All Good Things / D11 Solstice Event / Ratmas Day 1

[marguerite harvard d2a (zori)]

v a s c o

I’d chosen the crumbling homestead as the venue for good reason, and not just its proximity to my own home. The stone structure had yet to succumb to time, the framework of several stories still standing, with an interior courtyard big enough for revelry and a hardwood floor for dancing and a stage for the band. And dotted inside and out were folding chairs and tables, dressed with plain white table clothes and paper plates and cups.

A monument that the good from before the war still existed if you looked hard enough.

Warm red and green lights were strung up along the eaves and white candles dressed into each hollow window frame. No expense had been spared, even if it’d come out of my shrinking pocket. Smokers blessed the air with a heady aroma of barbecue, with every vegetable imaginable showcased as a side. I’d serve food along with the other volunteers as soon as the evening’s fun had commenced.

But first, I’d taken the stage with the band, fiddle tucked under my arm. We stuck to songs from our youth, twenty years gone now, to let some of the young ones laugh at us and some of the older ones take a chance on dancing. And as a fast number ended, I stood from my seat on the side of the stage to offer greetings, less as mayor and more to thank them for being here at all.

“My friends, thank you,” I started with a bow, “You make an old man happy he can still play. Tonight, we come together to celebrate another year together. Share in the food, the music, and fun. I only ask you give back by letting those you care about know what they mean to you this season.”

I looked out toward Yani, Sofia, Emma, and all the other Izars stretched across the flickering lights of the homestead.

“And – we’ll get started soon with the gift exchange. Remember, giving is as good as receiving. For those that haven’t tried it, you might just like it.”

---

Welcome to District Eleven’s Winter Solstice Event!

This event is a gift swap / solstice party!

The old Izar homestead is a large stone structure decorated in warm holiday lights, set with tables, chairs, a dance floor, and band. And, most importantly, a heaping pile of random garbage presents for those who wish to participate!

Roll ([*roll range=1-20] to get your free gift OR post whether your character is taking another character’s as their own! If your gift is already taken, please re-roll.

Yes, this is a “gift swap” in that if your gift gets ‘taken’ you may take someone else’s or re-roll. So, if A rolls, and B takes their gift, A may re-roll or get someone else's gift!

Remember that this is all in good fun!

The available gifts:

1. A new pair of tennis shoes
2. A bottle of STRONG moonshine
3. A bottlecap portrait of Victor’s Village
4. Victor Trading Cards
5. A honey baked ham
6. A can of corn chowder
7. Swanky black sunglasses
8. A sequined black smoking jacket - INES IZAR
9. An invitation for tea or beer with the mayor
10. A flower crown - CAIN O'MALLEY
11. Scented Candles (blueberry, jasmine, and honey)
12. A leopard print tee shirt
13. Cupcakes from Persimmon’s
14. A bottle of Ranch Dressing
15. Ham Radio (with a d13 setting) - SOFIA IZAR
16. Tap shoes
17. Box of Cigars
18. A plush Snow doll with x’d out eyes
19. A train ticket to district ten - PROP O"MALLEY
20. A heart shaped locket, gently used

Reminder: You gain 1 (one) Ratmas point for each post you make across the districts' solstice events, for a maximum of 15 (fifteen) points! Blitz length posts are encouraged, and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to myself of any of the veteran members on slack!

elegant

[bailee]

CAIN.

Mumsy always ate shit like this up. Ratmas was her favourite time of year - our house lined head to toe with all sorts of garland, wreaths, fake snow, red, green vomit all over the O'Malley abode. This year was no different - although silence hung over the house that haunted the whole family, all of which who refused to acknowledge the missing body, Mom had still managed to hum away as she nailed colourful Christmas lights along the roof while the house filled with the fresh perfume of shortbread inside.

It was the first Ratmas since Abel died, yet for some sense of normalcy Mom had dragged us along to the Izar's homestead to celebrate. Although normally I would have complained and dragged my feet, this year I obtained some rye and ginger for Noah and I and pregamed steadily leading up to the event. My anxieties washed away with a liquor buzz and I fully intended on continuing. 

Goddamn, I'm becoming more and more like my old man, getting wasted before a public event. Mom always preached the importance of appearances - especially being one of the more well known families around the District. But I knew I wasn't getting through this event sober - not with the stares of my fellow District neighbours piercing through my skull.

So with a hot toddy in my hand, I stumbled over the gift pile and grinned. "I'm treating myself today, boys," I picked up nearest gift, giving it a shake with my free hand before finishing off my drink and opening my present with a drunken, shit-eating grin.

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cain wins a flower crown which he promptly puts on his head

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[Deleted]

Papa was hosting an event this year for Ratmas, again. It was nice to see him relax a bit over the last year. The stress of mayor had been getting to him, but I think the idea of his term being up was calming to him. I knew he was ready to retire, but I wasn't sure if Eleven was ready for that. Regardless, today wasn't about that. It was a party, a gift swap.

I had spent the earlier part of the day with Yani while Papa set up, I took her to my salon and did her hair for her. A young man went first, an O'Malley if I'm not mistaken. I wasn't sure which one. But I am sure he was either drunk or high from the goofy smile on his face when he got the flower crown and plopped it on his head.

I didn't care either way, kids will be kids.

I decided to grab a present from under the tree, lead by example I suppose. Papa has always led by example and I felt as though Izars should show up to support him, especially with the election coming up. I went back to Yani to open the present, letting her guess what it was before I unwrapped it.

---

ham radio with d13 setting

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[ table by rave ]

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[Deleted]

This was my first time seeing my cousins since Abel died. Shit was hard for me, but I knew it must have been hard on them. Especially their Ma. Abel was always her baby boy, I even teased him for being a mamas boy as a kid. Man, I'm a dick.

But, I could instantly Cain had been drinking. Not surprising coming from him. Hell, he'd probably be surprised to find out I was sober for once. I mainly just came to watch my younger siblings, made sure they got here and home alright. And to make sure no one brought up Six or Abel in front of them. They didn't need it.

When I saw Cain, something awakened inside of me. The silly rivalry we've had since like middle school. A nostalgic feeling, a feeling I had felt guilty feeling since Abel died. Though, watching him get that dumb flower crown I suddenly didn't feel guilty. I walked past him as I went to grab my own gift, "Nice flower crown Cain, you look like a little princess, though you're not quite pretty enough for that."

a train ticket to district 10

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[Cait]

ines izar

District Eleven looks different when you’re a part of a family. There’s a different scent in the air, of magic and whimsicality, intoxicating and sweet. A feeling of weightlessness that can only come from belonging to something more than yourself – even if Nekane still refuses to let me come to the Izar family dinners.

I swear I can feel eyes on me as I walk around the homestead. I find myself subconsciously looking over my shoulder, certain I’ll find Nekane’s hard gaze trained on me, a warning in her stare – “don’t cause a scene.” I know the rules, of course, and am nowhere near stupid enough to even think about breaking them. Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop the constancy of the feeling of being watched creeping down my spine. But the further I dive into the throng of people, the faster my worries are erased. It’s easy enough to become lost in the crowd, girl of short stature that I am. I stay close to the ground, trying not to trip on the shuffling feet surrounding me, and make my way to the gifts table.

It felt wrong to turn up to a party without a gift of my own. And whilst it’s not much, the small, poorly wrapped present in my hands – a tiny jar of honey scavenged from a few weeks’ savings – is surely penance enough for my gratitude.

The past year has been hard, in some ways, but so joyous for the most part. The days where I wish Nekane had never adopted me are vastly outnumbered by the nights I thank the night stars for my blessings, for this one gift that seems to keep on giving. I feel the love even more at this time of the year.

Ratmas never felt like a holiday I was allowed to celebrate. The Orphanage always tried to spread the cheer, but the food and gift donation hampers seemed to grow smaller every year. Or maybe I just grew older, more perceptive of the world and the imbalance across Panem.

I know I’m likely to get a light scolding from the adults for bringing a present of my own, for even though giving is encouraged, it’s not a prerequisite for the receiving – especially in th case of twelve year olds. But it felt right. And so, I quickly place my present at the end of the table, no name tag attached to tie me to the small box of my weeks of labour. With my debt paid, I eagerly scan over the other gifts, balanced precariously on top of each other, and reach for a medium-sized box wrapped in pale pink tissue paper.

ONYX

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[kap]

desdemona-rose nomkhubulwane

district eleven

- Gotta get my hands on a little bit more. -

Boredom. Drunkenness. Those two things often came hand-in-hand. I'd get bored, so I'd get drunk. It was a vicious cycle that I'd gotten into. People have told me to stop, but listening to people never got me anywhere fun in life.

Today, there was a gift swap going on here in Eleven, so I figured that could be something to fill the void. All I'd been doing lately was going to parties and big events. What was another one?

People began the gift swap, claiming their gifts, so I ended up taking my turn. I tried to scope out what the gifts were, but couldn't tell what everything was from where I was at. So, I just sort of claimed one.

"This one's miiine," I said, the last word of my sentence drawn out in a drunken manner. Shit. I wasn't supposed to exactly let anyone know that I was drunk. That wasn't the best idea, especially with the mayor hanging around here. Oh well, hopefully no one would catch on.

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[An invitation for tea or beer with the mayor]

word count, notes, n stuff

template by punki of adoxography
lyrics: "One Too Many" by Three Days Grace

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[bailee]

cleome hayes

---

You recognnize the boy with the flower crown as Prop's cousin, the one who's breath was stained with alcohol and his walk mimicking his drunken state. You take pity on him - he was the cousin who's brother had just volunteered and died, taking Prop's place as the District Eleven male this year. It must've taken a lot of courage to come out this evening to the Ratmas event - an event that you particularly looked forward to each year - and it was clear that he definitely, maybe pregamed a little too hard with the liquid courage.

You would be lying though if you didn't overhear Prop snigger at his cousin's newfound flower crown, causing a small, but polite amount of laughter escape your lips. When it comes to be your turn to pick up a gift, you decide to put the poor guy out of his misery.

"Here," she took the flower crown from his head and placed it on her own, "go pick another one now."

And you turn back to the boy who you had suspiciously been bumping into a lot lately, the same one who offered to help you complete your bucket list, and offered him a smile. "Does it look better on me, Prop?"

cleome takes cain's flower crown!

[bailee]

CAIN.

"Shut the fuck up, Prop, you piece o' shit," I said as I shot him a dastardly glare. How dare that rude motherfucker have the audacity to make fun of me as if he weren't the reason my little brother was six feet under. I made a mental note that once we were out of sight of our family I would beat the ever-living shit out of him as he rightfully deserved.

But my anger settled as a gentle pair of hands dethroned me and my crown, placing it on her own with an angelic smile. "Go and pick out another gift now," she told me, and then continued to address Prop. I didn't recognize her - but she must've been some friend of Prop's. Surprised me that she wasn't one of my cousins with her flaming red hair - goddamn, District Eleven breeds a lot of fuckin' fire crotches, don't they?

I flipped Prop the finger before I got up out of my seat and grabbed another present.

I sent a silent prayer to the Gods above that I'd actually get something good.

"Glad I wasn't the only one who needed a lil' booze to get through this thing," I cheekily said to the girl who got up before me, who was clearly slurring her words before I opened my new present.

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[k!ah]

T  A  L  L  U  L  A  H


* * *

I had woken up confused and lost, following the notes that scattered my room explaining what was happening, telling me why I was the way I was. By the time I had left the house my head had pounded, and I had felt flustered and frustrated as I threw on one of my worn scarfs, slamming the door as I headed towards the district center. As I reached the end of the driveway I heard my brother calling to me, but I ignored him, hugging myself tighter as his voice faded into the distance.

But instead of finding myself in the square, I followed the flow of the crowd to a homestead that I was sure belonged to the mayor.

Filled with faces, most that I didn't recognise, even if they recognised me. Looking at a boy with hair as bright as a flame I try to place his name- his family name even... Bit the harder I thought, the more frustrated I got, the more hopeless I felt, so I turn away my eyes focusing on a mayor that spoke with a kind voice. I recognised Mr. Izar, though he looked older, more tired than he should have, my memory-impaired and broken.

“My friends, thank you. You make an old man happy he can still play. Tonight, we come together to celebrate another year together. Share in the food, the music, and fun. I only ask you to give back by letting those you care about know what they mean to you this season." His words bring on thoughts of my brother, how I had blown him off when he only wished to help.

Mr. Izar had then directed them towards a tree with a pile of gifts beneath them, and I and myself gravitating towards them, I would grab one for my brother, and apology and a thank you for putting up with me day after day.


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