002 | video | The Lights of Life

[ofallandnothing]

[Dressed in her golden attire, Ensi is walking along the main aisle of the Temple, gathering religious books from where they've been left after the last service and setting them into a bag hung on the arm holding the phone. She has a faint smile, not particularly one of any noticeable brightness, however.]As it seems some of your Earth holidays are

Comments

[lilgreasemonkey]

audio;

[ She's not phased by the fancy looking woman's appearance. Blue skin? Seen it before. nbd. That's not what she's curious about. So she asks hesitantly (this lady seems the sort to be respectable around)- ]

... what sort of wishes?

[ofallandnothing]

Any kind of wish, my dear.

[She pauses for a moment before she continues.] Hopes for the safety of others, for the war to be over, for someone to be happy. Anything.

[lilgreasemonkey]

Any kind ...

[ Well she nailed it all right there. ] 's it just one lantern for each of us to send on up? [ Pretty obvious now what some of her money will be going to. And where she'll be at night. ] 'm sorry ma'am. I just ... wanna do this right. I need to.

[ofallandnothing]

You can send as many as you wish to, or put many wishes onto one single lantern. [The smile can be heard in her voice.] it is alright, child, I understand. Wishes and hopes are important. That is why we celebrate Lights of Life.

[alwayshasaprice]

video;

That is rather thoughtful of you... and what is the catch to this lovely little gift?

[ofallandnothing]

There is no catch-- simply the request that you all respect Mandalus' traditions and are on best behaviour for the day.

[alwayshasaprice]

As I recall, it is namely the city itself who is never on their best behavior.

[ofallandnothing]

Indeed, though oft because of the Serpent. Things like this happened long before you all arrived here.

[dowhatimust]

Video

[The angel bowed his head briefly.]

We thank you for your kindness. We will observe your holidays with respect to your traditions. Thank you for allowing us to observe ours.

[ofallandnothing]

[She offers a smile.]

We would not deny any of you your cultures. It would be foolish. I worship the Gods of Mandalus because they are all I have known from childhood, as you all worship your own gods. [A head tilt.] But I sense you are not of human design.

[dowhatimust]

I am not. I am an Angel of our world's God - one of his first Children. [He dips his head respectfully again.] More specifically, I am Castiel, the Angel of Thursday.

[ofallandnothing]

An angel. [Her brows raise a little but she smiles right after.] I take it you are more well mannered than the Archangel Gabriel. It is a pleasure to meet you, Castiel. I am Ensi.

[likely_evil]

I'd love to learn more about the native traditions here, if possible.

[ofallandnothing]

You would be most welcome to learn, I enjoy teaching guests the Mandalian culture.

[likely_evil]

That'd be great. Though right now, I'm on home arrest so I probably can't come out to see your ceremony tonight. Could you tell me why the lanterns are so significant?

I'm Sam, by the way.

[ofallandnothing]

Home arrest? [Oh dear, that sounds unpleasant.] Sam. I am Ensi. It's a pleasure.

The lanterns are a symbol of the light that the Goddess Enrilem brought to Mandalus when the Goddess of the Harvest, Messis, left for many months to grieve her lost husband, Morgeis, the Demi-God of Death. Mandalus was left hopeless and dark, with Enrilem's winter setting in, but she came to us and she brought hope. We send the lanterns to the skies with hopes and wishes written on them, for the Gods to see.