interfaith dinner mingle!!

[stefanged]

Who: Interfaith Center regulars & the not-so-regulars (party crashers are welcome too!!)
Broadcast: Nope
Action: Interfaith Center on the Iskaulit
When: Forward-dated to November 4th

[The Interfaith Center sounds far more bustling and busy than usual - and anyone peering inside would quickly figure out that a communal dinner is underway! Take off your shoes and walk in: the lounge has extra tablecloths on the floor as well as buffet tables with non-alcoholic beverages and all sorts of food, including Jordanian cuisine (or the outer space equivalent of Jordanian food).

The board games are out of their hiding nooks; the furniture's arranged for the maximum seating possible; and even the teddy bears donated by Kitty & Winn are out for cuddling, should anyone want them.

The kitchen's bustling with helpers - Stefan's running around at vamp-speed to make sure everything's a) done on time and b) cooked to perfection - but he sure wouldn't mind an extra hand. And if you're still not up for some food? Well, the prayer rooms are open as usual. There's always a quiet moment to be found, even if the laughter's louder and the scent of freshly-baked mansaf's wafting through the long corridors.

Anyone and everyone who's ever been inside the Interfaith Center has been invited (via text message - and Stefan even used the fancy emoji). If you're not particularly faithful or devout? Well, drop by anyways. There's more than enough food to spare.]

Comments

[huaaaaagh]

Oh, it's probably Halloween. On Earth, several major countries celebrate a fall holiday by dressing up in costumes and carving pumpkins.

[bythewaves]

Is there any reason for pumpkins in particular? [ Maglor blinks, curious ]

And why costumes?

[huaaaaagh]

Mm... not really sure, actually. Halloween's more of an adult thing where I'm from, so I've never celebrated it. I think the pumpkins are just easy to carve faces into? And costumes... lots of people like an excuse to dress up.

[bythewaves]

I suppose that would make sense, although I confess curiosity as why one would wish to carve faces into pumpkins... or anything really! At all.

But I can understand that last, I suppose... the urge to pretend to be someone else, even for a little while...

[huaaaaagh]

Yeah, I get the appeal, too. Some people do that kind of thing whenever they get the chance, not just on a holiday like this.

[Hell, it's what he used to do before SAO. Sometimes he still does it with the avatars, even here. It's more out of comfort and convenience than necessity, these days.]

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor shakes his head, caught somewhere between bitter wistfullness and amusement ]

It can be freeing, I think, which would be the main appeal. Although I suppose this is all in fun, after all, so it does not matter what one is... I am rather surprised by the number of... well. Monsters, I suppose.

[huaaaaagh]

Monsters? Oh, have you seen people in costume?

[bythewaves]

Aye - I fought many of the beasts they represent, and I cannot help but wonder... why?

[huaaaaagh]

Mostly because it's fun, I think. Lots of people enjoy dressing up as things they're not. Sometimes they don't even need a holiday for an excuse.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor shakes his head, eyes dark ]

Fun... at least I suppose they find it so. There is too much blood between the Shadow and I to ever enjoy such things I think.

[huaaaaagh]

Ahaha... yeah, it's not for everybody. There are some monsters I wouldn't want to mimic for the same reason.

[That Fatal Scythe and the Skull Reaper comes immediately to mind.]

[bythewaves]

You are a warrior too yourself then. [ Maglor sighs softly - too young, he thinks privately, but Men grow up swiftly, and it is not entirely surprising ]

[huaaaaagh]

That kind of title might be a bit too heavy for the current me.

[A warrior sounds serious, professional, even. Someone who's devoted their life to the art of battle, something out of serious fantasy.

Those days are done for him; he's had enough of it already.]

I am a swordsman, though.

[bythewaves]

A swordsman who has stood in the gap enough to recognise Shadow and withdraw from it. [ Maglor points out dryly ]

That is warrior enough for me.

[huaaaaagh]

[He offers up a wide shrug.]

Well, call me whatever you want, I'm not picky.

[bythewaves]

[ A soft chuckle ]

I will not, if it makes you uncomfortable. Although I confess I would enjoy seeing what you can do with your blade, one day.

[huaaaaagh]

I'm not uncomfortable, just.

[Well, it's a little weird. Anyway.]

Do you fight with swords, too?

[bythewaves]

Aye - I have trained with several weapons in the past, but I do seem to keep coming back to the blade.

[huaaaaagh]

Yeah, I was like that too. Any time I picked up another weapon, something about it just felt wrong.

[bythewaves]

Some folk are best suited to some things, I guess. What else did you try?

[huaaaaagh]

Well, mostly other blades... I won't deny I have a bias. I tried a dagger for a while, and a short sword. Oh, and these cool combat claws, too, but only briefly. The range and attack power was never enough to satisfy me, though.

I've done some unarmed combat, both here and at home, but I feel better with a proper sword in my hand.

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor nods ]

If tis range you were looking at, you could consider a spear, or halberd, perhaps? And I can understand that wish in terms of unarmed combat. Tis always better to have a blade in hand, eh?

[huaaaaagh]

Yeah, I'm not really a fan of those. The range is nice, but the trade-off for speed could get me killed. I prefer a strength-agility build.

[Kirito stop talking like you're in a video-game.]

[bythewaves]

Agility is vital for anyone who uses a blade. [ He agrees ]

Although you might be surprised how fast one of sufficient skill can wield such a weapon - my younger brother liked the spear - he was a hunter, you see, and he liked a weapon that he could throw, and he was viciously fast with it, although he used knives, as well.

[huaaaaagh]

Maybe you have to be the right kind of person to appreciate that kind of weapon. It really isn't my style.

[Plus he kind of saw too many people get killed trying to use spears and the like in SAO. He's a little biased.]