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

[tobeajedi]

Festivus? This another Earth tradition?

video

[thebestseller]

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

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?

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.

[lostthebet]

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

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.

[thebestseller]

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

video.

[thebestseller]

Me, too. [Castle, thankfully, doesn't seem unduly bothered.] It is- I was kinda hoping I'd be gone from here before the day rolled around.

video.

[mucked]

I doubt it's any consolation, but with space as far-flung as this -- well, I can't imagine the 'day' truly has rolled around. Not for us, at least. [ it's a figment. a routine. a lie, perhaps, they'll be telling themselves. ]

[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.

[tobeajedi]

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

[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.

[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.

video.

[thebestseller]

Hmmmm. [Castle seriously considers that for a moment.] That's a fair point, Agent. I've heard that time doesn't pass home after we're taken, anyway, so who knows what day it really is? They've messed with our perception of time plenty already.

video.

[mucked]

[ well, this is the first she's heard of this. ]

Time doesn't pass back home?

video.

[thebestseller]

That's what people have told me, yes. Who knows if it's true or not? But it makes sense... if we just suddenly disappeared, the probability that someone in some universe would find a way to bring us back would go up exponentially, and Atroma abducting us would all be for nothing.

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.

video.

[mucked]

The probability could rise all it likes. Sometimes, lost people simply stay lost.

[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.