justscribing | The City

Yeah, this is just like an amusement park back home! Except kinda like it feels more haunted. I'll show you around, if you want?

[ And if he says no, regardless-- ]

What's a Sumeru festival like?

[Amusement park. It is an apt name. Alhaitham has already been around yesterday with Kaveh, but he still gestures along.] Lead the way.

[As for Sumeru festivals...] Food and craft stalls are common, as are games for children and performances. But many traditional festivals have lost popularity in Sumeru with the Akademiya's emphasis on the pursuit of knowledge above all else. Their galas have largely been used for arrogant scholars to posturize at each other rather than be a genuinely happy celebration.

[ Wow, can't believe you guys went on a date without her. Terrible. ]

... You know, I somehow get the feeling you don't like them very much.

You think so? [Granted, even getting Alhaitham to show up at a gathering of people he likes is like trying to drag a cat to the vet. But he has a particular disdain the farces the Akademiya spearheaded under Azar's leadership. Man wouldn't know joy if it bit him in the ass.] You have experience with a very different kind of festival, don't you?

Yeah, places like this usually don't have a bunch of scholars being boring at each other... Oh, but we have different kind of festivals, like in the summer, we have booths where you can catch goldfish and dress up in yukata and watch the fireworks! And we have school festivals where every class does something different, like a cafe or a haunted house or a play or selling food at a stall!

[Alhaitham nods along. He has vague knowledge of Inazuman holidays. Like her name, these sound comparable enough he can visualize it.]

So it's a school festival but none of it is related to the actual schooling, correct? It's just run by students.

Right! It's nothing as formal as what it sounds like for you.

The Akademiya runs something similar, but student activities are usually more thematic as it also acts as a way to recruit future students to their darshan. [Hm, that's probably not a term she familiar with.] Think of them like areas of expertise. Past general education, those admitted to the Akademiya will then specialize in a field of research.

[So, yes, the Wisdom Gala is a more formal school festival.]

Ohhhh! So like a university with majors! I get it.

[ She understands a lot better now, judging from the brightness in her eyes. ]

Did you go there, Al?

[Alhaitham nods with a hum.] I did. As did Kaveh.

[And Tighnari. And Cyno. But Alhaitham doesn't assume Tsuruno has met the entire nerd crew.]

[ All of them but one! She's making the rounds. ]

Is that how you wound up becoming roommates?

You could say that, since we met when we were students there.

[The actual story is much longer, but ultimately Alhaitham was never going to open his home to Kaveh if he wasn't his ex-bestie. Anyone else would be swiftly denied no matter how on time with their rent they were.]

"You could say that"... meaning there's more to it than just that, huh?

You and my friend kind of do the same mysterious vague thing when it's more personal.

[ Ah, she misses Yachiyo. ]

It is a person question, isn't it? You can always ask Kaveh--I'm sure he'll have a lot to say.

[The more subtle dance: Alhaitham lets Kaveh say it to decide what he wants to be known. There had been a friendship ending fight. There had been the selling of a house and incredible debt and Kaveh had been left with no choice if he wished to maintain even the veneer of a reputation suited for his title. So there had been the acceptance of an offer, and the first olive branch in years when they lived under one roof in Sumeru.

Kaveh moved back out three weeks ago. Alhaitham did not ask him to stay.

As they walk he points at one of the large swinging rides.] Is that something familiar to you?

[ Wow. She's never going to hear about this, probably.

But imagine if she did. Just imagine. ]

Yep! Do you want to give it a try? I'll go with you.

[ For moral support and not because she's a kid who loves rides, even if she is definitely a kid who loves rides-- ]

[Probably she would be reasonably embarrassed that two grown-ass men can't talk about it like adults.]

I'm curious about it. [That's neither a yes or a no.] And how it works. We don't exactly has large, spinning machinery like this in Sumeru.

It's hard to explain, since I'm not a mechanic or anything like that. But you might be able to learn out more by riding it!

[ She is nothing if not determined. ]

[Alhaitham raises his visible brow.] Do You want to get on the ride, Tsuruno?

Yep, yep. I wanna get on the ride with you.

[ Without any ounce of hesitation whatsoever? Yeah. She's not ashamed. ]

[What a funny girl. Alhaitham let's out a huff with amusement.] Well. Since dismantling it isn't possible, experiencing it is the only way to answer my questions any further.

[He strides to the swing ride, pack tossed aside as he hops up and does an investigation of one of the seats. Pulls the chain to test it. Rickety thing, isn't it.]

Yeeees!

[ With a punch to the air, right before she hurries after him. ]

The air feels really nice on these rides, too!

[Alhaitham hums in agreement. It probably does, the facsimile of being in flight. Humans are fascinated by the freedom of air.

He pushes the bar up to slide under it, sitting in the chair with his knees bent up awkwardly with his height.] Strap in so it doesn't leave you behind.

[He knows at least that these things seen to turn on themselves in a cycle. Which... isn't all that safe to anyone trying to get a look at them during hours.]

That'd be pretty sad, wouldn't it?

[ But she also lifts the bar of the closest swing to plop herself down in the seat, lowering it to secure herself. And Alhaitham's timed it well, because about three seconds after she's sat down, the ride creaks and groans as it starts up, slowly lifting them into the air. ]

[Alhaitham quickly buckles the seat belt as the ride jolts alive, because safety first. They're carried higher and higher into the air before it begins to spin like a top with rapidly building speed.

...

It's impossible to tell how much Alhaitham is actually enjoying this, because he sits with the same expression as ever, occasionally craning his neck to watch the machine itself.]

You have to take in the view, Al!!

[ SIR THE MACHINE IS NOT THAT FUN ]

The City | Inbox

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)