[Open, Major Event] 12 June 2066

[geistnet]

Over the course of the last week, you'll have likely noticed the buzz and excitement that's been building all around Metro Manila -- if you've been around awhile, you know what time of the year it is. If you're new: well, this is an experience you're sure to enjoy.

The festive mood surrounding Philippine Independence Day is hard to miss. Wander around the metropolis and you'll note that the streets are filled with tourists and locals; turn one corner and you'll see parades, turn another and you may be treated to performances set up on strategically placed stages.

As for Falner, the colors of the Philippine flag seem to be everywhere you look: the kids who live or study at the estate are mostly running around with their faces painted. If you wander down towards the Fair Grounds in the South District, there are a couple of booths set up offering anything from body paint and temporary tattoos to local delicacies. West District establishments The King's Rest and Liquidated also have special treats aligned with the theme of the day. There's also talk about the annual street party which will be held over at the Baywalk later this evening, and the younger initiates are abuzz over the yearly light show held over Manila Bay that showcase reenactments of all the major battles all the way up to the Darkest Vigil.

Independence Day is also not all that's being celebrated, because for Keepers of the Vigil and supernatural communities all over the world, today marks the second anniversary of Arcis Fortress City.

OOC NOTES FOR PLAYERS

Don't forget to mention in the subject heading if your threads are OTA (Open to All) or Closed, and the time in which the exchange takes place. Feel free to make a top-level comment of your own if none of the placeholders fit. For details on each of the locations found at the Falner Estate, here is a handy link!

Comments

[clayce]

Ah, for the mandatory interview.

[ Smiling. ]

Taning could be an excellent teacher, you know.

[magicmissile]

So everyone who goes to Balamb goes through that interview?

[ Pointedly ignoring that second part about Taning. ]

[clayce]

Yes.

[ No, Rin: let's go right back to it. ]

He's a lot more dedicated and serious than he looks. In fact, I've come to believe that most of the silliness is a front.

[magicmissile]

[ NO, WHY ]

He took us in space, too!

[ Why is this his life. ]

...I don't think he likes me. [ Right, yes, let's go there. ] He yelled at me when we were on his ship. [ Although, you know. That was Rin's fault. Mostly. ]

[clayce]

Did he? It was likely because you were in danger.

[ Or you did something... ]

[magicmissile]

[ Yeah, he did something. ]

...I might have pushed his buttons and took it a little too far? [ Literally, and figuratively. ] But he practically kidnapped me! [ He's totally justified here, yo. ]

[clayce]

Or did he take you into custody for your own good?

[ HMM. ]

[magicmissile]

Well--

[ ...To be fair(???), if Taning hadn't taken him in (more or less), he'd still be in Ireland, probably couchsurfing or living in the streets and having a million and one part-time jobs that will never be enough to keep him fed and under a roof for more than a few days or weeks. But he did, and Rin had a lovely time living with Asami Fukuzawa and her family for those first few weeks before he moved into the dorms...even though her husband still kind of scares him(?!). ]

...I guess. [ He kicks at the ground again. ]

[clayce]

[ Have a sympathetic look, although the expression in his eyes is unyielding. ]

Taning's methods are unconventional and difficult to understand at first, but I think he was trying to keep you from getting into more trouble.

[magicmissile]

He should have just fucking said so!

[ They could have avoided all that yelling and suspicious business! ]

[clayce]

[ Ahahaha. ]

Indeed, he should have. I can talk to him about the matter for you, if you like.

[magicmissile]

You don't have to punish him, or anything.

[ Because it sounds like it. ]

[clayce]

Don't worry. It'll just be a talk.

[ Says the Furst of Netsach. Who happens to be the Voidseeker. And a dragon. ]

[magicmissile]

[ Sounds credible enough. ]

Oh. Okay.

[ And, you know, he's been standing up all this time, he'll just.... sit on the grass. And let Madge jump off and play on the grass. Yeah. ]

[clayce]

[ ...Right yeah, he kind of didn't want to tell you that you could. You gotta learn, kid. ]

Are you excited for the start of classes?

[magicmissile]

[ He lights up at that. ]

A little.[ He means a lot. ] I'd like to learn everything this place can offer me, and then some.

[clayce]

[ Hou. ]

Might I ask what your definition of "and then some" might be?

[magicmissile]

...Everything else? [ :D? ]

I like to know things. How things work, why things are shinier than others, what things are like... I don't like not knowing.

[clayce]

Ah, yes. I suppose that sort of drive makes a lot of sense to Awakened like us.

[ He used to be the same way, at any rate. ]

[magicmissile]

Y-yeah... [ He takes a deep breath, then exhales. ] And... I guess, the point of all of it is... I want to know what really happened to Ma and Pa. And where everyone is, why I can't find them...

I just hope I'm not too late.

[clayce]

We will do what we can to prevent that.

[ Or the Assassin will, anyway. He seems to be interested in your case by merit of the fact that his adopted son was the one who picked you up in the first place. ]

Would you like, as well, to be in the position to help us, if you're lucky?

[magicmissile]

[ He straightens up, twisting a bit to look directly at Aidan. ]

Yeah! Yeah, definitely. I want to help. If you let me, I mean.

[clayce]

I am sure that the Kaiser is amenable to that idea, provided that you have at least the basics of Hunter training.

[ And if she is not, he will Puppy Eye at her until she is. ]

[magicmissile]

[ Aidan you've just made him so happy right now. So fucking happy. ]

Kind of regretting not signing up for ASC instead... But that works for me.

[clayce]

There is no need to rush training, even with your circumstances. It might be different in the case of others.

[ He's... not going to mention how Balamb wants to monitor people like you a little more closely because of your age and so-called "traumatic occurrences". ]

As things stand, we occasionally have novices participate in engagements that are relevant to them on a personal level.