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

[festal]

( He wouldn't be wrong. As the youngest princess in a relatively prosperous kingdom, she's always been cared for-- by her family, retainers, and even her people. Even back in Hoshido, her shyness was known enough that even the people were careful to not overwhelm her too much. She's improved some thanks to being in the army and traveling the continent with everyone but... old habits die hard. )

Mm, and I'm a-afraid I only just arrived so everything is so overwhelming. ( But she doesn't want to sound like she's complaining too much and she tries to turn the subject to Lavi, ) You seem comfortable here... are you from here, Lavi?

[lostinshadows]

[...That's definitely something. Lavi only hopes he can help her slowly break out of her shell, though.]

Ah, so you're new then. [That. definitely explains a a lot, actually.

He smiles slightly.]

Not here, but I have been in this place for a while now. Besides, I'm used to crowds in general.

[festal]

( Show her a person in need and she'll run into a crowded battlefield to save them! But right now, she hasn't found her strength in this place. )

That's right. ( She's very much new and when Lavi mentions being used to crowds, she can't help but admire him a little bit more. A kind person willing to help others and unafraid of being around so many people? It reminds her of important people. )

I-If it isn't too much trouble... ! ( She begins, taking one step forward. It's a little bold and her voice sounds stronger even if it wavers some, ) Please tell me more about this place. It's... important to learn about where you're going... o-or where you are, rather.

I was told I was a g... ( She whispers, ) goddess...!

[lostinshadows]

[Sakura, how are you a warrior yet you're still so shy?

Lavi is usually helpful towards others, girls in particular, but otherwise, he can be a bit of a jerk.

He tilts his head when she takes a step forward. Upon hearing what she is, there is some understanding in his eye.]

No one's told you anything?

[festal]

( Unfortunate traumatic rumors that making her feel like she's responsible for breaking her family apart...
That's how. )

Only a little... I-I'm to be Konohanasakuya-hime. ( For such a long name, she says it naturally enough, ) If I came here I would find s-someone called a shinki and m-maybe someone from home. But if they were a shinki... they wouldn't remember me! ( She sounds stressed and to be fair, it's a lot to take in, anxiety aside. ) But I-I don't understand how I can be a g-goddess... ( An ordinary person. A weak princess. ) Or who I'm supposed to find...!

[lostinshadows]

Japanese goddess of life. [He recognizes the name easily enough.

Lavi hums softly.]

That someone is otherwise your 'partner' in other words. But it would be a bad idea to get too close to a shinki if they're from your home.

[He's realizing he's not making things better, so he rubs the back of his neck.] Goddesses and gods are...chosen for specific reasons, I guess. But let's find your shinki first or maybe even someone you know. The chances that someone from your world is a god or a shinki is 50/50.

[festal]

( Nodding. Goddess of life... symbolic of the fleeting nature of life, the way cherry blossoms scatter in an beautiful instant.

She listens carefully, holding onto every word and nodding along. She was thinking the same... if any of her siblings or retainers were shinki, how could she compose herself without staying away? The idea hurt her just thinking about it but distance and pain on her part is a small price to pay to keep a loved one safe. )

You have my gratitude. ( She's going to have to find a way to thank him for his help later. M-maybe... ) There's... one more thing... i-if I may ask...

[lostinshadows]

[Lavi raises an eyebrow.]

Sure, go right ahead.

[festal]

I... I would like to enjoy this festival too.

There are things that remind me very much of home even if I'm certain this isn't my realm. ( The yukata, the food, the music, even the custom of tying wishes to branches of bamboo. ) I-I couldn't enjoy it by myself but perhaps while we're searching together... If only for a little while...

( There's so much to take in and it's honestly overwhelming but there's some comfort in the familiar. )

[lostinshadows]

[Lavi stares at her in surprise for a moment before he smiles.

So, that's what she wanted to ask?]

I'll be happy to enjoy the festival with you while we go searching together.

[He doesn't mind at all.]

[festal]

( Shyly, )

Thank you.

( She's still as timid as ever but she seems a little more relaxed right now. It's amazing what not being alone can do to a person. )

If you don't mind me asking... a-are you... a god too?

[lostinshadows]

You're welcome.

[Lavi gives her a smile.]

Afraid not. I'm a shinki to the goddess Hel.

[festal]

( One of them... the ones who don't remember. She's quiet as she takes a moment to reflect on this. Now is her chance to speak to someone before she meets her own shinki and she could learn something, maybe? )

What... what kind of person is she?

[lostinshadows]

[Lavi proceeds to lead her to a less crowded area of the festival. Might as well walk and talk, right?]

She's a kind person. Like you, she isn't a big fan of crowds.

[festal]

R-really?

( She sounds surprised and there's a rising lilt in her voice.

Thinking about gods, she tends to think of divine and perfect beings or great and destructive monsters. She certainly wasn't the latter but she was far from the former as well. To be such a mediocre person and be told they would have to be a god... she didn't feel worthy. But hearing that there's someone else out there that is alike in her some way makes her feel a little better. )

And.... d-do you like her?

[lostinshadows]

[He nods.]

I do. Although, some people might not.

[And that's fine. Not everyone can like each other, after all.]

[festal]

( It's impossible to please everyone and she understands this but it doesn't stop her from feeling anxious still. )

If I may ask... w-why do you like her? ( she's taking notes right now! ) I want... to be good when I meet m-my shinki...

[lostinshadows]

[That's a loaded question, Sakura.

Lavi pauses, tilting his head to the side.]

Mm, she's kind. She makes me want to protect her. [There's more but:] I'm sure you and your shinki will get along fine, though.

[festal]

( She knows it's a personal question for sure and she's quiet as she listens. If she's going to ask something so personal then she should pay close attention. It isn't much and she isn't going to press it but... the relationship between a god and shinki seems similar to that of a lord and their retainer... at least, the desire to protect seems the same. )

I see. ( She sounds thoughtful, mulling over what this means for now. ) If... if it's the same as what I'm thinking then... I believe things will be fine as well.

( A moment of silence and she explains, )

Where I'm from... I have two very dear friends who protect me. I'd known them both since I was very young so i-it was easy to choose them but here... ( Her voice trails off, quietly, ) I only hope the one I meet will be my friend too.

[lostinshadows]

[Kind girl, who may be more than she appears.

It makes Lavi smile.]

All you have to do is keep on walking and hope things will go fine.

[He tilts his head to the side, contemplative.]

Do you think your friends could be here?

[festal]

. . .

( She doesn't answer right away. Hana and Subaki have always been close behind her. Even after she left he court to follow Corrin, they'd found and followed her. )

I hope so...

(
... But here, there was a chance they could come and not remember her.. )

But if they don't remember me then...

[lostinshadows]

[Ah...

Lavi gives her an encouraging smile.]

Then you can make new memories together.

[festal]

( A selfish part of her wants to say, but they won't be the same memories but she keeps it to herself because she knows exactly how childish that would sound, especially when he has a point.

But would they even care for her if they didn't know who she was? They'd both come from families that had always served the royal family. It's why they trained their entire lives to be chosen as royal retainers. They'd certainly become friends over time but would they become friends again without that connection? Well, it would only mean it was her turn to work for their friendship instead of the other way around, right? )

You're right. ( Because regardless of her concerns, he is right. ) ... You're very kind. W-we've only just met and you've helped me so much already, Lavi. I t-truly can't thank you enough.

[lostinshadows]

[So many burdens a god has to bear.

He doesn't feel envious of them at all. But he does give her another encouraging smile.]

No need to thank me. After all, I just can't leave you alone without answers since you're new here.

[festal]

B-but I feel like I can't thank you enough. ( She's always going to be in Lavi's debt and she'll find a way to repay it. ) If there's anything I-I can to do in return, please... let me know?