acatalepsy_logs | SUMMER FESTIVAL: TEMPLE OF BEGINNINGS

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!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You're not going to hear any arguments from me.

[A beat.

... ... ...]

Also, where the hell did you find coffee? [THIS IS IMPORTANT, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL HIM...]

[lifts a finger to his lips, eyes dancing with mischief]

Chef's secret.

[Dave. it was Dave]

[Kou is definitely just frowning here. Don't leave him hanging, fellow protag...!!]

Oi. Share the wealth, coffee's important.

Make it worth my time.

[oh dang, laying down the challenges, here]

[. . . as he places his half-empty mug aside to prepare a bowl of curry for Kou]

[He's got nothing here, Akira.]

... I basically can't do anything in a place like this, what would you even want?

[a huffed laugh]

Why does everyone always assume I want something material?

[offers the bowl to Kou]

Teach me something.

Thanks.

[The bowl really does smell delicious; Kou perks up a bit as he accepts it.

That said--]

Why do you think I've got something to teach you? You're the one with all of the weird skills up your sleeves.

And you're the one who flipped a guard over your shoulder with practically no effort at all.

[everyone has something they can teach others, Kou]

... What, the jujitsu?

[He looks a little hesitant at that, brow furrowed a little.]

I'm still a student myself, though. It wouldn't be right for me to try to teach people--that's more the domain of masters of the craft.

[Sometimes, for all of their similarities as protags...........

Kou can be very traditional.]

[. . . . . . Kou]

Do I look like the kind of person who cares about that?

[... But he cares :(

Also sometimes his upbringing really shows, and he grimaces a bit at that.]

...Well, I guess we don't really get to be too picky in a situation like this...

[HRM...

he takes a bite of the curry as he thinks.

And brightens. Oh. Yum???]

If you'd really rather not, then I'll just waive your fee entirely. I'm feeling generous today.

[aka he wasn't serious about Kou compensating him for the coffee, he swears]

[something pleased crosses Akira's expression when Kou lights up. yes good, that's the kind of reaction he was going for]

Hm? How is it?

It's delicious. It tastes like home, but... a different sort of recipe than I've ever tried before.

[Honestly!! Kou's pleased, taking another bite immediately and savoring. Yum...]

... Anyway, if you really want to learn some, I guess I can teach you. So long as you're not expecting anything particularly special. Like I said, I'm just a student myself, and I kind of slacked off on my training for...the past couple of years now.

It's a recipe crafted to evoke that exact feeling.

[Sojiro never came out and said it, but the stories behind the recipe's creation make it plainly obvious. and that's all he'll say about that]

And seriously, you don't have to. I was kidding. [he does that a lot] But if you really are offering, I also won't say no.

[he'll help you get back into tip top shape, Kou!1]

Well, it does its job.

[He's enjoying it, taking bite after bite as he contemplates the rest.]

And it depends on why you wanna learn. If you want to learn for more self-defense, then it's not like I can really say no. It's too good a reason.

[He's teaching Rion for that reason, despite his misgivings on not knowing enough.]

You're good with a knife, but it's useful for taking on opponents when you don't have a weapon.

[. . . huh. . .]

[a thoughtful pause]

Just teach me how to throw someone, and we'll call it a day.

[for when he is unarmed and cornered, unable to drop to the ground and sweep his opponent's feet out from under them. he thinks that should be enough, without pushing Kou too far into doing something he's uncomfortable with]

[... Ha. That gets a snort out of him.]

As easy as that, huh? Okay, fine. You can join my training sessions with Rion. Then you two can practice your holds and throws together.

[um]

Rion is--

[gestures with one hand, like he's indicating someone's height compared to his own]

[he's trying to say "short and petite"]

[An amused snort.]

What do you think jujitsu is for, Akira?

[Bigger people to toss smaller people? Please.]

Y'know, originally it was a form of self-defense for common, normal people against samurai and people with weapons. You think they were bigger than their opponents?

If you're not careful, she's gonna toss you.

[. . . gentle huff]

You've got me there.

[he was less worried about Rion throwing him and more worried about. . . throwing Rion. . . to be frank]

[Akira pls.]

Rion can take you.

[a pause]

Yeah, she totally could.

Glad we're at least on the same page there.

[A shrug.]

Anyway, thanks for the curry. It was delicious--I'll keep you posted on our training schedule so you can join in.

[and Akira gives Kou a grateful nod]

Cool. I'm one simple watch call away, so I'll be on the lookout for your schedule.

SUMMER FESTIVAL: TEMPLE OF BEGINNINGS

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