Tanabata - [Open City Post]

[stringmods]

▼ Evening of the 7th

 

Who: Anyone
Where: The entire city
When: July 7th
Summary: The Star Festival
Warnings: That depends who is there. Remember to mark your titles clearly if any warnings need to be issued!

▼ A tale of two lovers...

 

The bamboo leaves rustle,
shaking away in the eaves.
The stars twinkle
on the gold and silver grains of sand.
The five-colour paper strips
I have already written.
The stars twinkle,
they watch us from heaven.

▼ A festival for a growing city

 

It is perhaps the most classical love story that most of the Hinoto-Ri natives knew about; the story of Orihime, the weaving goddess, and Hikoboshi. Instantly falling in love, the two gods would often forget about their duties to the point of negligence in order to be together, so much so that the other gods forcibly separated them. Crying for each other's comfort, they were allowed to visit each other on the 7th day of the 7th month...as long as it didn't rain.

Today, the sun is high in the air, a small wind making the overall experience not too unpleasant. Clearly it's a time for celebration so the lovers may meet again.

In the Capricorn ward, at the edge of the Central Park of Hinoto-Ri, numerous booths have seemingly sprung up overnight. Colorful banners decorate every single tree, and you can spot the faeries fluttering about, the very same ones who caused the Visitors so much trouble up to just a few days prior, helping out by adding their own personal touches to the festival, be that a good thing or a bad thing. Most of the leaves are filled with perfect droplets of dew, reflecting the sun and giving everything a jewel-like appearance.

Even with the harsh life, Hinoto-Ri knew how to make each celebration special. The booths themselves had everything one could hope in such a festival, from mountains of star candy to spinning top toys to booths selling small bambo and basil plants decorated for the occasion. Booth food, as always, was delicious and fresh, and you could attempt to catch goldfish or even turtles if you had money to spare.

Walk around in the more traditional outfits or in your normal clothing, no one is going to complain in this mixture of demonic heritage and human initiative.

Giant streamers were attached to the largest tree trunks and many large bamboo trees had been brought in, covered in paper cranes and wishing paper, blank sheets nearby so you could add your own. In fact, it is encouraged! What wish did you want to write down today?

At night, entire rows of the city are covered in bright lights and laterns, the festival lasting until early morning, despite the 13th hour. Just be careful where you're going, they set up parameters for this, but it just wouldn't be a star festival without viewing them up in the sky, right?

The giant telescope at the astrology center is made public for all those who wish to see the heavenly lights. Just don't linger too long, as others want to get a glimpse too! It's important to share...

...Especially when the fireworks go off later at night! Not only are they absolutely stunning to watch, but there's an evident bit of magic involved in them, as they take on figures and animals, telling the mythological tale of the two lovers, now found.

During the day and through the night, you can hear sounds of the Taiko drums in the various public squares. There are a few groups, each with their own set giving you a listening experience unlike any other.

[Feel free to start your own threads! The festival is open to everyone, day and night and you can do anything at zombocom at the festival. If you want to get a better understanding of what your characters might see and do, these videos will help.]

Comments

Open; ~3am, after everything's winding down

[viditlibertas]

He hadn't been seen around much lately, but it would have been odder for Saiduq to not show up to a festival like Tanabata. He had no need for yukata or food, so he had spent the entire evening simply wandering about and observing everyone's happy and carefree time.

It wasn't until very late at night that he stopped his restless walking, sitting on a half-wall next to a man selling lanterns packed up his cart. Neither met the other's eyes, but the proximity of a stranger was comforting. When the man began wheeling his shop away, Saiduq just faintly waved at his back.

A pleasant day, all said. If a bit lonely. Saiduq lowered his arm slowly, frowning as the thought crossed his head, and shuffled his hands together.

"∲ـقλλ∞ ≫%حـ♊αΥ*☀, ∵☸∴."

did someone say STARS

[hanakozy]

The festival wasn't quite empty, not just yet. There were still festival goers and booth owners dotted here and there along the landscape, most all of them far and on their way home after a long and eventful night. The only real sounds were the occasional clack of a booth being taken down, the sounds of shoes shuffling along the ground into the distance, and the trilling pitch of the cicadas. Nearby down the path, a girl dressed in a black yukata with pink and blue star bursts walked along by her lonesome, geta held in her hand to relieve her aching feet. Her long black hair was for the most part pulled back in a ponytail and held up with a ribbon, though as the night had gone on several strands had fallen back around her face. Her expression was etched with exhaustion considering the hour, but she looked pretty happy all things considered. However, as she continued to walk down the road, her head bobbed back and forth, as if she was looking for someone. When her eyes end up on Alcor, her expression shifts to one of momentary surprise before relaxing, and she lifts a hand in greeting towards him with a small smile.

"Pardon me?"

goddamnit P2s

[viditlibertas]

"-Ah."

He slowly brought his eyes up, looking up at the girl he'd no doubt startled. He seemed a little out there at first, looking without really seeing her, and was particularly somber when he saw her kimono's pattern. It was Tanabata, so it was to be expected, but...

"I apologize. I did not mean to disturb you." Humans were usually disturbed when hearing Septentrione-speak, so it was something he tried to limit himself on.

[hanakozy]

"Oh no, don't worry about it."

She shrugs a little, allowing her smile to widen more sincerely as she stops a few paces away from Alcor. It certainly wasn't a language she had ever heard before, nor did it really much sound like a language (or very human), but who was she to be a judge? It might have given her a small start when she wasn't expecting the sound, but it's not like it did her any harm.

"I didn't disturb you, did I? I apologize if I did, I was trying to find where my escort ran off to."

Miyabi pushes some of her hair behind her ear, looking down for a moment as she began to speak before raising her head to make proper eye contact with Alcor.

[viditlibertas]

"Escort...?"

Alcor mulled the word over some, bringing his hand to his face and looking a little sheepish. To take that literally, it could range from a police officer to a "professional companion". Either way, he wasn't sure it was a good idea to...

"Would you like help in searching for this person?"

...oh well, the offer was out of his mouth before he could second-guess his concerns. He rose, going from sitting to floating in a standing position rather quickly, glancing down the street. "Though, I may suggest Persephone's abilities may be more useful."

[hanakozy]

"My boyfriend."

She clarifies, hiding her mouth behind her hand as she attempts not to chuckle at his expression; after all, he was a stranger, and that'd be rude.

"I wouldn't want to trouble you--"

Oh, he certainly was floating. While it was unusual, it wasn't quite that unusual given Hinoto-ri. But his next statement makes her face light up with a sort of silent 'ah-ha', and she presses her hands against her cheeks as they begin to redden.

"Oh no, I hadn't even thought of using my Persona, I'm so silly! ...But..." Miyabi's expression then falters somewhat, eyebrows beginning to scrunch with confusion as she further digested what Alcor had just said. "Pardon me, but how did you know my persona's name, or what she could do...?"

[shibuyasmusic]

Joshua was used to staying up at odd hours of the day... The concept of 'night' and 'day' had almost been totally eliminated from his mind in the past, after all. And with his full power only being accessible to him during the Thirteenth Hour, it wasn't unusual for him to stay awake past midnight. And the festival, of course, gave him a good excuse to stick to this awkward sleep schedule without being questioned.

At this hour many people had gone home and the festival had become much quieter, with only the sound of music, crickets, and the occasional group of those staying up particularly late- human or demon or otherwise. That's, of course, why Alcor's strange murmurs catch him off guard. Odder still, he had no idea what on earth this person was saying...

Joshua reaches his hand up to brush some hair behind one ear, where his COMP was supposed to be translating this man's words for him... Did it malfunction?

"Hello, did you say something?"

[viditlibertas]

Saiduq raised his head, looking somewhat surprised at the man in front of him. He knew the face, but it was far from the same person. He hesitated, as if debating how best to proceed, before smiling softly.

"Only a wish. Nothing more, nothing less."

He covered one hand with his other in his lap, tilting his head to the side.

"Have you made one tonight, as well?"

[shibuyasmusic]

Joshua gives Alcor a bit of a skeptical look... It had almost looked like there was some amount of recognition in his face. Or he could have been mistaking that look of recognition with a look of surprise from the scar on his face... Joshua wasn't used to telling the difference yet.

He turns his eyes up to the sky, folding his arms across his chest and shaking his head slowly.

"... No. Though I suppose I have one in mind. But it's been a long time since I've had much faith in hope, it seems rather pointless to make far-fetched wishes if there's practically no chance that they'll be granted."

STAAARS

[helenchanted]

She'd spent more time at the festival than she had thought, after all. A turtle in a bag, she had stayed until very late at night, admiring the fireworks. Even by herself, it wasn't so bad after all. Maybe she needed to stop being so mopey.

Speaking of which, as she looked up her pathway, she saw someone she'd never seen before. Well, it wasn't a traditional outfit, but she really liked the cut of it; the red looked pretty snazzy....and he had really nice hair.

She also had no idea what he was saying.

"Are you alright?" Maybe her translation system was malfunctioning.

OPEN /i am the latest

[papillonmagique]

[This is something far different than what Zoe is used to, so of course she would be going to it. She's even wearing a yukata along with a hair ornament for the occasion, even if she did need help and stuff with buying it at first.

So she can be found there trying to catch goldfish and failing, cuing her to pout, or staring at a blank piece of wishing paper as she tries to figure out what she wants to write. She'll also be staring up in awe at the fireworks, almost bouncing on her feet in excitement.]

Oh, this is amazing!

[trombeoverride]

The chef at the food cart next to the goldfish one watches her for a bit and shakes his head.

"You are using too much force. The water itself is what's breaking the paddle, try moving with the fish to catch it."

[papillonmagique]

Zoe glances over at him and raises her eyebrows, but she listens and moves the paddle with the water.

"So, like this?"

[trombeoverride]

He nods a bit.

"Its about going with the flow as opposed to forcing things. That's the trick to not breaking your scoop."

[terminally_clever]

[By the time the fireworks have started, Fumi's decided to shed her JP's uniform and get into the spirit with a yukata of her own. Of course, it's still in monochrome shades of black and white just the way she likes it, but at least it's something. She hasn't done anything special with her hair - it's just in her usual pigtails.]

First fireworks display?

[papillonmagique]

Oh no. But it has been a while since I saw one as colorful as this.

[Zoe turns and gives Fumi a grin, before turning to look back at the fireworks.] Though I am guessing that some sort of tricks had to be used to get them to form those shapes.

[terminally_clever]

Yes, I imagine some sort of magic was involved at some point. It's a safe assumption.

[papillonmagique]

And it certainly makes for a grand display. [She's grinning cheerfully now.] Are most Japanese festivals this lively?

[terminally_clever]

Yes, it's very impressive.

[Fumi can't help but smile herself. The science behind fireworks is pretty awesome, after all.]

Well, not all of them. And I imagine this one benefits from taking place in a world with so many... colorful inhabitants.

[greatseal]

Considering she'd spent the last Tanabata running around a love hotel in search of Shadows, this year is much more festive.

However, since there have been a surplus of festivals lately, this time she hasn't gone all out. She did dress up, wearing the pink and white yukata she brought from home... but she also is wearing sneakers. One can't be too careful.

Most notably of all, she didn't drag Shinjiro with her. She did mention where she'd be, of course. But she didn't try to coerce. She knows festivals aren't his thing, and so this time she'll let him decide that for himself.

Some time after she's passed the bamboo trees, new paper strips twirl from one of the branches. In a careful, precise hand: "Let everyone find happiness."

...And then, in a much more obviously identifiable script, "I wish that Senpai would smile more! ~(=^‥^)/"

[themortalhalf]

In contrast, Shinjiro's last Tanabata had been far from adventurous. Or festive. The day itself had passed by with remarkably little fanfare.

Shinjiro wouldn't have minded keeping things that way. Maybe he should have taken advantage of the opportunity to stay home and appreciate the relative lack of company. And he had, for a short while, but Shinjiro eventually he found himself heading out the door. One of these days he will spend his time being deliberately and happily anti-social, but he guesses today isn't one of them. He wanders around for awhile, eventually arriving into the area where she said she'd probably be, watching both demons and humans alike tie short, thin strips of paper on bamboo. He spots Minako soon afterward.

Had she not been alone, he might have left her where she was and slipped back into the crowd. Let Iori entertain her. One of her other friends. Or Miki. (Though Miki seemed to have sequestered herself away into her room, which made him a little bit concerned, though he was never one to push and ask questions he might regret getting the straight answer to.) He could easily leave her to someone else far more entertaining than he was for awhile.

But as that isn't the case, he approaches anyway, watching her tie a strip of paper to one of the branches. Given what happened last time he had given in to the childish impulse to take try his luck at fortune, he's not sure how skeptical or wary he should be of them, given what had happened last time—though he's still not sure what to blame things on. It takes him a few moments to weave through the crowd and few seconds more to notice that she actually wearing shoes this time around. He fails to suppress the laugh that escapes out his throat, and wastes a few more futile seconds in trying before giving it up as a lost cause.

"I thought you were done with these kinds of things."

[greatseal]

"That depends on which things you're talking about!"

Sorry to disappoint him, but she'll never be done going to festivals.

She is glad to see him, though. Not surprised, but still glad.

[themortalhalf]

He figured that during the first one. After the fish.

The corners of his mouth twitched. "You've lost the geta, anyway."

He thinks he likes it that way. He can fix her geta as many times as life sees fit to break it, but bruises take far longer to heal.

[greatseal]

"They just didn't seem worth it. If you didn't show up, I might end up hitting some random stranger in the head instead." She winks, showing that she isn't so upset about her string of bad luck that she can't poke fun at herself for it. "And besides... no one's going to be staring at my feet anyway."

Especially not the guys.

[deathboss]

Dresesd in blue and gold, Eikichi looked rather natural in the outfit, considering his father had him work in a traditional one. He wore a simple pair of simple flat sandals instead of the wooden geta however; he was already tall enough compared to the average population, no need to make it worse.

"It's all so pretty," he told Miyabi in this very childlike excited voice, his eyes dotting around and unsure where they should begin. Better he be the gentleman. "Did you have anything you wanted to do in particular?"