aterat | The Festival of Flowers

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The Festival of Flowers

Who; EVERYONE
What; The Flower Festival!
Where; The Circus Complex
When; 5/23 - 5/29
Warnings; None! Please warn if your individual thread would typically require a content warning.

It’s a beautiful ~~day~~ week in the neighborhood! With the dawn on Sunday, 5/23, it becomes apparent what everyone has been preparing for. Many merchant stalls common to the market have relocated to the circus complex for the week, streets and parks throughout the city have been decorated with the finest fresh flowers of the season. There is laughter and music wherever you travel. Yes, to spite some of the darker events of recent days, the city is awash with the celebration of life! The real party is found in the Circus Complex and the surrounding park, though. Here can be found all the trappings of a spring festival: flowers, music, dancing, singing, food. Everyone is in high spirits (and there’s plenty of those to go around, too)!

THE FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS

Days in the park have never been as lovely in anyone's memory. Flowers of hundreds of colors line the paths and fill the fields. Minstrels have set up shop in various areas of green and vibrant colors, with baskets ready for coin. Children and adults alike, crowned with flower crowns at the entrance to the park, whirl in time with the music, and all is merry. Oh, and that flower crown? Yeah, you've all got one too. It seems it's required to even enter the park itself, or the Circus Complex. People are there, ready to greet you with a smile, a warm hello, and a party favor in the form of a woven crown. They come in a variety of colors, strangely coinciding with the color of your home apartment building and key, whatever that might mean.

The longer they're among the flowers, though, the less mysteries like the colors of the crowns seem to matter. The pollen of the flowers has a calming effect on anyone who smells them for long, and the more time spent in the park amid all the blooms the more likely someone is to want to participate. There are stickball games, frisbee, hopscotch, and even a game or two of soccer being played in the more open areas.

There's food to be found here as well, all kinds of food. There is roasted meat on sticks, pretzels and other bread easily carried while wandering, sweets, and just about any sort of spring fare you can imagine! It isn't just limited to the park, either. There are street vendors in every available spot in the Circus complex.

CHOCOBO BREEDERS WANTED

The big draw at the Circus itself, the building roughly 200 meters long which houses the track on which the great birds are raced in summer, is the Chocobo Breeders Forum. Breeders from far beyond the walls of the city, in the great expanse of plains, have brought their birds for view. Investors mill about, investing coin in promising future racers and some of the more divine birds anyone in Aterat has ever seen are on display. If you've accrued a bit of coin, you can even take ownership of a newly hatched chick, but those who do so should be warned: they aren't pets. These creatures will grow rapidly in the next 6 months or so into an 8-foot tall land bird with a voracious appetite for greens and an affinity for stealing sparkly things and hiding them.

Several breeders do have stalls in their stables for rent, though, and are more than willing to let them out to fellow breeders. They'll even give you lessons on how to train your new friends to ensure your bonds are strong, whether you plan on using them as beasts of burden, travel companions, or competitively.

(OOC: If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask)

GLADIATORS WANTED

Not to be outshown by overgrown birds, the Arena in the Circus Complex is also working to coax combatants into the frey. You see, next month it seems starts the season, advertisements suggest and callers near the gates attest. They call to anyone passing by who seems they could hold their own in a fight to join a trial match while they're visiting. The Arena has weapons at their disposal, should they have neglected to bring their own, and there are prizes based on crowd approval. The crowd bets of favorites, you see, and a portion of the prize fund goes to the winning combatants. You're able to compete in groups, duos, or singles, and the prizes are better the more challenging the fight.

These fights can be against NPC opponents, friendly matches between other visitors, or even against monsters!

(OOC: If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ASK)

FOR VISUAL REFERENCE

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

“It certainly could be when nothing was going on…” Slowing to a stop as his husband did, he smiled a little. The celebrations had been a nice memory, especially the last few they’d shared together. “But even before this festival, this place seems far more full of life and charm.”

He supposed Rhy probably had been used to fairly grand celebrations around his birthday, being royalty and all. “You must have enjoyed quite grand parties, dear. I suppose in a way we’re um… Celebrating something else today, our arrival from one world and a start in a new one.” A decent start, if he was being honest. Now that he’d secured two means of employment, he felt a little more comfortable in making sure they were taken care of.

His foot tapped lightly to the music being played, rather liking the sound of it while he kept an eye out for something in particular he wanted to get for them since it was Rhy’s first time in a place like this.

"Oh, I arranged them to be well past a week long when I could. I was beloved, you see. A sign of light for the future because I was of the people. Granted, at the same time there were those who feared that I represented a weaker future. The parties, the celebrations, the public display, it granted comfort and relief and the like."

People needed to see their rulers as approachable. They needed to see the Maresh line as strong. And, more than anything, they needed the excuse for their own breaks and rest and fun. He could give them that, and mostly on royal coin.

"I just wish I had been here early enough to help the shop with embroidery for the event."

Gainful employment had been a wonderful thing to gain.

“You say ‘was,’ but you are ‘still’ beloved… To me, anyway.” He responded with a small smile, but he hummed lightly at the description. “The people must have liked it, you are rather good at arranging things…” He thought back to the Sphere for a moment, there was much that his husband had arranged there for the council… And the wedding wouldn’t have been nearly as lovely without Rhy’s expertise. “It’s nice that you could share it with them, to give them something to relax and have fun with… There’s not enough of that, sometimes.”

He looked around at some of the decorations thoughtfully. He was sure Rhy would have added to them well if he had the chance. “I know what you mean… I wish I’d been here early enough to offer help with some of the floral display preparations. I’ve mostly been assisting with transplanting sprouts so far.” He responded before giving Rhy’s arm an affectionate squeeze. “But you’ll be around to help with the next one, love. I’m sure they’ll be glad to have your help in between as well.” He was glad that Rhy had found a shop to continue working and learning from, knowing how much it had come to mean to him in the last world.

“If I had my way, my birthday at home would be a small, quiet thing. But royals belong to their people, so I believe.”

The whole of what he had been through in the year before meeting Llewelyn had made him a bit better like that.

“That you care so much about your people, that you think of them before yourself… Not everyone would do that.” He responded with a small nod. Llewellyn couldn’t say much about birthdays… He hadn’t had anyone left to celebrate with in his world, and so they had turned into another day to him. The detective wasn’t sure he’d done more than have a drink on the day when it came around.

“Hm…” He hummed, seeming to pause for a moment as though he’d thought of something. Llewellyn’s birthday had actually been shortly before this celebration. On the 20th… and he’d forgotten it.

But that Rhy had to spend so much of his life doing things for others, he was glad for a chance to give his husband what he might like. “When your birthday next comes around though… We’ll do a small, quiet thing just how you’d want it. Whatever you like.”

No, not everyone was. But his father had been a prince for times of war and that made him harder. The people had needed a prince for peace and plenty and that at least he could give them.

"And your own birthday? It seems I do not even know when it is?"

Llewellyn supposed this was a natural line of conversation, speaking of birthdays and all. But since he’d only just realized he forgot about his birthday himself, he hesitated for a moment. His brow wrinkled lightly as if he was trying to double check to make sure he wasn’t mistaken himself before he answered.

But it was May based on the festival announcement, and the twentieth had come and gone whether he noticed it or not. “Uhh… Well, since the calendar here seems to fall the same as what I’m used to, I suppose it was this month on the twentieth?”

Rhy stares at his lover and frowns.

"You denied me a chance to spoil you dear."

Granted, he had hardly the coin to do more for the man.

Llewellyn winced a little at Rhy’s frown. Yes, he had to admit that it would seem that way… “It wasn’t that I wanted to deny you that, love. Though I would argue that I needn’t be spoiled, I’m quite happy just to have you near.” He responded a moment later, rubbing the back of his neck a bit sheepishly. “I confess that I forgot it myself?” Lowering his arm he shook his head a little. “I haven’t had a reason to celebrate in recent years, so I suppose I’ve just… sort of neglected it myself.”

That sounded a little sad, Llewellyn. Glancing away for a moment, he let out a small breath. “If it helps, spending the day here with you and looking at the variety we have to choose from is as much a gift as I could ask for?”

Oh. Oh no!

"Then I shall find a way to make it more celebratory next year," Rhy promised, his voice soft. "I will not let you neglect yourself anymore either."

Because that was what a husband did. Took care of their partner.

"Well, I shall consider it a gift then."

Llewellyn’s brows knit a slightly, a gentle squeeze to his husband’s arm at the quiet promise. He would let Rhy do so when the time came... He was learning to do that as much as he was learning that there was more to do in life than focus on casework. So used to taking care of other people, not really used to being taken care of.. It was new. “Next time then, we’ll both make sure each of us has a good day when they each come around.”

But for now, this was a lovely gift. “Then thank you, we’ll enjoy today together. Come and help me pick out something for the apartment? Then we’ll get something to eat and visit the park?” Llewellyn was rather eager to show his husband that there were, indeed, pretzels here now. While he was still being rather careful with what he was earning now, today seemed like a nice opportunity to enjoy themselves… at least a little.

"Sounds like a plan, my dear," Rhy agreed, smiling to himself. He looped his arm with Llewellyn's and leaned against his older love.

"Yes, we should do all of that. What sort of thing? Flowers? Could be lovely. And of course we'll try what we can of food."

Feeling Rhy lean against him, he lowered his head to press a small kiss to his husband’s cheek, glad they had come to an agreement.

With that, he hummed a little. “I was thinking something to brighten things a bit. A flower, or some sort of plant we might keep together. I’d love your input, since we share the space.” He moved along lightly, eyes drifting with interest to the selections. “I’ve even seen these… small trees that can be grown and shaped indoors, called bonsai?”

"I've never kept a plant," Rhy admitted. He didn't know what would survive his failure of familiarity with it. "I'm presuming roses don't grow in pots. But a small tree could be interesting."

When he sees the little selection of pre-started plants, he pulled his partner toward it.

“Neither have I, but I’ve been learning a lot at Aerith’s garden to go with my reading? I think it shouldn’t be too difficult, and it would add some life to our home.” He responded with a small smile. “Mm… and believe it or not, I’ve seen small roses kept inside? Mrs. Newsome, a woman I met once or twice in my world, was a rosarian. The odd time I was to the Newsome estate for a case they did have smaller roses indoors.” Ruth was a very… interesting person. Sometimes a bit hard to take in large doses, but smarter than people gave her credit for. “I believe one of the key points is that they need a lot of sunlight, so perhaps we could keep a miniature rose bush on the windowsill?”

Llewellyn let Rhy draw him towards the pre-started plants with a curious hum, eyes darting around the selection with interest. His free hand reaching out to delicately fuss with the leaf of a small begonia, all the while keeping an eye out for both a small miniature rose bush to show his husband and the small trees he mentioned earlier.

"Rosarian, I don't know that word. Do you mean to say someone who keeps roses? How interesting, that it would be a term," Rhy mused. "We had a whole rose hall, and the scent was so beautiful."

Yes, he thought he could work with something small like the little begonia. It looked so pretty, so flashing with color.

"We should get this, if there is no little rose."

“That is precisely what it means.” He responded with a grin. “A lot of different varieties have been cultivated in recent years, sometimes they even hold shows to compare them.”

A brow rose, curiosity piqued as he tried to imagine an entire hall of roses. “A whole hall…? That does sound beautiful. I’m sure that would be a lovely place to walk through.” Llewellyn would have loved to see something like that… The gardens would have to do here, though the one he’d found himself working at was quite a wondrous sight.

“You like it, love?” Llewellyn responded with interest, picking up the small potted plant to inspect a little more closely. It might be a good place to start for more practice, and its red blooms were rather vibrant. Then he might be able to spend a little more time working on roses for his husband to surprise him with one day.

Edited (Typos) 2021-06-07 18:06 (UTC)

Shows? To showcase and compare roses? That seemed silly.

"The rose hall wasn't FILLED with Roses, but a rose motif, with roses outside too."

He does like it. Rhy leans in to look at the red flowers. What could he say, he loved red.

The things people in his world tended to entertain themselves with could be rather silly, especially the rich and privileged. He hummed a little at the explanation, “Oh…” He mumbled, feeling a little silly at the realization. “I suppose that would uh— make more sense. Still sounds nice, of course.”

Rubbing the back of his neck, he turned his attention back to the flowers. Rhy’s preference for red was hard to miss. “In that case… I think this is a lovely choice, and a nice place to start with bringing a little colour to our new home. We can mm… Build from there, once I see how well I handle an indoor plant.” He added, handing the plant to the person attending the stall and rummaging through a jacket pocket for his money.

Yes, a shallow little man he was, taken in by tokens that reminded him of home. No matter how much he insisted that he need not live in the shadow of House Maresh, Rhy could no more take himself from it than a horse might live without their hooves. No, he would always have this predilection in him, and Llewellyn was adjusting to it nicely.

"Well, we'll be handling it together, will we not?"

Llewellyn might not describe it his husband as shallow. There was more depth there than he was sure the man realized at times, more to him than the ‘House Maresh,’ his preferences and his past. Llewellyn knew shallow people of stature and power, and Rhy hardly compared to them in the ways that mattered. Yes, red was the family colour, but it also suited his husband and there was something to be said for knowing what you liked.

Certainly, Llewellyn had his own habits and preferences as much as Rhy did.

He smiled though finding the portion of his savings he’d brought with him for the festivities and paid for the plant as he answered. “We will. As long as you want to, that is? I think it would be nice to share…” He turned, holding the small plant carefully once his money had been tucked away again.

Edited (Don’t mind me, I miss read part of the tag. This is why I should not tag when I should be sleeping. I’m sorry! ;A;) 2021-06-10 05:55 (UTC)

"I want this," Rhy insisted. All he wanted was to share whatever he could get with his beloved. And his beloved was most definitely capable of helping him find wonderful, sweet, exciting things to see, he thought. And to learn. Plants? That was not something he had learned before.

The confirmation that Rhy wanted it was enough for him. A happy smile crossing his face at his husband’s words. “Then we’ll take care of this new little plant together, love. I can share with you what I learn as we go… Maybe see if we can’t work up to other plants as well.” He added, looking forward to it. A small part of him wondered if one day they found a place to live outside the apartment buildings he could start a garden, maybe grow proper rose bushes and other things… But rather than get too ahead of himself, he focused on the here and now.

“Now, why don’t I get us a snack and we can see this park we’ve been wanting to walk through, hm?” He asked, wanting to share more of the festivities with his husband. “I think I even heard something about there being ducks.”

"Yes," Rhy agreed, smiling and pulling his lover closer. "I think I want a savory treat this time. And something we can feed ducks if they are truly around."

Ducks sounds lovely.

Letting Rhy pull him closer, he leaned in close and enjoy the nearness as they walked. “I do believe I can manage both of these things. I’m pretty sure I even saw a pretzel stand earlier.” He smiled softly. Yes, he wouldn’t mind feeding the ducks with his husband. It would be a nice way to pass the time… “It’s been quite some time since I had a chance to. I always used to feed the ducks back in my world if I was having lunch at the park.”

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