Jean is smiling into the camera, with Spookycheeks perched on his shoulder.]

I have something to show you.

[He turns the camera around, until it's focused on a Phantump and a shiny Dhelmise, playing an odd game that seems to involve pouncing and fading out of existence before being caught.]

The egg you gave me hatched. That's Wagner the Phantump.

[11121_assumption]

[ This seemed like a coincidence, given the messages he was receiving about the upcoming bonfire. But it was one he was perfectly fine with. He watched the ghosts play as Doll, his Banette, floated over his shoulder. ]

Wagner. It seems he has a friend.

[notvaljean]

[It's no coincidence, it's just Jean exercising a rare moment of subtlety. Besides, religion and worshipping the sun and stuff is outside his area of expertise.]

Yeah! He and Charybdis are good buddies. They play with Spookycheeks a lot too, but she's older and they're both babies, so they spend more time together.

[Charybdis is a four meter tall, 400 pound baby, but whatever. Still a baby.]

[11121_assumption]

I see. I've seen that sort of behaviour in my own team, although it's not always so. One of my hatched Pokemon prefers the company of the more mature Pokemon I own.

[ Doll flopped onto his shoulder like a ragdoll, giving Jean a finger wave. She's given herself faux purple bunny ears today, along with toxic pink cuffs. ]

[Text]

[foolishwren]

Blood?

Walter c'mon.

_{[AT LEAST THERE WON'T BE ANY DEATH BUT. C'MON.]}

There are religions that use symbolic substitutes for that, you know

[Text]

[11121_assumption]

What could be equivalent to blood for the Holy Mother? You know what the blood itself represents.

[ Pain, suffering, looking for Salvation. But...seeing as it was Heather, who should remember the rituals and practice of the Order better than others, he decided to reveal his intentions. ]

It will be my blood. I'm not sacrificing a Pokemon for this, or seeking someone else. [ And if his team want to contribute, then they may. But he's not forcing it upon them. ]

[Text]

[foolishwren]

_{[If she were more sassy, and gave way fewer fucks, she might have replied 'Well, the Holy Mother has actually developed a bit of an addiction to hard apricorn cider lately', but... yeah.]}

Catholics use wine.

Pretty sure water itself is considered holy by lots of cultures. But I'm no expert

_{[That said, she does appreciate the clarification, even if the thought still makes her grimace and shake her head.]}

That said I guess it's your blood and you can use it however you want

[11121_assumption]

[ Do you really want to try and convince him you're the Holy Mother, right now? Because he has a separate crisis of faith going on regarding a moth Pokemon. ]

It's nothing I haven't given before. It will be done before the guests come.

[ There was a long pause before he sent a short message. ]
I never enjoyed the animal sacrifices when I was young. I can't think of doing it here, to Pokemon.

[video]

[purramedic]

Blood sacrifice. This is a joke, right?

[What is cultural sensitivity? Anders just doesn't know.]

[11121_assumption]

Why would I joke about that.

[ Anders was actually one of the people he had considered actually inviting, but if he was gonna be an ass over a little blood... ]

It will only be from myself. I will not be capturing a Pokemon just for it.

[purramedic]

Oh, well then that's fine! Why would offering your own blood to another entity possibly be a bad idea? [Except it actually isn't here... just don't try to tell him that.]

[11121_assumption]

...I already gave my blood and flesh to Her angel in my own world. [ It wasn't...a good scenario but. It was what he had do and what he had ultimately done. And this was for Her directly, not through Valtiel. ]

It is to give thanks to the Sun for this summer. There is much I must show gratitude for.