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

[bondsofsuffering]

Not exactly favorite, but...

[He takes a bite, chewing only a little before speaking up again.]

It's damn good, that's for sure!

[trainwrecking]

I don't think I can argue with a testimony like that... [He indicates that he'll indeed be getting the takoyaki to the vendor.]

Besides the food, what do you think of the festival?

[bondsofsuffering]

[This time he actually swallows before he answers.]

It's fun! It's been a while since I attended Tanabata.

Gotten up to much since you got here?

[trainwrecking]

Yeah? I can't remember if I've done this before... Maybe?

[The world may never know. But what he does know is that the takoyaki he just received is still steaming and fresh. He'll wait on it.]

Not yet, I was late getting here. I woke up later than I meant to, and, ahh... then Hinata insisted that I should wear something traditional...

[Because he was fine showing up in street clothes beforehand to compensate for his terrible sleeping in.]

[bondsofsuffering]

So that explains the yukata.

[He nods approvingly. Even though he stayed with street clothes, that doesn't mean he can't appreciate yukata - it just means he was too lazy to get one himself.]

Festivals really bring out the spirit in some of the most surprising people, huh?

[trainwrecking]

Yeah, it does..! There's so many people here. You wouldn't think there was ever any hardship in this city.

[He pulls the fabric of the yukata with his free hand.]

Haha, I kinda wish this wasn't just a rental. It kinda grew on me...

[bondsofsuffering]

Not enough money to actually pay for one, huh?

Do you even have a job?

[trainwrecking]

Eh? No, that's not it. I didn't think much of owning one! I just wanted it for the occasion.

[Huff.]

I have some money. I've been staying with a friend and doing housekeeping in exchange.

[bondsofsuffering]

Heeeh... if that's the case, then what's holding you back? I mean, splurging every once in a while isn't so bad as long as you're careful about it!

[trainwrecking]

Uh... it'll probably sound stupid.

[He ruffles up his own bangs.]

I might try to help Noda pay off his massive debt...

[bondsofsuffering]

...

He'd let you do that?

[trainwrecking]

Probably not. I wouldn't want him thinking I was treating him like a wuss by giving him a handout.

[He waves it off.]

I would do it anonymously or tell him that Yuri sent it.

[Or maybe all signs point to "make Noda learn the hard way"...]

[bondsofsuffering]

You really are too kind for your own good.

[trainwrecking]

Is that such a bad thing? Besides, I haven't even decided if I'll do it yet...

[He's still conflicted.]

[bondsofsuffering]

It's up to you, but I don't think anyone would blame you if you let him be. Maybe if he works there long enough, the lesson will finally dawn on him.

[...It's clear from his tone however that he doesn't really believe what he's saying. It didn't take many meetings to determine that Noda's about as thick-headed as they come.]

[trainwrecking]

Maybe I'm just trying to spare the poor people shopping there. The last thing someone needs is a halberd tip shoved in their mouth because they asked Noda to make change!

[Otonashi's oversensitive to what will and won't set Noda off, but he's so used to getting the brunt of it...]

[bondsofsuffering]

And if he keeps doing it? You can't be planning to take responsibility for bailing him out every time he screws up.

[trainwrecking]

No... I guess not. I still want to believe that he would lear...n... and...

[Noda acually learning something that isn't related to video games, competition, or training? When Otonashi is around? Not likely.

He sighs.]

So... yukata, then?

[bondsofsuffering]

[At least he gets it!]

Normal clothes already cost a lot, so I decided to skip it this time around. But it's fun seeing everyone else dressed up.

[This would probably not be as much of an issue if Hizumi didn't tend towards trendier bat-wing bearing clothes, but what are you gonna do.]