[open] Run for charity!

[theearth]

Who: Everyone!
What: Run for a good cause!
Where: Locke City
When: throughout the 18th of December

Each year, there is a Christmas charity run in Locke. Businesses from the area (from large ones like Thunder Corp to tiny ones like the Italian pizza place around the corner) pay a set amount of money for every participant that finishes the run. Everyone may participate. There tend to be two or three causes that the money that is earned through it will go to, one local and one (inter)national one. This year it is research for medical engineering and local NGOs that work with people who lost friends or family to the various catastrophes of the year.

Tents and little stalls have been set up along the run's route by businesses that donate, selling food and drink to everyone (most of them donating their earnings to charity as well) and using the moment to advertise for themselves a bit. But churches and various NGOs have stalls or tents as well, selling food and beverages and informing about their cause, and it generally has the atmosphere of a little fair.

Though the curfew will cut the festivities short in the evening, people are in a happy, light mood, enjoying the break from the dire atmosphere and displaying a "our spirit may not be broken" attitude. The run has way more participants this year than usually, despite the slight decrease in residents that Locke has seen over the last year. In the dispute about the run, if it should happen despite everything or not, the opinion that it should prevailed, and clearly people are fully behind that decision.

It must however be noted that the military and also the police are very present, not intervening but simply standing in streets and corners, watching over the proceedings.


Notes:
- Any business, number-run or not, may have sponsored between one and as many as you want runners and have a tent or stall somewhere. Many of them have hired students or other extras for their stalls/tents, but regulars will work there as well.
- Characters might spot Geoff in the crowd sometimes, talking pleasantly to local politicians or owners of large businesses.
- Any character of any age may run! Children up to 15 years of age must only finish half the run to be counted.
- One of the organizers is secretly numbered in case issues appear or someone wanted to help with the run.

Comments

[stefanged]

If someone had told Stefan that he would someday assist with organizing the charity run he had adored, he wouldn't have believed them. Him, running with the big leagues? It didn't seem possible - except, of course, this year, he had made enough connections to secure an organizer's position. While he's not participating in the race, Stefan's all over the place today, from ensuring that volunteers know their positions to checking on random participants to ask how they're doing.

He doesn't have a moment to stand still - not since the run was in dispute. The members had argued over holding it, and while the run prevailed, Stefan feels the responsibility to make this year even better than before. Although he's younger than the other organizers (and not actually Christian anymore), no one's questioned the organizer badge he's wearing yet.

Well, all except one. The unruly idiot was about to make a scene when Stefan stared straight into his eyes and demanded that he fulfill his duties. The guy's eyes dulled, as he verbally agreed and fulfilled his duties, even though he complained about Stefan's "weird mindgaze" the whole time.

"Huh." Stefan has to stare at the guy as he watches the other leave, trying his best not to furrow his brow. "Did I just... do that?"

[scarlet_devil]

Emi had showed up despite some people not being the most pleased with her being around. Though honestly, it kind of was a publicity stunt on her part in an attempt to bolster her own reputation... For the most part it seemed to be working in her favour to be seen helping keep this event running smoothly.

There was at least one bad apple, though. But to her surprise, he was dealt with surprisingly easily. "...Apparently so."

sorry for the late!

[stefanged]

That was too easy. There was no way Stefan could've pulled something like that off without a little supernatural power - except, last he checked, he was fully human. The full moon didn't give him any strength; he wasn't biting people's necks; and bugs still hated his guts.

He glanced over at Emi. "I guess. No other reason he'd walk off like that..."

Still! It was over and done with. (Maybe his reputation would sink, but that moron deserved it for refusing to help out.) Mustering a smile, Stefan then offered her a bottle of water. "Thanks for helping out, by the way. It means a lot to us."

[scarlet_devil]

Maybe it was nothing and that guy decided he was better off leaving or something, she wasn't terribly sure. It sure looked like some kind of mental power. That thought, though, coupled with seeing whatever Stefan did caused an echo, distracting her for a moment or two.

"...Hmm?" Oh, right, she's being offered a bottle of water. Taking it, she gets her mind back on the event at hand. "Oh, thanks. I thought that the sight of an obvious Numbered helping would help our reputation."

[stefanged]

Considering his own inner turmoil, Emi's distraction went unnoticed. Instead, he held out the bottle, trying to focus on that rather than the way he had coolly gazed into the other person's eyes - he was human, dammit. A perfectly normal human who was organizing an event for everyone to have a fun time, and not... whatever creature could compel people like that. Compulsion. The name popped into his head as if it were perfectly ordinary, which couldn't bode well.

Maybe he wasn't as normal as he wished he were.

"I think it's working so far." He genuinely meant it too. The other organizers may not be aware of his Numbered status (he suspects it's for the best, considering how much he hated this job). "The other guys were thrilled to see Numbered openly helping us. I figure, if things go well, we could have the town on our side again."

[scarlet_devil]

Emi would point out that getting these numbers stuck in one's head generally means strange changes via echoes are on the agenda. Such as having to drink human blood, which she found quite disturbing at first before she got used to it. And stopped thinking herself damned because of it.

She for one is going to keep the fact he's numbered quiet. "Exactly. I hope this is worth it, though..."

[stefanged]

"I'd think so." Sure, that was his inner optimist speaking, but Stefan had technically helped organize this for the better part of a year. These things just didn't come up overnight, after all. "Worst-case, we made a bunch of people smile. I can't argue too much with that logic."

He shrugged, grabbing a bottle of water for himself and nearly guzzling the thing in one swift gulp. (In his defense, he was super thirsty.) "I mean, I may not celebrate Christmas anymore, but people love this run."

[scarlet_devil]

Emilia was more concerned with this improving her image. Until now, she had given up on the people of Locke.

"I suppose. It doesn't look like that's going to change anytime soon."

[stefanged]

"You never know."

A few months ago, Stefan wouldn't have openly defended the people either - especially with the discrimination the Numbered had faced. (He was no stranger to it then, despite not knowing he too was Numbered, but it wasn't quite the same.) He couldn't exactly pinpoint why he felt this way, beyond the cheery atmosphere that the festival had cultivated and the media slowly, slowly tilting the other way. If anything were to turn the tide after their (hopefully) final battle with the mafia, this run may very well be the starting point.

"One thing here or there may not do much, but those little things add up." He coughed. "Something like that, I mean. For what it's worth, a couple of businesses have appreciated your help too."

[scarlet_devil]

When she first became Numbered, she wouldn't have been too friendly with him herself, but facing discrimination herself taught her to be more empathetic. It wasn't quite the same, but still.

She didn't expect the Mafia to recover from the attack. If it looks like they will, Emilia will help bring them down before the become a threat again.

"That's... good to hear. Perhaps things really will be different for the Numbered now."

[stefanged]

He really hoped so. His inner optimist wanted the tides to turn so badly that anything looked like a positive sign - and he would be darned if this wasn't part of the new wave.

"Hey, can you help me grab some food? I think one of the booths's running low."

While it wasn't technically part of his duties, Stefan still felt obligated to help (because, as he said, every little bit helped). "I'd do it myself, but it looks like it's gonna be a lot." And, well, he wasn't keen on repeating whatever his crazy little eye stunt was.

[scarlet_devil]

Emi's still a spoiled rich kid, so she isn't exactly in her element. Unlike her past self, though, she will do as asked instead of having Sakuya or someone else do it for her. Emi, thankfully, doesn't act as entitled.

"Ah? I'll see what they need." It's Christmas anyway, so soon enough, she gets this done and only comes back once she's finished her errand.

[stefanged]

By the time Emi returns, Stefan had already been called to reorganize (or restock?) something for the booth that he was near.

The relief is clear on his face as he catches sight of her. "Thanks so much. You know, I've always wondered why Locke does a run around Christmas, considering how cold it can get this time of year."

On one hand, it's a good (non-religious) way to whip up the Christmas spirit, but on the other hand, Stefan's immensely glad that he didn't have to participate in the run itself. "I know you're volunteering, but I've gotta repay you back somehow."

[scarlet_devil]

She came back later than she intended, people were a bit too eager to put a rich kid like herself to work. But she managed to escape before too long.

"It's been happening for years... I'm just thankful I don't really feel the cold any more." Emi just hopes that all of her work will be worth it... Though, people who know her have mentioned it didn't seem characteristic of her to volunteer for anything like this, given that she's known to be a bit uncharitable. "Feel free."