Voice

[outer_npcs]

We're having a festival a week from today, to celebrate Winter Convergence. That is, ah, when we'll have a full view of Antiqua in our sky. It's usually in the square, but - this year we'll be holding it in the common building, out behind Edmund's shop.

[Because the square was a little bit burned down in the last raid, and that's just depressing.]

You're all welcome to attend. If you want to help with the decorating, or with the music - that would be welcome, too.

[He pauses as though uncertain, before hurrying on with,]

It's customary, if you've lost someone during the year, to burn something at the close of the celebration. A token, something small. We celebrate their lives, you see - and then we let them go. You're not expected to follow our traditions, but - if it will help, you can.

Comments

[sadandsingle]

What if you don't have anything to remind you of the person you've lost?

[outer_npcs]

You can, ah, craft tokens. Out of flowers and willow branches, customarily. There will be a small pavilion outside the gathering building for most of the week.

[sadandsingle]

I'll do that, then. Thank you for the advice.

[outer_npcs]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[He sounds sincere, if still uncomfortable speaking over one of these contraptions.]

[Video]

[catchingflies]

[There's a somewhat confused-looking Toad on the other end of the connection.]

So, uh, wait. Is this kinda like Christmas, only with no toys? Or more like, I dunno, New Years, with the fireworks and toasts and stuff?

[Yes, he can only really connect it with Earth holidays... sorry, Nem.]

Permavoice

[outer_npcs]

...Christmas? I've never heard of that celebration. And the turn of the year isn't for months yet.

[Video forever, cuz Todd is lazy]

[catchingflies]

Oh. Our New Year's smack in the middle of winter, so. Comin' up here soon, if it were home. Christmas is, uh. A holiday where, uh. You give gifts and have turkey and there's Santa Claus-- who's a bit fraud, too-- and... uh. People decorate trees. It's another of this winter things, y'know?

[Ramble ramble ramble.]

[outer_npcs]

Do you put all your celebrations in the winter? [How very odd.]

[catchingflies]

Oh, uh, no, not really. I mean, there's Easter, in the spring. And Halloween, that's in the fall. And Independence Day is in the summer.

[outer_npcs]

Quite the collection. Are Easter and Halloween your planting and harvest festivals?

[catchingflies]

Uh. Not exactly? I mean, Easter's all about... uh.

[Todd has to stop and think.]

There's egg hunts and baby chicks and stuff. And rabbits in baskets. I think there's a church thing, too, but I don't really do that kinda thing. Halloween's when you dress up and go trick-or-treating. Free candy, yo.

[Halloween is apparently Todd's favorite.]

[outer_npcs]

Your people have very...interesting holidays.

[Nope, he doesn't get it.]

voice

[arrowminded]

Antiqua?

That wouldn't be the extra moon that just showed up out of nowhere, would it?

voice

[outer_npcs]

It's not a moon. It's our sister planet.

voice

[arrowminded]

Are you sure it's not a Death Star?

voice

[outer_npcs]

[There's a brief, baffled pause.]

What's a Death Star?

voice

[arrowminded]

You know, because... 'that's no moon'?...

[He'll just sigh now]

Never mind. Forgot where I was.

voice

[outer_npcs]

You should see one of the medics about that. It could be a symptom of cranial worms.

[This just in: Nem is actually capable of deadpan humour, very occasionally.]

voice

[arrowminded]

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that one...

voice

[outer_npcs]

I'm better off not asking what a nickel is, aren't I?

[The trouble with living on a world where the dominant economic system doesn't even representative currency.]

voice

[arrowminded]

It'd be more trouble than it was worth.