Let the Festival Begin [Day 143 | Day 144]

[bastionmods]

Who: EVERYONE
Open: Open
When: Day 143 & 144
Where: All over the Bastion
What: The first two days of the Harvest Festival
Format Any
Warnings: None

For the past week or so, it may feel like to some that the Bastion is gearing up for something. And not anything bad, either. Something good and oh so needed. It's not just the people, the Caels and the Ura that are aware of what the coming days would mean if the world was still intact. It's like the very Bastion itself has suddenly gained new life, and there's a power over it that's greater than any person, creature or Core.

Anyone who is still awake as dawn breaks over the Bastion may find themselves inexplicably tired for no reason at all, and unable to give in to an intense need to close their eyes, just for a moment.

When everyone wakes, and I do mean everyone, the Bastion will be transformed. Decorations, lights strung across every angle, wreaths, tables with colorful cloths over them, streamers and banners and so much stuff just seemingly out of nowhere! The entire Bastion, suddenly a vibrant, beautiful place for a celebration. And not just any celebration.

The Harvest Festival!

Comments

[fuckthemancers]

I've heard that absence makes such food all the more delicious.

[At the very least, it's a sight to see, much needed as well.]

[freedom_engineer]

I think he's going to find it interesting.

He's so large, a lot of things we take for granted just haven't been BUILT in his size. He's never had a kitchen, never had a well-prepared meal... You saw how he ate that mammoth.

And he absolutely loved the barbeque I brought to him. I think it's high time that he was introduced to the finer things in life.

[hellpyre]

I'd believe it! God, fish... even if it ain't [proper sashimi, I can see why my sister loved this stuff so much...

[Sorry, Zulf, she's going to keep stuffing her face. She even wants to steal some of this away and keep it in her fridge. Especially the meat she could use for sukiyaki.]

Sorry... I'm bein' a pig, but I can't help it. Not with so much good stuff.

[fuckthemancers]

Please try not to set anything on fire!

[That would be Zulf. It's... not exactly cheering, but it is a legitimate concern. Seriously who are you people]

[hellpyre]

... wow. I never thought of it that way. He's missin' out on a lot, ain't he?

[Wow and now she's sad. A LIFE WITHOUT HOME COOKED MEALS, HOW CAN ANYONE SURVIVE]

[freedom_engineer]

It's downright criminal.

I figure, if he likes this... I can see about building up giant grill. With his fire, he can keep it lit, and maybe he can start making mammoth steaks for himself, in his size.

... Or is that planning too far ahead?

[fuckthemancers]

Yes. [Look, Zulf is actually smiling more! Truth be told, he is more relieved than he ever thought he would be. His own reaction shocked him. The Kid is just an important person to each of them, for varying reasons.] I'm hoping Lemain and Yudrig's day will especially help him recover from the news of what happened. He's a Mason, after all. I'm not particularly certain if he's into such prayer, but it may do him some good regardless.

[hellpyre]

[Whoops. Thanks for pointing that out, Zulf. Sometimes she doesn't even realize she's doing it. (Seriously, she freaked Shima out just by letting a few flames sneak out when threatening him for being a jerk. She didn't mean to be that terrifying!)

That said, though, she does reign it in a bit, the blue glow fading as she dodges another charge before Pyth can knock her off the wall completely.

The next almost-minute is her simply jumping and dodging, throwing herself about, being a bit careless about how close she'll let Pyth get to her before getting out of the way. She knows she can't attack, that's against the rules, so the only way she can really do this (and show off a little) is by ridiculous moves that most other people wouldn't be able to pull off.

Eventually, though, it does get the better of her. As predicted, she's being cocky, taunting Pyth and grinning like a devil at every single miss. A miscalculation has her too close to the wall, though, with not enough room to maneuver properly.

She's forced to roll, too tight, and she winds up stumbling on the uneven dirt. Her shoulder hits the wall, and Pyth wheels on her, ready for this opening against the half demon that she doesn't even see coming from behind her.]

[fuckthemancers]

I won't judge, certainly not on today of all days. Besides.. I think you've all earned it.

[What, what do you mean he said 'you' and not 'us'? Ssssh, keep stuffing your face.]

[hellpyre]

No, not at all.

[She stops to fiddle with a topping, pushing it about with a finger.]

I mean... I can light it, too. He ain't the only one with fire here.

[hellpyre]

[She caught that, but... she manages enough tact to not pry.

For once.]

Well uh... Pyth did kinda wear me out a bit. I wasn't expectin' that.

[freedom_engineer]

[Colin smiles at her, and he nods.]

Yeah, I imagine that you and he would work quite well together at a grill.

If you wanted to, I imagine he would probably need a teacher to learn how to cook without turning the food to a total char.

I'm not a simp when it comes to cooking, I know just how much work you gotta put into getting it just right. I'm something of a foodie, back in my universe, even if I can't cook to save my life.

[hellpyre]

He is... ?

[Oh. Rin had almost forgot that the Masons were even a thing. It had been so long since she'd even had conversations with Nathaniel about the people that were once in Caelondia.]

Well... we've been given this much. I'm sure that day will be good for him!

[hellpyre]

You'd be surprised how many food critics can't cook a simple bowl of ramen...

[It's not an overwhelming majority, but more than one might initially guess. And many often go to great lengths to learn to have a little more clout to their word.

Yes, Rin used to read cooking blogs. If it's something she likes, actually reading is not an issue.]

I think I can manage that. He's been nothing but kind to me and I'd like to return the favor.

[fuckthemancers]

That's right. He's actually rather amazing... But I suppose I'll save my praises until tomorrow. That seems appropriate.

[fuckthemancers]

What were you expecting?

[hellpyre]

[Rin smiles at that, nodding]

I'd like to meet him tomorrow, if that's okay.

[hellpyre]

... honestly? I don't really remember now.

[It was all kind of a blur after a certain point]

Gettin' chased all the way back here, though? That wasn't what I was expectin'.

[freedom_engineer]

[Colin nods in agreement.[

My thoughts exactly. Paarth's done a hell of a lot for all of us, I wanna make sure he's treated just as well as any of us can be.

[fuckthemancers]

[Thank you for being considerate, Rin. Zulf appreciates it.]

[It is fairly obvious that her own confidence will be her undoing. This isn't the first time Zulf has seen someone get a bit cocky at their success with Pyth. So he waits, admittedly a bit tense even as he gives some slight applause for each trick performed.]

[But then exactly what he thought would happen happens, and Zulf finds himself leaning forward again.]

Rin! Watch out!

[If she's quick, maybe she can scramble up to grab Zulf's hand before Pyth is on her like the Avatar of Commotion he is. Zulf thinks that's enough bull fighting for you today, miss.]

[fuckthemancers]

I'll be sure to introduce you. He's known as the Kid- Caelondian in case it wasn't already obvious.

[fuckthemancers]

He's known as the God of Commotion for a reason...

[There's a saying about bulls and their horns for a reason, too.]

Still, at least it helped your appetite.

[forhyrule]

[ She wonders briefly why the Caelondian/Ura new year occurs at the end of the harvest season rather than with the beginning of spring, as in Hyrule. But that isn't the question she's most intent on. ] Why is it that the God of Loss and the God of Commotion are so closely related?

[ From Zulf's reaction, Zelda suspects that he hasn't had any outsiders ask to be involved more deeply in this world's traditions. She doesn't yet know that he arrived more recently than she. ]

I would quite appreciate your help, sir. [ She nodded respectfully. ]

[fuckthemancers]

[In his case, 'outsiders' means the Caels, too. For all that Caelondia and the Terminals had the same Pantheon, they certainly did things differently in many aspects.]

Well, when it comes to their aspects... [He steps away from Pyth's ring and gestures for her to follow them. He can talk while they make their way through the festival.] As the Lorn Mother, Micia looks after our dead. As the Wakeful Bull, Pyth is chaos and order personified. Death itself... is often a combination of those two things. Some are lost in the commotion of war, while others slip away peacefully.

That's not getting into the stories, of course. It's said that Micia is one of the only ones who can calm Pyth when he's wide awake.

[forhyrule]

I suppose without this, we would be truly lost.

[ She paused, simply enjoying the calm of evening and the light music whose source she couldn't place. ]

I want to thank you for helping me see what this place truly is.