expiationlogs | {Mini Event} Day of Devotion

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{Mini Event} Day of Devotion

DAY OF DEVOTION

This is an entirely opt-in very casual event that has nothing to do with overarching storyline and is just an additional introductory log, and a means for characters to meet. We hope you've all had a very happy Valentine's Day week however you've chosen to spend it!

SCARVES OF LOVE

The season of affection and love of all kinds falls upon Aldrip in the wake of their festivities for Those Who Were There. As part of the celebration, what's referred to as the 'Day of Devotion,' local merchants carry a variety of wares, but none so coveted as their multicoloured scarves available in a variety of prints, designs, and fabrics. Perhaps consider picking one up and giving it to someone who's important to you. No money? No problem! Whilst Aldrip doesn't exactly work on a layaway system or akin to, you'll find the mercantile business owners are quite open to trades and other means of bartering. Maybe they'll give out a scarf or two in agreement for running some errands...

Lucky recipients of these very fashionable scarves will find themselves suspiciously open to sharing positive, warm and fuzzy, or perhaps downright amorous feelings toward the person who gifted them the scarf to begin with, regardless of whether you've known them for years or even just a couple of weeks. But don't worry—the feelings are temporary! Once the Day of Devotion comes to a natural conclusion, your feelings will return to something like normalcy and you'll still wind up with a new fashion accessory. Of course, if you've always been amorous with that special someone, you likely won't notice any sort of change.

Take the opportunity to embrace the celebration, maybe embrace one another a little bit, too, and begin forming some potentially everlasting bonds with others.

BRING PROTECTION

Not everyone is choosing to celebrate the Day of Devotion in the same way. Due to the heightened popularity of the pretty scarves, some of Aldrip's jewellers have been bitten by the green bug of jealousy. In an attempt to compete with the sales of scarves, jewellers are advertising pendants, brooches, and other assorted charms that are meant to serve as warding and protective trinkets. What are they protecting one from? It's difficult to say and the merchants aren't inclined to give a straight answer. But whether you need protection from love, personal feelings, or perhaps something more physical, they've got you covered!

If you choose to give these amulets to others, recipients of them and their related will be compelled to share their true feelings with those around them in addition to the person who gave them the protective charms. This sounds like it could be a good thing, however, that means it covers the array of positive, negative, and every shade in between, without a filter in place. Consider these accessories a potential test of friendships, familial relationships, and more.

Like the scarves, this need and desire to be truthful with your feelings will be temporary, lasting until the Day of Devotion celebration is over. But at least you'll be protected. From something. Maybe. Probably. Or not!

FLOWERS FOR ALDRIP

By now, you may be well familiar with Aldrip's variety of fields that are filled with vegetables and fruits that grace the dinner tables of the town and local cuisine. During the Day of Devotion and weeks leading up to it, you'll find that they're clearing another field and preparing the soil. What for, you won't find out until the actual day of the celebration. Once it arrives, there's a collection of simple carts filled with flowering plants. Locals and newly-arrived alike are welcome to lend a hand in planting them along the neatly tilled rows.

You may find plants that resemble or are identical to plants from your home world. You may find plants that you've never seen in your life. They come in a variety of colours and are accompanied by a lightly pleasing scent that shouldn't be too overpowering, though may still disturb those with allergies.

All who help out with the planting, watering, and other tending, will be rewarded with a bouquet of flowers that can be passed onto others to show your appreciation and other forms of affection. You may even find yourself making a good and lasting impression on the locals by offering some assistance.

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[ Mizuki grins. She's at least paying enough attention that all of her flowers are watered, though she really isn't sure whether there's a proper way to do this or anything. Once she's satisfied, the watering can only seems to be about three-quarters of the way full. ]

Well, it does get easier... [ She trails off, wondering if she should brag and mention her Super Strength, but then she might want to know why she has that and she's not sure she feels like getting into her own tragic backstory today. ] Here, try it now.

[ She offers Aerith the can, which should be considerably lighter. ]

[She'd love to understand how someone who looks a bit delicate like Mizuki makes it seem so easy, but there are plenty of things she hasn't always understood and she can't begin to make assumptions. Looks are deceiving more oft than not and plenty of people underestimate her. The wiser thing to do would be to not underestimate Mizuki.

Instead, she waits until Mizuki offers the watering can back over and she sighs with an audible relief.]

Oh, that's much better, thank you!

[There's not much about Aerith to indicate that she'd be physically strong and she's really not. Her strength and resilience is all mental and emotional. Combine her and Mizuki and they're a power duo.]

If I could carry it when it was full, I wouldn't have to make so many trips back and forth to refill it. But it looks like with you here, I won't have to go that route.

Heh, no prob. [ It's such a small thing, but the sigh of relief and the gratitude feel pretty good. Guess she's really just one of the good guys at heart—she has always wanted to help people. She relaxes her arm once Aerith has the can. ]

I was just about to drop these flowers off at the shop, but I can fill it while I'm there, if you want.

Or if you need a little break, you could come with me.

I'll come with you! Let me finish watering these.

[Without much pomp and circumstance, Aerith gently bends and tips the watering can to the best of her ability to continue right down the line of flowers she's planted. Careful not to do so in excess, but just enough.]

I could definitely use a break. If you hadn't come around, I probably would have overworked myself. I can get really, really carried away with it comes to flowers. I got so excited seeing what they were doing that I couldn't resist throwing myself right into it.

[ As Mizuki watches her, she casually folds her arms—not in any sort of expectant, impatient way, but rather, almost like she feels satisfied. Perhaps she is feeling what the flowers around them are feeling. She has never been one to believe in that sort of thing, but with the water and Aerith's sunny disposition, she definitely thinks they're happy.

Jeez. Maybe Iris is rubbing off on her after all. How strange to think about, given how long it's been since she's seen her. ]

Yeah. Wouldn't say I'm excited, but I guess it's not so bad. I'm getting used to the physical labor, and money is money.

You've seen the coins they use, right?

Oh, you mean—

[Aerith fishes around in the bolero jacket over her shoulders to retrieve exactly one of the peculiar shapes. Doesn't look like any coin she's ever seen before. It's not even a full circle. It's strange, but maybe she can't judge considering she comes from a place where their money is referred to as 'gil.'

A successful piece in hand, she offers it up for them both to look at.]

These, right? I've never seen anything like it before. Think they make them here in the town? You saw the forges and stuff. Or maybe it belongs to who they were celebrating before. Although you can pay for stuff like food with these, it also seems like they just like... trading actions for goods? Makes me wonder if they even need money here.

[ Mizuki nods, and she finds herself walking side-by-side to Aerith, keeping pace nicely. She'll reach into her own pocket and pull out one as well, holding it up against the sun like she's comparing with hers.

They're one and the same. ]

Well, it's convenient for us. Who needs money when your Gods provide everything for you? [ Though with the tone Mizuki uses, she appears to be mocking them. ]

That's true.

[It is convenient for them. She keeps saying it, thinking it, but things could be so much worse than they actually are. Maybe eventually others here will experience something the same. Not identical, but maybe they won't outright hate it.]

Although they do seem to grow and hunt their own food. So maybe not everything is given to them by their gods. Do kind of wish they'd tell us something more about them besides how 'great' they supposedly are.

Right?

[ She'd like to meet these Gods. They seem to deserve a good punch to the face, but for now, it seems they're stuck on the slow path, biding their time and finding out more about Aldrip and its people the hard way.

Eventually, they start making their way back, flowers and empty watering can in hand. After keeping up the chatter for a while longer, the pair find themselves back at the little flower shop, with Mizuki walking in like she owns the place. ]

Yo! We come bearing gifts. [ She'll place her basket of flowers on the countertop. Behind it, a young woman eagerly takes the new stock and invites them both to help. ]

["We come bearing gifts."

She's not sure what it is about the statement, whether it's how to the point it is, or how Mizuki sounds when saying it, but a grin starts to take Aerith's features. In fact, it's a little hard not to laugh, all things considered. Somehow, she pulls it together, and she offers the woman behind the counter the same smile she's been giving to all of the Aldrip locals.

They are probably tired of seeing it at this point.

Aerith sets down the watering can and she looks over to Mizuki with a gentle imploring.]

Do you like flowers? It's okay if you don't, or if you haven't had much experience with them. I'm just curious.

[If she does, maybe Aerith will have to get her some...]

[ Mizuki follows, smiling at Aerith's laughter, though stops when she can see the station they've all set up. Ribbons of various color line the tables as well as plastic sheets, and rubber bands of various size. The flowers they've brought are placed with all the rest, and there seems to have been at least some attempt to sort them all by color. ]

They're pretty! [ She just... doesn't know if they suit her. Sure doesn't feel like they do. ] But so far, today has been the extent of my experiment with them. I don't know the first thing about making a bouquet, either. Sorry to disappoint.

[Aerith grins, not too surprised by Mizuki's admittance. It doesn't seem like experience with flowers is something that's particularly abundant. Not in this world. Certainly not back in Midgar. It's really something else. She won't say it's ignorance, because it likely isn't. For anyone who isn't like her, connected to life in that way, it would be very easy to be complacent.

Maybe Aerith simply feels too much.]

I don't think you're alone in that.

[She's not shy at all by gently tracing fingertips loosely over the flowers that have been gathered.]

I sold flowers back home. Not usually bouquets, but sometimes. A bouquet is all about meaning, so you should pick flowers based on what you're trying to convey to someone. It can be love or friendship, family, loss, or even an apology. There's so many things you can say with just flowers.

[Flowers are incredible, is what she's saying.]

[ Perhaps Mizuki doesn't quite understand what is so incredible about them, but she can clearly hear the reverence in Aerith's voice. She watches as her fingers trace the petals, ever careful and gentle. Flowers say a lot, apparently... She just has to learn to listen.

She closes the distance between them, coming up behind Aerith as she picks a flower from the bunch. A yellow one. ]

There's an iris back home that grows in winter... a purple one. It's supposed to mean "good news and hope." I guess it's a little like that.

[ Different flowers with different meanings... She offers the flower to Aerith, though she has no idea what this particular sunny one might say. ]

What would you say with them?

[Aerith grins over to Mizuki and she nods.]

Exactly. It's just like that.

[Does Mizuki like irises? She has to wonder, though it's an interesting piece of information to file away for later. That she remembers something like it implies that there's some kind of significance to it. Maybe not irises in general, but at least a specific purple type.

The yellow flower she offers to Aerith is rewarded with a smile. Aerith recognises it as a pansy, which is not a relatively common plant to Midgar, but she's seen them in books.]

This one represents optimism and hope. Happiness. The flowers in general are symbolic of free and independent thinking.

[They're a good flower for the situation as a whole, though Aerith wouldn't expect anyone other than herself to know. Maybe that guy from the charm network who was sharing flower meanings with people, though. He sure seems to know a lot about them.]

[ One day, Aerith will get a story about her best friend, who's named after those irises. For now, Mizuki watches her handle the yellow pansy, and thinks that maybe she should have picked more of them. ]

. . . That suits you. [ Iris, too. How funny would it have been if she'd been named something like "Pansy" instead?

There is a quiet snort under her breath at the thought. ]

[Aerith looks flattered at the remark. Mizuki's not wrong, either. Aerith is incredibly full of optimism and hope. Her smile grows and she takes some moments to eye Mizuki.]

How would you describe yourself? Don't be modest, now. And make sure you're nice.

[She has some ideas herself. Mizuki is thoughtful and kind, very proud and very self-sufficient. But she wants to hear her thoughts on this before she says anything.]

[ It doesn't take long for her to realize Aerith is taking this question seriously. The smile fades into something more neutral, thoughtful, and it's just like... being asked what you want for your birthday. Feels like you always have a whole list of things in your head, until someone asks, and suddenly it's all gone. ]

I'm, uh... [ Nice? Sure. Well, she's definitely not modest. She's very proud. ] I mean, you already know I'm strong. Like, I can kick some ass and look cute doing it. But I'm also... just a girl. I go to school, and I gotta worry about homework just like anyone else.

[ On top of her ABIS duties...... Hormones^TM. She sounds a little lonely, before she continues; ]

A rose seems too elegant for me, but maybe something else with thorns. [ If there is such a thing, Aerith would know. Or, she thinks. ]

[Aerith holds a patient smile as she listens, reflecting on just how seriously Mizuki interprets that. There's no right or wrong answer here. There never really is when it comes to assessing one's person. The thing about people is that they are a bit like water, too. They are never one thing. They are never simple. They are never still.

The gears in her head are turning as she considers the kind of flower that she feels might suit Mizuki the best. Something with thorns, but not a rose. And Aerith can understand why a rose might not be the best choice. Mizuki understands that she has growing to do. It's a very mature evaluation.]

Oh, I think I know. I didn't see any of the flowers here, but...

[And that's not a surprise, all things considered. She didn't see any roses, likely for the same reason.]

There's a plant called a bougainvillea. It's kind of like ivy, if you know what that is. They flower and they climb. They have thorns, too. But the flower of the plant signifies the idea of abundance and protection. It can also mean prosperity or represent one's passion for relationships with others. I think that all sounds a bit like you. You're strong, so you can use that strength to protect others and you sure seem to have an abundance of heart. I think if you want to protect others, then you must feel very deeply for those you'd want to guard.

[In short, these plants seem very well-suited for someone like her.]

[ While Mizuki listens, she eventually shuffles in and sits, making herself comfortable. Even the other locals around the table stop to listen to her and seem to appreciate Aerith's expertise. Time feels like it freezes in the room, and by the end, and odd sense of calm and understanding seem to reverberate throughout the room.

Hands start moving again. Plastic starts crinkling as bouquets are wrapped, and the eyes that were on Mizuki avert as everyone goes back to the tasks at hand. ]

Bougainvillea... huh. I'll remember that. [ Said in a tone that suggests he's never really heard of the flower. ] Too bad we didn't see any. Guess this town isn't big enough to have both of us.

[It's a strange thing to have so many people listening to her. In Midgar, she's easily overlooked. Plain and insignificant, which is intentional. Attention tends to be a dangerous thing for her. Having it here, she's not sure yet if she really wants that just yet.

She takes a moment to look around when it seems as though everything returns to something that feels a little more normal. Tilting her head at Mizuki.]

Just because you can't see something doesn't mean it isn't there. Sometimes, you just have to have a little faith. Besides, you're not restricted to one flower. I'm positive there are so many flowers that would fit you.

[ A little faith... It's been more difficult than not to have as of late. Her perceived failure regarding Tearer and Ryuki in particular still weighs on her mind, but maybe Aerith is lifting that somewhat.

Mizuki pulls out a seat, then gestures for Aerith to join her. ]

Well, c'mon, then! Maybe you can teach me a few more. I bet you'd be better at this than I am.

[She doesn't need much more encouragement than that. Aerith settles in the chair that Mizuki pulls out for her. The smile drawn across her face is gentle and warm. It might be easier with a book, but Aerith is a fount of knowledge when it comes to flowers and the related. In time, she'd love to share all of them with Mizuki.]

It's not about being better. [She corrects, her smile growing.] It's just about learning.

[And girl, she's about to learn you.]

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{Mini Event} Day of Devotion

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Can probably wrap this one up here. . .