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

[It's an interesting custom, but Gladio doesn't want to be rude and read over the wishes written down by others. He's surprised to see so many strips of paper though.

It isn't that he believes that his "wish" will be granted by putting it up on the bamboo, and yet Gladio still finds himself taking a strip of blue paper. It doesn't take him any time at all to think of something to write, black pen being his choice. Once he's done, he grabs string and carefully begins tying it to a branch. This is the most tedious process for him, honestly. He's got big hands. But when he's done he takes a moment to stare at his wish.

"Everything for My King."

This feels really ridiculous, but it's. Kind of nice.]

[It isn't like he has been standing here trying to purposely read Gladio's wish, but having picked up a paper and string and getting into a sort of line with others to tie it up, it's hard to miss - especially when the big guy doesn't move away. It's sort of embarrassing, catching the writing, but after a moment Noct takes in a breath and steps up beside him, reaching to hang his own strip of paper.

"I want to make my father proud."]

This is kind of a neat festival idea, huh? Something over summer like this. [Don't read my wish and I won't remark on yours.]

[This is an unspoken agreement Gladio will gladly go along with.

Even if Gladio does happen to glance at the strip of paper Noct attaches, and it's a bit of a swift kick in the gut right then and there. But of course, he'll say nothing, act like he doesn't even notice what Noct's doing as he stands by and just responds in a low, quiet rumble.]

Wouldn't be half-bad if we had somethin' like this back home. Really good at bringing people together. [He gives Noct a firm pat on the back.]

Do yourself a favor and put it on your to-do list.

Right along with a Royal Fishing Tournament and Cup Noodle Day.

[He says it as a joke but the idea of the festival isn't lost on him; therefore the wishing tree might be a neat togethering sort of thing, especially in Insomnia after all of their fighting is over. Still, the pat to his back makes him stumble briefly, before he rights himself and vaguely nudges Gladio back - it's nothing more than bumping his fist to his arm, before he starts to step away to make room for others.]

Wishing Tree Week, maybe that could be it. [A week, so all the regions could participate and send in their wishes to be hung. He could see it, if he could picture where at home hasn't been destroyed.]

[Joke or not, that gets a nice laugh out of Gladio. He can only imagine bringing that up to a royal council. A fishing tournament probably wouldn't garner many raised eyebrows, but a cup noodle day? For what purpose, he can imagine those stuffy diplomats who've never had a cup noodle in their entire long, boring, deprived lives. And out would come Gladio with an entire platter full of steaming cups for them all to try, and immediately, their world would be expanded and they'd learn the joy they've never felt before. And so Cup Noodle Day was born.]

Do it and I'll kiss your feet, I swear.

[When Noct steps aside, Gladio follows in tow, especially since he knows he's the one that needs to leave the most room for others, but also it's a natural reaction he has to all of Noct's movement.]

Could set up a festival just like this one, make it a nice public event, a reason for families to come out, people of all sorts.

Take some notes, so it'll be easier to remember what we want to do.

[Chuckling a bit, walking further to finally get out of the small crowd that had gathered to hang up their wishes, Noct only turns to look back and spy his particular one in the masses - no, he can't really see it in specific, but he knows where he put it. He knows... or at least, he hopes, he can really do it.

Looking up then to Gladio, Noct has a moment of just looking at him - and absently looking at his jaw where he socked him the other day. It's already mostly healed up, barely a dent on the guy, and part of him is grateful Gladio can actually take a hit. That Noctis lost his patience and determination not to get angry so quickly, it's sort of embarrassing - but disappointing Gladio is right up there with disappointing his father. He hates that feeling, he is afraid of that sense of failure.

So he takes a quiet breath and speaks quieter, eyes turning back up to look at him rather than the bruise.]

Hey, uh. Sorry for punching you.

SUMMER FESTIVAL: TEMPLE OF BEGINNINGS

no subject

hi im late

hi late i'm garbage

ljkafd;k ok let me put the trash out..

you're coming with me then

we're gonna need a bigger can