earthshine
Hopes and wishes, fate and destined love.
It is, quite possibly, one of the dumbest things that Niles has heard upon arriving in Fódlan—and after the month he’s had, he’s heard quite a number of really stupid things. This, though? This takes the cake. Not only is there an entire festival of sorts, gathering students and faculty and even the local villagers within the monastery’s walls, but there is an entire festival full of those people who think, at least in part, that hanging a ribbon from a tree can help them find their true, destined love.
“They’d probably find it sooner if they go to the right place with some coin,” he tells the merchant passing around the ribbons, but she only laughs, nonplussed by his suggestion.
“Maybe,” she says, and looks past him to press another ribbon into someone else’s hands—someone slighter than he is, with blue hair carrying a streak of yellow. Alfonse of the Blue Lions... probably. “But nothing they find with coin will last. Trust me; it’s how I met my second husband—and the third!”
Second and third. Niles doesn’t even have time to ask her about it before she’s off, preaching the merits of hope and love and destiny to the crowd.
“Hm.” The ribbon is soft, and though the material wouldn’t last against a bit of good pressure, it’s still a nice shade of pink when held against Alfonse’s skin. He seems like the type to fluster easily; Niles simply can’t help himself. “I can think of better things to tie up than a branch on a tree... can’t you?”
At least then, it’ll be used for something worthwhile. Who the hell could possibly think a tradition like this has any merit?
@alfvangr