Eighth Incision [Video; Backdated to the Afternoon of the 13th]

[removeimpurity]

[The broadcast starts as any other one from Syre would: with the remnants of a meal just barely in frame and the alchemist sipping a glass of water. However, it seems she didn't mean to start the broadcast this early, as her expression slowly changes to one of surprise -- once she realizes the feed is on, anyway.]

Oh, I wasn't quite ready to talk yet. [She laughs, a bit embarrassed.] Well, I suppose I should get on with it.

[She clears her throat, takes another sip of water, then starts again.]

Good afternoon, Luceti. Bit of a grey day, don't you think? Reminds me almost of home, in a sense, with the sky looking as though it's about to snow any moment.

This will be my first winter here, so I'd like to ask: what manner of celebrations do we have here? What beliefs, what customs, generally prevail at this time of year? Are there feasts? Celebrations? Silent ceremonies?

I apologize for the barrage of questions -- I'm just a little curious.

Comments

[Video]

[quicktoanger]

"Ah, don't worry about that. Everybody wants to think their civilization is special. Human instinct. Some sort of tribal behavior or something, I dunno. Point is, we're all guilty of it."

[Video]

[removeimpurity]

That's certainly comforting. [A somewhat embarrassed laugh escapes her.]

Though, on the subject of special things... Do any of the holidays where you're from hold any personal significance to you, Harry?

[Video]

[quicktoanger]

"Ah, I'm a big fan of all of 'em. Except Halloween. Bad memories associated with that one. But yeah, Christmas is great, Thanksgiving is great, Independence Day is great, aaaand you have no idea what any of those are, right?"

I chuckled.

"Sorry. Uh. Christmas you know. Thanksgiving you might remember, a lot of folks here celebrated it. Independence Day is just a thing my country has. Sort of celebrates our independence and the ideals that the country is supposed to live by. I like that kind of thing."

[Video]

[removeimpurity]

Oh! We have something similar to Independence Day on Selles, though we call it the Day of Founding.

[But on a darker note:] Seems I'm not the only one with a foul taste in their mouth after October.