ba mươi hai ❀| we've come a long way to where the mountain is high
[Good morning, Mayfield! What you want on this bright Sunday morning is Vietnam, right? Right? Well, you're getting her.
It's the New Year soon! As opposed to Chinese New Year, though, Vietnam calls it Tết Nguyên Đán- don't be fooled, though! It takes place on just the same dates and is really quite similiar but for some specific cultural variations here and there. Tết is a time to be spent with family! It's also a time to let go of all of the troubles of the last year and to cook and shop and decorate. Even though she's stuck in Mayfield, Vietnam is also very stuck in her ways- as a deeply traditional nation, she manages to find a way to continue said traditions one way or another under any condition. And so she's been very busy for the past week! Others might notice that Vietnam is in an unusually good mood. As good as it gets for her, anyway- she's been keeping her motorbike down to a dull roar and may even crack a smile now and then. That's the power of Tết for you.
You can find her up to a variety of activities today:]
[A | Riding on the back of her water buffalo as she guides it down the street! It's loaded up with all kinds of things- groceries, new clothes, bottles of wine, a blanket across its broad back, her đàn bầu, bells and bright red ribbons on its horns, silverware, incense sticks, a lantern or two, and fresh flowers. Really, it almost looks like Vietnam is planning to get up and move somewhere else entirely. She's just been shopping, though! Tết is one of few times a year when typical expenses can be handwaved in favor of a bit of luxury.
...Oh, you didn't know that Vietnam has a water buffalo? Well, she does! He arrived in a crate yesterday from the post office. The creature seems to be vaguely confused by the cold weather and baffled by the presence of snow, but it manages to continue steadily forward just as any good water buffalo should. Vietnam herself seems very familiar with it, and not at all bothered that the sight of someone riding a water buffalo down the street may appear somewhat strange.]
[B | Preparing red envelopes on the front porch of 786 Bunker Street! There isn't much in Mayfield at all (read: nothing) to help out with Tết preparations, so she's making them herself. Luckily, she's good with her hands, so they look pretty nice for being made out of construction paper. She's folding the packets neatly and inscribing them with bright messages. After she does that, she puts money in the envelopes. She's making them for everyone that she views as a child!
...Which, uh, considering her age, is pretty much most of Mayfield. She's humming to herself softly, and you might even catch a scrap or two of her singing.]
Mừng tuổi...
[C | You are being stared down by a water buffalo. Its gaze is rather... unsettling. Vietnam is nowhere to be seen. If you try to approach it, it doesn't move. It just continues to stare at you without blinking. Now and then the red ribbons on its horns flutter dramatically in the wind.
Nothing will get it to move; it simply remains there, sure-footed, determined.
Determined to stare at you. Probably forever.]
[D | Vietnam is in one of Mayfield's clothing stores, trying to pick something out for her boyf... companion. She's squinting at bow ties with an expression on her face that clearly says 'I really do not understand this fashion statement at all'. She picks up a green bow tie and appears to be cornered by the smiling drone sales attendant, who is telling her that it will look 'so wonderful on your husband'.
She's staring at at the salesman like she's about to pull out her gun and pistolwhip him as hard as she can. M-maybe someone should intervene?]
[E | Preparing cây nêu, floral decorations for the new year, at 1762 Beaver Street. Mayfield doesn't have bamboo or even the flowers she's normally used to, so she's improvising. In place of bamboo she's whittled down long, slender branches, decorating them with peach blossoms. She's also folding little things out of paper- coins, dogs, bowls- and attaching them to the branches. After she's done a few branches, she takes a break to check on the food that's cooking. It smells amazing, by the way- lots of rice and meats.
After a while of handcrafting and cooking, she makes a couple of phone calls!]
|❀PHONE; famiry.|
Em Korea and I are inviting all of you to celebrate the New Year together. [Her tone makes it clear that it's less 'invite' and more 'you will bring dishonor to our family if you do not show up and I will be very disappoint'.] So, ah, I've already cooked quite a bit, but the more food the better, no? Even though we are here, this is a time to spend together. Phải? ['Right?']
|❀PHONE; Charles Fei-Ong.|
Tết is soon. This is a time to honor your ancestors... Don't pretend as if you have forgotten. I know it must have stuck with you somehow, even if you are so old now. [Look, Charles, she even called you old! This is serious, okay, she apparently really wants your favor.] ...Aaah, have you even visited my altar at all...? If you don't show respect, you won't gain any fortune for the new year... [A sigh, though it's clear she just wants to see him.] There is lots to be done still, and I want your help.
It's the New Year soon! As opposed to Chinese New Year, though, Vietnam calls it Tết Nguyên Đán- don't be fooled, though! It takes place on just the same dates and is really quite similiar but for some specific cultural variations here and there. Tết is a time to be spent with family! It's also a time to let go of all of the troubles of the last year and to cook and shop and decorate. Even though she's stuck in Mayfield, Vietnam is also very stuck in her ways- as a deeply traditional nation, she manages to find a way to continue said traditions one way or another under any condition. And so she's been very busy for the past week! Others might notice that Vietnam is in an unusually good mood. As good as it gets for her, anyway- she's been keeping her motorbike down to a dull roar and may even crack a smile now and then. That's the power of Tết for you.
You can find her up to a variety of activities today:]
[A | Riding on the back of her water buffalo as she guides it down the street! It's loaded up with all kinds of things- groceries, new clothes, bottles of wine, a blanket across its broad back, her đàn bầu, bells and bright red ribbons on its horns, silverware, incense sticks, a lantern or two, and fresh flowers. Really, it almost looks like Vietnam is planning to get up and move somewhere else entirely. She's just been shopping, though! Tết is one of few times a year when typical expenses can be handwaved in favor of a bit of luxury.
...Oh, you didn't know that Vietnam has a water buffalo? Well, she does! He arrived in a crate yesterday from the post office. The creature seems to be vaguely confused by the cold weather and baffled by the presence of snow, but it manages to continue steadily forward just as any good water buffalo should. Vietnam herself seems very familiar with it, and not at all bothered that the sight of someone riding a water buffalo down the street may appear somewhat strange.]
[B | Preparing red envelopes on the front porch of 786 Bunker Street! There isn't much in Mayfield at all (read: nothing) to help out with Tết preparations, so she's making them herself. Luckily, she's good with her hands, so they look pretty nice for being made out of construction paper. She's folding the packets neatly and inscribing them with bright messages. After she does that, she puts money in the envelopes. She's making them for everyone that she views as a child!
...Which, uh, considering her age, is pretty much most of Mayfield. She's humming to herself softly, and you might even catch a scrap or two of her singing.]
Mừng tuổi...
[C | You are being stared down by a water buffalo. Its gaze is rather... unsettling. Vietnam is nowhere to be seen. If you try to approach it, it doesn't move. It just continues to stare at you without blinking. Now and then the red ribbons on its horns flutter dramatically in the wind.
Nothing will get it to move; it simply remains there, sure-footed, determined.
Determined to stare at you. Probably forever.]
[D | Vietnam is in one of Mayfield's clothing stores, trying to pick something out for her boyf... companion. She's squinting at bow ties with an expression on her face that clearly says 'I really do not understand this fashion statement at all'. She picks up a green bow tie and appears to be cornered by the smiling drone sales attendant, who is telling her that it will look 'so wonderful on your husband'.
She's staring at at the salesman like she's about to pull out her gun and pistolwhip him as hard as she can. M-maybe someone should intervene?]
[E | Preparing cây nêu, floral decorations for the new year, at 1762 Beaver Street. Mayfield doesn't have bamboo or even the flowers she's normally used to, so she's improvising. In place of bamboo she's whittled down long, slender branches, decorating them with peach blossoms. She's also folding little things out of paper- coins, dogs, bowls- and attaching them to the branches. After she's done a few branches, she takes a break to check on the food that's cooking. It smells amazing, by the way- lots of rice and meats.
After a while of handcrafting and cooking, she makes a couple of phone calls!]
|❀PHONE; famiry.|
Em Korea and I are inviting all of you to celebrate the New Year together. [Her tone makes it clear that it's less 'invite' and more 'you will bring dishonor to our family if you do not show up and I will be very disappoint'.] So, ah, I've already cooked quite a bit, but the more food the better, no? Even though we are here, this is a time to spend together. Phải? ['Right?']
|❀PHONE; Charles Fei-Ong.|
Tết is soon. This is a time to honor your ancestors... Don't pretend as if you have forgotten. I know it must have stuck with you somehow, even if you are so old now. [Look, Charles, she even called you old! This is serious, okay, she apparently really wants your favor.] ...Aaah, have you even visited my altar at all...? If you don't show respect, you won't gain any fortune for the new year... [A sigh, though it's clear she just wants to see him.] There is lots to be done still, and I want your help.