Good Solstice, milliways_bar

[jack_inthegreen]

In the gray pre-dawn light, the man in green has been busy.

There are rows of trestle tables set up by the lake--far from the new grave as well as anything else that might be disturbed by such things--and on the central table he sets up the horn of plenty he carved the day before. Now he lays a hand on the wood and quietly asks the elements around it to fill the horn and assemble themselves, so that there will be plenty to eat and it will all be nourishing and tasty. When he has done this the horn begins to fill and soon food is spilling out: fruit and bottles of wine and loaves of bread and slabs of cold cooked meats and wheels of cheese and whatever else a patron might think to ask for.

At the end of the rows of tables there is a wooden platform, with a small raised stage for musicians and plenty of room for dancers. Jack has found no one to play pipes but no matter, there are still musicians aplenty should anyone wish to dance. And he hopes they will, for what's a celebration without dancing?

Beyond the tables there is a small course set up for races, just a starting- and finish-lines marked off. There is a large rope for tug-of-war, various props like sacks for sack races and spoons for an egg-and-spoon race, and a pitch for bowls and another for playing horsehoes. He thought about playing tossing the caber but decided that might be pushing things a bit, even here.

Farthest from the bar proper is the bonfire, currently unlit. He pauses there and asks the fire within the wood to do no harm to anyone, that there will be no stray sparks or wayward ash to burn.

There is a great deal of magic at Milliways for him to draw upon and soon the party preparations meet with his satisfaction. He blesses the area before he goes back inside for some more rest before the party begins: that no one will be hurt in play or eat themselves sick, that not even a dancer's ankle be turned.

When he is done the morning fog is just beginning to burn off. It's going to be a beautiful day.

Comments

[bloodyrockgod]

"Wuss," Charlie says affectionately. He eyes the cornucopia with some trepidation. "Erm. Coffee?"

A pot appears, steaming and smelling richly of dark-brewed coffee. It is accompanied by mugs and a sugar bowl and tiny pitcher of cream.

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

Bartleby pounces on it. "Nectar!"

[bloodyrockgod]

Charlie giggles at him and sits at a table in the shade, putting the guitar in his lap. He strums and sings.

Please to bend down for the one called the greenman
He wants to make you his bride
Please to bend down for the one called the greenman
Forever to him you're tied

And you know for a million years he has been your lover
He'll be a million more
And you know for a million years he has been your lover
Down through the skin to the core

Heed the greenman
Heed the greenman

Please to dance round for the one called the greenman
He wants to make you his child
Please to dance round for the one called the greenman
Dressed in the fruits of the wild

And you know for a million years he has been your father
He'll be a million more
And you know for a million years he has been your father
Run to his arms at the door

Lay your head, lay your head, lay your head, lay your head on
the greenman
Lay your head, lay your head with mine
Lay your head, lay your head, lay your head, lay your head on
the greenman
Build a bed out of oak and pine

See the greenman blow his kiss from high church wall
And unknowing church will amplify his call

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

"Haven't heard that kind of song for many years." Bartleby brings his coffee to join Charlie.

[bloodyrockgod]

"It's by a band called XTC. Good stuff. Sang it for Claire the other day when she was telling me about becoming this bloke's follower."

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

"This bloke?" His eyes close in ecstasy as he sips the coffee.

"So it's modern, then?"

[bloodyrockgod]

"Jack. The bloke who's throwing this party and asked me to play. Fertility god, Claire says.

"Yeah, modern. About fifteen years old, maybe? Or ten? They were big in the late 80s."

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

"You know any of the old Solstice stuff?"

[bloodyrockgod]

"Old songs or old stories?" He shrugs. "Just some stories, I suppose. It was St. John's day at school."

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

"Songs." He's almost finished his coffee, and is looking more human.

[bloodyrockgod]

"Nope. 'Fraid not. I can sing about summer and all that if you want, though. Some good old Beach Boys, maybe?"

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

"Pity." He tips his head back. "I remember, the Foxes had loads. But I can only remember the rhythms. Long time ago."

[bloodyrockgod]

"Hm." Charlie strums the instrument a bit, then sings softly. His falsetto needs a little work, say true.

What good is the dawn
That grows into day
The sunset at night
Or living this way

For I have the warmth of the sun
(warmth of the sun)
Within me at night
(within me at night)

The love of my life
She left me one day
I cried when she said
I don’t feel the same way

Still I have the warmth of the sun
(warmth of the sun)
Within me tonight
(within me tonight)

I’ll dreams of her arms
And though they’re not real
Just like she’s still there
The way that I feel

I loved like the warmth of the sun
(warmth of the sun)
It won’t ever die
(it won’t ever die)

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

Bartleby smiles softly. "Pretty."

[bloodyrockgod]

"Beach boys. The band that comes to mind whenever someone says 'summer'." He reaches over to play his fingers through Bartleby's hair.

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

"No comment." Bartleby grins and pours more coffee.

[bloodyrockgod]

Charlie cocks an eyebrow at him but just nods at the coffee. "Pour me some?"

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

Bartleby does, and adds milk and sugar without asking, with a quick glance at Charlie to check if that's okay.

[bloodyrockgod]

CHarlie nods, smiling. "I've had coffee, you know," he remarks. "Just not often and not always voluntarily."

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

"I know." Bartleby grins. "We took a flask out to look at the stars, remember?"

[bloodyrockgod]

"I remember it well," Charlie says softly.

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

Bartleby takes a sip of coffee, and then leans over to kiss Charlie. "Was a nice night."

[bloodyrockgod]

"We've had a lot of good nights," Charlie says, hand resting lightly on the back of Bartleby's neck. "Not enough, though. Could use quite a few more."

[watch-wait.livejournal.com]

"We've got time." And he can say that lightly, without thinking of all the time he doesn't have now. It's a step.

[bloodyrockgod]

Charlie smiles and snuggles into Bartleby. "Yeah. We do." He kisses along Bartleby's neck.