destinystrings | Tanabata - [Open City Post]

▼ 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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It looks like we meet again. Are you getting ready to watch the fireworks, too?

[He smiles, holding up his coffee to wave.]

Yeah... I was going to leave early, but I figured I shouldn't miss the show. What about you? Looking for a place to set up?

I was, but... it seems like you've beaten me to it.

Do you mind if I join you here?

A-ahh, you... wanted this spot? I can always move--!

[Otonashi is quite easy to guilt.]

Oh... or, yeah, no, I don't mind. I'll move my snacks over, unless you want to try some of them?

It's fine! I've already eaten quite a few snacks from the booths already, so I should probably stop for the night.

[For now, she'll just settle herself down in seiza, her hands folded neatly in her lap. This would probably be more surprising to Otonashi if she didn't have a habit of sitting this way even at home.]

Mm. Let me know if you change your mind.

[He makes room for her as promised, thinking nothing of her form by now. It's just a thing that Aoi Misato did regardless of the occasion. Otonashi, on the other hand, had no such form to speak of.]

Uhh, Misato...?

Hmm? What is it, Otonashi?

Ahh... When we met, I didn't remember my given name. Sometimes it still sounds a little foreign to me.

[But-]

I'd like to get used to it again, though. We're friends now, right?

Your given name? Then that means...

You've remembered it?

[She's surprised, but also... Happy. Not knowing your own name must have been painful in its own way, and if Otonashi was able to regain it, she's only too glad to hear it.]

Of course!

W-well, it was on my ID card... But I have a few memories of hearing it now, so...

[He manages a weak laugh. It is kind of a relief to feel some familiarity with the name on the card again.]

I was wondering if, uh, if we should go on a first-name basis?

[She just smiles brightly, giving a small nod.]

...I wouldn't mind that. But in this case, what should I call you...?

[As she's never seen his ID card before!]

R-right, yeah... I guess I should do that, huh. It's Yuzuru Otonashi.

[It still sounds a little strange to him, really, but at least it isn't just a name on a card anymore.]

It's nice to finally give you a better introduction, Aoi.

Yuzuru.

[She carefully tries it out, her expression thoughtful.]

The reading... as in, tying a string?

Yeah, that's right! It isn't very common, I don't think.

[And just to be sure...]

You're okay with all this?

Of course I am! You are a very important friend to me, Yuzuru. So being able to call each other by first names... It feels like we've become even closer.

It'll take me a while to get used to it again, haha...

[He leans back against the tree. Hooray for shade!]

Hey, uh... I don't know if I ever really formally thanked you for giving me a place to stay.

There's no reason to thank me. You needed a place to stay, and I happened to have room.

And also...

I've enjoyed living with both you and Avitus very much. It's no trouble at all.

Tanabata - [Open City Post]

[Night]

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