synopsychic | A little while after Rise's 'broadcast'...

Entry tags:

A little while after Rise's 'broadcast'...

...So. Someone got me thinkin'. Ain't the first time I've kinda wondered, but... Yeah.

Not everyone does this whole Valentine thing, or half'f the stuff my kinda world does. But we've seen stuff like ... we had Samhain back in January, right? And - what was that one in Nova Venezia? It's on the tip'f my tongue, or, uh, my brain, can't quite remember it...

I'm just ... kinda curious what kinda things there are everywhere else that're special to people. Things you celebrate where you're from. I dunno.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Samhain's pretty much the great grandfather of Hallowe'en, so if you have that on your world, it isn't really anything new. Just a little less candy coated.

Huh, yeah? We've got Halloween, right... I guess I can kinda see the resemblance.

Yeah. It's not the only influence, but it was one of the big ones.

I am lucky enough that my own traditions at midwinter seem to mesh so neatly with the festivities of other worlds. Only for that evening, perhaps, but it is the most important of holidays for us: Longest Night.

That's the thing you keep doin' stuff for at the winter parties, isn't it?

[Chuckle.]

That's right. Though really, it combines with others' yuletide celebrations, as I understand it. At home, it celebrates the defeat of winter and the return of the sun, signifying the triumph of life over death, warmth over cold, and the turn of the new year. It was not always so elaborate but, well, we are a somewhat dramatic people. It has become quite the production over the years.

Heh. Why the hell not, right? Gotta do somethin' when it's cold and miserable out there, might as well put on a show?

Everyone needs a time to lighten their spirits and remember the good things which have happened in the year! So on the longest night of the year, all across the land are held great parties. In the City, of course, there are the largest and most brilliant, for that is where the palace is. People come from miles around to dress in their finest costumes, don beautiful masks, exchange gifts with friends and family, and dance and feast through the whole night. Precisely at midnight, when the year turns, we hold a pageant where the Sun Prince enters to assist the Winter Queen in renouncing bitter age to become once again the sprightly Spring Maiden. I do my best to try and recreate that pageant every year here, in a somewhat less spectacular fashion. But it is the largest and most important of our holidays and has been one of my favorites ever since I was a child.

So that's the story, huh. Sounds like it must be a hell of a party ... guess we've gotta step up our game next time.

I don't know that the Travelers would want to go to quite such extravagent lengths as the nobility of Terre D'Ange.

[There is definitely some fond laughter in the thought.]

Would you like to see?

...heh, go on, gimme a look.

[Should be interesting, right?]

[At first it’s just a strain of music. Classical, violins and flutes and a deeper stringed instrument. Then the murmur of voices, merry and bright and indistinct – a crowd of people. Then flickers of color in the dark. Crimsons, teals, greens, blues, golds, silvers, whites, browns, oranges… every color and shade imaginable. Then the colors seem to grow closer, clearer, resolving into brilliant gowns and costumes of the richest fabrics and gems on people as beautiful as Phedre and Joscelin, Imriel and Melisande. Gods and goddesses, shepherds, philosophers, animals, sprites, heroes of legend; sultans, kings, queens, harem girls, fauns, satyrs, Romani; silk-clad dancers, mermaids, demons, heroines, birds, and more. They dance and swirl, meet and part without pattern, to those who were not raised to find one. It’s overwhelming at first, with so many people and different costumes all moving together.]

[But between them can be glimpsed a long table heaped high at all times with trays and platters and an endless array of foods and drinks. Everyone seems to be laughing and smiling and having a good time behind their elaborate masks. Little glasses of clear liqueur are circulating on silvered trays, the servants in their plain domino masks offering them with a smile and the intonation of “Joy”. “Joie! Joie to you on Longest Night!” can be heard here and there as guests take the flutes, drink them down at a swallow, and set the empty glass back on the trays. And indeed, beneath the shy wonder is a rising, bubbling excitement that seems poised to overtake the watcher entirely.]

[But before it does, the memory fades away.]

[Dang. Damn. Kanji's mentally silent for a little.]

That's ... wow. All that ... all those costumes... [All the folks wearing them, too, but he doesn't want to go down the envy road again.]

Man, if we even wanted to compete we'd have to start right after the last ball.

[Alcuin’s laugh is soft and fond, not aimed at Kanji but at his home.]

Some people do. Especially in the upper echelons of society. But not usually for a week or so. They do need time to recover, after all. But it is such an important and fun national holiday that people do look forward to it all year long. It is somewhat less extravagant in the areas outside of the City. I am quite content with our celebration. It is rare that I get to celebrate with so many friends whom I actually know and spend time with. It makes it even more meaningful to me. Plus there is always the chance to see more wonders from other worlds! There were so many subtler themes and differing styles of dress this year!

We don't actually celebrate anything at all, back at home. No Christmas or Valentine's day-like things at least.

...yeah. With shit the way it is in your guys' place ... I kinda get why.

No time for celebrating love or family for a single day... you just need to appreciate it whenever you have time. Whenever you're even able to go home.

Of course, not everyone's life is like ours. Some live rather normal lives. Yet they don't see a cause for celebration. Not in a world like ours.

I've been to lands that have celebrated the solstices, and know of one to the north of my home that celebrates a night of witches. And there are many festivals dedicated to the gods that are celebrated throughout the realm.

But I believe it's only the changing of the year that is celebrated by everyone.

... yeah, I can see that. Hell, I mean, we've celebrated it here the past coupla years. Or ... closest thing to past coupla years. It's something people can agree on being a thing.

I suppose it's hard to dispute the passing of time, yes, hard as it is to keep track of it in this place.

No kiddin'. I mean, some people try, and Jaunts usually last about the same length'f time each time, you get a feeling for the seasons in 'em, but ... we mostly guess.

Such as you did with this..."Valentine" is what you called it?

While I'm sure I'll be able to get used to it after a while as everyone else has, it's still an unnecessary headache. I can't imagine having to and deal with it for more than a few weeks, let alone years.

Bingo. Close enough for ... well, for the folks who wanted to do stuff for it.

[Sorry, Rise.]

You just got here, right?

I suppose it's not the most frivolous festival I've seen, at least.

But yes, unfortunately. I and a friend were brought here just a few days ago. [And he...might still sound a little bit irate about that.] Entreri.

[Yeah, Kanji doesn't blame him in the least.]

Kanji Tatsumi. Good to meet ya. Or ... hear ya, man, I never know what word to use. Glad you've got someone around.

You wouldn't be saying that if you knew him, trust me.

But it's good to...hear you, too, yes. It's safe to assume you've been here for some time, then? What is some advice for us poor souls that just joined you?

[Kanji snorts.]

Yeah, we've all got someone like that.

An' I ain't the oldest hand here by a long way but I've been around a coupla years, give or take a Jaunt. [Crap, does this make him some sort of senpai here? Better try and do it right.]
Advice, huh. Mostly... Keep your eyes open, get used to the idea things ain't gonna work like you expect... learn to roll with the crazy stuff. And ... [He pauses.] It's ... maybe it's just me. But ... find something to keep you going.

Rolling with the crazy stuff is hardly going to be a problem, at least. I expect nothing is going to top a dracolich for a long while. But...

["Find something to keep you going"? That's...he falls silent for a moment, turning that over in his head. Hell, he's. Not sure he had that even before being brought here.]

Still, it's sound advice. Thank you.

[...He might not have any clue what a dracolich is, but it doesn't sound like it wants to be anyone's friend.]

Heh. No problem, man - you're welcome.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A little while after Rise's 'broadcast'...

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject