The Cultural Fair

[wise_maiden]

Who: Everyone! Or as close to that as possible, please. \o/
What: The Cultural Fair
When: April 25th-26th, though the earlier set-up days (22nd, 23rd, and keeping everything dry on the 24th) are also encouraged to help get a feel for it
Where: All around the town square
Summary: Also here.
Rating: ... is this a thing?

Note: Booths can be labeled as separate comments! Just put [booth name] or something in the subject line so people can find top level comments easier. Work was probably started for it on the 22nd-23rd for labor purposes, sheltering things from the weather on the 24th, and the actual Fair is on the 25th-26th, so using any of those dates and figuring out where your characters are helping would be good. CHARACTERS ARE WELCOME TO TAG THE LOG FOR INTERACTING WITH OTHERS, NOT JUST BOOTHS, SO FEEL FREE TO TAG IN! Also a character who might not know what's going on is welcome to walk by and question it! And so forth.

I'll leave the descriptions up to you all as there probably isn't much that is too uniform about the displays, as everyone is encouraged to be creative about it. Think of it as something on a much smaller scale than the festival from a year ago, definitely, but how hard the characters worked isn't something I could define for each of you. That said there are plenty of unique sights, so enjoy browsing! Thank you!

(Also, please add your name tags!)

Comments

Waterbending Demo

[markofthebrave]

[So at some point during the day, Katara, wearing her traditional Water Tribe tunic, will ascend to the stage. Two large jars of water rest at the base of the stage, and Katara - nervous to actually be performing bending, and looking it - draws about a forth of the water from each jar and begins.

She adds more and more water from the jars below until she's drained nearly half from each, and the routine is at its midway point when Aang joins in. He airbends on to the stage and moves smoothly into waterbending, also drawing from those jars. Though most of the tension left Katara when she started bending, when Aang begins to mirror her movements, that's when she starts to relax, that's when she starts to smile.]

[wise_maiden]

[As one who isn't particularly a fan of water in large bodies, she can appreciate the way Katara, and later Aang, handle the routine. It's also easy to pick up on Katara's change in mood once she's no longer the solo performer.

When all the demos are finished, she'll come back over to see how the young woman is doing.]

That was quite the routine.

[markofthebrave]

Thanks, Professor! It was fun to figure out which moves to do.

[Nothing too complicated, nothing too telling, but a good demonstration of what bending is capable of.]

[wise_maiden]

All of you seemed so natural in your presentations. The movements, the flow... it was truly a fascinating experience.

[markofthebrave]

We've had a lot of practice.

[That's right, viewing some masters up in here.]

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[wise_maiden]

I don't doubt it. You must make quite a team.

[markofthebrave]

[A happy smile.]

We've all always worked well together.

[When it counted.]

[wise_maiden]

Watching you all together like this, I don't doubt it.

[markofthebrave]

Thanks, Raine.

[A smile, small and genuine.]

[so_shik]

[Hey Katara heyy. Shiki happened to wander off from her own booth for a little bit to visit the South Pole kids when she manages to catch the demonstration.]

...so that's waterbending? That's...really, really cool.

[markofthebrave]

Thanks! [Much less awkward about this right now, thanks to Aang.] I've always thought so too.

[so_shik]

[Hey, less awkward is always good.] Sokka's told me about it, but I've never seen it before...is it hard?

[markofthebrave]

Well... it takes a lot of practice. And once you learn the movements, you still have to work to keep your focus and really perfect the forms. [Not to mention the internal 'muscle' or stamina that allows you to 'lift' that much water.] So it takes a lot to master.

[In other words, yes.]

But at the same time, when you're a bender, there's something natural about it. It feels like you complete a part of yourself when you're working with your element.

[So... no?]

[so_shik]

[Hmm...so sort of like telekinesis.]

It just sounds so freeing, in a sense. I mean even if you have to focus a lot, just knowing you have that sort of a gift is incredible. You're pretty lucky.

[markofthebrave]

Thanks. [She does love being a waterbender.] Bending is something that's always been a part of me, even when I was a little girl, before I really knew how to use it.

[so_shik]

Is there some sort of trait that determines who becomes a bender and who doesn't? [She mostly just finds it interesting that Sokka and Katara are related but only she can bend.]

Waterbending Demo

[savedtheworld]

[Once they finish the demonstration, Aang bows at Katara with a proud smile on his face. He then air-jumps to the audience and joins them in applause. The recent weirdness is buried in the back of his head for the time being; today, it's like old times again.]

1/2

[markofthebrave]

[Gosh, Aang.]

[markofthebrave]

[She bows back, though the bow is somewhat spoiled since she's up high and Aang is down in the audience, and then makes her way off stage.]

We did it.

[savedtheworld]

You did most of the work, Katara. And you were great.

[markofthebrave]

[Boy, where has she been without you to puff up her ego all these years?

Katara is genuinely pleased at the compliment.]

Thanks. I'm always a little nervous when people gather around to just watch my bending.

[It's such a practical and somehow personal extension of herself. It feels weird.]

[savedtheworld]

[While Aang's just glad to act as the compliment machine - the easiest way to cope with being worshiped by most of the world was to worship the girl next to him.]

You shouldn't be. You've learned so much since we first met... I'm sure you could even take Old Pakku down.

[Aang almost slipped and referred to him as Grampakku; he remembered in time that Katara hadn't lived through that detail yet.]

1/2

[markofthebrave]

Oh, I don't know about that...

[markofthebrave]

But I'd like to try it.

[Bring it, Master Pakku.]

[savedtheworld]

That's the spirit!