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]

Why not? I think having someone that you care about that deeply sounds... I am not sure how to describe it, but it is something I think would be nice to have.

[shadowsher]

Do you not have someone like that, Zoe?

[papillonmagique]

[She glances away and shakes her head, fidgeting with the sleeve of her yukata.] ... No, I do not, at least not in that way. But I think I would like to.

[shadowsher]

I'm sure you'll find someone. It's not really something you look for. Sorta just finds you.

[papillonmagique]

Hmm, that would make sense... I have heard that it is one of those things that just suddenly happen before you know it.

[shadowsher]

Mm! I'm sure it'll happen to you soon, Zoe!

[papillonmagique]

... Thank you, Mikale. I hope so. [Then she grins playfully.]

Hehe, if you are too nice to me, it might be you I fall for~. [Don't worry, she's kidding and it's obvious.]

[shadowsher]

Wh, what? No, that would be really complicated!

[papillonmagique]

[Zoe bursts into laughter and waves a hand casually.] Hehe, do not worry, I am just joking around. I do like you, but certainly not that much.

[shadowsher]

Huh..? [ Oh.

OH.

This just got more awkward. ]

I didn't mean... that, I mean... More like... "Too nice", uck.

[ This boy has already come to terms with the fact he's going to be single for life. ]

[papillonmagique]

Ooh? So does that mean you would not mind if I did fall for you one day? [Zoe is just going to keep teasing.]

[shadowsher]

Th, that... Definitely wouldn't happen.

[papillonmagique]

And what makes you so certain of that? [She tilts her head slightly.]

[shadowsher]

I'm not the type that sort of thing happens to.

[papillonmagique]

[And Zoe actually snorts.] Neither am I. But I think it may happen to you, since I find it hard imagining it not ever happening to you.

[shadowsher]

Even if it did, it wouldn't be with Kitten. So why would it matter? [ Some imaginary girl's heart just broke. ]

[papillonmagique]

[Zoe's eyebrows raise, and she tilts her head in thought.] Why wouldn't it matter? I never said it had to be returned, after all.

And feelings like that are not finite. Even if it's not the same as what you feel for Kitten, you may come to care for someone else just as much.

[shadowsher]

[ He knows that. This isn't his first time thinking he's in love. ]

I have to be loyal to her.

[papillonmagique]

Oh? Why is that? [She is genuinely curious now.]

[shadowsher]

She gets really worked up about being replaced and forgotten, that's all...

[papillonmagique]

But it would not be replacing or forgetting about her, since you would still care for her, yes? [Zoe furrows her eyebrows in thought, before shaking her head.]

Though, I do not know much about this kind of thing, so I should not try to think so much over it.

[shadowsher]

I... Yeah, I guess it's the same for me. I don't know too much.

A-anyway!!! Why are we talking about this?

[papillonmagique]

[Opens mouth. Closes it. Then she shrugs.] I am not exactly sure. So, either way, what do you plan to do next at the festival?

[shadowsher]

Um... I wanted to try some of the foods and check out the games. You?

[papillonmagique]

Oh, I was planning to do similar. I spotted the game where it is possible to win a turtle and I simply have to try to win!