[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

Balamb Academy.

[geistnet]

Last minute scramble, guys! School year starts Monday!

OTA, Early Night

[outstanding]

[ She could be anywhere else, doing a million other more entertaining things, but no, Ella Ryan is checking for the thousandth time that she has all the books she needs, and by that she means "far more books than she could possibly read but she's getting them all anyway".

She's also looking at her phone every now and then, half hoping certain family members text her, half trying to make her mind about text them herself.

The struggle is real. ]

[magnamanious]

[ Fortunately(?), your sire's husband happens to spot you while he's inspecting the school grounds.

Walking over now. ]

Ella. What a pleasant surprise.

[outstanding]

Ah, Mr. Raura.

[ A little startled, because she wasn't expecting to see him. Not that she doesn't smile anyway.

She hasn't mustered the courage to just call him Alejandro or Raura or anything but "Mr. Raura" so far though. She rarely calls Barabara anything besides "Mr. Gomez" either, so yeah... ]

With classes so soon, I wanted to make sure I had all in order. [ Again. ] How are you doing?

[magnamanious]

I'm doing fine, actually. Things are starting to settle down on the estate now, which is good.

[ Beyond the festivities, anyway. He's spent the entire day walking through the Estate grounds, making sure that everything was running smoothly. ]

So is everything in order on your end?

[outstanding]

The big preparations are all wrapped up?

[ She knows he's been working a lot, never mind going out during the day and all. Ella herself has ventured a few times, thanks to her sire, but Barabara's Day Ring rests on her chest as they talk. Better not become too dependent on it. ]

I-I think? I had already checked before...but you never know. I think I'll see what else is going on in a moment. Last I heard, there was a lot of interesting food.

[ Which she will go and look and smell and imagine eating it, yep. ]

[magnamanious]

[ Nodding at her initial words, then paying attention to the rest of what she says with his usual care. ]

Would you like some company when you go? If you don't mind an old vampire like me walking with you, of course.

[ And Barbara is busy at the moment, which means that he ought to be the one watching over you. This is something he does not mind, of course. ]

[outstanding]

Not at all.

[ She really doesn't mind, and any chance to spend time with Barbara's husband, because she's not entirely sure of what does that make them. The man has been nothing but kind to her anyway, and that's more than she could have ever asked for. ]

Any place you would like to visit first? I really had no plans.

[magnamanious]

Well, I'll have to finish my turn around the campus first.

[ Looking almost apologetic. ]

You must be familiar with this place already.

[ You do seem like the kind of girl who'd metaphorically arm herself to the teeth before launching into a new endeavor. ]

[outstanding]

Let us go then.

[ It actually sounds like a swell idea to her. ]

I think I know my way around, yes. It's useful to never get lost specially if you're in a hurry.

[ Translation: she can walk around with her eyes closed without tripping even once by now. ]

[magnamanious]

That's good to hear.

[ It really is, in his opinion. Familiarity meant that it would be easier for her to settle into the rhythm of things once school started, and once she started studying to be a Hunter.

He turns and waits for her to fall into step beside him before continuing on his way. ]

Once we've finished here, we can head all the way down to the South District.

[outstanding]

[ She right by him, eyes wandering around but going back to the man now and then. ]

Okay!

[ And a moment later. ]

You know, I first thought that not being able to eat was going to be a real bummer, but then I realized that eating isn't "my thing" anymore.

[ You bet there were air quotes there, Raura. ]

[magnamanious]

[ Air quotes: a novel thing that Barbara instructed him in. That would explain why there is no judging on this one's end; only fondness. ]

The Beast does tend to make human food, beyond the experience of it, seem pointless, doesn't it?

[outstanding]

[ ...Ella probably uses those a little too much anyway. ]

Yeah, I guess it makes sense though? The biological implicates of a vampire capable of eating are too many anyway. You would need to be something akin to a living vampire and then you just cross so many lines you have to wonder exactly what's what.

[ It might be fairly obvious she has been thinking about that. ]

[magnamanious]

[ Yeah, just a little. ]

Suddenly, I am looking forward to seeing how you take to the knowledge that the classes for your Program will give you, and what you will do with it.

[outstanding]

Really? Thanks!

[ Ella still believes she's more brains than anything else, so what she can do with what she learns is up to debate in her mind. ]

It's a bit of a silly idea, I guess, but maybe it's the little things like that which could make important changes among Kindred society, perhaps? Or at least give pizza back to the people.

[ ... ]

A-and champagne toasts, I guess.

[magnamanious]

I agree. In fact, vampires who actually attempt to emulate humanity while understanding the emotions that used to be attached by simple acts that make mortals what they are tend to be much better than the others.

[ Yep. Speaking from experience there. ]

[outstanding]

I mean it's probably easy for me to say it since I'm not even a year old. If I get to even half a century, the way I see the world might change considerably.

[ She appreciates his encouragement though. More than she can express in words. ]

Won't stop me from trying though.

[magnamanious]

As it should not. Golconda is, after all, achievable.

[ Riley, Lex, and Marrigan are all proof of that. ]

Only too many Kindred forget that.

[outstanding]

I'm guessing most feel it's a bit...unsubstantial. I can't help but think it's a little too good to be truth, in all honesty, even though I would like to get there eventually.

[ Eventually meaning more time she can easily comprehend, most likely. ]

[magnamanious]

You have time, and you have us to help you.

[ As you will, no doubt, help them. Him and Barbara, that is. ]

[outstanding]

I keep on thinking that somehow I won the lottery, in so many ways.

[ She will certainly do her best. ]

And I, um, apologize if it ever feels like I'm imposing on you, only because my sire if Barbara.

[magnamanious]

[ D: ]

There is no need for you to apologize, Ella. It does not feel like that at all, and I doubt that it ever will.

[outstanding]

I know, I know! I'm just not used to this sort of treatment. I apologize.

[ Agh so embarrassing. ]

[magnamanious]

And there you go again.

[ Smiling. ]

Really. It's all right.