Saturday, October 31, 2020

Fortune Festival's Happy Illusion Episode 5 Part 1

Things start off with Balor again, who is now hanging around somewhere in Little Tir na Nog instead of back at Nerima like I figured every other meeting was at as he waits for another meeting that he's arranged. That turns out to be with Tezcatlipoca, who turns up greeting him and apologizing for the wait since he's been busier than expected with festival committee work. Balor in turn laughs at how much of a good mood Tezcatlipoca is in, and Tezcatlipoca says he's as solemn as always the way he'd accept his punishment of his own will. Tezcatlipoca then laughs some more about how Balor is Doing as He Pleases and how great all his allies are Living as They Choose too. Most fear death, shun loss, distance themselves from old age, and avoid destruction. The rest of them however like, love, and get familiar with those things. The life they seek lies beyond those things after all.
 
Balor sighs, glaring at Tezcatlipoca as he spews some smoke from his mouth. He says he's told him a bunch of times already, but he doesn't want to be lumped in together with Tezcatlipoca's Other Allies, particularly the one from Deva Loka. If he has to be lumped together with anyone, he'd prefer it to be with the World Representative of Shangri-La, who he describes as someone awkward or smoky. Tezcatlipoca swears on his heart that he'll remember, but he notes he doesn't have it anymore (the expression he used involves something else but same thing.) And speaking of people from Deva Loka, Tezcatlipoca notes that Balor is trying really hard to avoid anyone of that description.
 
Balor says of course he would, because the beliefs of Tir na Nog and Deva Loka are Too Incompatible. They approve of loss like Tezcatlipoca does, but they also reject the old age that Balor loves as unnecessary. Balor then says he wants to talk to Tezcatlipoca about something he's been planning on saying for a while now, and he asks if he'll listen. Tezcatlipoca spaces out for a second to think about Tvastar as he thinks on the faith of Deva Loka. Balor tries to get him to respond again, so Tezcatlipoca apologizes saying he had something on his mind before asking Balor what would happen if his faith got mixed with Deva Loka's. Would that cause an Exception, or would something else happen?
 
Balor is amused Tezcatlipoca feels like listening to him for once. But to answer his question it wouldn't cause an Exception, and Balor thinks the most appropriate way to explain is to say it'd cause the fairies to get into a drunken frenzy. Tezcatlipoca asks him to elaborate, so Balor explains that fairies are, as the word entymology suggests, things closely connected to fate and the wheels of life and death that are a part of it. The power of Tir na Nog is to devour death and old age and replace them with youth and life. What fairies eat and drink are different from what's in the present world. Balor then asks if Tezcatlipoca has heard of these two sayings: "someone of this world must not eat anything from the faeries' world" and "you can't return to eternity twice (I'm pretty sure I have this wrong)." After that, Balor asks if Tezcatlipoca knows what the people of Deva Loka normally eat.
 
Balor says the answer is soma, the drink of youth that creates the System of Deva Loka. Tezcatlipoca doesn't say anything in response, and Balor says that if a fairy drinks it things would mix and become dangerous, which he laughs about. Even with normal alcohol, if you mix things that normally aren't put together, you'd most likely get super drunk from the concoction. Balor brings back up that he referred to life and death as two wheels of fate. A vehicle that has lost one side of its wheels becomes unpredictable in where it goes. Driving such a thing while drunken mad is not the action of someone sane. Who knows where'd they go? He asks if Tezcatlipoca thinks that would be dangerous too, and Tezcatlipoca laughs at the idea as he says Balor's good at agitating him. If he's warning him against it, then Tezcatlipoca says he'd jump in with a laugh.
 
Title card pops up, and this chapter is called Festival Gourmet Food! Toasting Together in a Food Fight!?
 
Narration then picks up and says it's the morning of the final day of the festival in Little Tir na Nog. The place is overflowing with nature as the name of the world this floor is imitating suggests. No one is at the festival area, so the mood is relaxed and carefree. Then at your inn room, everyone is getting together to eat breakfast. Tvastar is there, saying all the vegetables and eggs were raised there in Little Tir na Nog, grown with his specially made fertilizer. Tezcatlipoca is here eating here too. He comments that he doesn't eat Japanese food much, but he likes the fried egg. He then tells Agyou he shouldn't be picky or else he won't grow as big as he is. He then brags that his usual healthiness can let him create worlds according to his whims.
 
Agyou is shocked and amazed at this as he swears to eat everything. Moritaka is also shocked, thanking Tezcatlipoca for encouraging Agyou to eat but reminds him that there are things only he in particular can do. Kengo is shocked at how casually Tezcatlipoca thinks of creating of a world, telling him to not be so carefree about it and asking how El Dorado must be from that sort of attitude. Cait Sith is off talking about how good the cat food buffet is, pointing out things like bonito flakes, soy sauce, and miso soup. Touji is a bit taken aback at how spirited Cait Sith is being and decides he'll get some rice with bonito, soy sauce, and seaweed.
 
Kijimuna is enjoying the bonito flakes as well, enjoying how it wiggles when heated and compares it to dancing. Hanuman has some too, and he decides to mix his with soy sauce and butter. Solomon thinks out loud about what to get and considers getting some natto, only to be dismayed at how sticky it is. Cait Sith suggests he makes it the way he likes it so that he can make some one of a kind cat food. He then laughs as he comments on how everyone is absorbed with their own food, then leads some quick pre meal formalities. Once he's done with that, he sighs about how great the food is and that he was living his life for this moment. You comment on how big a family things have gotten and/or that it's a lot livelier around the table now.
 
Tvastar laughs about how the power of life and the growls of stomach are rising, and comments that it's been a while since he's eaten together with so many people. Shirou asks him about being one of the Kamata Crafters and if that means he normally gets together with the other members to eat. Tvastar says he doesn't since artisans and researchers typically all go by their own schedule. Plus, he and Vritra are on the move a lot, so it's usually just the two of them. Ryouta asks if he's going to anywhere specific, but Tvastar says that's a no too. Most of the time they're just aimless. Vritra is his precious baby boy, and he says that sharing anything with anyone is already a memory at this point.
 
Shirou says he understands how Tvastar feels, which Tvastar is so happy about that he offers to mod him as a special service, specifically offering to give him eyeglass laser beams. Shirou quickly passes on the idea and notes that this wouldn't be modding him directly. R-19 thinks about this and suggests it'd be better if Shirou could shoot laser beams by turning around, and Shirou is shocked R-19 is getting in on this too.
 
Camera shifts over to Mononobe's room, who can hear the noise your party is making and tells Furufumi he wouldn't mind if he went to join you guys. Furufumi declines the suggestion since it's too noisy for him. He's also worried about leaving Mononobe alone since he feels he'll just up and leave for somewhere. Mononobe laughs and calls him kind, and Furufumi sighs as he says that way of phrasing things is mean.
 
Back to your side of things everyone has finished eating, and Tezcatlipoca starts talking to you about how long it's been since he's been at a breakfast with so many people, talking with friends and children. Ryouta mentions that he was surprised Tezcatlipoca showed up since he said no the first time, then asks why he came this time in his new body. Tezcatlipoca laughs and says even he changes his mind. He also thought it would be good to do something together with you guys, and he turns to Tvastar for agreement. Tvastar says he's also glad to check on how the new body is doing and asks him for feedback on how it works for day to day living.
 
Shirou then decides it's time to start talking about the day's plans, and Kengo pleads for him to not make it another study session. Shirou laughs and says he can read the mood too, but he starts mentioning that there doesn't seem to be any other plans set up. Ryouta immediately jumps in to ask Cait Sith if Little Tir na Nog has any famous places in it. Cait Sith is a little surprised but says there are, then asks if he's interested. Ryouta assumed there wasn't and reacts along those lines until he processes what Cait Sith said. Cait Sith says he was planning to go after this, then says he can come too if he feels like it. Ryouta asks Shirou for permission to go, and Shirou says it's okay but tells him to be back by midday.
 
Touji gets curious and asks about Shirou not going. Shirou says he has a lot of things to get ready, but he has enough help so you guys don't need to worry about him. You decide to take him up on his offer and tell the others to help him as best they can. Hanuman and Kijimuna assure you that everything will be fine as you leave.
 
After everyone finishes cleaning up after breakfast, time passes to the point where Cait Sith is guiding most of the party along down a calm, tranquil path. The sounds of the streams flowing mixes with the sounds of everyone's footsteps, and a gentle breeze blows past carrying the scent of nature to everyone's noses. Kengo takes in a deep breath and talks about how nice the air is, and Ryouta comments on how far you guys can see in the distance with no large buildings in the way until he remembers this is technically indoors. Touji expresses some surprise at how big the place it and the other areas under the casino are, even though he's known already that they're supposed to be big.
 
Agyou starts reminiscing about how he'd walk some countryside roads with Ungyou, saying they'd keep on going forever even if he ran. Tvastar comments on how nice the sunlight feels as he talks to Vritra. Solomon says it's so peaceful here that he's starting to get sleepy, so he asks you to hold him. Moritaka then asks Cait Sith what this place is that you're all going to is like. Cait Sith struggles to find some words to describe it as he first picks some sound effect, then says it has a lot of clean water, has fairies flying around, and has an air of mystery. He eventually settles for calling it a power spot. Ryouta thinks it's a terrible description to Cait Sith's surprise, and Tezcatlipoca hmphs to himself.
 
You guys eventually reach a pretty spring, shining with light streaming through the leaves as Ryouta and Tezcatlipoca among others voice their amazement at it. Cait Sith explains that this is an imitation of a spring from Tir na Nog, which is said to be where fairies sing and magical power resides. He mentions having heard that it's an old custom for Japanese festivals to go purify yourself at springs or waterfalls, so he's trying it out here. Cait Sith is also having anyone hoping to participate in the ending event of the third day of the festival to purify themselves here too.
 
Touji approves of the purification ceremony, and he mentions having thought of something else when Cait Sith said power spot earlier. Tezcatlipoca mentions feeling a noticeable solemnity from the spring, and Kengo remarks that Touji (I think?) is always taken in by customs and traditions. Mononobe happens to already be here and greets you guys. Ryouta reacts in shock at his presence and that he's dressed (or undressed as it were) for doing some purification too. Mononobe explains that heard about this place being a power spot, and he wanted to see if it'd help with his back pain. Kengo turns to you and wonders if Mononobe is confusing this place with a hot spring. You ask about Furufumi and if he's staying back at the inn or something.
 
Mononobe answers that Furufumi is hiding right behind him, and he moves out of the way to reveal him. Furufumi says he was told to have a fundoshi or a bathing suit on so he's feeling a little uncomfortable, but he's expected as much. He's also put out that Ryouta is here too since he never found the time to go apologize to him for before. Mononobe tells him to stop being so shy, and to let go of his fundoshi so that he can move again. You either complain about wanting to grab onto him too or suggest to everyone to get in.
 
Solomon laughs as he comments how novel it is to see you and Chubby over there dressed for purification and that you guys look good in it. Ryouta laughs and suggests that Furufumi join in together with them. He's confused for a second before becoming surprised as he asks him to not pull him along. Ryouta argues that if they go in together it'll be half as embarrassing and twice as enjoyable, so Furufumi sighs at how nosy he is. He decides to join him in the end though.
 
Mononobe laughs about how this is Furufumi trying out something new, saying that personal possibilities and possibilities from the world mix together to form something new. Once you can see yourself trying it out, he says that's when the teacher's favor is used up. Even if you fail, multiple times even, he'll be there watching you get back up. Even if you've been at it for a long time now, once you try, Mononobe says he'll be glad he became a teacher. Even he'll start feeling like trying something he's never tried before. You either turn to him curiously, or you complain that you want him to pay attention to you too and not just to Furufumi. If you go with the latter, Mononobe laughs as he asks if you miss him, but he's happy you feel that way.
 
Mononobe goes quiet for a second before he talks to you again, saying you've been busy running around doing one thing or another. He then asks if he can have a bit of your time after the festival is over. He promises he won't be lecturing you again, saying he wants to talk to you on a personal level instead of as a teacher. He'll be waiting near where you met him on the first day of the festival, so come by if you feel like it. At that point, Ryouta calls over to you guys, so Mononobe suggests going over then.
 
Agyou starts yelling about how cold the water is and remembers that this is what the purification ritual entails. Tezcatlipoca comments on how sharp the cold is, but he thinks it's a good thing. Tvastar sort of thinks the power of life is welling up as he shivers, and Tezcatlipoca asks Agyou if they just go into the water. Agyou says he's not actually sure and wishes Ungyou taught him this in more detail. Touji says he'll teach everyone how to go about it, but then he gets splashed.
 
Kengo is not particularly bothered by the cold and says it's all about that tensing feeling to the core and wishes there was a waterfall around. Moritaka agrees with him and suggests that they go to one on the next vacation. Ryouta is shocked that they can talk so animatedly and asks if you guys really are supposed to walk into water that cold. Mononobe says they'll never get in if they're afraid, saying this is where you need guts. Furufumi says he agrees with Ryouta as he mentions how cold and embarrassed he is again. You join with them and prompt them to jump in together with you as you count off.
 
Ryouta and Furufumi yell about how cold the water is once more. Cait Sith is quiet for a bit before he tries to pray that the festival will end safely. He also prays that his magic show will work out okay, then wonders how the king of cats would handle all this. Tvastar watches in silence.
 
Some time later, Tezcatlipoca suggests to you that it ought to be time to go. He's looked at the schedule for the festival and says there's still a chance to do the purifications later tonight. Ryouta agrees and thanks Cait Sith for telling you guys about this place. Kengo notes it's about lunch time and remembers that Shirou was getting something ready. You notice that there's a message to you on the App, and that Ryouta has one too. Ryouta is surprised to hear that and wonders who it could be from. You see it's from Shirou and are surprised by what he's written. Ryouta panics and tells everyone they need to hurry back, and the episode part ends with everyone else wondering why Ryouta's freaking out so much.
 
 
 
 
 
 

1 comment:

  1. Babalon and Sutr would be proud of the summoners family energy

    ReplyDelete