Chapter Three [Video]

[thebestseller]

Who: Richard Castle and YOU
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Planetside or on the Windrose, if need be
When: December 23rd

[Anybody who ran into Castle planetside before December 23rd could find him doing a few things- browsing the local wares, exploring the salt mines, and going in and out of hunting and camping gear stores.

He was looking for something- and finally he found it, dragging a lengthy pole back to the Windrose and proudly setting it up in the cargo bay.

Once it was done, his cheery windblown face could be seen giving a thumbs-up to the camera.]

Happy Festivus!

Comments

video.

[mucked]

Festivus, Mister Castle?

[ now, doesn't that sound merry. ]

video.

[thebestseller]

It's a supplementary holiday to Christmas, mostly to get cranky feelings out of the way so they don't ruin the real thing.

Re: video.

[mucked]

I never realized we were at such a high risk of ruination during our holidays.

video.

[thebestseller]

Thankfully, my family usually isn't. [His expression then softened.] I have to admit, any crabbiness is mostly on me. This'll be the first time I haven't had a Christmas with my daughter since she was born, so I'm finding it hard to be in a celebratory mood.

video.

[mucked]

Oh, bollocks. I'm sorry. [ she exhales, weary in the wake of her misstep. she ought not to have joked so lightly. ] That must be awful for you.

video

[tobeajedi]

Festivus? This another Earth tradition?

video

[thebestseller]

Yeah, but not one that's as widely-celebrated as Christmas.

[tobeajedi]

Gotcha. So what's the pole supposed to represent? North pole, or...?

[thebestseller]

It's actually supposed to be the opposite of a Christmas tree- bare, unadorned. It's a bit like the anti-Christmas, if you will, to get out all of the bad feelings so they're not in the way of some good holiday cheer.

[tobeajedi]

Oh, kind of like a catharsis? That sounds like it would be fun, actually.

action;

[unbearablynaive]

[This he has to see for himself, so a few minutes after the broadcast the Vision ducks into the cargo bay and--yep. Sure is a pole set up here. He smiles.]

Happy Festivus. Although I can't say I'm familiar with it? Are there particular traditions associated?

action;

[thebestseller]

It originated on a TV show, so I'm sort of going for the layers of meta here. The pole is a part of it- and it has to be unadorned.

action;

[unbearablynaive]

[That gets a smile, because why not?] I suppose we ought to keep up the tradition, in that case.

Is it for decoration only or does it have some use?

action;

[thebestseller]

Just for decoration- it's like the total opposite of a Christmas tree.

action;

[unbearablynaive]

[He nods.]

Then it is an excellent addition to the ship for the duration of the Festivus.

[lostthebet]

Woohoo!! If there's anything better than one Holiday, it's a bunch of holidays. What you got there, Castle?

[thebestseller]

The traditional Festivus pole! Unadorned, as tradition dictates. Also, only set up on December 23rd, again as tradition dictates. TRADITION.

[lostthebet]

Tradition is what keeps society going, man! Tower went all out for Festival of the Light, you could really see how it lifted Guardians spirits.

Tell me about your tradition.

[thebestseller]

Festivus is a bit like the anti-Christmas. It came from a TV show and was dreamed up as a way to push back against consumerism.

[lostthebet]

[He tilts his head.] So ... you sit alone and don't buy anything?

Video;

[notkittenaround]

[ She's on the planet, enjoying not the cold but rather the hunt at distance from the main town, but she keeps an equal eye on the fleetwide announcements. ]

I imagine tis yet another seasonal celebration, though I know not why a pole is part of it. Might you enlighten me?

Video;

[thebestseller]

Festivus is a not-so-cheerful seasonal celebration. The decorations are simple in order to push back against the consumerism of Christmas. ... not that I dislike Christmas, but I'm not in a very jolly mood at the moment.

[notkittenaround]

I have handed out many a present for the Starlight Celebration of mine own world, and am rather overly fond of consumerism, but I can see how a more simple gesture may appeal against the corruption of wealth.

[ Her tail flicks lazily from side to side, face content with casual conversation. ]

Is aught amiss?

[thebestseller]

Yeah... I'm feeling a little lonely, truth be told. I'm the only person here from my world- I'm used to celebrating the holidays with my family.

[notkittenaround]

That is one of the darkest cruelties of this place. I would not lie to you and say it gets easier with time; it merely becomes an older wound.