Fall Festival + 13th Hour Log!

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▼ Joint Fall Festival and 13th Hour Log!

 

Who: Anyone
Where: Virgo and all over the city!
When: The 22nd of September and any 13th Hour!
Summary: A combination Fall Festival log and 13th Hour log!
Warnings: Stay away if you are allergic to celebrations and fun. ...Or demons.

▼ As long as Heaven and Earth endure, I offer such to you...

 

The last of the effects of TRIHARDO have faded, and the city has slowly returned to its senses. Sheepish civilians emerge before dawn to restore graffitied property in shame; friends and family alike murmur awkward apologies as they realize the transgressions committed in the previous days. They work quickly. By daybreak of the 22nd, it seems as Hinoto-Ri has largely recovered from the effects of the Zodiac monster...

Just in time for the annual Fall Festival. Close on the heels of the previous event, the attempted feeling was much the same. Booths selling assorted merchandise including lucky bamboo rakes and all manner of gourd-based household items (have you ever wanted a bowl made from a squash?), activities ranging from bobbing for apples to what appeared to be a 'largest squash' competition, and of course, food. Lots and lots and lots of food, from fresh fruits and fresh berries to candied apples and yams to more traditional chrysanthemum candies and taro and rice cakes. Consciously or not, Hinoto-Ri has fused a variety of customs into a single event, allowing for familiar fun for those of any background.

Through it all, though, there hangs a sense of unease and a slightly subdued atmosphere. Painted trees and bushes are still visible, and the destruction of property caused by overzealous citizens has not been fully restored. Whether or not the people of the city blame the Visitors for the events of the previous weeks remains uncertain...

▼ Tis now the very witching time of night

 

Soon enough, the curfew comes and in the blink of an eye, it seems, the festival has disbanded. The memories of the Virgo attack are still too fresh, and citizens and merchants alike retreat to the safety of their homes. Whether or not the private conference from earlier that week had any conclusion, the Visitors, it seems, are still granted free rein of the night.

11:58. 11:59. ...Now. Once again, the night sky is dyed a crimson red as the 13th Hour falls upon the city. And from the ether, the demons come forth, called by the fanatic light of the moon. It is only three days from the full moon, and the monsters remain aggressive.

But the 13th Hour is hardly a unique phenomenon. It comes nightly and by now, both Visitors and citizens alike have doubtlessly learned to accept it. On any night of the week, venturing out during this time will surely result in trouble...

▼ OOC Blurb

 

[ This is a dual log encompassing both the Fall Festival on the 22nd of September and 13th Hour posts running throughout the entire week and even month. We're trying a different format this time with more potential prompts; go ahead and start as many threads as you'd like under the appropriate section! Please tag with your character's name and OPEN. If you respond to the 13th Hour section, please write the days your character is out and about.

You have free rein in this log - join other people's posts, explore the festival, post them fighting monsters and enjoy leveling up/interacting! For this log, you can level up persona ONCE PER IC WEEK, but not in the same thread IC-wise. Please do not abuse this. The conditions are that the fighting must happen on different days. The threads should be long enough that an attack is possible and shouldn't just be a few comments for the sake of leveling up (i.e.: we want effort in them, as much as you would make with a normal log.)

FOR THE CREATURES: The creatures have to be in the Bestiary for you to use them. You don't need to use creatures from your own home worlds either, as long as someone's put in a creature in there! (Also, make sure your characters could logically take on the creatures you pick let's not have them take down a giant creature when they couldn't normally.) ]

DON'T FORGET TO TAG YOUR RESPONSES WITH NAME AND/OR DATE

▼ Quick Links

 

OPEN CHARACTER POSTS
Coming Soon!

Comments

FOOD STANDS

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[Set up right at the start of the festival, the smells are simply divine. The food vendors seem to have sorted themselves out in a logical manner: Western foods on the left, traditional Japanese foods on the right. To the left are stands of caramel apples, caramelized yams, caramel popcorn and caramel anything-you'd-like as vast vats of caramel sit available for the dipping; all manners of foods made from gourds, including squash soup, curried squash, squash salad, squash casserole, and really it all starts looking the same after a while; blueberry pies, apple pies, raspberry pies, gooseberry pies, chickenberrypies; sweet chili, mild chili, cheesy chili, spicy chili, sure-to-liquefy-your-insides chili; and of course, fresh fruits and berries of every sort straight from the farm. Apple cider and cider doughnuts sit in a lone stand in the back and sell out within 10 minutes after being mobbed.

To the right, the quintessential night market offerings can be found, including okonomiyaki, ramen, soba, tonkatsu and chicken katsu, shaved ice, mysterious meat on sticks, and what appear to be intestines from every kind of animal all stuffed into one package. It is delicious, an old woman assures you as she slurps it down eagerly.

And there is, of course, takoyaki. There can never not be takoyaki.

More traditionally, there is a stand selling chrysanthemum cookies and cakes in honor of Chrysanthemum Day, steamed taro and rice cakes in honor of a tradition that no one quite seems to remember, and most importantly...

Sake. It is traditional, after all, to purchase sake and present it in honor of the gods.]

open!

[hasleveledup]

Junpei can barely contain his excitement when the lady at the candied apple stand hands him a very special treat; a apple covered in caramel, chocolate, cookie pieces and colored shell chocolate candies.

"Ohohoho, thanks ma'am! You have made one veeery satisfied customer!" Junpei thanks the vendor, then starts to walk around the festival, contemplating how to go about enjoying the apple. "Aww man... Do I dig in face first, or do I use my pocket knife and cut it up...?" It's kind of big for one person...well, for him at least.

Open!

[tyrantball]

Desco managed to get her claws on a raspberry pie, and despite her bizarrely neat eating habits still managed to get some on her face.

So now there's a little demon girl flying around, her mouth and chin dripping red, just sort of staring at the various vendors as she tries to decided what to eat next.

It's honestly a little creepy.

open : )

[resipiscent]

[It's food time. Riku's chewing a bite of a nice crunchy apple as he surveys the stands, tossing the core into a garbage bin as he passes. So much of this stuff looks good, he's having a hard time deciding what he wants.]

Hrm...

Open!

[angryyoungvamp]

[Things have continued into the night, of course - it's not curfew yet. And nighttime means Maugris can actually turn up and participate, or try to. He can't actually eat, nor can he drink sake. However, he has three things to think about. One, he dealt with the occult on a daily basis even before Hinoto-Ri, and has occasionally run afoul of things that seem to be very close to gods. Two, he's in a city full of demons and creatures from every conceivable mythology. Three, he's actually kind of superstitious.

So what with one thing and another he's attempting to purchase sake for this honoring-gods business. And possibly get instructions on the proper way of doing so, because he isn't as up on Japanese occult practices as he is on western ones.]

All right. One more time, can you give me the stupid-American version, please? Not all of us were raised Shinto.

Open!

[selematpagi]

[ Yukko really, really wanted yakitori. But they told her they ran out of yakitori! She complained about how the heck they could have not have yakitori, it's meat on a stick, how easier could it be! The older woman at the counter shrugged, said she would do what she could and walked away. When she came back, she handed Yukko ...'the mystery meat'.

Now Yukko stands a few feet away from the stand, pale-faced, just staring at her purchase. Then she cocks her head from side to side before loudly proclaiming - ]

This looks like a carrot!

[ She wants to chuck it on the ground but it cost her a stupid amount of money and a good amount of her pride. #firsthinotoriproblems ]

BOBBING FOR APPLES

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[The sound of laughter can be heard as you make your way further in and soon very wet and very cheerful people can be seen leaving some stalls happy. Come and play! The owner beckons you. Every participant wins a prize!]

Open!

[otakuro]

[Nearby the troughs being used for the apple bobbing, someone very wet and very irritated is wringing out a piece of white fabric onto the ground. A rare glimpse at the wild Atsuro sans head covering!]

Darnit. And all I got was an apple...

[He bites into his prize with a sigh.]

A mushy apple.

OPEN

[helenchanter]

[Apples *A*

Miki is going to win piles of apple stuff even if she spends all of her money here. Sanada stupidity spirit compels her to do so!]

FACE PAINTING

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[Small children dart between your legs bearing incredibly intricate designs on their faces. You are drawn to the right, where a man with dark glasses and a beanie smiles at you and gestures for you to look through his album of offerings. It's entirely temporary, of course................

It is, right?]

((Beware of too-realistic face paint if you post here!))

OPEN FOR ALL

[primordial]

[God. Seeing that Teenbeat Magazine thing today with their weirdly creepy horoscopes was enough, but seeing his face in an advertisement for "sexiest visitor"? It makes him feel sick. Sam was never one to like attention, and he's quite conscious of the stares some of the girls have been giving him around town, as if trying to sum up how hot he is just by a glance.]

[He's just wandering through the festival, wondering if there's anything actually of value around here, when he sees the face painting booth. That's...interesting. Some of these designs aren't that bad, he thinks as he looks through the album out of curiosity.]

I don't think I've done this since I was like, ten years old...

Re: FACE PAINTING

[hello_mgann]

[M'gann is drawn to the face painting stand, even though she can shape shift she thinks that getting her face painted might be fun.]

Can you do a cat?

GUESS THE WEIGHT OF THE GOURD

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[Why is this even a thing
Very cheerful Hinoto-Ri citizens cluster around the world's most enormous squash pumpkin fusion and begin to scream out guesses. Slightly smaller ones, almost as impressive are clustered around.

There's no harm in trying. Off to the side near the massive gourds are a selection of ones that are much smaller if you're interested in purchasing.]

[otakuro]

[Atsuro blinks slightly as he watches the small crowd clustered around the monstrosity of a vegetable.]

300 kilograms?

...Why are we even doing this? Is there a prize? Do people just really like numbers?

Open

[hello_mgann]

[Seeing the pumpkins gives M'gann an idea. She has been looking for some sort of activity to host in order to make friends around the city and this stand presents a perfect opportunity. Using most of the remaining money on her card M'gann buys a number of pumpkins. As she tries to leave the stand she realize that she can't lift that many objects with her telekinesis.

So now she is standing about ten feet away from the stand holding three pumpkins with a few others floating around her and still more on the ground. Needless to say she looks a bit overwhelmed.]

TEA CEREMONY

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[Much further in, a woman in a traditional kimono stands beside a large tent, under which a group of similarly dressed woman await customers. They are here to perform a tea ceremony, they explain, and to teach some of the citizens a nearly forgotten art form if they are interested. You are welcome to join them with friends.

After the tea ceremony, there is an extraordinary selection of liquid dispensers with 20 different types of teas for you to sample: everything from Earl Grey to Jasmine Thai. Boxes of tea bags are being sold as well.]

[capitalbackup]

[Out of all of the attractions, Miyako was drawn to a familiar setting. She recognise the art far too well. She may had Yamato attend her lessons in her place, but Miyako knows how to perform the tea ceremony. Her lessons back then was just too boring.

She watched the women perform the tea ceremony, almost critically. (Her brother can do it better...) Before she went to check the tea selection. It would be nice to have some tea to bring back to her apartment.

Hm, they have the usual flavours...and some sweet, fruity ones?]

open

[samurai_flynn]

Flynn is fascinated by the ceremony. Who knew that these people had such a elegant ritual? The woman beckons him over to join; he nods wordlessly in acceptance.

His movements are clumsy in comparison to the fluid motions of the group, but he enjoys it despite his shortcomings.

After the ceremony is over, he goes to look at the tea selections. A chocolate chai? How... interesting!

[all_wound_up]

Oh, tea ceremony! I've always wanted to learn how to do that! It looks so elegant.

[Nano's face lights up as she walks by the tent, approaching more closely to regard the whole scene with interest.]

[jumyouboshi]

[...Tea ceremony. Of course this would be the first place Yamato Hotsuin would drag him to, out of all the places in the festival. (Even though Alcor's the one who had to drag the child to participate in human festivities. Nothing good would come from letting him hole up in the apartment all day.) He tries not to interfere too much, and tries to keep an eye on Yamato nearby, all while checking out the different types of teas...by using the dispensers, and then levitating the cups above his hand, as if he were a telekinetic waiter...

...At least he's guaranteed not to spill them unless surprised.]

LANTERN PARADE

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[At precisely 9PM, the crowd suddenly quiets and the lights in the festival flicker off, one by one. It seems they know something you don't. As you push back towards the main street of Virgo Ward, you are hushed by bystanders and perhaps, eventually, you will stand still.

Then, all at once, as if a switch has been flicked, the buildings lining Virgo Ward come alight with the light of hundreds and hundreds of lanterns. It is a beautiful sight and your own voice adds to the gasps of the crowd around you.

That isn't all, though. In the distance, something large can be seen moving down the far end of Virgo, and you crane your neck as it comes around the corner into view. It is the first of many lantern floats - tigers, dragons, onis... some in the shape of jack o'lanterns and scarecrows and even some in the shape of familiar demons. Pyro Jack is there, of course, as, ironically, is his brother, Jack Frost. The floats continue for a good half hour before the lanterns all flicker off again and business resumes as normal.]

Open!

[a_gentle_boy]

Ohhh...!

[For possibly the first time since he had come to Hinoto-Ri, Lucas has a wide smile on his face as he sees the beautiful lanterns decorating the streets. Off in the distance, he can see the floats approaching...]

Um - Excuse me! I'm sorry...

[He cranes his neck and squirms through the crowd to try to get a glimpse but alas! He is too short.]

I... Um. Oh.

[And much too shy to ask for someone to move for him.]

AAAAAAAND Live from Hinoto-Ri! It's Grand Prix, the Fighting Game!

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[If there's one thing that you can count on in a place like Japan, it's a dedicated team of fanboys and fangirls working around the clock to produce a fangame of some sort. Hinoto-ri is no different, and during the festival, you can see a few large TV sets at a booth with a team of five or so nerds. A crowd has gathered, and they appear to be playing a fighting game of some sort.


However looking closer reveals that they are playing ARENA GRAND PRIX X : THE VISITOR WARRIORS, a sort of homage to everything that was the fighting game. ...Yet clearly a bootleg.

Graphically it's certainly not impressive, similar to Megaman 8bit games, but the roster includes all ten matches in their...non-copyright names:

Hihi, Dato, Lunk, Mordi, Nekuneku, Yuuri, Etch, Nyaro-chan, Junes Prince, Pitoo, Ana, Shas, Daicho, Akino, Karto, Maki, Bell, Gina, Haso, Earth, Metri, Sushi, Ai, Atoni, Soras, Yuyu, Atri, Minatoto, Mistery, Pitone, Disk and Water.

The music is whatever songs they thought would sound good with the limited technology they were working with.

And for a very small price of 500 yen, you too could snag your own downloadable copy for your watch! Who wouldn't want to take this beautiful game on the go?]

[echo_of_a_jedi]

Okay, this is very nice, but you're not expecting me to...I mean, if you can name one other person with a glowing blue sword here and I'll say give them a free copy.

[Looks like Meetra's arguing with one of the vendors selling the game. She gave up actually getting compensated for her appearance as "Metri" in about five seconds, but she still wants a free copy.]

MISCELLANEOUS

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[There's so much more to see in the festival than just these options! Whatever else you're doing, if you're resting on a bench, shopping at the stalls, chatting with a friend in the streets, watching musicians and dancers, the rest goes here!]

[electricyousei]

Ruri stands in front of a booth that has several custom garage kits of the visitors looking at one of herself.

"My bust isn't this large, and I don't think I've ever worn this. I wonder if Uribatake-san is here and did this."

13TH HOUR POSTS

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[Of course, it can't all be fun and games... the 13th Hour strikes on the night of the festival, just as it does every other night. Demons have been present and attacking all throughout the month, not only during the Virgo event, and it's up to the brave Visitors to stop them.

Please see the OOC blurb above for 13th Hour Log rules! Put your character's name and the date, please!]

Desco | September 22nd | Virgo

[tyrantball]

Nothing will ever stop Desco from getting her violence on - once the festival ended, she simply waited around the grounds until the 13th Hour arrived and she could start beating demons up.

She's somewhat more erratic than normal tonight - probably because of the truly vast amounts of sugar in her system.