[Event ORP] Aimes' Spring Fish Festival.

[Life Dust]

Where: The docks of Aimes.
When: Midmorning - the festivities are starting to get going!
Details:
Aimes’ Spring Fish Festival is one of the many spring-time celebrations that cause the whole of the floating city to come to a stop and celebrate. Even if people are not actively involved in the celebrations they get the day off work and nearly all partake in at least some of the smaller customs involved in the festival. Hanging a paper fish streamer from the front windows of your house is commonplace and the streets are typically filled with fluttering brightly coloured fish swimming in the breeze. In the past people believed that only if the city became a huge shoal of fish for the day then the coming season of fishing will be plentiful; now it is more considered as a pretty custom rather than an actual belief. Either way it certainly creates an upbeat attitude all throughout the city.

In addition to this, families will often come down to the docks (especially those with young children) and give an offering of food to the fish within the water. At the beginning of the day this tends to be a fairly unimpressive event, but by midday there is almost always a huge amount of fish gathered at the location where the majority of the festivities take place and the water can be writhing with hungry scaly bodies. In more recent years fishermen who moor up in the area where the most people come to give food to the fish have started making more effort to provide additional amusement. Because they cannot go out fishing because everyone has to take a day off work they have fallen into the habit of setting up amusement stalls for children – even getting competitive with their neighbours and trying to outdo each other with bright decorations, games and costumes. All in all it’s generally considered a good day out for families; a perfect bit of cheerful fun.

This year is set to be a record year for the festival and, though it is still only mid morning, crowds are beginning to form along the docks and the fish are gathering. Already huge groups of hugely diverse marine creatures are flitting about beneath the waves whilst fishermen who would usually be hooking them out to sell are busy putting their weatherworn hands to good use; amusing the youngsters of Aimes. So come along and mingle with the rest of the festival goers – Dust and humans alike! Perhaps, if you’re lucky, you won’t come away empty handed!

[ Anyone can take part in this ORP. Children are especially encourage so you can fullfill part of your requirements. And yes, there is some small rewards for you if you're active! ;D ]

 

[Olivia Solace]

The Lightner family had traveled quite some way for today's festivities. While it was normal for the family to travel from the border of Helena into Aimes weekly for Hayden's work, today was a simple day of pleasure for the family as a whole. The Lightner's walked down the docks enjoying the celebration that took place. The boys each had their own little mini paper-fish streamers, and Hayden was stuck carrying all the little belongings they had brought with him. He fulfilled his pack-mule duties well, even if he didn't get much praise for it. It was the least he could do for his kids.

Cante and Benjamin were as ecstatic as kids normally were at festivals, wanting to run over here to see what was going on, gunning it over there to try and taste the local fares. Attempting to keep tabs of the twins was growing into a chore as Allegro ran after them and chided the two each time they went and ran off, only to bring them back to Hayden. It was like a rodeo, and Allegro was the cowboy.

Hayden was thankful for Allegro though. As someone of their height and stamina, he had an easier time tracking the two ruggrats down than Hayden ever did. Hayden let out a long sigh at his rambunctious sons and called for them, "Cante! Benjamin! Stop causing Allegro trouble! Come back here and stand by me."

He regretted giving them cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  

[bpyan]

The streets were littered with numerous stalls, people fixing up their wares and talking to each other in a cheerful and excited tone. It was only morning, the sun resting comfortably in the orange tinted sky yet many people were already active and scattered throughout the streets of the city. A nervous adult dust was amid all this excitement.

Aren covered most of his face with his dark hood and scarf, sensing that he had to be extra careful since it was inevitable that he would face the humans in such close proximity today. Aren was nervous because he did not want his shocking appearance to be found out as well as the fact that he had to actually interact with so many humans in this event.

It was a day of celebration, Aren never really had the chance to participate in such events before but today was a special task for him. For sure, many of the dusts in Amies would show up in the festivities and he was to make sure that nothing out of the ordinary happened.

His heart skipped a beat as a friendly merchant man who had set up the canvas of his tent waved at him, bidding him a good morning. He nodded his head in reply, smiling into his scarf. People seemed to be in high spirits today.

The dust leaned on a brick wall, curiously observing the people who were passing by. After all, it was just the start of the day, he could relax for the time being.  

[X Purple--Platypus X]

Despite usually being sullen and grumpy not even Oxiin could escape the upbeat and exciting atmosphere that was hanging in the air. The docks were buzzing with people already, families trundling around – children with hands full of pieces of bread to toss to the fish – faces that he recognised as his neighbours with beaming smiles manning gaudy stalls. Normally he saw them grizzled and beaten up by the sea air and the stresses of fishing out to sea. It was a pleasant change all round and the rust child even forgave the event for ousting his boat-home from the area.

He had been at the docks since the early hours of the morning. Inge and Jeremiah had roused him and together they had walked –as a family – to the event from where they had been relocated. Inge and Jeremiah were both involved in events and he had been given free roam. Watching all the different stalls take shape had been interesting and soon a steady stream of people had started to come and filter into the area. Now Oxiin was perched on a barrel by Inge’s stall looking into the crowd with his uncharacteristic good mood displayed via a genuine smile.

Inge was actually looking pretty ridiculous. He had been nabbed by a middle aged fisherman and roped into being dressed up as a mermaid. Badly smeared lipstick covered the bottom of his face and the teen’s chest was exposed with only shells tied together covering his nipples. For his tail they had bound his legs tightly in shiny material and he flapped around comically. The purpose of the stall seemed to be something like a lucky dip – with Inge mainly serving as a way to attract people. The children found him hilarious and admittedly so did Oxiin.

Smirking as a beefy man shot an over the top wink at his guardian Oxiin got up off his perch. He would leave his father figure to get on with it... Now that there was more people around some stalls were in full swing and he was willing to try his luck at some of the more rewarding games. Maybe he could win himself a snack or two? He hadn’t actually had breakfast yet and the ache within his stomach was the only thing that was nagging at him.

 

[Rown]

Jarett had been a little too busy (for the last time, he promised) to actually stay at the festival with Rindou, but he knew the boy was likely to bump into someone he knew and therefore be somewhat safe. Besides, Rindou seemed to be growing more and more by the day if his eyes weren't just playing tricks so soon the boy would look...well. Not like a boy anymore. Anyway he dropped him off and started back towards the museum, the final bits of his thesis well in hand to be turned in, and Rindou was left alone to figure out the sights and smells. Everything was somewhat knew, he knew the smell of water well enough, and the Dustling did his best to keep his feet on the ground as he walked along. Jarett had mentioned he needed to stay on the ground for a while if he wanted to be able to walk at all, and Rindou thought that walking would be pretty important.

Maybe.

"HMMM. SOMETHING SMELLS FUNNY."  

[Ruriska]

Alexander had told her a story. It was a memory from long ago from when he had visited the festival with his little sister. They had marvelled at the fish as they came up to feed and he had nearly fallen into the water, saved just on time by a friendly fisherman. The day had been one of his fondest memories. There had been a sparkle in his eyes as he spoke, but he had never been back to that festival again and even now that he had a child to care for, he doubted he ever would.

Anise wanted to see what this festival was all about and more importantly, she wanted to see Alexander happy and so she had made up her mind to go. However, there was a problem. As curious as she was, actually stepping outside the door was a hurdle that was not easily jumped. She was utterly terrified and the usually controlled spiderweb dust always completely fell apart even before she’d crossed the threshold. But she was determined. Darn it, she was finally going to leave the house and see some of the world. You couldn’t collect secrets sitting in your room with only a few hundred spiders for company.

After three days of trying to psyche herself up, quite a few tantrums and a completely flustered guardian; they were finally here. Anise huddled at the back of the cart and listened to the sound of laughing, talking and the pounding of hundreds of feet along the dock. Alexander had carefully fixed the little cart up with higher wooden walls, covering it in a strong tarp to create a little cave within to give Anise a sense of security. It smelt of dirt and plants inside, and Anise had made sure a blanket had been put down so she didn’t get her dress dirty.

Alexander manoeuvred through the masses of people, eventually bringing the cart to a stop in a less crowded area. Moving around to the end of the cart, he folded back some of the tarp and peered inside. Anise stared back at him from where she sat curled up, covered in blankets and her pale hands gripping at the fabric. She blinked and gazed past him nervously at the bright colours of the festival.

“Is Cada there?” She asked. The Pestilence Dust had promised he would come along with her too. Anise needed all the support she could get.  

[Kuuro Kitten]

It had seemed like ages before the last festival Cada could remember. He'd been young at the time but he was no less excited now then he was back then. It was always fun to get out and enjoy the sights and sounds. Though this time around it wasn't just for him to have fun alone, he had made a promise to a certain little web spinning mistress and he didn't like breaking them.

Alexander had told him that they would show up and to look for them in a likely less crowded area. Thinking it strange but not too out of the way, Cada kept to the instructions looking for areas with less crowds. To his surprise Alexander was standing idle near a cart. With a shrug the Pestilence dust rushed over huffing from the short sprint but no less glad to see the man. "Hey...uh?" Gazing over the cart a few times he wondered what it was about until he saw a pair of crimson eyes peek out at him. "Anise?" Well that explained it but not the full picture. "Why are you in there, silly? Shouldn't you be out here enjoying the festivities?"  

[artificial insomnia]

"Here." A nose wrinkled, a brow creased. "Take it, trust me."

Krinn sighed as the pills and water were extracted from his hands. The blond beside him was all but keeled over on a near crate, her cheeks tinged pale and her entire body heaving. He forced himself to stay still, he forced himself not to roll his eyes. Honestly. If she had seasickness, she shouldn't have come to the floating city of Amies of all places. Rubbing two fingers to his forehead, he nudged the girl slightly. "It goes away after awhile." The teenager told her with vague, wry amusement. Suika simply frowned at the rain, trying to hold her lunch in. They'd gotten off at the docks a little while ago, which was quite amazing, considering the event toying with everyones attention. A fish festival of all things. Well, Krinn had heard of stranger things. Or at least, his hazy memories told him so. With the horses safely tied and the passengers in tact... for the most part, Krinn could finally relax and enjoy the festival! Though... He smiled a bit at the girl next to him, rubbing her back as she took in deep breaths to steady herself.

"I'm gonna go." He told her languidly, giving Suika a resounding thump to the shoulder. She heaved again and turned her green eyes to him. The rain simply smiled, jingling a small pouch of gold coins and stepping back. With a shrug, the girl went back to a feeble attempt at fixing the vertigo that had set in, even as the dust slipped off, bare feet stealing him away through the crowds. He dodged through flocks of people, his wild hair tied back into a ponytail, his dual eyes surfing across the sea of strangers in vague interest. Stalls and owners of all shapes and sizes called out from every direction, picking at memories of the last festival he'd been to. The dust gave a slight smile. At that time he'd been with Lan hadn't he? The man he was still searching for. The chef had a stall of his own, for the cafe he'd been roped into working for. What a strange memory.

But the stalls here proved to be stranger too. From odd games and entertainment to jewelry stands, the population of the floating city had certainly set up something worth coming to see. Though... Krinn caught sight of strange things - was that a boy dressed as a mermaid? He couldn't help but snort, his lips pulling further into a grin. It felt homely, didn't it. The feeling in his chest swelled as well, the kind he got from people like those from before. Aren was it? And Hymn. The dust closed his eyes, considering. Were other dusts here as well? The sun brushed his cheek as he paused, sliding out of the crowd and into the shade for a moment to watch the events play out. Who knew. But if the sunshine parade kept up like this, he might turn in early. The storm gave a cat like yawn. Such weather always made him sleepy and sluggish, even though the festivities were doing their best to keep him awake. Turning his eyes to the crowds, he continued to watch for a few long moments.

He'd go out and be social, find something fun to distract him. The boy yawned again, his eyes flickering. In just a few minutes.  

[X Purple--Platypus X]

Moving through the crowd Oxiin was buoyed around by the happy families and his progress was slowed considerably as they cut across his path or caused him to divert to a route around them. However, he was not irked by this as much as he usually would be a forced a smile at the parents holding their children’s hands, telling them to hold tight and not wander off. He did have to worry about that for once, Inge was giving him free reign and he intended to enjoy it. Squeezing through another bunch of chatting people he finally made it to a stall that he had pegged earlier as having food.

On the tabletop, which was decorated with a blue clothe depicting white patterns of the sea, were several bowls filled with freshly baked sweet bread. The aroma wafting off them was absolutely delicious and Oxiin felt his hunger claw at the inside of his stomach. Wide eyed and eager he looked up at the person manning the stall. It was a fisherman and his wife that Oxiin vaguely recognised... “Can I have some?” He inquired, pointing at a particularly decorative knot of bread. They laughed and nodded – saying that anybody could help themselves so long as a little piece was given to the fish. Nodding eagerly and promising that he would do that right away Oxiin snatched up the piece and turned to dash away and consume it, only just remembering to give the pair a quick “thank you” before he went.

Biting into the bread Oxiin’s mouth was filled with the delicious, still slightly warm from baking, bread. The bread was sweet and flavoured light with lemon – a perfect breakfast. Swallowing his first munch he quickly took another and then another, quickly diminishing it to half its size and filling up the empty growling space in his stomach. Remembering that he had to give a bit to the fish – a custom he hadn’t done yet – he turned and took a step only to find a person swathed in a cloak blocking his way.

Frowning at why the man being so wrapped up in the relatively hot weather Oxiin casually moved to his side, glancing at the man’s face. That too was wrapped up and mostly concealed by a scarf. Highly suspicious now Oxiin clasped his useless arm, taking a step back before addressing the man. “Why are you dressed like that?” There was probably a perfectly acceptable reason. He burnt easily, or he was ugly. But there was also a chance he was less innocent. One of the shady characters that Inge was always rattling on about – someone who would prey on kids... Oxiin wasn’t afraid, there were lots of people around and the blunt aspects of his personality would allow him to get away with asking.

 

[Divine Keesha]

Lokia had not planned on coming to the festival, yet here she was standing in the crowd gathered. Her dance students had begged her to be excused for the day so they could attend the event. How could she say no?

She smoothed out her summer dress and made her way through the bustling crowd, enjoying her surprise day off. The sights of all the different people gathered for the festival, colorful fish decorations hanging from almost every surface, and the happy, care-free children running about lightened her mood even more.  

[Kanove]

The rolling skies had withdrawn from their place over Aimes and provided the sea front town with clear blue waves and schools of sparkling fish to spend their day with. Hymn had reluctantly retired from his apartment, after having observed the festival from his room. He figured that he might as well get involved, wherever and whenever he could.

Pulling a cap on over his head he stared at himself in the mirror and nodded, the cup of milk in his hand nearly slipping out. He was dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt, topped off with a blue-gray, short-sleeved shirt and an old white cap. He hadn't worn the clothes for a while, and it felt strange to be wearing them again after all that had happened in the recent months.

Nodding he grabbed a loose set of keys from the counter top, trading them off the the now empty cup. He crossed the apartment space and was outside and down by the docks in no-time. In his passing he didn't seem to catch eye of anyone he knew, but he knew as the sun rose higher in the sky the dusts would begin to flock to the festival. After all, this event only happened once a year, and brought a great relief to the dusts who had found themselves in trouble the previous year.

At least that was what Hymn's excuse was for coming. He needed to really smile again. Humming to himself he began to wander around the various stalls with a sort of bounce in his step. The tune he was singing reminded him of the last festival he had been too, which great memories had been embedded in.

"I wonder who all I will meet...?" he asked himself, pausing to look at a colorful stall that was advertising Fresh Tea.  

[The One Kenzi]

Liliasha Gillespa, was most likely in utter awe at that moment. She had arrived that morning to Aimes, and had already made plans for a place to stay for the night, for she still wasn't sure how long she's stay here. Yet she was fully glad that she had decided to come, which was after she had heard of the festival from another traveler like herself. She hadn't been in any real linear trip, just getting out. She traveled very often, as if being one of those silly artists trying to find herself.

And when one looked at her, that normally was the first thought. As she always dressed in long flowly skirts, like the olive green one today, and layered tops. Yet you'd never see here in any bright color, always neutral greens and browns. Her hair, also gave the impression of an artist, as her pale blonde locks were always pulled back into a ponytail, that still reached down to her waist - she never cut it.
To complete the image, she was lugging around an old, somewhat ratty carpetbag, slung over her shoulder.

Though today, Lilia didn't really care much about herself, but mroe of what was going on around her. With all the colors, sounds, smells, people, everything, it was like an all you can eat for your senses. She could hardly remember the last time she'd been in a place with this much going on.

After the original awe of the festival, she was finally able to pull her feet from the ground and start actually seeing what was happening around her. At one point, she reached a stall selling some of those brightly colored paper fish streamers, and such decorative things like that. Happily, she bought one and tied it along a handle of her bag.

Then she slowed down, with a content smile fixed on her face. She did not have to hurry, she reminded herself, it was still the morning, and things were just starting to get good, it would be foolish of her to rush through everything there was to see before it became truly amazing.  

[Ruriska]

“Ah, here he is.” Alexander grinned, though it was rather nervous and somewhat strained grin, and then straightened up to greet Cadaver. “Hello Cada.” He hung beside the cart and watched Cadaver’s bemused expression. Ah, they probably should have explained beforehand.

Anise shifted slightly in the cart, leaning forward to stare back at Cada. She gave him a weak little smile. Now she had Alex and Cada here; she felt slightly better... well, no not really. When the older Dust asked why she was in the cart; her lips tightened and she glanced away. “I can’t.”

Alexander sighed. “Anise... she can’t go out into large areas or be around large crowds. Usually she can’t even go outside. But she refused to stay home today. So the cart is to keep her... together...” Alexander gave up the explanation with a sigh of futility and leant over to look inside the cart. “Would you like something to eat?”

“...Not yet... thankyou.”  

[bpyan]

As the adult dust waited in his spot more people flooded the streets and the sounds and chatter grew louder. You could smell the freshly made bread and pastries in the air, as well as a slight smell of seawater. Aren waited contentedly in his spot as if he was stuck in that position for the whole day.

Aren breathed deeply, not one but three people had already talked to him, just small and short conversations about the weather and of the celebration but those simple talks already had Aren's heart beating like mad. He sunk deeper into his scarf and hood, just nodding and mumbling as the people spoke, silently waiting until they took their leave. Was it a mistake for him to be here? Was he even ready for this?

The pale dust sighed, closing his eyes and drowning himself with the sounds and smells of Aimes. It was a lovely kind of feeling. To Aren, Aimes was a place he was comfortable in. The familiar scents and voices of the cheerful people on the streets made him feel at home. If he did have a home.

His eyes shot open when he heard a voice nearby, a child's voice to be exact.

“Why are you dressed like that?”

Aren blinked, he wasn't exactly sure what to say. His gray eyes wandered to the source of the voice and landed on a young boy with reddish-brown hair. And then he felt a feeling of warmth and familiarity flow into his body, it made him forget how nervous he was in this crowd of humans. This boy was no doubt a dust but it would be hard to talk to him properly in this situation. The older dust decided to just act 'normally', he could maybe meet this boy more privately later on but for now, he was just a guardian from afar. Giving the other a small smile behind the thick scarf, he spoke.

"I just dress like this normally" he paused, frowning a little as he looked behind the younger dust, "shouldn't you be with your guardian? Are you lost?" These humans we're not very attentive to their little ones.  

[alpha lyrae]

Ciellas had told her that it would be good for her. She had made mention of the people she could meet, the sights to see, things to buy. There was many a mention of festivals gone by and memories that still brought a smile to her face, as she hurriedly tugged her boots on her feet and made sure the dustling was properly dressed and presentable.

What she had failed to mention, however, was the thickness of the crowd, the lingering fishy smell of the docks that stung her nose, and worst of all the heat of the collective bodies. And Anouk hated her for it.

So here she stood in the shade of one of the stands, arms crossed over the front of her dress and wearing a look of utmost displeasure. She cast a look of longing at the sea and wanted to go into the waves to at least escape the heat of the crowds and had said as much as soon as they arrived, but her guardian would have none of it. With one glance at the pouty-faced little girl, Ciellas had taken her by her profusely-sweating hand and pulled her deeper into the crowd, promising her the relief of an ice cream. The icy wings on Anouk's back fluttered in protest as they hit passing people, and her guardian made a comment along the lines of being thankful it was a festival day. The dustling didn't quite see what she meant, and instead continued to hold her sour mood as the morning lingered on.

"Here." A dripping vanilla cone appeared in front of her face, held aloft by Ciellas. She took it in both hands, careful to mind the melting ice cream, and licked at it quietly. "There, feel better?" Blue eyes peered up into the chipper green ones, and she gave a small nod of the head. It was a lie, surely, but her complaining had gotten her nothing. When the stall attendant caught her guardian's attention to hand her her own ice cream and accept the payment, Anouk's eyebrows creased moodily. The ice cream dripped on her fingers and she frowned at the sticky feeling on her sweating skin.

"I do not want to be here anymore." She said this under her breath with a sigh, and watched the crowd. She waited, wondering if she could slip away for a while. Perhaps there was a cooler place she could hide out until her guardian got this "must be among masses of people" business out of her system.. maybe there was a private stretch of beach away from those rushing to feed the fish at the docks. Either way, she wanted to be away from all of this heat. It was stifling.