destinystrings | Autumn Festival (OPEN)

Entry tags:

Autumn Festival (OPEN)

Who: EVERYONE
Where: Virgo Ward
Summary: Autumn Festival Log! You're all invited!
Warnings: MELONS
Ahh Autumn. The time for harvest, and the normal national holiday that falls on the 24th and 25th. Demons? Angels? Magic? Well nothing's been put on pause, but even the Anoli need to relax once in a while...

With that free time, what's a newcomer like you to do?

Well Hinoto-Ri has much to offer! As they seem to be the only standing city in...well, anywhere, they've tried to merge and adapt as many festivals around the world as they can.

Ergo this Fall festival is a mixture of everything the world could offer. Corn on the cob, Pumpkins, Yaki Imo (Oven-Roasted Sweet Potatoes), Ramen stands, Falafel, caramelized apples...

A giant dragon is tied down in the middle of the waters. At night, you can see a few pixies hover close to it, keeping other monsters at bay. The streets have been decorated as well.

But most importantly, the upper Virgo Ward has been turned in a giant festival area...even more so than usual! Now the millions of stalls don't just try to sell things to you, they sell things to you thematically with this fall! Giant pumpkins and fresh produce made in Libra and Capricorn..did you know that Capicorn has an amazing giant apple orchid, protected by the office of Wands and Swords? Try out some free samples! One taste is enough to convince you that having Persona to irrigate the fields ass a crispness to the fruit..right? Winter outfits...hats are in this year! Listen to some of the new music groups, and get pumped for the upcoming movies!

There is giant mooncake in the middle of all the tents and stalls. Don't worry about the money! Everything's free today! It is a time for sharing and family and...

...being thankful for what you have. No matter how small it might be.

For a city of survivors, Hinoto-Ri is certainly trying to have a good time.

You should join them.

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"I'm surprised you churned all of this out so quick! ...What'd you end up making them out of? Or is that some sort of trade secret?"

He leans in closer to examine the bottles of unidentifiable liquid. If they're clear, he'll squint and swirl one around in his hands.

"I'm afraid I can't reveal that! It loses the magic otherwise. Ho ho ho."

In all honesty, it's a bit of flavored sugar water with a slight bit of bitterness to make it seem like it's a medicinal thing. But nobody has to know that, do they?

"'I'll take one!'... is what I would say if I had any money except Macca, which apparently only works if you want to buy demons. Sorry." Atsuro shrugs and replaces the luck tonic. "But I already got my good luck tonight, right? It never said I would buy one of these."

"Ho ho, fair enough. Some say that luck is what you make of it, hmm? I just like to think my little formula helps people make more of it." She leans back. "So, have you been making the most of this grand little gala?"

He shrugs again.

"...It's nice." A relatively noncommittal answer. "I guess it reminds me of home, a little. Autumn festivals aren't that big of a deal. Moon-watching is more of a... couples thing."

"Deary me, is that a tinge of regret in your voice? Perhaps Auntie Misery could cook up a nice love potion for you! It'll cost you dearly, however," she replies, a twinkle in her eye.

"Hah. Hah. Hah." Atsuro levels an unamused expression with more than a tinge of regret. ...Maybe more bitterness. "I'm just thinking about home. They're trying to make us feel welcome and all, but it's hard not to think about what things would be like in Tokyo this time of year."

Hmm. "A tinge of homesickness. I suppose I should feel a little jealous, considering I do not have much I miss myself. I don't, of course." She shrugs. "Best not to think too hard about such things. Placing your mind in two places at once is only a recipe for disaster."

"Emotions are hard." Atsuro breathes a slight sigh and fixes a vaguely melancholic smile on his face. "Maybe you should just whip up a potion that makes everyone feel happy all the time. Bet that'd work out well."

He was being sarcastic. Probably.

"Even if it didn't, it'd be good for a laugh!" she replies, a wicked glint in her eyes.

"Then our target suddenly changes from the demons to the Brainwashing Persona-Using Witch. You'd be one heck of a boss battle."

If only he knew.

"Anyway... yeah, there's not much point dwelling on it. It's not like we can't go back anytime we want."

The question was whether or not he'd go back to a peaceful world with autumn festivals or to ten seconds before his untimely death.

"I think I would much rather pass on that. It all gets rather droll after a while." Or frustrating, really, but she'll never admit she's lost battles.

She mulls what he has to say. "Indeed. Although it depends on whether one truly desires to. Even without this whole 'defending people' nonsense, I'm already rather satisfied here."

"It's almost like 'defending people' isn't the whole reason they brought us here at all." Atsuro's tone is light. "...Your world isn't a very fun place, huh?"

"Well now, I wouldn't say that." More like she hadn't lived a very fun LIFE. "It has its... charms."

"...Apparently literally, if love potions exist." Atsuro pokes at her useless placebo bottles. "Is this the kind of thing you used to do for a living back home, too?"

She pauses, looking away. "I was... still figuring out what to do back home," she replies evasively. Which is true. After all, she'd been stuck doing the same thing for a very, very, very long time.

"..."

Atsuro raises an eyebrow slightly. It didn't take a trained psychologist to realize he was venturing into territory she'd prefer not to discuss.

"Ah, guess we're in the same boat, then. I've got to take my placement exams at the end of the year... from there, it's off to whatever school I score well enough to get into, and then onwards to have the rest of my life decided for me."

She waves a hand. "Oh honestly. Don't just accept it like that! You should have the freedom to figure out what you want to do in your own life. Why let others decide it for you?" she asks breezily.

"Hah... Alright, maybe that's an exaggeration. There are some set paths you can follow, but it's not like it's impossible to break the mold, either." Atsuro shrugs. "It's not a bad thing to have a set path, either. Half of us would just spend all our time wondering what we should do and never get anything done at all."

"But there is such a thing as TOO set of a path. I like to keep my options wide open myself," she replies, breaking conversation briefly to sell another of the tonics to someone. "It's... exhilarating."

Atsuro pauses for a moment. "I'm not disagreeing, but there's a caveat to that, too. Too many options and you don't even know which ones are better than the others. Or maybe you'd just choose the one you felt like choosing even if it was obviously totally wrong."

A shake of his head and he laughs. "Why're we talking philosophy, anyway? You've got potions to sell and I've got food to eat! I should stop probably stop bothering you."

She turns her head, obscuring her reaction. "At least it would be my mistake and not somebody else's, yes?"

She turns back. "Of course, of course! Go out and enjoy! And if you decide to try out a tonic, I'll still be here!" she says, giving a little cheeky wave.

"Sure, I'll take some free samples!"

Atsuro smiles cheerfully as he reaches for one of the vials again.

She pulls the tray out of his reach. "I'm sorry, did I misspeak? I don't believe the word 'free' was anywhere in that sentence! Oh ho ho ho!"

"Worth a shot." He gracefully pretends that he meant to rap his knuckles against her table as he gives a half-wave. "I'll see you around, then."

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misery_hates_company - 2012-10-03 04:18 (UTC) - Expand

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