SUMMER FESTIVAL: TEMPLE OF BEGINNINGS

[tranquilforest]

It’s something like summer here at the Temple of Beginnings, or close enough to it. The weather’s been rainy and hazy for the past little while, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find some way to enjoy ourselves, right?

The day dawns cloudy and drizzly, but people seem determined to carry on anyway. The space slowly takes recognizable shape as a festival, even if a small one. There are tents set up outside, some of which are transformed into game opportunities, complete with prizes (some of an...interesting nature), surprisingly sophisticated target shooting games, ring toss, and other activities of skill and chance. A few more become stations for the food and drink that had been prepared, and the rest consist of chairs under canopies for people to sit and talk in case the rain continues.

Luckily, as the day goes on, the rain stops and the clouds move on, until the blue of the sky is visible once again. By early afternoon, there are only a few scattered clouds still remaining, and it seems likely that the weather will hold true for the evening. Strings of paper lanterns and other decorations are brought out and hung between the different stalls, around the makeshift stage, and placed at the tables. Some pots of bamboo are brought out and set in two clusters at either end of the line of tents. Each cluster has a corresponding table with strips of colorful paper and pens laid out carefully on a table and weighted down with rocks to prevent them from flying off.

A handful of figures come out and inspect the set-up, focusing especially on a shallow ditch that had been dug earlier, now drained and lined with weighted down tarp and rocks, running parallel to the tents and curving to end abruptly just beyond the fire pit and the stage at both ends. After some discussion between them, there is a flash of flame, as though something were burning, and then the strangest thing happens. The ditch fills with fresh, clear water. Even after a few hours, the water doesn't drain away or grow stagnant, still flowing somehow despite having nowhere to come from or go to.

The sunset that day is a brilliant, auspicious red, and evening sets in with a cooling breeze refreshing everyone outside. As the first stars appear, the lanterns are set alight, the music starts, and the first performer steps out onto the stage, surrounded by floating light.



SUMMER FESTIVAL
Welcome to the summer(ish) festival for Astoria’s Circle! We hope you have a wonderful time.

Layout
Even from the buildings that are actually being lived in, the lights of the festival are visible. If you strain your ears just a bit, you may even hear some music being played in the distance, muffled by the stone walls. Why don’t you come join in?

Once arriving at the festival itself, you may be struck first by how bright it is. Light seems to be a theme, from the bonfire set up in one of the firepits closest to the rest of the complex, the lanterns strung up between the tents and stalls that are set up in a line leading from the other buildings towards the gated sparring area that you may already have availed yourself of. Just in front of that area is a makeshift stage, little more than a raised platform of wood and stone, also lit up well by additional lanterns.

Opposite the tents is the river.

It might not seem that exciting at first. It’s hardly a river, really, just a shallow trench of water about seven feet wide and one foot deep, lined with rocks along the bank closest to the tents, stretching in a not quite parallel path opposite the stalls and tents that have been set up, beginning at the stage and ending near the bonfire. The water is crystal clear and clean, and murmurs as if it is flowing from some unseen source, but it’s not clear where it is coming from at all. As the night goes on, and more people take the opportunity to make floating paper lanterns at the station located close by, the little stream itself lights up, the water reflecting the lights, and just beyond, the stars in the sky.

EVENTS:

Sign-in
While definitely not mandatory, in the direct path from the living quarters to the festival itself, there’s a table set up with sheets of paper and writing utensils where you can sign-in. Let us know (ICly!) who you are. Maybe add a fun fact about yourself. Or draw doodles all over the pages. Whatever floats your boat.

Wishes
As is traditional in the home countries of some members of the Circle, there are some bamboo trees in pots set up on either side of the little river, and tables close by with colored strips on loops of string and pens. Write down a wish, or anything you’d like, really, and hang it from the bamboo. Or, browse the bamboo yourself and see if you find anything interesting. Later on after midnight, they’ll be burned for luck!

Games
You’ll find the usual games in the various stalls, some with a decidedly cobbled together look, using what materials were available at the temple, and some with a little more sophistication, thanks to the particular gifts of those within the Circle. Try your hand at shooting a target, a game of chance, or take over a stall yourself and introduce your fellow Circle members to something you used to play at home. There may or may not be prizes involved, depending on which stall you find yourself at.

Food
You’ll find your usual fair fare, though with a decidedly cosmopolitan flair. The foods themselves are somewhat limited by what was easily obtainable within the Temple itself (or improvised), and some Circle members may have contributed decidedly experimental dishes. It really is a potluck, so take a look and see what interests you! Strike up a conversation with your fellow diners as you pick up your food and then find a table to sit at, but keep in mind that most of these are home made by others here, so the cook may be close by, listening…

Performance
What’s a festival without any entertainment? In addition to the music being played on speakers in the background by our very capable DJ, there is also a stage where you can show off your gifts. In addition to singing or other traditional performances, this is an opportunity to demonstrate any interesting abilities or gifts you might have, including new ones you may have gained upon arriving at the Temple! There is an additional sign-up sheet near the stage, so write your name down and what you plan to perform, and we look forward to seeing what you can do.

Bonfire
It’s a really big fire. Enough said (hopefully). Sit and relax, or chat with those around you. If you’re lucky, there may even be some additional entertainment. At a little after midnight, the bamboo bearing the wishes will be burned here and the festival closed for the night.

Lanterns
If you’d like to give it a try, there’s a small station set up where you can make your own lantern out of paper! You can choose from one that floats in the air or on the water (or both, no one’s policing this). Make your own design, and let it fly aloft or float on the water with the other lanterns, chat with others who are working, or just settle down by the water and watch the lanterns and the stars.


**If your character (even if you were just accepted!) would like to participate in the set-up for the impromptu festival at any point, or just wander around and ask what’s going on, please feel free! All the set-up would have been occurring in the space between the TDM and this post. If your character would like to handwave having helped set up, this post is also an option!

(( Set Up: Outdoors ✧ Set Up: Indoors ✧ Sign-In ✧ Bamboo Wishes ✧ Games ✧ Food ✧ Tables ✧ Performances ✧ Bonfire ✧ Lanterns ✧ Clean-Up ✧ or your own!))

Comments

[runicking]

[ That surprises her, actually. This man seemed so deft with his hands, and his movements were very precise, so she had assumed he had done this before. Blinking slowly a few times, Celes moves to his side, pulling out one of the empty chairs and sitting down.

She does as instructed, reaching over the table and grabbing a few sheets of plain white paper. ]

This is your first time, then?

[dadandgone]

Unless you count paper airplanes. That doesn't involve quite as many folds though.

[Maes reaches for new paper himself. He finds it easier to teach as he is doing and hopefully the woman will follow along. He pauses though and looks up.]

Oh. And by the way, I'm Maes Hughes.

[runicking]

[ Paper... what? That answer warrants him a somewhat vacant look. It seems like something might have been lost in translation.

Inclining her head toward him, she doesn't quite smile, but seems at least somewhat more at-ease. Introductions, right. ]

Celes.

[ She pauses. ]

Are you a new arrival as well, or have you been here for a while?

I was dumb and forgot airplanes don't exist in FMA...but we're just gonna roll with it.

[dadandgone]

[He shrugs it off, no big deal.]

It's just a game we played with paper and making them sail across the room. I could show you that too, but I'm sure they want to save this paper for lantern making.

[Moving on.]

It's nice to meet you Celes. I'm also new, so I guess we have that in common as well.

[He then looks down at the paper. He starts by folding his in a triangle.]

This is your first fold.

[ooc: For Reference.]

it's fiiiine /waves hand

[runicking]

[ Oh. Why didn't you say that in the first place, Hughes? Games she can vaguely understand, airplanes... what? Is it like an airship? How do you fold a paper airshi—no, never mind. That's Edgar or Setzer's domain. ]

It seems like there are a number of us who are.

[ It's said more to herself than him, and she quickly dismisses the gentle musing as she leans in, watching him fold his paper. That looks simple enough. She slowly and precisely mimics the motion with care. ]

Do they have similar festivals to this where you are from?

[ Polite conversation, nothing more. At least for now. ]

[dadandgone]

[Well, step one was out of the way. Maes kept his pace slow, but moved on to unfold the paper and then fold it again, this time from the opposite corners. When he unfolded it again there was now an 'x' across the paper from the crease marks.]

In some ways, but we had fairs and carnivals. It was more games and entertainment, about showing off your recent crops or the best live stock. I don't think we had places to fold lanterns or tie wishes on to trees...though I do recall a few bonfires.

[runicking]

[ And like the quick study that she is, she copies his fold and unfold. Her gaze still fixed on her paper, she presses her lips together in thought. ]

We never had anything like that.

[ Celes pauses for a moment. Well, that's not entirely true, but. ]

We would have parades occasionally, but things like that were often seen as a waste of time and resources. I believe they were more common in the surrounding towns and villages.

[ She seems to recall hearing about something like that, at the very least. ]

[dadandgone]

[He's impressed by her quick study and continues the demonstration, moving along to the next phase of folding, he gets to the point where it is now a small square in his hand.]

Really? Well, to be fair, I think they were more common in the country-side as well, but it's not like they were unheard of in the bigger cities either.

[He looks sad for a moment, thinking about the fact that he'd never had the chance to take Elicia to one. She'd just been getting to about that age too.]

You should definitely enjoy yourself here then...since they're so rare for you back home.

[runicking]

[ Instead of immediately copying his fold, Celes stares down at the paper in front of her. It's not like what he's said is all that groundbreaking, but it sticks somehow, and leaves her unsure of what to say.

Quite frankly, she never thought she would get the chance to experience something like this, especially after everything that's happened. It feels more than a bit unfair, to be honest. This sort of thing... it isn't for someone like her. At least, not the person she used to be. Simple things like this are unbefitting for a former general. ]

...Maybe.

[ There's a note of reluctance in her tone, as her gaze trails over to Maes's work. ]

What about you? What do you plan to do, now that we're here?

[dadandgone]

[He notices she doesn't move to follow him, so he waits for her to catch up. He's showing her to help after all, so it wouldn't make sense to move on without her. He lets his gaze fall from her and her origami and back to his own hands.

He appears thoughtful, and while there's a smile on his face there is definitely a hint of sadness in his eyes. Normally he'd be more guarded, not blurt these things out.
But there's something to be said about confessing to a stranger...even if it is a little bit. And Maes has always been a very honest person.]

Well, my friends are here actually. Friends I might not have a chance to see, once we get back home. I'm going to make the most of my time with them and keep them safe, help where I can. And, I guess in the meantime, try to have a little fun myself.

[runicking]

You're lucky, then.

[ She means no malice, even if her words sound somewhat abrupt. Looking up, her own project miles away in her mind, she catches the weight in the quirk of his lips. She could leave it at that...

But no, that doesn't feel right. Somehow they've moved from something very surface to something much more deep. More meaningful. It would be gauche to ignore that fact, so instead she lets her chin dip lightly, canting her head just so. ]

And they are lucky to have you. Cherish them.

[ A beat, and a heavy note of familiarity; ]

You never know when you might lose sight of them.

[dadandgone]

[Maes isn't sure when the switch occurred, perhaps it was naturally going to happen. With a comment like that he realizes that this woman might be dealing with more than just never having experienced a festival like this before. But he's heard and participated in talk like this before, when two people have experienced trauma it's hard not to let that flow into the conversation.

Lucky? He wants to laugh, but he swallows it down. Folds it away like the origami at rest beneath his hands.

Unfortunately, thanks to how this place works, I've been given a pretty good idea of when that is going to happen. But, you're right, I plan to cherish it.

[Before they can delve much further down this road he wants to avoid so badly.]

I take it you're alone here then? I imagine that can be hard in it's own way if you've left important people behind.

[runicking]

[ How this place works..? Celes blinks at that, not quite connecting the implication here but tucking that comment away nevertheless. It will make sense eventually, she's sure, but she isn't stupid. That is a matter that she has no right or desire to press right now.

But as the older man steers the conversation down its logical course, it still catches her off guard that he takes that turn. For a moment she's stunned, left at the crossroad that this conversation has naturally veered toward with two clear paths. Quietly, she hesitates, weighing her options before finally nodding.

Yes, but... ]

We were separated before this. It's been nearly a year since I have seen or heard from any of them.

[ It's complicated. ]

[dadandgone]

[He nods thoughtfully. He can tell there's more to it than that and he wonders if she is also saying just enough to answer the question but also avoid the details. Yes, that has to be exactly what she's doing and Maes can't exactly blame her or call her out on it since that's exactly what he's doing it. It feels rude to pry into the life of someone he barely knows, but he is certainly starting to feel a kinship or a potential for one.

Maes has a hard time sitting still in the heavy silence though and picks up where he left off in the origami. It gives him a focus if nothing else, maybe he won't overthink as much.]

They say no news can be good news. [Pause. Flip. Fold.] I find that to be a load of crap. It just means you're left coming up with all of the worst case scenarios. Worrying about people and things you can't actually do anything about to change. It's frustrating.

[runicking]

[ This isn't a conversation she anticipated having, especially while the wound was still fresh. But there's something surprisingly cathartic about finally voicing these worries to someone who would listen. Alone on that solitary island, there was a time she wondered if that was all that was left for her—to die alone, never knowing whether her friends had survived the end of the world as they knew it. It almost was.

The rustling of paper pulls her thoughts back into the present, and as she watches him fold, Celes looks down at her own work as she mulls over his words.

Ah pragmatism; now that is something that she can appreciate, and silently does as she turns her own paper over. They may be tip-toeing around each other, but there's something strangely comforting in that. Being able to in some way relate, even if their circumstances may be different. ]

It is. But we can't change what has already happened. We can't let ourselves live in worst case scenarios.

[ Refolding a section of the lantern, she lets her thumb press over the crease. ]

All we can do is move forward and act with the information that we have.

[ They're out there. The bandana in her pocket is a testament to that. They're alive. Somewhere far from here. Somewhere she can't reach. ]

[dadandgone]

[Except for Maes the worst case scenario had occurred. Okay, no, for him it's just an end. He supposes that his own worst case scenario would be having himself alive and his family killed. The Homunculus could have easily gone that route instead of taking him out. Or torturing his family at all. No, when you're dead the only one's who really suffer are those left behind. In a perfect world he wouldn't even be aware of this goddamn mess, which is probably the worst part. He knows how everything plays out after and he's not sure if being here is now going to change all of that for the better or not. Does he get to go home and reclaim anything? Would it be better to stay away? Stay here? He doesn't know and he's not sure what answer he wants to get either.

His hands are frozen again and he can't help but look down at the little band of silver on his finger. He'd asked Roy so many questions, but of course the one he'd really been avoiding was right there on his hand. He imagined Roy was never going to bring that up either but it was killing Maes a little not to ask. How could he not ask?He lets out a shuddering breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.]

But...what if that information...what if there is no way to move forward?

[runicking]

[ ...It's funny. The way he speaks, it's almost as if he could understand the anguish that she herself went through. Perhaps he experienced the same thing. When left with crippling, soul-crushing hopelessness, when even attempting to end that by the most extreme means thinkable and failing, there is truly so little left to believe in. To keep one moving forward.

She could be wrong, but it seems as if he was grappling with something very similar. When all paths leading forward are completely severed, how do you continue? How do you find the strength to place one foot in front of the other, when all you want to do is give up? ]

If there truly is no path forward—

[ Looking up then, she doesn't quite bring herself to smile. Canting her head slightly, she leans forward in an attempt to get his attention. Please listen to what she has to say. ]

Then you have to make a new one, by any means necessary. You find something else to give you hope, and to help you take that first step.

[dadandgone]

[If Maes was feeling less guarded, he might try to explain himself better. It's not that he's given up, but he's never dealt with someone coming back from the dead. He doesn't even know how that works since everyone here -- Roy, Riza and Al -- have such clear memories of his demise. How does he change that? Can he change that? Everything still worked out in the end and what if his return changes things?

Even so, her answer does seem to still apply. He's certainly listening and as the message sinks in, his expression does seem to relax a bit. Maes had been teetering a lot lately, ever since his talk with Roy about what happened. It was easy to just 'accept' what had occurred as in the past and fixed. But did it have to be? So many impossible things were at play now.

After another moment, he smiles.]

A new option, huh? Yeah, I think I could work with that. If I'm here then that has to mean there's still a chance.

[Surely the Witch wouldn't have saved him from death just to get him killed again...right?]