khuimods: (Default)
Khu Ioduan Mods ([personal profile] khuimods) wrote in [community profile] ioduanlogs2018-02-14 10:21 am

[EVENT] THE TIES THAT BIND US

Characters: Everyone!
Date: February 14-28
Location: All around Aifaran
Situation: The last two weeks of February celebrate Tine's Commemoration, a celebration of renewing friendships and signaling forgiveness.
Warnings/Rating: Shouldn't need any, but add to subject lines as needed!


During the last week of February, the mood shifts around the city. The tension over the missing Kin'nal girl eases some, and there's a lot of talk of renewal and remembrance. In the days leading up to the 14th, some shopkeepers begin reorganizing to make space to feature knotworks and related crafts, and photos on Xa Xa feature knots in process, some made by special artisans. If asked, they will say that all of this is in preparation for Tine's Commemoration, two weeks that are dedicated to renewing and recognizing friendships, forgiving past grievances, and recognizing our most important ties through an exchange of intricately tied knots.

There are specific knots and knot colors meant to signify different kinds of relationships. Friendship knots come in white and blue. White is for the bond of new friends, blue to recognize the joy of old friends. The blue knots typically are added together in a series, one made for each year of the friendship and tied to each other sequentially. More complicated knots are made when forgiving a grudge or past grievance, or to tell someone that they are considered family. While not a major focus of the exchange, there are also multi-colored knots for romantic relationships.

In recognition of this tradition's roots, there is also an ornate tassel knot made for those who have been lost. The color signifies if they have been lost to death (black, often laced with another color like blue for the sea) or the Dreaming (gray). Most have the person's name woven into them, either on a metal disc or a piece of fabric. Rather than being worn, these knots are hung by the door as a waysign: come home; your spirit may rest here.

Shops around the city sell these knots, but there are also ample opportunities to tie your own! The Tifaut in particular take this tradition to heart and have areas set up at several of the city's parks and civic centers, including one at the Dreaming Bridge. They teach knot-making and provide materials (with a suggested donation for those who can afford it), or you can bring your own cord! Making knots of recycled material, like old clothing or retired fishing rope, can add special meaning to the creation - some believe that doing so means sharing a part of yourself with the intended recipient.

Knots can be worn as jewelry or braided into hair (or sometimes hair itself gets tied, with one friend attending to the other's hairdo), and it's customary to keep them on your person throughout the month. While they can be given or exchanged all on their own, it isn't uncommon for knots to come with small gifts or trinkets as well. After February comes to a close, it's important to store the knots somewhere safe, often in a special box or bag with numerous pockets.

---

OOC Notes: This is an open, game-wide event for your characters to participate in (or try and avoid, if they're that type) as much or little as they want to. New Dreamfolk are always popular integrations of these kinds of festivals in the city, so you can write yours attracting lots of positive attention if you'd like.

Provided below are some starters, but you can make your own too if none of these work for you!
powertotearer: (Serious)

[personal profile] powertotearer 2018-02-16 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
And nothing's stopping you from just going to your room and not being around anyone.

You went out of your way to make this harder on other people. Why? Just because you don't want to participate?
priforprince: (huffy)

[personal profile] priforprince 2018-02-16 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
I've no desire to risk being drawn into--

[ She's not going to be able to say it. ]

--such a theme!

[ Maybe if she hunkers down behind this barricade he'll forget she's here and go away. ]
powertotearer: (It finally begins)

[personal profile] powertotearer 2018-02-16 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
[Eiji stares at her flatly. Is that what this is about?]

A friendship day? That's what you're so upset about?
priforprince: (unicorn)

[personal profile] priforprince 2018-02-16 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ Hibiki twitches. And looks away.

This is totally about friendship day. ]
powertotearer: (It finally begins)

[personal profile] powertotearer 2018-02-16 02:13 am (UTC)(link)
So you're going to make a bigger mess for other people. That's it?

[This is just so ridiculous.]

Why do you have such a problem with friendship?
corundrum: (just my luck)

[personal profile] corundrum 2018-02-16 08:03 am (UTC)(link)
[This place seems to be a cornerstone of how the city functions, from Padparadscha's observations, and this festival presents a good opportunity to see some of these people at work. The knotmaking tent seems popular for meeting and conversation, as well, so Padparadscha ends up sitting there for quite some time, slowly making knots, observing knots others are making, and listening to the general conversation.

That's not to say they aren't observing the spirit of the festival, though. If anyone approaches them as they work, they'll give a slight smile and offer them one of a few simple knot necklaces they've set aside after making them. It's not a friendship knot or any other specific kind, but then, friendship is a bit strong a word for any relationship they've formed here yet.]


This is a simple little thing, huh? But I suppose it's best for everyone to be able to join in.
corundrum: (ok doc)

[personal profile] corundrum 2018-02-16 08:21 am (UTC)(link)
[Something like Xa Xa is still extremely strange to Padparadscha, who didn't have anything even comparable to the communications system here in their world, let alone photos and the ability to send them. But it's a useful sort of place to see what's being talked about or focused on among the people here, and so Padparadscha's mostly been using it for educational purposes until now.

It only seems right to participate more fully in an occasion like this, though. So on one day, they post a flock of differently coloured butterfly knots, on another a cluster of dragonflies. Later into the course of the festival, they start to post more complex charms, still shaped like insects, but more extravagantly done.

There's minimal commentary on them, but for the first two thanking those who taught them how to do the knots, and the third making an offer for anyone interested to join them, as they're still making the charms.]
priforprince: (pout)

[personal profile] priforprince 2018-02-16 01:16 pm (UTC)(link)
....I can't say it.

[ This is true on more levels than she's hoping to allude.

She has deep-rooted, personal, soul-wracking reasons to not wish to be casually offered a token of friendship! This trauma has directed the trajectory of her life!

But mostly, right now, she's just pissy that this barricade does not appear to be keeping annoying people away. Could there be a fault in the construction? ]
afoolsgold: (what big eyes you have)

[personal profile] afoolsgold 2018-02-16 05:46 pm (UTC)(link)
The Fool only smiles, like Devin's abrasive commentary is water rolling off so many feathers. He quickens his stride enough to pull in front of Devin and hold up a slender hand to stop him. "Well, accept that you can't avoid me, at least for the moment," he declares without losing his smile. Then he reaches into one of the pockets of his scarlet cloak and withdraws an artfully rendered knot--the one intended for friendship.

He extends it out to Devin, letting it rest flat against his own palms. "For you." The look he gives Devin when meeting his eyes, despite the whimsical quirk at the corners of his lips, is quite serious. One might get the impression that such gestures from the Fool are not made lightly.
afoolsgold: (prophet)

[personal profile] afoolsgold 2018-02-16 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[It makes for an interesting bit of spectacle for the Fool, at least, who observes the effort made by the two little imps with a growing, wry smile. It seems the little creatures have endeared themselves to him after all, his initial annoyance aside.

He doesn't seek to distract them, suspecting that their small brains are only capable of so much at once. So he waits until they seem to have the knack of threading the strands together before asking,] Who was it who set you to this task?
bestofthevein: (Default)

[personal profile] bestofthevein 2018-02-16 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[As far as friendly faces go, though, Padparadscha's is the closest approaching one he's really encountered yet.

When Kit shows up at the table where they sit, it's with an easy sort of smile on his face. He looks to be in better spirits than he was in the other day on the beach--and without the bibiru, this time. Perhaps he feels confident enough in its health to leave it at home, for once.]

Hey there, [he greets his peculiar... friend? and tucks his thumbs into the belt loops on his trousers. He looks at the knots with interest.] Looks like you're pretty good at this crafty sort of stuff.
powertotearer: (Serious)

[personal profile] powertotearer 2018-02-16 07:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Fine.

[He's not going to make her talk about something that she doesn't want to, but it doesn't mean he's not going to start trying to take some of the chairs down.]

But it doesn't mean you have the right to make it harder on the people who do want to celebrate.
spoilsfun: (pic#12093708)

[personal profile] spoilsfun 2018-02-17 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
[ Conan didn't have any interest in the friendship parts of the event. But he very rarely passed up the chance to pick up some new knowledge. You never knew when it could come in useful.

He climbs up on a chair near one of the tables and tries to get the attention of one of the Tifauti.]
spoilsfun: (pic#12093790)

[personal profile] spoilsfun 2018-02-17 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
[One of those encounters had left Conan with directions to a shop with reportedly good not-coffee, and a white friendship knot. He stares at the knot in puzzlement. ]

Just what am I supposed to do with this?
priforprince: (lothario)

[personal profile] priforprince 2018-02-17 01:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ The knot is starting to look like the right knot, albeit with some parts that are too loose and some parts that are too tight. This is very encouraging!! And exciting.

The question has the two imps exchanging glances. Who....what....?

Oh. A few squeaks back and forth, and they've figured out the question. The imp currently holding the string they're moving sets it down carefully - this will go through this bit next - before turning around and gesturing. Master did! Master did! Master is taaaaall -

The imp stretches. And Master is preeeettty -

The imp emits a single purple sparkle. And Master always looks like this!

Both imps scrunch up their eyes and smirk. Then they beam. They did a good job. ]
priforprince: (laala)

[personal profile] priforprince 2018-02-17 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
[ !!!! the chairs are going away ]

Wh-what are you doing?!

[ Yes, she'd just been considering their ineffectiveness, but - ]

Replace those!
afoolsgold: (lord golden)

[personal profile] afoolsgold 2018-02-17 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
[At the imps' impersonation of their master, the Fool cracks a delighted smile and laughs--oh yes, he supposes he will be able to spot her now, won't he?]

Well, I hope she shall be pleased with your work, [he tells them, and taps a finger near the knot.] Look, it appears very similar to mine now, doesn't it? Keep going--you're nearly finished with it.
priforprince: (befuddled)

[personal profile] priforprince 2018-02-17 02:07 am (UTC)(link)
[ The imps nod in unison. Or, well, they nod at the same time. Their rhythm is off, though, so when one's head is going up, the other's is just finishing heading down.

Then it's back to this carefully-laid-aside piece of string, which is almost threaded the wrong way before a warning squeak sets the string-mover back on the right path. Almost there!

They return to their work in earnest. Still no sign of their Master, but that doesn't seem to be worrying them. They must be trusted.

Or have no sense of time. One of these things is definitely true. ]
powertotearer: (Serious)

[personal profile] powertotearer 2018-02-17 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
I am. I'm putting them back where they came from.
priforprince: (slack)

[personal profile] priforprince 2018-02-17 02:48 am (UTC)(link)
You can't do such a thing!

[ Hibiki reaches up to try to hold onto the latest chair that Eiji is attempting to wrest from her. ]
corundrum: (Default)

[personal profile] corundrum 2018-02-17 11:31 am (UTC)(link)
You're looking better. [Padparadscha has no shame in admitting that, because it's not an uncommon thing to observe among their kind if someone's been damaged and repaired. And it's the truth, in any case.

With a faint hum of amusement, they look over the table, finishing the knot they were working on and setting it aside.]
Ah, well, this is hard to mess up if you're patient enough about it and watch what the others are doing. It's not too hard once you've seen people do it enough times, huh?

[They're also not subject to some of the flaws living creatures might have, like unsteady fingers or fumbles. After 3700 years, their hands are more than steady enough.]
powertotearer: (Can't stand down)

[personal profile] powertotearer 2018-02-17 08:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[Eiji really doesn't like having to use force, and he's going to do whatever he can to try to avoid hurting her, but he's taking that chair.]

Well, you shouldn't have done this.
annihilist: (Uncertain)

[personal profile] annihilist 2018-02-18 01:06 am (UTC)(link)
Devin eyes the Fool with annoyance as he has to pull up short, folding his arms across his chest. The man doesn't present much of an actual obstacle from a physics standpoint, but in all likelihood he would just corner Devin later on rather than give up.

The annoyance falters when he's presented with a knot, replaced with uncertainty. Snippy, dismissive comments form on the tip of his tongue, and not one of them feels right. His posture doesn't actually shift, and yet the cut of his shoulders appears stiffer.

"Why?" is all he can think to say.
priforprince: (fall)

[personal profile] priforprince 2018-02-18 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
I refuse to be subjected to -

[ Hibiki can't manage to hold onto the chair. She lets go, and ends up falling backwards. ]
afoolsgold: (the rooster crown)

[personal profile] afoolsgold 2018-02-18 02:13 am (UTC)(link)
The knot remains offered out; Devin hasn't taken it from him yet, but he hasn't rejected the gesture, either. The Fool regards him archly. "Why not?" he rejoins, and holds the knot nearer to him. His smile grows wry, and he teases, "White not your colour?"

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