Summer was drawing closer and closer and the different villages around Tendaji were beginning to plan their summer festivals. It was a tradition in Tendaji - to celebrate the Gods every year in the summer when spirits were high and food was at its most abundant.
All the races had their own gods to celebrate, whatever those might have been, and every person had their own feelings one way or the other. [ What did they mean to you? With the summer fast approaching, it must be somewhere (no matter how small) on everyone’s thoughts. And what are your thoughts on the other culture’s gods? ]
Merry music and savory scents filled the air, marking the festival reaching its evening peak. Everyone outside of the apartment was laughing, eating, and having fun.
Inside the apartment, Tacrith sat on his armchair with a book in hand; though he had not turned a page for a while. He had been distracted by the cheer that was coming in through the windows, practically smacking him in the face. At times like this, he could not help his mind wandering back to Yael. They would be having their own celebrations going on just like those outside, except that it would all be different. Yael smells, Yael sounds, Yael worship... Even back there, he would choose the peace of home over the chaos of unrestrained cheerfulness. Even so.. part of him wished he could be there.
Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2021 2:34 pm
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Finn was sitting by the window and practically salivating.
The scarred yaeli was propped up on the ledge, idly braiding his hair as he watched the festival carry on below him. Throngs of people passed under his nose with enough noise to wake the dead, but that wasn't what caught his attention. It was the smells. Even as full as he was Finn couldn't help looking out over the stalls like a feral dog damn near ready to bite the first hand that came his way.
Still, he was getting better with restraint. It was with that logic in mind that he stayed in the apartment at all and not just the fact that he was broke. In his younger years he would have pushed someone to the ground for a honeyed meat stick, or hell, just the stick...
Finn curled one leg under him, his knee stuck outside into the air, while the other stayed inside the apartment for stability. Still, food aside his eyes were bright as he looked out over the festival.
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2021 5:18 pm
Thoughts of Yael eventually faded away, Lurin and Dafiel leaving his mind like ghosts in a fog. He wasn't in Yael. He was in Oba. He was with Finn. Speaking of which... Tac nearly smirked at the younger man practically hanging out the window. At least he hadn't actually climbed out yet. Honestly impressive.
Truly impressive... It had been a long and difficult process, and there was still further to go, but Tac was truly proud of the progress he had seen in his brother... Could he call him brother yet? He closed his book and leaned his head back. Perhaps he should have remained within his thoughts of the old homestead.. Far less complicated. "Were you able to save anything to spend during the festivities?" he asked idly.
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Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 1:16 pm
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"No..." Finn's voice trailed off as his attention was sucked up by a passing couple. They were chatting amicably among each other, laughing as if they hadn't a care in the world, and a basket as heavy as a suckling quhar was held between them. It was positively heaping with a variety of cooked meats, vegetables and sweet bread....For the briefest moment the wind picked up around Finn, lifting the heavy braid from around his shoulders as if it too would lift up the food, but the sorcerer stopped himself.
With an irritated snarl he turned away from the window and looked at Tac instead.
"There wasn't much left after paying for my lessons." And, of course, they both knew where the rest went. "What about you? Why aren't you down there?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 9:19 pm
Tac almost chuckled at the disgruntled reply. It would be a while until the boy had enough money to spend on such frivolous entertainment as was provided by these festivals. "The discipline you are forming now is going to help you greatly in the future when you do have the extra to spend," he encouraged in his own fashion.
One eye cracked open and glanced over to Finn as though with surprise. "I have no need to wander about spending my money on overpriced snacks and trinkets for a handful of gods that I do not worship." He let his eye close again and waved a hand dismissively. "Even without spending a single copper, I would just be jostled about by drunkards and pickpockets and performers who have no concern for my personal space. I don't see how they find it enjoyable."
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Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2021 11:04 am
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"You sound like an old man." Finn groused. To keep his mind off the smells still wafting through the window the younger yaeli slowly pried his braid loose, bit by bit, so he could start over from the beginning.
"What Gods do you worship, then?" The way he'd said it made Finn think he at least thought someone was up there laughing at their plight. "The ones that priest did? Lure something and...." Finn scrunched up his face, thought about it and shook his head. "the other one."
Still, his eyes inevitably found themselves being drawn back down to the street below. From this angle there was a sort of...magic to it that made even Finn's cynical heart curious. "....Is that all it is? Pickpockets and drunks?" There was a shift in his tone, a sort of wistfulness that hadn't been there before, something far younger than the hardened man he presented to the world.
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Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2021 2:45 pm
Tac only sighed. How many times had he heard that one before? What was it going to be like when he actually was an old man? Immortal? Ancient?
The question had him caught oddly off guard. Did he worship anything aside from healing magic and science? Not to mention the reminder of one of the few friends he had left behind on Yael. He was quiet for a long moment, eyes slowly opening to gaze up at the wooden ceiling. There were cobwebs... "Lurin and Dafiel. I never considered myself one to worship gods... but I suppose I've always respected the idea of them. There is zero proof that they have a hand in anything these days," they surely wouldn't have let two small boys be orphaned and separated so horrifically if they did bother watching, right? "but it's not unthinkable to believe they once existed. Their influence brings peace to many. I prefer believing in what I can feel with my own senses."
Is that all? Tac's gaze slid over to the younger man curiously. "Mostly," he replied, lips pursing slightly. "I suppose there wouldn't be the pickpockets without innocents out there to victimize. That must mean that at least some of them are simply enjoying themselves and celebrating their worship.."
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Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2021 3:04 pm
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Finn supposed that made about as much sense as anything. The idea of a deity seemed to bring peace to a lot of people and if that was the one thing they could cling to when life went to hell then how could he blame them?
"It doesn't look any different than regular shopping. Maybe a few more street vendors and extra decorations, but-" All at once a loud boom lit the evening sky in shades of green and blue. Finn clutched the window sill just to make sure he wouldn't fall out. Were they under attack? What was-? Frantically, he looked around at the buildings surrounding them, but no one seemed scared. If anything the Oban citizens were clapping, cheering, even laughing....
And off in the distance, just on top of a few rooftops, he could see a few individuals raising staffs to the sky. A small spark shot off the tip and gradually grew until another great boom brought color to the night sky once again.
When Finn turned back to look at Tac there was genuine excitement pulling on every corner of his face. For possibly the first time in his life he was unabashedly giddy. "Tac, look! The sky's on fire!"
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Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2021 3:39 pm
The book practically flew from his hands when the sudden noise made the very air vibrate around them. Tac groaned and pushed a hand through his hair. "Ah yes, my favorite part. Because the festival doesn't disturb the peace enough as it is," he huffed, setting the book aside.
Yet, when he looked over at Finn's delighted tone, he found himself struck breathless. Finn looked years younger in an instant, and he could suddenly remember the boyish face he had once known; cheeks plump with tended youth and eyes bright with vigor. Finn had been so excited about exploring with their parents, and Tac himself had always looked forward to their trips around Yael. The greatest joy they'd had.. was being able to experience it all together as a family.
Mouth fighting between a smile and a sob, he stood up and stretched his arms over his head to cover his sudden burst of emotion. "Yes, they do delight in settling things ablaze here. It's a bit much, don't you think?" The words might have been his own usual words, but the playful tone was the result of the memories that made his throat lump tightly.
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Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2021 4:27 pm
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Finn turned away from Tac the moment another burst of color consumed the sky. This time it wasn't just one, but a series of them, making the stars themselves look like flowers! He gripped the window sill above him and leaned out as far as he dared, excitement causing him to suck in a sharp breath before crying out with those below him. It was just too amazing not too! He hadn't felt that alive in years!
"No way! I've never seen anything so beautiful in my entire life!" He needed to know what sort of spells they were using so that he could do it himself one day! When he looked back once again, Finn's youthful smile went from cheek to cheek and he shifted over just enough so that Tac would be able to look outside.
"I've never been to a festival before. Anytime they had one in Pajore they would chase me away, but I don't think they were ever like this."
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Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2021 5:07 pm
Once he had managed to take a few steadying breaths, Tac made his way over to the window. He leaned against the frame with his shoulder so that he could have support while looking out at the grand spectacle. Such shows were a nuisance... but they could be considered beautiful in their own way. "You will be able to accomplish that one day. Perhaps they will even pay you to help with future shows once you get the control." A smirk rose easily. "You would fit right in with such a loud performance."
Chased away from festivals... How had such a smile managed to survive a lifetime of pain? He shook his head and felt a chuckle rise up. "Goodness, a display like this in Pajore? Half the town would die from fright. No, they focused more intently on Lurin and Dafiel than anything else."
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 1:16 pm
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"If I stay in Oba. I'm not tied to the Pit anymore so I could leave right now if I wanted to." The simple fact that he hadn't yet was a surprise even to him. It had been Finn's intention all along that once he had enough funds he would go as far North as he could and hide away from everyone. And yet...he hadn't. It wasn't like he couldn't save he just...didn't really see the need to leave right now, is all.
It was almost like hanging out in that window, arm to arm with someone he'd missed out on growing up with, was actually worth it.
Especially when he looked to Tac and saw him actually looking happy for once. "Who are Lurin and Dafiel? What do they do?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 2:53 pm
As much as that statement could have caused him dismay, Tac found it merely bittersweet. Hopefully, this would be the end of places like the Pit for Finn. He could move on with the life he had been wretched from, live comfortably, meet people, and keep learning and growing. He hadn't expected Finn to stick around for as long as he had either.. but he appreciated that it had happened. "You are free to do as you wish," he agreed, pleased smile growing just a hint more, "and I believe you could manage to do it without ending up in the streets again."
He was a little surprised to hear the curiosity about the gods, but he wasn't about to squelch a chance for more learning. "In Yael's faith, they are the light and the dark of life." Pushing away from the window, he walked over to the bookshelf and brushed his fingers over the rows of book bindings until he found the one he was looking for. "In their largest roles, they care for the dead. Lurin watches those with living memories remaining, while Dafiel cares for those with no one left to remember them." He flipped through the pages while walking over to the table, and set the book down with the proper page open. He pointed to the page and glanced over to Finn. "Here it is. Lurin's Land of the Remembered and Dafiel's Land of the Forgotten."
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 3:18 pm
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That seemed to check out. Finn remembered clearly the superstitious lot of Yael that would sometimes toss salt into the road in front of him as if warding off some kind of gremlin. Imagine their dismay when he readily jumped on the chance to lick it off the road because his body desperately needed it.
Turning away from the spectacles outside, the smaller yaeli pulled his leg inside and sat a little more 'properly' on the sill. Gods of the dead. Those who were remembered and those who weren't...it seemed pretty simple, and at one point Finn would have never asked questions but now....Now he had to wonder what category he would fall into. Before now he would have gone with Dafiel, no questions asked, but now, looking at Tac...would Lurin be there? If such a thing as a god even existed...
Rising fully now, he walked over to the table to meet him and looked down at the book. "So, if someone is forgotten after going with Lurin does Dafiel pick them up or-?" He had many more questions that evening, many of which he'd never bothered with before, but this was a new chapter in Finn's life. One where being remembered might actually mean something to him.
