015 | Sky Full Of Stars

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Tanabata Festival
When: All day July 5
Where: The Near Shore
Summary: The Heavens are throwing a party and you're invited!

Edit: OVERFLOW is here!



With Tanabata drawing close, the Heavens have decided that there is nothing wrong with a little celebration for the annual occasion. So they have invited everyone on the Far Shore as well as a large number of people from the Near Shore to attend a festival for Tanabata. Tanabata festivals are not uncommon in this area, so the Near Shore residents are none the wiser, though some of them are a little uncertain about where this street they've never heard of popped up from...

Tanabata is a festival held to celebrate the one time a year that the lovers Orihime and Hikoboshi can meet across the vast expanse of the Milky Way. Many birds have been working their tail feathers off to create a bridge for the two lovebirds and that bridge - perhaps unsurprisingly - touches down on this street, in the middle of the festival.

The Heavens have prepared entertainment, food stalls, and as many tanzaku as might be needed for everyone to write down wishes, along with plenty of bamboo stalks to hang the wishes from.

New arrivals will find themselves ushered to the festival and offered traditional clothing after their normal briefing at the Meeting Hall.



Stalls

There are festival stalls of every kind present, all run by shinki dressed in white robes and bearing the golden chrysanthemum of Amaterasu. Many of them seem a little bruised still, but they are happy to smile for anyone who comes to the stall they are running. There is food, games, and drinks available of all kinds, so feel free to roam around to your heart's content sampling everything that you can.

Performance

A large stage has been erected at one end of the festival street. The Heavens know that there are many talented gods and shinki present, so they are more than willing to clear spots in the scheduling for those people to perform. Anytime a Far Shore resident isn't on stage, there are plenty of Near Shore acts to go on, ranging the gambit from traditional music and instruments all the way to a rock band that has somehow found themselves here for the celebration.

Wishes

Pieces of paper called tanzaku have been strewn about a number of bamboo shoots all over the festival. There are brightly colored decorations on the bamboo and the papers themselves exist in every color of the rainbow as well. Attendees are encouraged to write down any wishes they may have and hang them from the bamboo, a normal Tanabata tradition. Wishes can range from 'I want a soda' to 'World peace' and anything in between. Obviously, some of these wishes may not be able to be granted during the time of the festival, but gods and shinki alike are encouraged to answer any wishes they can as well.

NOTE: Please report any wishes your characters answers to the first comment on this post along with a link to where the wish is answered. There will be small bonuses awarded for answered wishes.

The Bridge

As stated previously, the bridge that will allow Orihime to meet her lover touches down in the very center of the festival's street. It may be made of tiny pieces, but the bridge itself is sturdy. While it may not be able to take just anyone who sets foot on it across the Milky Way, you are allowed to walk along the bridge yourself, though you will always find yourself turned around after a short time and heading back towards where you stepped on. Lovers in particular are encouraged to walk the bridge together to deepen their bonds, but be cautioned! If you walk onto the bridge with someone, you might start feeling affectionately towards them even if they are your sworn enemy! Such is the power of love on this day.

In Summary:

• Enjoy the festival
• Watch some quality entertainment
• Make and/or answer wishes
• Meet Orihime
• Traverse the bridge
• Have fun~

Comments

[timeshields]

[She's at a stall with different hair clips and hair decorations. It's the pink ones that really stand out to her.

There's a little nod as she continues looking over them.]

For my god's little sister.

[fortune_detective]

[Naoto turns her attention back towards the table of hair clips and decorations. Noting the pink one that the raven-haired girl was currently inspecting.]

She likes the color pink I take it?

[timeshields]

[Homura nods.]

She wears it a lot. I think it's her favorite color.

[fortune_detective]

Hmmmm...

[Naoto considers the selection before them.]

Do you happen to know if she's partial to bows? Or does she prefer clips?

[A few headbands catch Naoto's eyes. They have various designs, one more ornamented with flowers while another stars. She picks up a pink-colored one decorated with white feathers in a kind of angelic motif. Naoto offers it to the girl.]

Or perhaps something like this?

[timeshields]

[The feathers. It's the feathers that look right, considering what Nanako's power seems to be.]

That seems... properly fitting.

... What about you? What do you like?

[fortune_detective]

[Naoto smiles, happy she was able to help. She then blinks at the follow-up question. It somehow caught her a little off guard, and there's a faint shade of pink that paints itself on her cheeks as she imagines sporting some of these accessories in her own hair.]

Um, I- I am not sure. I... I don't think my hair is long enough for anything so fancy.

[She nervously reaches up with one hand and lightly tugs on some strands of hair that frame her face.]

[timeshields]

[Homura looks at Naoto for a moment and the array of hair accessories in front of them.]

You could wear a hair clip without much trouble.

[fortune_detective]

You... think so?

[Naoto studies the table again, this time looking over the hair clips on display. Suddenly, picking something out seemed a lot harder... She kind of stalls there for a moment, her arm reaches out as if to take one, but then stops partway there and kind of hovers as she tries to determine which one she actually wants to inspect more closely. Finally, she decides on a fairly ordinary white one with a light blue flower design at one end.]

Um, maybe something like this?

[timeshields]

[Homura's gaze is settled on the rows and rows of accessories. She studies the one Naoto picks up, it's a simple design, but that also means it's not obnoxious. Something small, but elegant in it's own kind of way.]

... It would look good on you.

[fortune_detective]

[Naoto's cheeks flare a shade of pink again.]

Thank you.

[She then realizes she's not exactly sure how she's supposed to purchase the clip. Did the heavens have their own form of currency? Yet another detail that had not been explained to her on arrival.]

Ah, I'm afraid I don't have any way to pay for it though.

[timeshields]

[Homura notes the pink on Naoto's cheeks, but won't comment on it. At least for now.]

I believe everything is being provided by the Heavens today. As thanks for our hard work.

[fortune_detective]

Oh?

[This would be the first Naoto's heard of it.]

Is it still all right if I've only just arrived? I haven't exactly done any hard work yet.

[timeshields]

You will.

[How would Souji go about this...]

Should I get it for you?

[fortune_detective]

[Naoto appears to still be unsure. That is, until Homura offers to procure it for her. She smiles, grateful but a bit embarrassed by the offer.]

That is very kind of you, but I would not want to impose.

[Especially if all she has to do is ask the white-robbed shinki running the stall if it's all right for her take the clip. Mustering back her confidence and composure, Naoto engages the stall operator, and does receive permission to take the clip. She bows to the stall's shinki in thanks. She then holds the clip in her open hand momentarily, seemingly deciding if she'll wear it now. But she instead pockets it for the time being. She turns back to Homura.]

Thank you for the recommendation.

[timeshields]

[There's a tiny little bow of Homura's head in acknowledgment.]

It suits you.

[She pauses for a moment. They're not close but Naoto did help her find an accessory for Nanako...]

Thank you for yours. I think she'd like this.

[fortune_detective]

I'm happy I could help. In fact, I'd say we made an even trade.

[She pats the pocket she'd just deposited the hair clip in. She then mirrors back Homura's bow of the head.]

My name is Naoto Shirogane by the way. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[timeshields]

Yes, a good way to put it.

I am Homura Akemi.

[fortune_detective]

Thank you again, Homura.

[Naoto waves a goodbye, as she turns to wander back among the crowded stalls.]

I hope we run into each other again sometime soon. I would be interested to hear what your friend thinks of her gift.