melodiesofeternity | Event || The Festival of Light

Event || The Festival of Light

Who: Everyone!
When: August 18th - 25th
Where: The Empire
What: The Festival of Light is here! Feel free to use any of these prompts. NPCs tag will come sometimes this week. Please mention it in your top-level if you'd rather not be tagged by a random NPC.
Warnings/Notes: N/A

EXPOSITION OF THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT
— Third District || August 18th – August 25th || 10:00 to 23:00 —
The museums in the 03rd District are open to visitors and are home to many relics predating written history. A lot of those old relics are items of archaeological interest or look like they could be really advanced technologies if they weren't broken beyond repair. Prototypes for Magitek Armor of a new age are exposed, alongside fragments of what are believed to belong to the legendary WEAPONs, machines that belong to the same category than Ultima WEAPON.

The section for Eidolons has all the Eidolons the characters have met so far as well as others yet undiscovered displaying on a gigantic wall-covering painting. The largest Eidolon on the painting appears to be a dragon some characters may recognize as Bahamut, he is so big he dwarves the other Eidolons and should one pay attention, his wings are actually the background of the painting.

Interestingly, someone has doodled something that looks like Ultros over Leviathan on the painting...

SUNNY STARLIGHT
— Ninth District || August 22nd – August 25th || 07:00 to 19:00 —
Do you really believe because it’s summer, you can escape the beauty and magnificence of Christmas? Think again. There is one thing all the nations on Vaikuntha are of one mind on: the wait from the December 26th of a year to the December 24th of the next is too long. This is why a band of Moogles, Lalafells, Bangaas and Zoras from all across the Empire have occupied half of the Ninth District. Decorated trees, Christmas music, people dressed as Santa Claus (and probably dying because of the heat), fake gift boxes as well as a very large and pretty box for donations all await you!

Kids below the age of 15 will all receive a gift if they come: plushies made in the likeness of the main villains of numbered Final Fantasy games! And when you press the button hidden on their stomach, they speak a random line. Who doesn't want a Sephiroth plushie saying "You are a puppet" or a Jecht one repeating "Cry, cry, cry" all day long?

It's like a dream come true!

MIDNIGHT AIRSHIP
— Twelfth District || August 20th – August 24th || 23:00 to 06:00 —
For the late sleepers, it is possible to board a special airship prepared by Hypellos to party up in the sky. The Airship flies all around the Imperial Territories and should characters so desire, they can ask to stop by one of the two other cities. Whether they want to dance, to eat or to enjoy the view, it might be a very fun and relaxing activity. It is also a very good place from where to watch the fireworks… Or to scout for an incoming Tarutaru and her weapon toy.

Note that all the personnel onboard are Hypellos. They are very serviceable and nice, but can try the patience of those not used to their accent. Of note, one Hypello is green and appears to be angrily stalking anyone heading for the "Sunny Starlight" event. He is quite sneaky though and will always manage to get away before being approached.

MOGNET EXPOSITION
— Ninth District || August 22nd – August August 25th || 07:00 to 19:00 —
The half of the Ninth District not occupied by Christmas fanatics is occupied by the Moogles working for the Imperial section of Mognet. Split for the regular Mognet for a decade, Imperial Mognet has managed to thrive. Imperial iMog Slates have all sorts of functions other iMog Slates could only dream of, such as games, grammar check and that kind of stuff. All of those things can be visited at the exposition! Not only that, but the Moogles are also putting on display things that have nothing to do with Mognet but more to do with Moogles themselves.

Come and visit the exposition to discover the rich and amazing culture of the Moogles! Kupo Nuts, Fur Dye, Fake Kupo Nuts, Pom Shiner, Carved Kupo Nuts, booklets titled "How to Use Your Cuteness to Exploit People," Mognet Bags, Deluxe Kupo Nuts, Sheets to Prepare Future Strikes, Mog Beds, Explosive Kupo Nuts, Kupo Champagne—

There is no end to what might be learned from Moogles!

CHOCOBO RACES
— Sen Riqeaux || August 23rd || 15:00 to 20:00 —
A Chocobo Race will be held all around the city! Will you compete? Shall you win? There are no prizes as all the money earned through the race is given to the Safety of Sparks Golsaucia movement. Those participating can bring their own Chocobo or get a temporary one from the people organizing the race. It will be a very bad Chocobo though, so they shouldn’t expect to win… Beware the Hamsters and Marlboro during the race though. It’d be a real shame to end up getting eaten while racing.

SHOPPING
— City's Outskirts || August 18th – August 25th || 07:00 - 20:00 —
On the city's outskirts are all manners of stalls by shoppers eager to make some money. You can find everything there: plushies, food, clothes, souvenirs, books and even cosmetics. Why, one of the merchant is even selling contact lenses covering nearly all of the rainbow's spectrum aside from green while another sells all kind of swords, even the supposed legendary Excalibur! This might be the perfect place to take on O'aka's Quest if you so wish!

MINI SPARKS GOLSAUCIA
— Eleventh District || August 19th – August 24th || Anytime —
Specially for the festival, stallholders from Sparks Golsaucia were invited and brought a few attractions to display what they can do. Noticeably, there is a shooting stand—Once again, a treasure chest game where characters are presented with ten chests and can open only one-- Prizes range from one Gils to gigantic plushies. The novelty this year is something called the "Kupo Boxes," Boxes you punch open and you get something: perhaps something wonderful like a 1 million gil ticket, more often than not though absolutely nothing. Will you try your chance? Be careful, your wallet might not survive it.

TOURNAMENTS
— Tenth District || August 19th – August 23rd || 10:00/15:00/20:00 —
There is a Blitzball Competition taking place during the Festival of Light! Characters are free to go and watch the matches, so long as they can pay for the tickets. At the same time, a Triple Triad competition is taking place. Characters are free to enter the Triple Triad tournament if they so wish. Characters who know Triple Triads have decent chances to win. And even if your characters lose, what matters is trying, right? There are no prizes to be won, as all money goes to the Triple Triad For Everyone associations.

CULINARY ATTRACTIONS
— Second District || August 18th – August 25th || 12:00 to 13:30 / 19:00 to 21:00 —
What would a festival be without free food and banquets? Not really a festival. In the fourteenth district, there is a banquet and many stands held by people from all over the Empire. All kind of food can be found here-- Refined food, pastries, cakes, cooked meals, etc. It's virtually impossible not to find something to like in all of this, and it's all free! There are, however, guards standing around on the lookout for Gourmands who would be tempted to ruin the fun for everyone. After what happened two years ago, better be careful.

THE OPERA
— Ninth District || August 18th - August 24th || 22:00 —
There is an opera every day for all to see for free, titled "A Goddess's Tears." It is a retelling of the creation myth, but shown from the (presumed) perspective of the Goddess of Death. The play depicts the Goddess as someone who started out as a rather sweet person, but whose life took such terrible turns she wished to die and resented life. Yet, death was too scary of a prospect for her and she couldn't choose what was better, Life or Death. As the play progresses, she decides both are equally terrible and resolves to create a world where those very notions shall no longer exist.

As the play unfolds, toward the ends the story becomes what people are more familiar with. However, rather than letting her die wordlessly, the four heroes appease the Goddess's soul by singing. As the four heroes sing, the Goddess smiles and sheds a single tear before passing away. It is said the play is very emotional, sensible people might want to pass on it.

HOUSING
— Fourteenth District || August 17th - August 27th || Anytime —
Before, after and during the Festival of Light, the characters will all need a place where they can rest. Thankfully for them, people coming with the Curti Center delegation are all given the keys to stay in one of the abandoned houses in the 14th District. Truth to be told however, those house look anything but abandoned. Why, it's as if people had been living in them up until very recently, given how either clean and ordered they are for some, or chaotic and neglected they are for others (Characters who were present in Melodies of Life will be able to notice the houses are nearly identical to what they were just before the time skip during endgame, though there are a few eerie differences).

At least, it's a good place to sleep!

ARDYNIAN DISCOVERY
— Fifteenth District || August 18th – August 25th || 10:00, 15:00, 20:00 —
Everyday, it will be possible to get wheeled motor vehicle driven by imperial soldiers and go visit one of the other cities, case in point, Ardynia! Not much is done over there for the Festival of Light, but it is worth checking out, if only for the Wizard and Jester Jobs. It is a thriving city with people from all over the Empire, and it appears to be something of a shopping center for the imperial region.

And most importantly, discover the official headwear of Ardynia: the Fedora! It is said Archaeologists have imported this fashion trend to Ardynia when they pass by, but none know whether this is true or not. While most citizens have enough senses not to actually wear this dreaded hat, those who do wear it really look dumb doing so. And those who don't look dumb look like they'd make jokes about your pet's untimely demise while you're still crying about it.

Perhaps is is best to stay away.

PARASRAYA DISCOVERY
— Fifteenth District || August 18th – August 25th || 10:00, 15:00, 20:00 —
Everyday, it will be possible to get wheeled motor vehicle driven by imperial soldiers and go visit one of the other cities, case in point, Parasraya! Not much is done over there for the Festival of Light, but it is worth checking out, if only for the Archaeologist and Catmancer Jobs, as well as the Weapon Master Association. It is a technologically advanced yet small and cozy city...

... If it wasn't for a tragedy plaguing the city: cats, cats everywhere. If the meowing doesn't kill you, the constant flow of cats asking to be pet, fed and to sit on your lap might. You may even encounter a few tired citizens paying you money to take care of the cat infestation around their house. Others however are really defensive of the cats and will hunt anyone trying to bring harm to them. Of course, the source of all these cat-related troubles can be traced back to the origins of the Catmancer guild.

But, perhaps it is a story best left for another day.

FIREWORKS
— First District || August 18th – August 24th || Midnight —
Fireworks will be launched from the Castle starting 00:00 and will end at 01:00, everyday of the Festival. No matter where you are in the city, anyone should be able to watch them with ease if they so wish. Unfortunately, it means falling asleep before midnight may be a bit hard with all the noise. On the 25th, characters will be with dining with the Empress as the fireworks happen.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Claire looks around the table, decides that standing isn't going to be of much help, and slides onto the bench opposite Beast Boy.

"Several years. It used to be much quieter."

Cor himself is on full alert as well, occasionally eying windows and doors as if he's expecting company at any moment...and not the pleasant type, either. Ignis may or may not have noted that the Marshall has been a bit on edge ever since their arrival in this new territory...

"It's almost like..." Cor grimaces. "Like some twisted version of Insomnia. Except we never closed ourselves off fully from the rest of Lucis." Indeed, trade and people were still able to move in and out of the Crown City, albeit with limitations.

Kuja had, initially, had no interest whatsoever in visiting Parasraya. Who would want to visit some backwater town infested with cats? That was how plagues got started. No, Kuja was perfectly happy to enjoy the rest of his trip feline-free.
That was, of course, until he saw the mognet posting.
Mojito was less-than-enthused on the car ride over. "You sure about this, boss? You don't exactly seem the pet-owning type..."
"Nonsense, Mojito. I'll just take one out of Parasraya and leave it somewhere else. It's not as though some country bumpkin is going to be screening my luggage on the way out of the Empire for stray cats. And ten thousand gil is a windfall we can't currently afford to pass up."
"If you say so, boss, but I don't think this is gonna end too well..."

It was worse than he thought. Parasraya was absolutely swamped with cats. There were thousands of the little hellions covering every available surface. Kuja almost felt a pang of sympathy for the townspeople. But, he'd been told by the elderly... gentleman to just let him know when he found one that he wanted. Kuja had immediately stooped down to grab the feline currently assaulting his tail, holding up the... well, Kuja wasn't an expert on cat breeds, but 'pedigreed mongrel' was an apt descriptor, some blonde-colored ball of scraggly fur that no doubt had fleas and gods only knew what other maladies.
"This one will be fine. I feel a connection already."
He'd been subjected to a very calculating stare, and, in the end, handed a crumpled handful of notes which are then handed to Mojito to count while Kuja... negotiates the purring plague-ball into the car.

Ten thousand gil richer, Kuja had returned to Sen Riqeaux, and unceremoniously dumped the little mongrel on the street near his borrowed home. It was, at least, cleaner and probably significantly healthier than it had been, thanks to Kuja's furious attempts to stop it grubbying up his robes, and a casting of Esuna. He blatantly ignores the blonde furball rubbing against his legs, and gently pushes it away. "Go away. You're free of the damned plague, and I've got my money, so we've both come out ahead. Shoo!"
"Boss..."
When it continues to try and press against him, Kuja responds by dropping a spark of flame at the feline's feet, which sure enough sends it running.
"Well. That's that problem solved. I could use a-"
"Boss."
"What, Mojito?"
"... He stole your keys."

Four. Hours. Four hours he'd spent chasing a fucking cat around Sen Riqeaux. He was sweaty, he was tired, and he was just ever so slightly absolutely livid because in spite of all that effort, he still hadn't recovered his damned keys.
"How're you going to get inside without your keys, Boss? They didn't give you a room-"
Wordlessly, Fire is cast at the front window. "Go inside and unlock the damned door, please."
"... Yeah, that'll work." Mojito flutters in through the broken window, and there's a moment of silence. "You're, uh. You're not gonna like this, Boss."
"Mojito if you don't open this door this instant I'm going to flay you alive."
There's another second of quiet contemplation, and then the door clicks as it unlocks, swinging open. Kuja steps inside, looks at the kitchen counter, and stops cold. His keys, on the counter. How.
And when he goes to check his bedroom, there the little monster is, asleep on his bed, bold as brass, though when he enters it yawns, stretches, and jumps down to sit at his feet, mewling plaintively up at him.
Kuja snarls, lifts the cat up by the scruff of its neck. "Right. I'm going to kill a cat. I'm going to murder it, have it stuffed, then put its head on a damned pike as an example to all the rest of feline kind that I am not to be trifled with-" His heart stops. Eyes. Blue as the sky, looking down at him as he lay dying-
The cat is dropped, and he leans against the doorframe for support.
"... Boss?"
Kuja's voice is shaking when he replies, but as the cat arches against his legs and purrs like a damned engine, he finds he's perfectly certain.
"We're keeping the cat."

Hmmmmmmmm... Let's see......

[Patches tilts his head. Blue... White wavy frills... A little hat bobbing on her blue hair...

...And little fishies hanging from the coattails!]

Oh, oh! Is it the ocean?

[Thankfully, Ignis learned to catch those signs a long time ago. He'd be a very poor advisor otherwise.

He pushes his glasses up and nods-]

We will be here for a while, and fireworks won't. More shopping can wait for another day. Would you like to take these back before we head out for the event?

[He heard open airships offered a spectacular view but considering Noct's uneasiness with height, perhaps some other place?]

"Of course, my lady," he agreed, donning the pleasant smile of a man just taking a walk with an acquaintance so as not to arouse suspicion. From who, he wasn't certain, only that he wanted to stay as under the radar as possible in this place.

Ashelia's words were listened to carefully, but when she reached the end it was apparent he had something to say on the matter. "Long blonde hair and perhaps the saddest eyes anyone has gazed into?" A deep breath. "She appeared to me on my first day on this world, speaking of lost friends whom she felt she had wronged in some way. Absent friends. She then asked me to sing a song with her, but disappeared before teaching me its conclusion. I had assumed she had fled my presence, but the more I hear of her from newcomers the more I wonder if her very presence hadn't been supernatural itself."

A moment was taken to register the information he'd been given in conjunction with his own knowledge. "I suppose, in its own strange way, this connection makes sense. As much as anything in this place can."

[Though he hadn't realized anyone had followed him the short distance from the vehicle, Clarus was hardly surprised by the young woman's presence. He turned toward her, offering a pleasant yet neutral smile.]

A new friend, when I first arrived, took a moment to teach me the song.

[No need to go into details of an apparition. Clarus hadn't particularly believed that the young girl might show herself, but he'd thought he at least had to try. He felt silly now having done it, but he'd always wonder what might have happened had he not tried it.]

Clarus rolled his eyes at his friend. "It is not a weakness to love animals, Cor," he scolded, but he's teasing of course. "Though I believe you have the same affliction, unless you mean to tell me that one climbed there itself." Which was possible, but Clarus thought if Cor didn't like it he would have shaken it off before it reached the top.

"How does a place become so overrun with cats?" he asked rhetorically, chuckling to himself as he continued to pet the furry animals currently vying for his lap and attention.

"True, my ornament of station would be inappropriate for this situation. Perhaps a hair comb would be more fitting." said Namamo, following behind as Papashan floated over to the counter and started peering at the counter.

[Roxas won't complain. He's used to having friends way taller or larger than him for whatever reason, so he just falls in step behind Ganeshan, grateful for the clear path and having someone who can see above the crowd to find things.]

What kinds do they have? What's your favorite kind?

[Easier to ask since Ganeshan can see before they even get to the stand in question.]

That... is an eerie comparison, Ignis has to admit. And another wave of uneasiness settles in the pit of his stomach. Was this world, this city, some kind of a replica of their own? They even have Leviathan as their God even. Not to mention millions of other similarities.

"It really does. Which makes things look even grimmer." He takes a seat at the bar. "But since we're here, we might as well use the opportunity to look into the technology and information that is available."

"The latter," Cor answers, minding his step as he moves closer to Clarus. A few other cats start winding around his legs, purring and chirping for his attention. "Little fighter dug her claws in - literally - and refuses to let go."

"They might, but they also might wanna keep the cats here."

After all, they're the Catmancer Guild. They loved all the cats and might not want to let them leave.

HOW WONDERFUL! SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BOND BETWEEN MOOGLE AND OUTWORLDER!

[Ganeshan, the Job Master Zora from the Curti Center, booms out his approval of this harmonious interaction. Hopefully Ivy has a good grip on the device she's holding. Several people nearby nearly drop theirs at the sudden projection. The Mognet employee glares at Ganeshan, who does not appear at all chastised.]

"Yeah. There's a book on cactuar, but there's also books on monsters in general."

Giving the cactuar a squeeze, it made a much more pleasant sound.

"It's been pretty good so far. How's it been for you?"

"Right... Guess I shouldn't be too worried."

Oh, he'll still worry, but he'll be... calmer about it. Blanc will turn up; just... pay attention to some of the sights and sounds.

[Noble perspective... he supposed that's one way of putting it.]

What do you think?

I guess not, but it might be better than saying they're dead.

[Because that really killed the mood.]

Ah, yeah, so far. What about you?

"Especially the information," Cor agreed, taking another sip of his coffee. His eyes drift to the map section of the pamphlet given out to the visitors, one finger moving to tap against a certain city's name.

"Considering who we heard to have been here before, from our homeworld...I'd rather make sure that there's as few nasty surprises waiting for us as possible."

The fact that any of the others in Futaba's family seemed too wholly accepting of her mother's passing just spoke of other issues; some of which needed to be worked out, or cut out.

"Hm, I see..." Still seemed strange that none of the Shadow Operatives might've looked into it themselves, but perhaps there were reasons. Naoto nods. "He was far more familiar with it..."

He certainly had to be more involved if he was going to frame the Phantom Thieves.

... Very well.

[There's more. There's obviously more to it, but pressing him for answers will only make him more unwilling to say.]

That would've been difficult all things considered, but I'm sure it would've been better without them everywhere.

It's only her years of experience with Harley that saves the slate from a introduction to the ground. And quick fumble and her grip in secure again, so she turns to look who just spoke. "Thank you?"

Althaea narrows her eyes and holds onto Ivy's shoulder. "Yes. It is. Because we're best friends. I'm her best friend." As if Ganeshan has in any way indicated he was a threat to that. Ivy chooses to ignore her Moogles words.

Well, there was Baiken.

"... Easier said than done. I still think I'll have a word with the curator."

Shiro. [ It turns out that Hunk is the one right behind him, because the Yellow Paladin knew just who he needed to speak to. That show had started out all well and good, but by the end? ] Shiro, we need to talk. Now.

[ The words are pointed, almost as if Shiro had done something wrong, but when Hunk makes eye contact, he looks like he's panicking. ] Do you have a few minutes? [ Please say yes, please say yes...! ]

[ Well, considering he assumed he was dead the moment he arrived, and it's still a possibly on the table... not much, honestly. ]

What makes you so certain? A lot can happen in half a year... even in a month.

[ A month... he can't spare even that. ]

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Event || The Festival of Light

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Parasraya

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Mognet Exposition

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Opera

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