The Festival of Flowers

[ateratmods]

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

Comments

[gadaboutdetective]

Llewellyn blinked, head tilting slightly at Rhy as he moved along to select things and offer payment. “They are, yes, but there are also wild geese that aren’t? Mm… There were several kinds that could be found in Toronto? There was a recent conservation effort to reintroduce and uh- try to bring back the numbers of those that’s numbers had dwindled.”

Some might joke or offer some skepticism over the idea that someone had never seen a live duck before, but Llewellyn had a pretty good idea of why that would be. Instead, he was just happy to share these new little things with Rhy, more than glad to teach something himself. Turning back to his husband and offering him a pretzel and to take the plant for him again, he continued. “Ducks look a lot like they do in books? Well… as long as the artist’s rendition of them is good.”

Scratching at the side of his cheek lightly, he hummed a little. “In Toronto we had a lot of mallards and wood ducks, and a few others but those were the main ones I remember waddling around or bobbing in the waters.” A small grin crossing his face, he nudged the other in the direction of the park. “But you’ll see for yourself soon enough, love.”

[unbreakable_king]

"Which ones are mallards and wood ducks?" Rhy asked, letting himself be nudged forward. He's very intrigued and eager to see these creatures.

Strange, how he'd never considered himself sheltered until his lover had started to teach him new things.

[gadaboutdetective]

Llewellyn would point out that there were things he'd learned from Rhy as well, it was almost odd to think of what one had experience with vs what the other did not. Somehow... It worked well for them. "Mallards have uh... green, smoothly feathered heads with a white ring around their neck. Wood ducks on the other hand..." He gestured a little, as if trying to work out how to describe them. "I always thought they looked rather fancier. They have almost an odd swoop of feathers on their heads, and their markings are more distinctive. Almost patterned?"

"I think I'd say one looks like he's dressed for a stroll and the other like he's prepared for a formal event." Llewellyn added, with a little grin. Yes, he thinks that sounds humorous. With the park soon spread out before him, the detective lets out a longer breath. Really, he loved how familiar it felt. The park had been a haunt of his since childhood, and even in adulthood it had become an 'office' when he wasn't welcome at Station house 1.

He always breathed easier when he was walking through one. He even straightened his slouch a little, drawing Rhy along towards the water. "You'll have to tell me what you think, of course. Perhaps you'd describe them differently." He added, as the sounds of waterfowl could be heard as the water came into view.

[unbreakable_king]

Well those are interesting descriptions. "So they are you and I?"

Because Rhy loved wearing things that screamed of formality, while Llewellyn wore more comfortable clothing.

[gadaboutdetective]

Llewellyn’s head tilted a little at him as he spoke, a smile tugging at his lips. “Like us…” He considered it for a moment before a light, soft laugh escaped him. “I suppose that’s not a bad comparison.” He responded with a fond tone. It was silly but he rather liked it.

His steps slowing as they arrived at the waterside, Llewellyn nodded to the water where a variety of ducks were already swimming around and quacking away. Some bobbing along the surface while others seemed to be ducking into the water with their little tail-feathers in the air. “But here we are, and there they are.” he added, holding the bag of seed out and giving it a little shake for Rhy to take some as the birds seemed to have an idea already of what was going on as much ducks that lived in a park tended to.

[unbreakable_king]

Not a bad comparison huh? Rhy grins because he likes the idea of it. "So I can call you my... well, once I figure out which one is more comfortable, I'll call you that?"

He intends to absolutely live with that. He hoped Llewellyn enjoys being called his little mallard.

With a smile he offeres his hands out to his husband. He wanted some seed to spread it for the creatures.

[gadaboutdetective]

Llewellyn hadn’t expected that at all, but a delighted expression crossed his face at the thought. It was different… But kind of endearing in a way that Rhy seemed taken with the idea. “If you want? I don’t think I’d be opposed to it.” He responded with a grin.

Rhy calling him things, little pet names or endearments… It was nice. Most people in his world had always defaulted to his last name, and while he wasn’t fussy, it was still nice to hear his name or other sweet things for reasons other than ‘it’s just easier.’ 

At the offered hands, he opened the bag and shook out some of the feed for Rhy to spread. “You just need to toss it a little ways and they’ll come for it. I’m… pretty sure they’re already aware that they’re about to be fed.” He added, as some of the ducks had already begun moving closer expectantly.

[unbreakable_king]

"They do seem to be approaching quite rapidly. You will tell me which are Mallards and which are wood ducks?"

With the ducks getting closer and closer Rhy flung his hands forward to scatter the seed into the nearby grass. Into the water would be rude.

[gadaboutdetective]

The ducks seemed to stir up a bit of a fuss, quacks and flutters as they moved in with quick steps to begin gobbling up the seed from the grass with their beaks. Llewellyn couldn’t help but smile a little, raising a hand to point at the little green headed ducks, “This little fellow is a mallard, the one with the green feathered head?”

He waited, watching Rhy out of the corner of his eye to make sure his husband had followed his gesture before he looked around for signs of a wood duck. “He’s quite different from this one over here, the one with red eyes. That one is a wood duck. It’s markings and patterns are more uh- fancy and distinctive by comparison… a few more colours too.”

[unbreakable_king]

Was it wrong that Rhy wanted to reach out and touch the ducks? Probably. As he looked from one duck to the other at his husband's prompting, he considered them.

"The mallard is more like you I would think. Though calling you my wood duck is far more fetching."

[gadaboutdetective]

The ducks might be a little more interested in nibbling on his hand if they thought he was offering more food as it was, so busy and intent on their meals.

“I suppose it is. The colours are a little like one of my suits…” Llewellyn chuckled lightly, a small flush on his cheeks at the silliness of the idea. It was just terribly sweet and amusing as his husband continued. He liked it, the levity and the lightness for a change.

[unbreakable_king]

With that Rhy moved in close and whispered in his husband's ear.

"My little wood duck."

[gadaboutdetective]

At his husband’s hushed tone in his ear (which he’d definitely liked) his flush only deepened, and he accidentally tipped over the bag in his hand to dump some more duck food on the ground in distraction. Rhy, your husband is clumsy! Rubbing at a warm cheek, he glanced sidelong at the man. “I certainly am yours.”

The ducks appreciated it though, so that was wonderful.

[unbreakable_king]

Clumsy in the best way, and now there were ducks swarming their feet. Rhy just laughed in delight.

"Well, that's for the best. I dont' know that you'd manage so well without me."

[gadaboutdetective]

Embarrassment or not, he couldn’t help the small infectious laugh that escaped him at Rhy’s delight. The ducks undisturbed by the sound as they moved about, their beaks nudging at shoes to get at the seed waiting for them. Alright, it had been an accident, but now at least Rhy got to see their feathered friends a little closer.

The comment gets another small laugh. “Oh, I can assure you I was quite the disaster without you to keep me grounded.” That was conveyed lightheartedly, but it also wasn’t entirely different from the truth.

[unbreakable_king]

They truly were lovely little friends, were they not? Rhy smiled at the way the little feathered bodies moved and nibbled at things, including his pants leg.

"You're no disaster, you're a delight."

[gadaboutdetective]

“And you are too good to me, dear.” Llewellyn responded, pressing a small kiss to the other’s cheek. His attention on their little feathered friends was really something, it made him wonder what else he could show his love that he would enjoy. “I think that one has decided it likes your choice in fashion.” He added, gesturing to one that was nibbling away.

[unbreakable_king]

Rhy looked down and jerked his pant leg back. How horrid. And he didn't like that at all.

"What a silly little creature. It's not that tasty."

[gadaboutdetective]

He stifled a little chuckle, a playful rise of his brow at his husband. “Mm… I don’t know, Rhy. Perhaps your good taste in clothing is more literal than we could know.” Llewellyn was of course making one of his rarer attempts at a joke, but he can’t help it. The atmosphere, their moods, it seemed fitting to make the attempt. 

The duck at least seemed deterred for the moment, quaking up at Rhy as though vaguely offended before it waddled over for some seed. So at least he’d have peace for the moment.

[unbreakable_king]

Good taste in... Rhy has to laugh there because it's so silly and wonderful to hear it put like that. He even leans against his husband a bit as he laughs.

"Maybe you're in bad taste."

[gadaboutdetective]

He tugged the other in close as he leaned against him, pressing a little kiss to his cheek. There really was nothing he loved more than to hear that laugh, and he smiled impishly at the comment. “Am I? You’ve never told me. That seems like something I should be made aware of. However would you put up with me if I was?”

[unbreakable_king]

"I'm good at creating good taste," Rhy laughed. "So give me time and you will be better."

[gadaboutdetective]

“Ah, so I’m a project? A work in progress.” He responded with a little chuckle, nudging the other lightly. “Well, you have proven to be quite capable and I’ve… enjoyed trusting myself in your hands.” Llewellyn hummed before looking down at the ducks again. This was good, lovely, and he was glad for this day. That they could share it and do so happily and freely was something he would cherish.

[unbreakable_king]

"I'm a king, beloved. My job is always to improve the lot of those around me. Otherwise I fail my duty."

Though he did try to hide that now. Maybe he could jsut focus on improving himself and his husband. For their own sake.

"Shall we find somewhere to sit and feed the ducks more?"

[gadaboutdetective]

“Well, as far as I can see? It is a job you’ve been doing well with me.” He responded with a soft smile. Llewellyn knew his husband was keeping his old life to himself here, and he respected the decision. They had too much of their private lives spread about in the last world they lived, and if Rhy wanted to do things differently here, then he would support that. As it was, his husband encouraged him to try to pursue things he wanted when needed it in return.

It was new, but nice… He nodded a moment later. “We shall. I think I saw some benches nearby, and I get the distinct feeling this flock will follow us for a little while.” The detective added with a little grin, gesturing to the hoard still gobbling up the seed he had dropped.