The Festival of Lifae

Alfonse frowned, eyes narrowing as Charlie began to act in a...most peculiar manner. The girl was looking off in confusion, as though she had seen something unusual. The blunet's eyes followed, but not much could be discerned with all the crowds bustling about, obscuring the view of any particular individuals. She was sure she had seen something though, a familiar sense of foreboding hung in the air. She could almost taste the anxiety that fluttered within her, threatening to emerge - but it was only a moment's sensation, swiftly replaced by the calm of the moment before.

Once more, Alfonse looked to her date. She chuckled lightly at her comment - it could well be that the people were only coming for the lower prices. It would be a most efficient way to purchase one's goods, wouldn't it? And to her, I'm a vagabond...so perhaps that's a good excuse for me, too. she considered, choosing her words carefully. "Seems you caught on. I won't deny that's part of why I'm here -- though I swear it's also for the sake of an enjoyable festivity."

She felt her arm tugged as Charlie began excitedly dragging her along, in the direction of several tanks, already surrounded by a number of people. Alfonse cocked an eyebrow in surprise. "Certainly haven't seen an event like this before. This will be interesting." She scratched at her chin curiously. "I don't suppose you've participated in such an event before, have you?" he asked Charlie, genuinely interested. It seemed like such an obscure sport - it would be quite an interesting detail if she had experience with something like this. She was an unusual young woman, after all. She wouldn't put it past the beastwoman, not at all.

---

Ah, festivities...and so close to his home, too. ...Well, not horridly far, at least. A small grin lit the redhead's features as he sauntered into the crowd, ukulele strapped over his shoulder and frighteningly-bright attire catching the eye of many a passer-by. It certainly wasn't formal getup by any stretch - he could very well be regarded as some form of rebel by the others. Not that he minded either way; he was getting attention, that was all that really mattered. After all - what was a musician without an audience? This was a great night to earn a little keep for himself and his beloved. Hard as he tried not to, he still couldn't resist the odd wink here and there to the passing ladies. I love my fiance, besides what's the harm in a little flirting? He didn't think it was bad. Though, for her sake, he was trying to break the habit - a seriously hard task, especially for a musician. It just attracted women for some reason.

Looking around, Fayn saw a fairly open space near to the dancing area. He would use that as his venue; playing near the other musicians would probably obstruct their performance, and from one musical artist to another....he had to at least lend the courtesy of not interrupting or overpowering their melodies. No, he would perform a safe distance away. The redhead approached his venue, eyeing and motioning for anyone he passed by to come join him. From his left jacket pocket, he pulled out an empty jar, and set it down next to him. People could toss coins in there if they felt his performance was worth it -- something he sincerely hoped would happen. He pulled the ukulele from his shoulder, letting it settle comfortably in his hands as he began to start a lazy strum, beginning a simple tune. It started slow, quiet, even as he began to sing.

" am the fountain of affection
I'm the instrument of joy
And to keep the good times rolling
I'm the boy, I'm the boy,
You know the world could be our oyster,
You just put your trust in me,
Cause we'll keep the good times rolling
Wait and see, wait and see....oh wait and see!"

With that last lyric, his strumming grew faster and faster, even as he continued to sing. It was a great song to start with - something lively and fun for a festival like this. I wonder if anyone will come pay me a visit. he thought, doing his best to draw attention to his performance. Oh, who am I kidding. Nobody would pass up the chance to pay attention to me~

Amazing.

The view was almost enough to keep Fayt from feeling as angry and hurt as he had when he had been arguing with Wynter and Holly. At least Briar hadn't tried to say anything else. He probably wouldn't have been able to take that. He was going to have to apologize, eventually, but he really didn't feel like doing that at the moment. Would he later? Most certainly, it was practically a part of his chemical makeup. But he could afford to be petty for at least a little while.

When they landed, it didn't escape Fayt's notice that Lycoris didn't release his hand; honestly, he was just grateful to have the anchor to something a bit more solid. Tugging her gently, he moved to the edge of the stream to sit down and found a stick to disrupt the flow of the water. "...Holly and I aren't actually related to the Shea family. I mean, that's why our last name is Devanti."

He kept his gaze on the water as he spoke, mostly because he didn't really want to see that his words were boring her and he kind of felt the need to talk about it at the moment. "I barely remember when we were adopted, since I was about... three at the time, but Holly was an infant and doesn't remember anything different. Dad says that our parents were killed back during the war. My biological father was a blacksmith and my mother was a florist, so I've always had an interest in both of those things... and I took up smithing because I figured my real dad would probably have wanted me to follow him if he'd lived. ...anyway, my sister and I were always really close. It's not like the Shea family aren't... you know, family to us, but..."

He sighed and dropped the stick to raise his hand and rub his forehead. "She used to tell me everything, no matter what it was. I told her everything, too, because we were the only blood we had. I've known she and Wynter have had their eyes on each other for a long time, and... god, no, I've never approved of it, but what the hell am I going to say? Tell her she can't do it? I'm her brother, not her father, and apparently just wanting to know what's going on with her is trying to run her life. I don't want to chase her off permanently and she's as stubborn as I am. I mean, sure, they're not related by blood and there's nothing technically incestuous about it but they're still..." Fayt laughed weakly then, returning his gaze to the water.

"If they want to date, whatever. There's nothing I can say to stop it and if I show anything but the utmost, open-armed support for it... well, you saw what happens. But my problem is this clearly wasn't a first-time thing, which means that the two of them have been going behind my back and didn't trust me enough to even mention it to me. What did they think, that I was never going to find out about it? That I'm too stupid to ever realize it?"

"It is more likely that that did not think that far ahead yet." The princess remained silent until the end of Fayt's spill, watching the water and taking it all in. She let out a small sigh and let her eyes slip shut. "Matters of the heart are a tricky thing. It blinds those involved to others outside of the little bubble of happiness that forms. Things that should be done and said fall to the wayside in wake of that new found bliss. If, on chance, this is a new development between the two of them, then there is also a chance they just had not found the words to say to you yet, and did not expect you to attend this festival. Either that or they are clever and wanted you to see them together here, thus gauging your reaction to their new union in a public manner."

She squeezed the hand she was still holding before releasing it in order to push up off the ground. Lycoris took a few steps into the stream, ignoring that her dress got wet in the process, and turned to face Fayt slowly. She crouched down a little and rested one hand on the top of his head to pat it a few times. "As painful as this may be at the moment, neither of them were most likely factoring you in at all, if this is indeed something new. They might have been enjoying themselves while trying to find out when they wanted to tell you. That sort of thing would be a difficult conversation to bring up, I imagine. On the other hand, you are right that this might have been going on for awhile, and now is just when they got caught finally. Either way... it doesn't change the fact that you and the two of them, especially your blood kin, will need to sit down and sort this out eventually."

Lycoris continued to pat Fayt's head as she spoke, though it had become more of a petting motion over time. "Family is not defined as the bond between blood. The people who raised you are family, just as the two of them are family. If they care for one another in a way that goes beyond familiar ties, that is something that you will need to come to terms with. It may not be an easy thing, but all you can do is give them your support. ...that said, it also gives you the right to give one of those big brother speeches to your little sister's new boyfriend, so you can find some pleasure and comfort in that. A punch to the face does wonders as well."

A soft, pleased hum escaped her throat and she retracted her hand. Thoughtfully, she tapped her cheek with her hand. "...if you would like to make them worry for a bit and give things time to calm down, would you like to come to Meridell with Xara and I? Adell's mind might be eased more if there is a man in our company. Or, if not Meridell, perhaps Volos with Adell himself."

tagged: alfonse

With childish enthusiasm laced within her steps, Charlie trotted to the stall. "No, not really. But I have watched others play this game," She murmured absentmindedly as she peered into a tank that housed a school of golden fish. Prior, she had borne witness to the antics of excited children as they attempted catch the little creatures. The game itself was simple, consisting of a player scooping said fish with a paper net. But it was harder than it sounded, due to the fragility of the nets. "Have you?" Would a part-merfolk man approve of this game? It appeared so, seeing as Alfonse was yet to voice any protests.

After paying several coins, Charlie was given two paper fishing nets and two wooden bowls, one of each were handed to her friend. She bent down and thus began the game.

As soon as the edge of her net broke the surface of the water, the fish immediately gave it a wide berth and dispersed to regroup elsewhere. With a look of concentration, Charlie followed a wandering fish until it was cornered by the edge of the tank without any means of escape. Triumphant, the beastwoman dipped her paper net underneath the water with the intention of catching the fish from underneath and she was ready to pass her prize into her bowl... until the frail paper broke. The frightened fish swam as fast as its tiny fins could allow and it returned to the safety of its school.

Out of habit, Charlie swore underneath her breath as she sat back to observe Alfonse's progress.

264 words | herp derp

made by CAPTAIN of GANGNAM STYLE; edited

HERE I SIT UPON THE INVISIBLE THRONE

TAG w/ Maelynn Brooke + NOTES:

Were she any other person, capable of feeling, she probably would not have accepted the items handed to her, and rather would simply watch. She was of kin to the merfolk, and while eating fish was quite a natural task for them, using them for a game such as this was not quite the way of their kind. She could almost see it, how her parents would stare aghast at her for this. But, didn't that make it more enjoyable? Getting on others' nerves...yes that was most entertaining. And, in truth, she was born of a human and as such was one. Even if she did have the capacity to feel guilt, it would not come forth for this...relatively innocent game.

"No, certainly I have not. I don't often play games like these - but then, it's considered more fun when you play with companions, so I shall enjoy this. Though, I warn you, I will probably win. I have...natural talents." Truth or not, she didn't actually know; true she acquired the iconic pastel-coloured hair that merfolk possessed, but did she actually obtain their hunting ability? ....Probably not. She was biologically human -- which most likely meant that her statement was a lie. An innocent one, though.

Alfonse looked on as Charlie went about cornering a fish. Definitely not a bad tactic...force it into a corner and snatch it up in the netting. Though, it wasn't enough in the long run; the water quickly dampened the paper, causing the material to soak and tear from the accumulation of water in its veins. As the paper tore, a faint but audible profanity was spoken from the beastwoman, and Alfonse smirked. Yes, Charlie was a fantastic experience; all her bubbling emotion came out of her in waves, immersing all around her in the fierce attitude she projected. It was a welcome opposition to Alfonse, the cool-hearted.

"It was close. But....now, let me see if I can make true my earlier claims..."

The blunet stood by the tank, watching the fish as they went about in their cage. She knew now that she couldn't spend much time with the net in the water - it had to be for just a moment's time. That meant the fish should be closer to the surface for it to work. Alfonse waited, watching, barely spending a moment's time to blink. All concentration was on the fish. When she acted, it was fast and sudden - the net went in, lingered in the water for a moment, then snapped back up and out. While the paper didn't tear immediately, it didn't take long; the thin paper gave way as the net made it half-way out of the water, and the fish dropped back into its home, darting away towards the larger cluster. Once again, a failure. These games really are unwinnable, aren't they? I suppose I must admire such people for thieving so much gold wth the law on their side. Though I was not the one who paid for it, so I am none the worse off. she thought.

The blunet chuckled and turned back towards her companion. "Looks as though I'm no better than you, doesn't it." She scratched her head, feigning awkwardness. "Care to try again, or would you like to go elsewhere?"

---

As expected, people started crowding almost immediately. Some just looked up from their conversations, while others came over and started up a chain of excitement and dancing. Even as he continued to play, he eyed his current catch. Among them were some...slightly wealthy-looking folk. That was a start, at least; perhaps one or two of them would give thanks for his performance most generously. Though for that to happen, he would really need to excite the crowd. He picked up the pace just so, and began to dance his way about, mingling with his little audience.

Had he attempted to do so fifty or so years ago, he probably would either have stumbled on the words or physically stumbled into something. Singing, playing an instrument and prancing around with the audience wasn't as easy as it looked; he used to spend a fair amount of time practicing with his family, until he finally figured out how to time his footwork directly with both the instrument and his voice. Even though he had his eyes on the audience, his mind was totally focused inward -- or, rather, downward -- on his feet, on the feel as he touched ground with one foot and lifted the other, on every second in a twirl...every little twitch of a muscle was carefully being calculated and mentally observed.

Now if only I could be this controlled with everything else. he thought, trying hard not to smirk at his own failings. Right now he was awesome, so he didn't need to think about anything else. Just focus on the steps. Because damn this song was a workout. Thank heaven it ended finally though. Now all he had to do was keep up the tune. At this point people were listening; he didn't need to impress with lyrics, just the playing. That made dancing a hell of a lot easier, too, since he didn't have to worry about running out of breath from moving around. He'd keep this song going for a while and then...well....figure out what next.

Maybe I'll invite the audience to play or sing with me. That could be fun. he thought, making another pass by the chain. "Keep them coming, guys! Let's see how long we can make this chain!" he shouted, quite enthused. If I break the record audience size, I'll have something to brag about when I get back home. ...Well, if I have a voice by then.