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

[papillonmagique]

[Zoe, on the other hand, is dressed up and catches him by the bamboo.]

Is anyone watching what?

[shadowsher]

Huh? Uh- Nothing! Is anyone watching nothing? [ Oh, she's in one of those weird dresses. Whatever Satou called them. Yuck-atas? ] You're, uh, dressed up?

[papillonmagique]

Hmm, I see. [Yeah, she's giving you a suspicious look Mikale, but she still gives him a nod.] Yes, I could not resist! These outfits are rather beautiful.

[shadowsher]

[ So glad she isn't pressing the subject. ]

They are. They're Japanese, right? Kitten had me make her one. [ And yet he does not know what they are called. ]

[papillonmagique]

[She might eventually. This is Zoe.]

Yes, they are. And 'Kitten'? [She hasn't heard that name before.]

[shadowsher]

Sa, Sa... tou. [ Slightly embarrassed to be using her nicknamed everywhere he goes. ] A Japanese [ /Wapanese ] friend of mine. She'd go crazy for this sort of festival.

[papillonmagique]

Oh, that is a cute nickname. [And Zoe just grins.] And I can understand why she would, since this is incredible. The festivals back home were never this bright and colorful.

[shadowsher]

Mm, this is really something. And there's a story behind it, right? It's history and fun in one. [ His gaze drifts to a snack stall. ] The food here is interesting too. [ And all Mikale thinks when he sees interesting food is "I wonder how I could make that?" ]

[papillonmagique]

Oh yes, it was a love story, wasn't it? [She almost seems to be silently fangirling over it for a second, before she quickly snaps out of it.]

Ah, and it is. I have been very tempted to try everything, but I am not sure if my purse would be too pleased about that.

[shadowsher]

Mm, a love story. I'm surprised I hadn't heard it before. [ Mikale is not opposed to appreciating love stories, but will follow the conversation however Zoe leads it. ]

Same here. I wonder if there are places to get these snacks on a normal day too?

[papillonmagique]

[Zoe is still too nervous to admit her love of, well, love stories.]

There might be. I still have not explored the city fully yet.

[shadowsher]

Same here. It's so big. It'll take forever, I'm sure.

[papillonmagique]

But it would be fun to explore and discover all the different foods here.

[Then she glances over at the bamboo.]

Did you want to make a wish too?

[shadowsher]

Huh? Urrgh... [ Well, it's Zoe... It's a sign of trust that he nods. ] Yeah. You?

[papillonmagique]

Yes, I do. I just need to decide what to wish for, though. [She glances at all the pieces of paper tied to the bamboo with a quiet sigh.]

[shadowsher]

Is coming up with a wish difficult?

[ 'cuz Mikale practically wrote his wish on autopilot. ]

[papillonmagique]

Yes... I am torn between two things, and one of them is rather, ah, embarrassing. [And she actually does turn faintly red.]

[shadowsher]

There's no such thing as an embarrassing wish. All wishes are just as important. [ Quoting Kitten. ]

[papillonmagique]

But it is a silly thing to wish for, and it is... A tad out of character for me.

[shadowsher]

I'm sure it's nothing to be embarrassed about, though.

[papillonmagique]

It is, I can assure you it is. [Because it has to do with dating, and she gets horribly nervous over admitting stuff like that.]

But either way, have you already decided?

[shadowsher]

My wish? [ He nods. ] I wished for Satou to stay happy and safe.

[papillonmagique]

That's very sweet of you. Satou must mean a lot to you.

[shadowsher]

Of course she does. I'm in love with her. [ No hesitation! Gotta learn to be embarrassed about these things. ]

[papillonmagique]

[She raises her eyebrows in surprise, and then she giggles quietly.] Aha, I see! Huh, I am rather jealous that you have someone like that.