[OPEN] FLOWER FESTIVAL

[cordibus]

Who: Open Log (All)
Where: Point-à-Tarte
Summary: A festival of flowers.
Warnings: N/A

" Ah... the Festival of Flowers while a dreadful deadline looms! Enjoy what normal life you may have left...soon you may long for the return of these simpler times..."

A week of celebration (General Prompt)

At Point-à-Tarte, at the edge of the largest park in Eddan, booths that have been worked on for the past week are finally being opened to the public. Colorful banners decorate every single tree and and even the dullest of areas are covered up in the most creative of ways.

The booths themselves have everything one could hope in a flower festival, from mountains of flower crowns and necklaces being given to every resident of Eddan for free to the flower-shaped candy to the city-approved businesses touting the latest and greatest of the upcoming flower technology. New flowers, some supposedly glowing under UV light and others made to look like galaxies, are being sold at eye-popping prices.

The food, as always, is delicious and fresh, with early spring greens and even flowers themselves being added to salads. The only negative to the entire festival (if one can call it that) are the giant counters displaying the remaining time before sunset that serve as a reminder of Eddan's strange nature.

Opening Ceremonies (Special Prompt)

Sunday's opening sees the release of over ten thousand 'floating' seeds into the wind, a promise from the city to continue to make Eddan the greenest city in the entire world. Each person coming to the festival is given tulip bulbs in a variety of colors to be taken home.

The mayor takes time to speak about the recent string of murders and assures the people that they city shall continue to be vigilant to make sure that its citizens are kept safe. This is greeted with cheers from most of the population. Even the rainy weather doesn't keep such a happy day down!

An hour before sunset, the opening ceremonies close with a fireworks show. Due to the fact that they must be released only during the day, the explosive components have been changed as to give the night varieties a run for their money.

As the bright lights fill the sky, those soon-to-be-Awakened may have a flash of a memory from their past lives, such as a happy moment they spent with someone close to them or a moment of glory. This will soon be drowned out by ringing in their ears. For a few, brief seconds, they may notice figures close by glow oddly, their forms becoming distorted, but before they realize what has happened, blinking returns their vision to normal.

The headache, however, lingers until bedtime.

Weekly contest (week prompts)

Royal Mount opens its WonderWorld Park to the public on Monday. For its opening week during the festival, the rides are all free.

Green Valley Organizes a flower judging contest for the various schools on Wednesday. Students are asked to present their most beautiful and unique flowers. Flower arrangements are also judged and with prizes evaluated at over 20 000 Macca, the stakes are high!

Eastmount offers rides in flower-shaped carriages driven by mechanical horses that could almost pass off as the real thing. (Though it is only the latest technology, thus keeping the entire thing animal cruelty free!)

The Giant Float Parade on Friday afternoon travels around the vast forest of Point-à-Tarte. Each school has been encouraged to enter its cheerleaders and theater productions into the parade. The Flower King and Queen greet visitors at the very end, throwing little presents for the children.

The festival continues until Saturday Nightfall. The schools visit the festival in turn, sometimes for education courses about the various flowers and trees that dot Eddan's landscape, sometimes to show off flower and plant-based sculptures that the various clubs have worked hard on.

Comments

Ciro Bonavita (Chikusa Kakimoto) - OTA

[kokuyoyo]

A - Throughout the week

[Anyone passing by the GVGC set up will find themselves approached by a very well dressed Ciro, lanky body filling out the server uniform quite well. He's a bit nervous, but.... Still, he tries to smile a bit.]

Can I interest you in a refreshing drink at our cafe today?

B - Wednesday

[Ciro's flower display isn't the most complex thing at the contest- people really go all out for these things- but it is a little more than some people might be expecting. It appears to be some sort of misting system set up overhead.... Early on, he's still carefully putting it together, and he calls to whoever happens to pass by.]

Ah- could you handle me that part over there if you're not too busy?

[Later on, when he's done and everyone's entries are allowed to be seen to the common public before judging, Ciro stands at his display quietly. The simple white flowers that have been arranged don't seem like much.... but only on one half of the display. On the other half, the mister is on, revealing how the pure white petals turn utterly transparent. Anyone who pauses to take a look is treated to a nervous smile by the teen.]

Diphylleia grayi.... But a lot of people have dubbed it the skeleton flower.

[He's not really expecting to win with it- the contest is filled with flowers that are all much flashier than it. But.... He likes this type.]

C - Friday

[After shedding the outer layer of his server uniform and rolling up his sleeves, Ciro has been rushing to help out with the float on his break. No rest for the wicked! Or GVGC members... He's in the middle of arranging some flowers on the float, making sure nothing is out of order, and perks up desperately when he sees someone approaching.]

[Are you just random student investigating? Or called to help by a friend? Actually a relevant club member? Doesn't matter, Ciro can't be assed to tell the difference right now, he is very stressed]

Are you with the theater club?

C

[draculabackwards]

No, I've been roped in to help with the floats so if you need me, just point me in the right direction. [This is what happens when apparently according to his history teachers, it looked like he didn't already have enough to do with schoolwork.]

[kokuyoyo]

[There are a lot of questions here, but Ciro doesn't care about any of them. He has something to do and, god dammit, he's going to do it. He wipes some sweat away from his forehead.]

I need a ladder, a rope, and anything that can be used as a hook.

[Those are sure some instructions.]

[draculabackwards]

[Those are indeed instructions and Adrian does his best to comply in the piles of supplies, flowers and float equipment everywhere. He's strong enough that he can easily carry a ladder with one arm. He also starts grumbling to himself, loud enough for Ciro to hear.]

Of course they give me all the work so they can go try to monopolize Xane Daimon's time.

[kokuyoyo]

[At least Ciro has the decency to hop down from the float when he sees Adrian coming over with everything, aiming to help. Of course, coming closer makes it all the easier to overhear what the other says, and Ciro freezes.]

Xane Daimon's here?

[draculabackwards]

[Adrian sets the supplies down gently before answering the question with surprise.] I'm not entirely sure he is. Just that some people swore he was wandering around the festival and they dumped me with all the work.

Why, are you a fan of his movies?

[kokuyoyo]

[Considering the look full of longing he directs towards the rest of the festival.....]

I- yes. I like them very much. [He fidgets a little, absolutely tormented.] So, it... It was just a rumor, then?

[He can't go running off on a rumor.... He CAN'T go running off on a rumor...]

[draculabackwards]

It's possible it was. Unfortunately I didn't see him with my own eyes so I can't confirm it.

[Adrian smiles a little. The little bit of uncertainty transforms Ciro into a different person.] I liked the one where he's a hitman tormented by his conscience after so many years and decides to save his target instead.

[kokuyoyo]

[Adrian, don't call him out like that, oh my god. Immediately, he looks a bit embarrassed that he was caught in such a fanboy moment.]

That's a good one. But, I definitely like that one thriller he was in... Where he was playing the dark side of someone's conscience, a literal devil on their shoulder, and you couldn't tell if him and the angel were fake or real.

[He starts to go put the ladder near the float.]

I think he really exercised the "affably evil" personality well in that one while still coming off as dark.

[draculabackwards]

He does seem to revel in those roles. If he was actually around and not just a rumor, I'd go get my copy of one of his movies so he'd sign it.

[Perhaps Adrian might just be a little fanboyish as well. It's perfectly natural because COME ON! Xane Daimon!]

[kokuyoyo]

[Immediately, he eases up. Like recognizes and is reassured by like.]

I went to a charity event, once, and I managed to meet him there. I got his autograph. If it could have been more personal, then that would have been great, but.... with everything that was going on...

[Charity work, and all.]

C

[beastfang]

[If Ciro was expecting an actual verbal answer right away he's going to be in for a small weight, because Christopher just carefully drops the box of cut flowers he has next to Ciro. He wasn't even sure how he somehow got roped into this. He had been putting a cart away when he suddenly had a box of brightly colored flowers shoved into his arms and directed towards the general area where the float was being set up.

There may or may not be a couple of unopened bottles of water in there as well, because he technically was supposed to be on a water run for the float volunteers when he got shanghai'd into this and thus one held out to Ciro.]

Unless they're kidnapping random people to bulk up their ranks, no. I can at least be used as a prop or for simple manual labor if needed.

[kokuyoyo]

[....Oh whups. Realizing what's happened, Ciro looks sheepish.]

[Just not sheepish to turn him away, however.]

Then, if you don't mind, I'm filling in the gaps between the flowers with ones of similar type and color... It's only been me for a few minutes now.

[So, yes, he will take that water bottle to quickly take a drink before getting back to work, thank you.]

[beastfang]

Seems simple enough of a task.

[There's only a slight shrug before Ciro has someone in his general area and rummaging through the boxes to find the right ones. What is this system who decided to mix flowers together? Who let a drama student do the packing?]

Or not as simple if whoever is sending you these boxes is as colorblind as it seems.

[kokuyoyo]

[Welcome to festival hell. Ciro goes a little dead eyed before he takes a deep breath and gets control of himself.]

We've been in a hurry... And we've had to rely on a lot of temporary volunteers.

Do you need help, or are you sure you have it covered?

B's in business ~ :3c

[probablynoteren]

[That Haruka's wandering this part of the contest display's back end isn't surprising -- after all, most of the gardening club with its students of all cycles puts in serious entries every year -- and he's already heading Ciro's way before the call for help comes. He likes to appreciate the other entries at his leisure before the real bulk of the public crowd comes in, and make sure club members are doing well in the meantime.

So, after pausing to pick up the part Ciro's gesturing to, he comes the rest of the way over to aid and admire at once. He knows the secret behind the small flowers, of course, and lingers to watch the set up once he hands over the requested component. They've already spent long, relatively peaceful hours together with Ciro fussing over this particular plant, but seeing it out on display is somehow different.]

It's come pretty far, hasn't it? Since you seeded it.

[Haruka's smiling a little as he shifts to peer at the blooms from another angle. He'll stay until the mister is on, but for the moment he's patient, and on hand for whatever other things Ciro might need. The setup is a little more involved than either of them are used to, especially for an event of this scope.]

[kokuyoyo]

[Taking the part, he's slightly preoccupied as he puts it into place- in fact, he's not even really conscious of who just handed him it. Instead, he's focused on what's in front of him, brow furrowed. It's only when Haruka speaks up that Ciro blinks out of it, glancing over to him before smiling sheepishly.]

It's blossomed really well.... I didn't think it would get to this state, but the greenhouse has been good to it.

[Turning back to the misting system, he tries to talk as he works.]

I doubt it will draw a whole lot of attention, but that's fine.

[probablynoteren]

[Haruka gives a small hum in response, both affirming and considering Ciro's self-deprecating remarks -- it's the way Ciro is, though he's largely acquainted with him by way of the greenhouse and both wearing way too much of Eddan's dirt on their persons despite being relatively neat otherwise. To Haruka, though, only knowing people through the club isn't necessarily a bad thing.

You can tell a lot about someone, by way of hours at a time spent digging holes together, and the choices they make in places like this.]

Not just the greenhouse. [his response is measured, unobtrusive, the compliment left implied; it's self-evident to him that their work isn't just about how high-tech their greenhouses are] It's a good choice. People like this kind of thing at flower shows.

[kokuyoyo]

Do you think so?

[Well, if Haruka says so, then he really must think it. That's the kind of person he is, Ciro has come to learn, although he'd never say he's an expert about other people. He clicks a part of the mister into place.]

Well... Hopefully. If it doesn't rain this week, then the effect I'm going for should hold up...

You didn't register anything this year, right?

[probablynoteren]

[Sometimes he may be a little too blunt, but for the most part Haruka says what he means, when he bothers to say anything at all. When it's just the two of them in the greenhouse -- they both tend to be there a bit too much, probably -- they can work long stretches in silence because words aren't going to make the plants grow faster.

(Unless you subscribe to talking or singing to your plants, which some of the club does, at that)

He ducks out for a moment to check the sky and his phone for the two-part weather forecast. At length:]

It looks clear for today, and the forecast is good. The festival should have something set up, for rainy days. [even if some activities would need to be canceled or moved around should the skies open up, the flower displays are carefully tended; he watches a little while longer before speaking up again] Oh. My registration was a little late. I couldn't decide.

[And the particular plant he'd picked needed slightly more careful handling and placement to ensure it both came along well and didn't interfere with activity in the rest of the greenhouse. They get a lot of rubberneckers and actual tourists around this season, though most of them go to the main greenhouse rather than the lower cycle's traditional, smaller one.]

[kokuyoyo]

Hey, Ciro has watched Mythbusters. He is well aware that the heavy metal theory works great, but that's for a time when there's less members in the greenhouse to go deaf. He has his own music ready to play in his own, personal plants back in his apartment. Just.... not as loud. Besides, he likes to listen to whatever is good white noise when he's studying as well.

Patiently, he waits for Haruka to go through his phone, and is relieved at the report. Clear for the day is all he really asks for. Still, he can't help but be curious about what Haruka would have picked. "Was it really that big of a decision?"

[probablynoteren]

[Haruka is definitely guilty of playing music for his plants at home -- it's just convenient that, like Ciro, he prefers to have something on for his own sake as well. It combats how quiet the apartment can be, and in turn is good for masking how loud his neighbors can get -- even if said neighbors are the reason for his rather eclectic music collection in the first place.

He takes his time answering; he should get going at some point to help with other parts of the festival and to get some last-minute checks done on his own entry (and also to make sure no one has decided to take a bite out of it in the meantime, always a danger when the festival is half food and half display), but he's on break right now.]

The flower was easy to pick. The design was harder.

[He's very much more the practical than the artistic sort, and it had taken him the better part of a week just to begin to figure out what he wanted to do with the arrangement, the potting... everything.]

[kokuyoyo]

Ah.

[Well, it all makes sense now. Ciro nods a bit as he finishes the last check up of the pipes to make sure nothing is out of place before he goes to step over for a large gallon of water on the ground.]

I was having difficulty with that kind of thing as well.... But any design I could come up with seemed like it would take away from the flowers themselves.

[probablynoteren]

Something simple, for something like this. It works.

[Haruka scoots a little out of the way to let Ciro at his water, though that tank does look rather big... He gestures and tilts his head questioningly as Ciro goes on past, a tacit offer of help with the lifting or further manual labor should he need it.]

Bittersweet nightshade is striking, but small. It needed something else.

[Something to bring out the uniqueness of the bloom, and set off the berries. It's an aggressive plant in its own right, but it needs direction; lest it simply reach out and strangle what's nearest.]

[kokuyoyo]

Let's hop everyone who views it says the same.

[But he can't help but sound like he doesn't quite believe that. Why would he? It's not something he's bitter about.... It's just something he knows for a fact. Simple and clean doesn't do it when compared to brighter colors and more eyecatching patterns. He knew that coming into this.]

[The silent offer of help is met with a small shake of his head as he huffs and lifts it up- he might look like a weed, but he is a regular member of the gardening club- before taking it over to the tank.]

What did you come up with? Even if you were too late to enter into the contest.