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

[capitalbackup]

I'm going to try the blue ones first.

[Which is always a decent colour.]

[eyewillprotect]

So, blueberry then? They're very sweet!

[As for Aoi... she'll just pop a pink one into her mouth for now.]

[capitalbackup]

[Blueberry. Not surprising, since it's the most common "blue" flavour. And yes, Miyako even knows that much.

Popping one piece into her mouth, Miyako blinks but she doesn't seem to dislike it.]

[eyewillprotect]

So? How is it?

[capitalbackup]

[A rare, small smile. It's not her usual, detached amused one, either.]

I like it and it's not overbearing.

[eyewillprotect]

[Aoi is quite pleased to see that.]

They're a great treat during festivals like this. I usually have a little extra to bring home with me afterwards, too.

[capitalbackup]

I can save some of them to bring back. I don't want to fill up my appetite too soon.

[Because there are other food here. Yakiniku??]

[eyewillprotect]

[Aoi nods understandingly.]

There's lots of other foods to try, too!

[capitalbackup]

What do you recommend?

[eyewillprotect]

Well... I suppose it depends a little on what you like. There are sweets like bananas dipped in chocolate or crepes, but there are a lot of fried foods too - okonomiyaki, takoyaki, yakisoba, things like that.

[capitalbackup]

I tried takoyaki before. [You can thank her brother for it.] Okonomiyaki?

[Yakisoba are noodles, based on its name. So okonomiyaki are...?]

[eyewillprotect]

Hmm... I suppose you could describe it as similar to a pancake? But they put all kinds of things on it. Vegetables, meat, seafood...

[capitalbackup]

Judging from the ingredients, I assume it's savoury?

[eyewillprotect]

Yes, that's right. Would you like to give it a try?

[capitalbackup]

I wouldn't mind. Where is their stand?

[eyewillprotect]

It's over this way!

[Leading the way~]

[capitalbackup]

[She's following right behind Aoi, easily keeping up with her in the crowd.]

[eyewillprotect]

[Aaaaand arrival! Looks pretty busy. Then again, that's the case for pretty much any booth around here.]

Ah... this might take a while.

[capitalbackup]

I don't mind waiting.

[As long they don't run out of food by the time it's their turn.]

[eyewillprotect]

Festivals like this are always so busy… It’s the same in Tokyo, too.

[capitalbackup]

I can only assume so.

[With a reasonably bigger population, but without the demons. Miyako's never allowed to mingle with the common mass, but she never have a reason to before this.]

[eyewillprotect]

Whenever we went, it was difficult to even move...

But it was still fun! I hope that someday, you can see it for yourself.

[capitalbackup]

It's doubtful, unless it's in this world.

[If Miyako ever returns home, she don't know what to do with her life. Return to her duty of protecting what's left of Japan?]

[eyewillprotect]

Ah... really? You would never attend it yourself there?

[capitalbackup]

There was no reason for me to attend. [It wasn't necessary.]