rekindlemods: (Default)
Rekindle Moderators ([personal profile] rekindlemods) wrote in [community profile] rekindleme2014-07-13 01:44 pm

A Festival Of Lights (Round 2!)

Who: Everyone
Where: All around Saeng Seong!
When: 13th July to 20th July
Summary: The residents of Saeng Seong are celebrating their annual summer festival, and the offworlders are invited to take part!
Warnings: Inbox death may occur. System overload at own risk. Long information post ahead, beyond the cut.



There's been a general sense of excitement among the natives of Saeng Seong for the past week or so, now; anyone who's stopped to question them about it (or has been close enough to hear them discussing it amongst themselves) will hear mentions of "the festival." Those who have been here long enough might have a good guess on what's going on, or about to happen. When the 13th rolls around, things become very clear.

Each year, the residents of the city come together to celebrate the summer. Setting the festival up is an all-day affair; taking part in the festival's events will make for an entertaining week; and tearing down the booths and decorations is another extensive process. But in the end, the residents usually agree that it's worth it, and this year they would like for their would-be saviors to take part.

July 13th
The flickers of activity start on the 13th, as all through the open districts, the natives move about with a sense of purpose. A committee has formed, focusing on decorating and assigning tasks to different groups of people. (And any curious individuals who might be willing to give their time!) They are centered in the Second District around the welcoming center in assigning tasks, but can be found everywhere.

The committee needs people to help with preparing and placing decorations all over the city; paper lanterns, twinkling strands of lights, and garlands of flowers, though they'll note that the flora is fake. They also need people to set up tables, chairs, and makeshift stages at the riverbanks that wind through the districts. Help is also needed redo the outdoor marketplace to make it more accommodating for booths hosting festival foods, games, and trinkets for purchase. Physically stronger characters may be asked to assist with setting up carnival rides in the free spaces - everything from a towering Ferris wheel (because clearly a second one is needed for such a festival!) to a carousel to bumper cars, and many others besides.

During this time, characters can also volunteer to man the booths on certain days, if they have anything they would like to contribute or would like to assist with anything.

Given how this happens on the same day as new arrivals come in, there may be some confusion for the newcomers! Fortunately, information is readily available in the form of written pamphlets, and the arrivals even get a complimentary jar of fireflies to hang onto.

Those jars are also available for other people to pick up. The jars are filled with fireflies (or the closest thing Saeng Seong has to them) and glow all through the festival. Though oddly enough, the jars seem to produce that much more light if the jar holder is in close proximity with someone else. Locals will also inform characters that it's good luck to hang onto the jars all through the festival.

And finally in the fifth district, the theater has set up a special film festival and is trying to distribute flyers and posters all through the city. Not only are they going to be showing films non-stop through the week (mostly following a summer theme) but admittance and kettle corn are free if someone brings a friend! Or have a great discount if they help distribute the promotional materials.

Characters who take part in the setup will be awarded with five vouchers, good for use during the festival. These vouchers can be used for the purchase of food, admittance to rides, or to allow them to play some of the games for free.


July 14th
The festival begins early morning on the 14th - that is, the booths are open and ready for business, selling all manner of street food - crepes, kabobs, funnel cake, shaved ice, almost anything you can imagine - along with a wide variety of other things for purchase, like one-of-a-kind clothing, hats, scarves, and the like, as well as jewelry and other trinkets. There are also booths where you can get your face painted, where you can have your fortune told, and all sorts of other activities.

There are also the games. Standard festival stuff: Knock down a milk bottle, win a prize. Throw a dart and pop the right balloon, get a prize. You can play a game to catch and take home a goldfish, if you like, or try your luck at any of the other games that are interspersed with the other booths.

These booths will be operating all throughout the festival, until the closing ceremony on the 30th.

The opening ceremony doesn't actually take place until sunset, despite the fact that the booths have been operating all day. It's a simple ceremony, though this year it has moved locations. It now happens at the shrine in the fourth district, with a speech about how summertime begets togetherness and how everyone should be thankful for the opportunities they've been given. All in all, it may be a little boring for characters with shorter attention spans. However, at the end of it, everyone lights a candle, makes a wish, and moves down to the river bank where they can set it adrift on the river once the sun has gone down entirely; the flickering candles will drift around the river all throughout the festival, and they never seem to burn down.

July 15th
The rides and games are going on full-force outside from the time the sun comes up, but in the afternoon characters will find that it's not as crowded as the day before. That's because there's dancing going on in the convention center - the afternoon is full of traditional group dances, the kind that are easy to learn the steps for and join in on; the natives will be especially delighted if their visitors teach them some of the dances from their home.

In the evening, it is not quite so energetic, though the dancing doesn't end. The songs slowly fade into slower, perhaps more romantic tunes, and the final dance will end precisely at midnight.

There will be refreshments available for free in the convention center during the dances, though not anything so filling as what characters will be able to purchase from the booths outside - mostly water, lemonade, cheese, and crackers. There is also a bar where specialty drinks and foods may be purchased.

July 16th
This day's special event happens after dark, though it's easy to see the preparations for it happening around the shrine, the welcoming plaza, and along the river front in fifth district. When the sun sets, one massive bonfire at the shrine is lit, along with two substantial bonfires at the plaza and river front. Many people gather, some with benches, to bask in the firelight. Some even write down the things they'd like to accomplish during the rest of the year onto slips of paper and cast them into the flames, in the hopes that the smoke will carry their wishes into the heavens.

Others gather around to toast s'mores and chat. Still others continue the dancing from the night before - off to the side to begin with, though as the night wears on they may expand into a bigger dance that will involve large groups of people circling around the fire in spirals.

Even away from the plaza, there are blazing lanterns throughout the city, and some smaller bonfires crop up in areas where it's not likely that anything important will catch fire.

July 17th
This day's festivities begin early on. The morning and early afternoon are devoted to a cooking contest - there are categories for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, and a winner for each - that both residents and visitors alike can take part in. Characters who cook delicacies from their own worlds may find the natives crowding them and asking for information about the dishes, and recipes to try on their own.

The late afternoon also has to do with food, and the characters are once again invited to take part in a variety of eating contests. There are your standard hot dog, watermelon, and pie-eating contests, as well as many others - the more daring may find themselves taking part in a contest where contestants are blindfolded and made to eat as much of rather... interesting concoctions as they can.

Characters who take part are given a voucher for use at any of the booths or rides in the festival; winners are given additional prizes. The winners of the cooking contest are determined ICly by character vote, so if there's a dish they especially love, make sure to mention that they'd vote for it so a tally can be kept! This time around, winners are largely up to player-character decision; there's no shortage of prizes to be given out, at the very least! (Though some might be on the silly side, such as a new cooking pan, or similar.)

July 18th
The extra activities on this day include showing off your physical prowess and your ability to cooperate with others.

On foot, there are three-legged races; pick a partner and try not to fall as you make your way to the finish line! There are also relay races - in teams of four - and you'll want to pick your teammates' positions well to ensure maximum speed. These races will take place multiple times during the day.

There are some other events to take part in as well: Thumb-wrestling tournaments, arm-wrestling tournaments, and outright wrestling tournaments.

This year's festivities bring a new event as well, in the form of cooperative boat racing. With a long stretch of river now open, characters can race from the start of the river in the fifth district down to the bottom of the third district. A specially decorated warehouse marks the finishing line, and the banks are packed with spectators cheering the racers on. It's encouraged that participants bring a friend to help them paddle, but individual racers might also be found. The boats in question vary from personal made boats to inner tubes to more...Creative options involving furniture. Hopefully none of them will sink, though!

At the end of the day, there will be a massive tug-of-war. Everyone who's mingling around and wants to take part will be sorted into one team or another, and then the two teams will face off.

Participants will receive festival vouchers; winners will receive additional prizes.

July 19th
The last day of the festival continues on like normal - the rides and booths are all operating, at least until the start of the closing ceremony that begins mid-afternoon and continues until the sun goes down. Winners of the various contests are once again recognized, the people who made the events a success are thanked, and the speech ends with a wish for pleasant experiences throughout the rest of the year.

The ceremony is timed such that there will be about twenty minutes for everyone to position themselves where they would like to be by the time fireworks begin being set off from a barge floating on the river between the second and third districts. There will be spaces on the riverbanks for people to watch from, though they can most certainly be seen from any other vantage point a character might like to try watching from, should they want to avoid the crowds.

At this point anyone who has been carrying a jar of fireflies is encouraged to release them. The little bugs appear none the worse for wear from being in a jar all week, and eagerly fly up into the night sky. Locals whisper another wish or hope as they do so, as the little dots of light mingle with the fireworks overhead.

July 20th
This day is a blur of activity as well, though not as fun as the past few days. The residents of the city are packing everything away and taking down the decorations, and they could use a little help if the characters are so inclined.

Characters who assist with the teardown will be rewarded with leftovers from the festival - plush prizes, food, maybe even some little trinkets characters have had their eyes on that haven't sold. No one's getting any fireworks, however.

Feel free to put up your own top-level comments, but be sure to put when and where the action is happening in the subject line!
hellfire_gouka: (content)

[personal profile] hellfire_gouka 2014-07-23 12:46 am (UTC)(link)
[He brought up a hand as if to wipe his mouth to hide his face, but he couldn't suppress a chortle.]

Now that you mention it, I did lose a pair to a prank of my roommate's.

[He shook his head slightly. That guy sometimes...]

I hope it comes true, then. [He wasn't about to pry and ask what it was, however. It didn't seem right to jump right back in like nothing happened.]
Edited (aaaaaaaaaaargh) 2014-07-23 00:47 (UTC)
noparachute: (Hope I'm the man for the job)

[personal profile] noparachute 2014-07-23 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
[He saw that little smile there Shinju.]

Yu up to his usual pranks?

[It was good that Shinju was living with a friend though. Made things less lonely and now he had Bucky. Perhaps they should move in together soon.]

Thank you, Shinju. Long as I don't give up...
hellfire_gouka: (curious)

[personal profile] hellfire_gouka 2014-07-24 05:16 am (UTC)(link)
[A sigh.] Yes, unfortunately for me. I guess I should just be glad his cat isn't taking my stuff like it is for everyone else.

[He watches the man a moment then gives him a one-shouldered shrug.]

You're not really the giving up type.
noparachute: (that's all)

[personal profile] noparachute 2014-07-24 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh, Banchou. That cat is really something. Off disappearing and reappearing wherever it wants.]

Too stubborn for that. [He admits, no use denying it.] How's the festival been treating you so far?
hellfire_gouka: (neutral)

[personal profile] hellfire_gouka 2014-07-25 05:24 am (UTC)(link)
I haven't done much so far. Just looked at things, mostly.

[He doesn't seem particularly enthused. Better than gloomy, at least.]

What about you?
noparachute: (Move on)

[personal profile] noparachute 2014-07-25 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Haven't tried any of the food? [Steve likes to do that, even though a lot of the stuff here isn't the most healthy of things. But he figures he can afford to eat it still.]

It's good. [He smiles at Shinju as he thinks about how he's spent time with Bucky and talked with a lot of other people.] Nice having friends here to celebrate it with.
hellfire_gouka: (curious)

[personal profile] hellfire_gouka 2014-07-26 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Not yet, no. I was going to go to the cooking contest and see what everyone came up with. I have to be in the mood for festival food...

[Despite his own lack of interest about the whole deal, he's glad that Steve's enjoyed the first day. It sounds like he's been having fun.] Good.
noparachute: (Uniform smile)

[personal profile] noparachute 2014-07-27 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
Probably go there myself later on. Still have a hard time turning down free food.

[He has a harder time really, Steve just wants to eat almost half the time he's awake. He just tries to keep it to himself.]

Spent any time with your friends?
hellfire_gouka: (curious)

[personal profile] hellfire_gouka 2014-07-27 07:54 am (UTC)(link)
[A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth briefly.] I can't blame you.

Not yet. I'm sure Yu will probably want to drag me out at some point, but we'll see.
noparachute: (Insert quote from the trailer)

[personal profile] noparachute 2014-07-28 03:12 am (UTC)(link)
[He nods at this comment, it doesn't surprise him that Shinju will probably hang out with Yu later.]

...It's been over a year, hasn't it?
hellfire_gouka: (neutral)

[personal profile] hellfire_gouka 2014-07-28 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
A year, a month, a week and a day.

[He rubs the back of his neck, looking more tired than someone his age should as he lets out a wry chuckle.]

It's kind of funny when I say it out loud, huh.
noparachute: (Small grin)

[personal profile] noparachute 2014-07-29 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
[Longer than Steve, even. Not only that, he's been here without going back once.]

One of each. [He wryly comments back.] Still enjoy being here?
hellfire_gouka: (curious)

[personal profile] hellfire_gouka 2014-07-29 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
[A look of mild vexation comes to his face as he thinks about it, an eyebrow slightly raised.]

I don't really know anymore. But I guess it's better than... where I came from.

[He can't call it home, really. He doesn't have a home there anymore.]
noparachute: (Here is my option)

[personal profile] noparachute 2014-07-30 12:33 am (UTC)(link)
[Back to the uncomfortable topic for Shinju. He remembers the last time they talked about it... it didn't go too well.]

We should use our time well, no matter what the place.
hellfire_gouka: (neutral)

[personal profile] hellfire_gouka 2014-07-30 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I guess. [He doesn't really have any goals in mind. He's doing his best not to think of the inevitable return, whenever it is. It's better for his state of mind.

He scratches the back of his neck, looking apathetic.]
I'm just following the path of least resistance right now, really.
noparachute: (Thinking)

[personal profile] noparachute 2014-07-31 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
[Perhaps it was easier for Steve to say something like that now because of Bucky and his own personal goal to help him as much as possible. Plus, he really valued their time together because he knew he was going to forget about him when he went back. But... at least they were going to meet again.

They would get through.]


Hope that it goes well for you, Shinju.
hellfire_gouka: (neutral)

[personal profile] hellfire_gouka 2014-08-02 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks, Steve.

[He manages a brief smile for his friend, though he notices that Steve seems to be preoccupied.]

Something on your mind?
noparachute: (Hope I'm the man for the job)

[personal profile] noparachute 2014-08-02 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[He wasn't quite sure if he wanted to tell Shinju anything, his friend already had enough on his plate and he was a lot more sad nowadays.]

Oh, it's nothing. Just watching the candles. [He was a terrible liar.]
hellfire_gouka: (sarcastic)

[personal profile] hellfire_gouka 2014-08-02 09:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[He turned his entire top half towards Steve, arms folded and eyebrows raised as high as they could go.]

Really? You don't get to give me hell for my problems and then not talk about yours. Come on.

[He is taking no bullshit from you today, no sir.]
noparachute: (Dumb Face)

[personal profile] noparachute 2014-08-03 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[Shinju didn't look impressed with him, to say the least.]

You saw right through me.

[He thought he was doing a good job in pretending that he was okay.]
hellfire_gouka: (neutral)

[personal profile] hellfire_gouka 2014-08-03 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh, Steve.]

I'm sorry to break it to you, but it's not that hard.
noparachute: (Punched Hitler 200 times)

[personal profile] noparachute 2014-08-04 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
That obvious?

[...Probably didn't help that Shinju knew him from before the serum either. Although honestly, Shinju was someone that he had known longer than most of the people in his life now.]
hellfire_gouka: (neutral)

[personal profile] hellfire_gouka 2014-08-04 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
[He gives Steve a sympathetic shrug and shakes his head slightly.]

Pretty much. So what's on your mind?
noparachute: (Captain)

[personal profile] noparachute 2014-08-05 01:09 am (UTC)(link)
[It looked like he wasn't escaping this one.]

...Thinking about the people here. My own goal to help someone important to me.
hellfire_gouka: (curious)

[personal profile] hellfire_gouka 2014-08-05 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Someone important?

[It felt like Steve hadn't opened up to him like this voluntarily since he got back from his home the last time. Their last exchange had let him know plenty, but... well, he'd forced the issue, in a way. There really wasn't much avoiding the memory of your best friend falling to his death.

... But he wasn't aware of anyone here that would be that important to Steve. Sure, they didn't really talk about their different friends, but it sounded like more than someone he just met here. He didn't think his other "friend" from home was that... high on Steve's priority list, either.]

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