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

[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!

[anotherdirkstrider]

Yeah, taught myself a little bit. My accent is horrible though, never did practice speaking with anyone. Watched a lot of anime and Kurosawa movies with subtitles though.

[He moves to take a fortune from the box, grabbing one and hesitating to unroll it. He glances down at the paper, reading it quickly, and ties it to the three.]

There.

[all_wound_up]

I'd be happy to practice with you if you'd like!

[He's been so nice and friendly with her, after all.]

Oh... did you get a bad fortune?

[anotherdirkstrider]

Thanks. Yeah, that'd be good.

[He glances down at the paper.]

I got a small curse. Not exactly an auspicious way to start the year.

[all_wound_up]

I'm sure things will improve!

[anotherdirkstrider]

I can only hope, right? [He gives her a little half smile.] What about you? A promising New Year, you think?

[all_wound_up]

I'm sure it will be. I've met so many wonderful people here.

[anotherdirkstrider]

How long have you been here?

[all_wound_up]

Almost a year and a half already.

[anotherdirkstrider]

[He hums thoughtfully.]

That's a long time away from home.

[all_wound_up]

It's easy to lose track of time here. Sometimes it seems like I only just got here yesterday.