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

[all_wound_up]

[Action, OTA]

[Nano can be found throughout the festival all day, wearing a pink floral themed yukata with her hair done up in an ornate comb and wearing wooden sandals. She's spending most of the day wandering around the festival, taking in all of the various sights, sounds, and smells. It's her first Tanabata festival, so she wants to make sure she experiences everything there is to enjoy about it.

Others might run into Nano doing any of the following: trying to win a goldfish and failing spectacularly due to her lack of coordination, happily walking along as she eats some konpeito, sampling the grilled food selections, playing with a spinning top toy or one of those balloon yo-yos, or just admiring the beautiful decorations and lights as the festival proceeds on into the evening.]

[Action; evening; locked to Atsuro Kihara]

[And later in the evening, Nano's managed to find Atsuro for a nice private walk under the stars. She's wandered somewhat far afield with him, outside of the bounds of the festival proper but still not far enough out that they'll have to worry about being attacked by wandering demons. Walking shyly at his side, she stops and stares up into the night sky, her face still softly lit by the lantern lights in the distance.]

It's so beautiful...

[Action 1]

[imbodytemp]

[A small bunny walks up behind Nano as she tries to catch a goldfish.]

Oh, are you not able to catch one? I'm sorry...

[all_wound_up]

They keep swimming away, or the paper breaks first...

[imbodytemp]

Oh, I think the secret is to try and go for the fist near the top. Or you can try and find a sick fish that isn't very fast. I'd imagine having an owner would make him happy...

[all_wound_up]

Oh... I should try that! Thank you, Usa-san!

[imbodytemp]

Oh... uh... y--you're wecome? Y-yeah! You're welcome. Usa-san is here to help anytime aha...hah...

[all_wound_up]

[Nano smiles, but her expression soon turns curious as she spies the red cloth tied around his neck.]

That bandana...

[tyrantball]

Desco doesn't actually know what's going on, but a festival is a festival. She's absorbed Usatako and switched her tail over to the shorter version for this as she wanders around, staring curiously.

"Hi Miss Nano!"

[all_wound_up]

Hello, Desco! Are you enjoying yourself?

[tyrantball]

Desco beams and holds up a little bag. It clinks.

"Yes! Desco found some broken glass to eat later!"

[all_wound_up]

B-broken glass?

[tyrantball]

Nod nod.

"Yes! It's not blue, but Desco doesn't mind because she got it for free."

[all_wound_up]

Oh. Well, um... that's good, then!

[otakuro]

Whatever catastrophe this place was supposed to have gone through, it looks like Orihime and Hikoboshi are doing pretty well for themselves.

[He wasn't sure why, exactly, Nano had wanted to spend time with him on Tanabata (it wasn't exactly a holiday he invested much time in), but he had amiably agreed.]

Did you make a wish, Nano?

[all_wound_up]

...Mhm.

[Nano nods, smiling shyly as she shuffles her feet back and forth.]

[otakuro]

Heh, I did, too. I wonder if Altair and Vega will still listen even in this world...

[He points upwards at the sky.]

Can you see the Summer Triangle?

[all_wound_up]

Huh? Oh, um... which is that?

[Nano steps closer, slowly closing the gap between the two of them as she peers into the sky, following Atsuro's finger.]

[otakuro]

You have to look for the Milky Way first.

[Atsuro reaches down for Nano's hand so he can direct her with her own finger. It will be easier for her to find that way.]

It's the broad stripe in the sky. The legend says that Orihime and Hikoboshi were fated to be separated all but this one night of the year, right? The Milky Way is the barrier between them.

[Their fingers will trace a swirling path through the air.]

That's Deneb. It's the bridge through the Milky Way on the night of Tanabata. Orihime is... here. And Hikoboshi is there.

[all_wound_up]

O-oh!

[Nano tries to hold down her obvious excitement and surprise at Atsuro holding her hand, but her other fingers involuntarily curl around his own as he directs her.]

Mmhmm... I see...

[Except she'd spent most of his explanation looking at his face instead of at the sky. She only catches herself near the end.]

Th-there and there, right?

[Hastily pointing to make sure it looks like she was listening!]

[trainwrecking]

[Otonashi cannot help but notice that she seems to be struggling with the goldfish catching. Another failed attempt? That just won't do.]

Excuse me, uh... Can I buy you another try? [Of course if she's done with the game, he won't force it.]

[all_wound_up]

[Nano blinks over at Otonashi, smiling.]

Oh, no, I couldn't ask you to do that!

[trainwrecking]

But you're not asking me to... [He fishes for a little money and pays the vendor for a few more attempts.]

I, uh, I wanted to try scooping one anyway! Here..! [He offers Nano two of his paper nets.]

[all_wound_up]

Well, if you're sure...

[Nano holds onto the nets for the moment.]

I'll watch you first. Maybe I'll be able to see what I'm doing wrong.

[trainwrecking]

Haha, I don't know how much more luck I'll have...

[He leans over, selecting one of the slower fish. Otonashi manages to get the fish on the poi, but it breaks.]

Ahh, really... I'm not very good either, I just went for this slow one.

[all_wound_up]

Try again! You were so close!

[Nano claps encouragingly.]