acatalepsy_logs | SUMMER FESTIVAL: TEMPLE OF BEGINNINGS

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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!))

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Not even a little bit.

[He waves the device in Daylight's general direction, letting the tricorder collect all the data it can on his biology, or circuitry, or...whatever.]

It'll need a bit to process it all, but we're done. And if something goes wrong, I can hopefully use it to put you back together again.

[ daylight's winglets give a very impressive wiggle as a sign of gratitude to geordi. ]

Thanks! Meddy is going to be super grateful for this, you know. This will help lessen their responsibilities for me and that means a lot. It really does.

[ meanwhile, the tricorder is going to find a lot of fun things in regards to daylight's biology and makeup.

for one thing - it's going to show he's a strange mixture of both organic and nonorganic bits for his body. if it has the ability to pick that sort of thing up. ]

Who's Meddy?

[Geordi asks, somewhat distractedly as he goes over the data. It can indeed pick up the organic vs non-organic, but when compared to his primary reference for such, it's negative. Daylight isn't one of the Borg.

Thank God.]

[ blissfully unaware of geordi's own distraction, daylight becomes very excited at the chance to gush about meddy. ]

My medical drone! I've know them since forever and ever and ever- I think close to almost a hundred and twenty years since we first met each other. [ give or take! ] They're a worrywart but they mean the world to me and they're the cutest thing ever.

[ a thoughtful pause as daylight uses his ability to spill light across their current location, sunshine yellow light emitting from his frame while he looks around. ] Er- Don't let them know I said that, okay? They get cranky if you describe them like that.

[ though it's the truth!! humph! ]

And they're here with you?

[He's listening, he promises, Daylight is just a lot to process. A complete synthesis of organic and non-organic, in that tall frame, with a symbiotic relationship with a drone? That's impressive, and while he's currently away from home, he's still going to be making mission reports. If only he knew the stardate.

And, he adds, looking up with a big grin.]

I promise I won't say a word. Your secret's safe with me, big guy.

Thanks. I really don't want Meddy to be on my aft again for something silly as a word. They can be a dorkatron five hundred at times, sheesh! [ daylight cycles his optics but from the way he's smiling and the way he's sighing in such an exaggerated manner, it's easy to tell that doesn't mean it.

he tucks one arm behind him as he rocks back and forth on the balls of his feet, a little bit fidgety one. ]

So... like... can your device tell if there's something wrong with me now? [ he adds, quickly, ] Not that there's anything wrong with me! Meddy gave me a full bill of health and everything after El Minha and they were worried the lack of food and the stress would compromise my systems but it doesn't seem to have but who knows what can develop after a trip and-

[ ummmmm...! ]

Yeah. I'll... actually give you a chance to talk now. [ he goes as far to mimic zipping his mouth shut and everything. your turn, buddy. ]

[Geordi shakes his head, laughing softly to himself. Daylight certainly is animated, and that's just fine with him. He rather likes him, so far?]

It'd detect if there was any major damage, but so far? No. Not a thing.

[He turns the tricorder around so that Daylight can look, showing him a scan of his own body.]

It'd flash red if there was damage or anything was compromised but you seem fine as far as it's concerned.

[ daylight dips down to get a better look of the device, winglets fluttering in excitement as he tries to read the results of the scans.

he's never seen anything like this before back home! well, er, he's never seen anything this mobile before. all scanners and readers were either really big or integrated/installed into someone's frame. ]

That's so cool! [ he tried to keep his millions of questions to a minimum, not wanting to bother geordi too much. ] Can you, like, scan anything and get results for it? Can you scan Meddy? The plant lambs? Yourself?

[ yes- this is daylight keeping his millions of questions to a minimum. ]

I can.

[Geordi is happy to answer, because mostly it's all a single thing to him. The tricorder can check on just about anything.]

It checks for certain common elements, such as matter makeup and structure, as well as energy readings. So honestly, if it can't be picked up by my tricorder then it's either not real or far beyond anything I've ever seen.

Oh neato! That's a, um, neat thing to have when you're exploring the stars and stuff.

[ whoever made that must be super smart! being able to detect things like energy and makeup and-

daylight's smile falters when something comes to mind, as if finally reminded of something. while the smile doesn't fall off his face just like that, it morphs into something a little more thoughtful, a little more serious the more he thinks about whatever came to mind. ]

Hey... Does that mean it can finally confirm something for me? [ he panics and quickly adds, ] I mean- If you wanna. I don't wanna bother you since we're doing something super important right now.

[ cleaning up after a party- something day does take seriously. cleanliness is next to goodliness, after all. ]

[Well, with a question like that, and the evident worry in his voice...]

It's alright, Daylight. What's got you worried like this?

[He doesn't like seeing anyone upset, but least of all someone who, by his reckoning, should have nothing to worry about. The readings are fine as far as he can tell.]

Nothing too serious! [ dayligh- you do realise that's the sort of thing someone would say if it was serious, right? ] I just- Um-

[ siiigh. he rubs the back of his neck, winglets twitching in anxiety now. ]

If it isn't a bother or won't, like, drain the battery... I was wondering if it could tell how much I am of what? [ wow wow wow what happened to his words. he winces, knowing that didn't make much sense.

let's try that again: ] Like- Can it tell how much I'm Galateion and how much I'm human?

Uh.

[Okay. Well. That's not a question he anticipated.]

Sort of? It can tell me how much of you is organic, and how much is mechanical. I'd need more advanced equipment to tell how much of you has human DNA.

Oh. So... I take it you don't have the advanced equipment with you? [ meaning no, probably. maybe.

daylight tries and fails to keep his winglets from drooping but he pulls himself together, forcing them back up in a happier position. ]

Sure! Okay. Fine. It's fine! Sorry. I- I know that was a weird thing to request but I've always been curious about, um, how much of mom I have in me.

[ 'mom' being the human here, supposedly. she was technically a technorganic but details, details, details. ] Thanks for entertaining it. I guess that was out of left field to ask, huh?

[Geordi shakes his head sadly. He wishes he could help, but as it stands? Nah.]

Sorry, Daylight. I'll do my best to see if I can make that equipment if we wind up in a world with technology I can adapt. But no promises, okay?

[A pause.]

And no, it's not out of left field. It makes sense.

It's cool! [ his smile comes more easily now at this point.

his emission field, though perhaps undetectable to geordi himself, is at peace now. soft and calm and filled with, for the lack of a better descriptor, warm fuzzies. ] I'm really happy you're willing to be on the lookout for stuff so we could do this in the future. That's nice of you to do, buddy.

... And are you implying lots of people waltz up to you, asking for their DNA structure back where you're from? [ now he's attempting to be funny, not wanting this to be too awkward or serious. day cannot handle awkward or serious at this moment, not after asking a request like his mere seconds ago. ] Because man- I have a few crewmates back on the starship I'm working. They would make a killing for data compilation and reading.

Hah. Well.

[Geordi grins, waving off the comment. he gets Daylight not being all that up on 24th century logic, though.]

No, this is a first, but given what I just did? And asked you to let me do? I can't exactly say it's weird! Naturally flows with the conversation, and all that.

Now you’re just trying to make me feel better for being weird. [ all the same, he's quick to smile back and the grin is bright and genuine now, cheery and sweet. his winglets beginning to flutter again too! ]

… I really do mean it. The thanks and gratitude and all that stuff. I know it'll be a pain in the butt to look for it and run the tests and stuff after working with Taxon over at the Support and Medical division back on the Lornful Light so. Yeah. If there's anything I can do to help you out- Let me know?

Besides, you know, helping you get the trash. [ this doesn't count! these are two friends helping each other in a shared goal. ]

Of course.

[Really! It's okay ro-bro. He's fine with all of this.]

Thanks, Daylight. I'll definitely tell you when I need the help. Promise.

[ ro-bro oh noooo. that's so cute-

the winglets continue to flutter-flutter-flutter in happiness and daylight, thanks to his magical ability, begins to really glow now. warm yellow spills out from his body, vibrant and cheerful. ]

Great!! So now- Let's get cracking on the garbage picking up duties here. I have a feeling there's a lot more over where the food was being kept earlier so gotta get there soon!

[ you think daylight would dread having to do such a task but no. daylight is happy enough to help out with the festival and do his best to lend a helping hand.

more so when with a friend. ]

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SUMMER FESTIVAL: TEMPLE OF BEGINNINGS

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