New Year's Shrine Visit

[all_wound_up]

Who: Nano Shinonome and whoever else happens by
Where: The Naganaki Shrine, Capricon District
When: New Year's Day
Summary: Nano's making her first shrine visit of the new year

[It's a cold, crisp morning on January 1st in Hinoto-Ri, and after all the chaos of the events of the month previous, Nano's looking forward to spending a relaxing New Year's Day at home. There's just one thing she has to do before that, though - pray at the shrine for good luck and good health during the coming year. And so here she is at the Naganaki Shrine, dressed in a simple white kimono with a branching floral pattern running up the side as she approaches the steps. Fishing a coin out of the small change purse she has hanging from her obi, she throws it into the offertory box and claps her hands together. Anyone close by can probably hear her muttering her prayer our loud.]

I wish all of my friends will be happy and healthy in the new year, especially Hakase, Sakamoto, Naganohara-san, and Minakami-san back home.

[And then she draws a fortune from the box, unrolling it and smiling at the slip of paper in her hand.]

Medium blessing! It's going to be a lucky year!

Comments

[greyerrant]

You believe in luck then?

[ A huge figure rumbles, looking down at Nano. ]

[all_wound_up]

Well... I never really thought about it that much before. Drawing fortunes at the shrine for New Year's is traditional where I'm from, though.

[greyerrant]

Interesting. Do you believe in the tradition, or practice it because it is a comforting ritual?

[tyrantball]

Desco is just drifting along behind Nano, copying what she does while not being entirely sure what is happening.

"Desco wishes all of her friends get triple experience in the new year and hit level 9999!"

IS SHE DOING THIS RIGHT?

[all_wound_up]

[Nano giggles, turning around to pat Desco on the head when she's done with her New Year's wish.]

Good girl, Desco-chan. It's good to think of others first!

[tyrantball]

Blink blink.

"Desco already has everything she could possibly want, so doesn't it make sense to wish for more durable friends?"

[hello_mgann]

Good morning, Nano. What are you up to here?

[all_wound_up]

Oh, hello! I'm just offering up my prayers for the new year.

[hello_mgann]

Alright I guess I'll do that too.

[M'gann tosses a coin into the box and then kneels.]

Lord L'zoril, I greet you humbly. May you guard us in the darkness and on the pathway between waking hour, and protect us in dreams from the flame of your wrath.

This year I'd like to make more friends here. I would also like to know that my friends back home are doing okay.

[She takes a fortune and unrolls it.]

Wow. Great blessing.

[otakuro]

...I wonder who actually fills these things.

[Atsuro approaches from behind with a smile.]

I don't think I've ever done much better than small blessing - maybe they stack it so there's only one or two good blessings in the box.

Oh -- but Happy New Year, Nano!

[all_wound_up]

Atsuro-san! Happy New Year!

[Nano smiles, happily bowing her head as she turns around.]

You should draw one too - maybe you'll be lucky this time!

1/2

[otakuro]

Hm...

[And Atsuro shakes the box around a few times before drawing out his straw which reads -- ]

大凶

[otakuro]

...




Noooooooooooooooooooo!

I'm going to die before February! Where's the stand to tie it on where's the stand to tie it on?!

[mementodagger]

[These Japanese customs are completely foreign to him, but since he's a scholar at heart he feels obligated to learn what he can for as long as he's stuck. He's wrapped in a long coat against the chill, the deep hood pulled over his head. It's as much a shield against certain eyes as it is protection from the cold.

He hadn't told anyone about his recent birthday. The events of the days just before it left him not wanting to celebrate much. He'd accepted that miserable part of himself but for his weakness to be seen by strangers, not to mention Atsuro, he was still wrestling with the shame.

He recognized Nano after a moment and almost turned back, but now he feared that damned Shadow poking its head out of nowhere again if he fell back into old habits. So he came to stand beside the girl, watching what she was doing for a moment before speaking. His profile was mostly concealed by the depth of the hood but his accented voice might prove familiar.]

Miss? I just... I wanted to thank you.

[all_wound_up]

Hm?

[Nano hadn't heard his approach, so she's momentarily startled at the voice. But it's a familiar one, so the reaction isn't much more than a small start.]

Oh... Yurick-san, right? You're welcome.

[eyewillprotect]

Ah... it looks like you turned out luckier than me.

[She was about to go tie hers to the stand, but she pauses to show Nano: 小凶]

[all_wound_up]

Oh no, Aoi-san! Quick, tie it to the tree to purify it!

[anotherdirkstrider]

[Dirk makes a point of celebrating his first New Year's outside of Austin, Atlantis the Japanese way-- he's here on New Year's morning, dressed in an orange and black hakama he'd been saving for a special occasion, sword sheathed at his side like some old-school (white boy) samurai. He approaches the shrine and drops a coin in the offertory box. His lips move silently (is he rapping a prayer?) and when he's finished, he goes to take a fortune from the box and notices Nano.]

Oh, hey. 明けましておめでとう。

[all_wound_up]

Happy New Year, Strider-san! I didn't know you spoke Japanese!

[resipiscent]

Hey, I got medium too.

[Riku lifts the paper to show her the words written there.]

You think medium will be good luck?

[all_wound_up]

I think so, yes! It's not as good as a great blessing, but I think those are very rare.

[bondsofsuffering]

Heeeeh... Got lucky with your draw, huh?

[He's just about to fish out some coins for his own fortune, it seems.]

[all_wound_up]

Yes! It's my first medium blessing!

[Not that impressive when you're only two years old to begin with, but there you have it.]

[selematpagi]

[ Yukko decided to tag along with Nano on her trip to the shrine. She hovers a few feet away from Nano, not wanting to eavesdrop on her wish ( though the temptation is certainly there!) ]

Hey hey! Whatcha get Nano? [ She bounces on her toes, trying to take a peek at her fortune! ]

[all_wound_up]

[Nano wouldn't have particularly minded, since Yukko herself was definitely first and foremost in her mind when she said 'my friends.']

Look, Yukko-san! It's a medium blessing!

[Nano couldn't be more thrilled, a big bright smile on her face as she shows her.]