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]

( She's quiet for a moment, not responding right away. A part of her believes that she can't really have fun right now-- she's in a strange place surrounded by people she doesn't iknow and who knows where her friends and family are! But in the meeting hall, she'd been told she might find people from home here... it's why she'd thrown herself into the crowds because she had no idea what else to do.

But it doesn't do any good to be alone and helplessly miserable. So she smiles nervously and nods. Yes, they can have fun here. She would try her best. )

... The food. ( She doesn't even have to think. ) I-I would always get food with my friends and family and... and we would share.

[rememberher]

[ It's presumptuous to offer, but at the same time, seeing the way she smiles, and hearing her talk about the people she missed–people who were so far away, no doubt, Lux couldn't not act. To put on a radiant smile, her head canted to one side as she puts her hands behind her back cheerfully. ]

Well, it just so happens that I was thinking about getting food myself. Would you like to come with me?

[ As a shinki, she doesn't have those memories of people she's left behind; even the memories her partner, who she knew a lifetime ago, eluded her. She can't understand how lonely that must feel, but that doesn't mean she won't try to step in to help. To try to comfort. ]

My name is Lux. And yours is..?

[festal]

( The offer catches her off guard and she looks up, eyes wide with surprise and stammers, )

O-oh, no...! I couldn't possibly i-impose...! ( But was it really imposing if she invited her first? Isn't it a little selfish to refuse an invitation from someone just trying to help? Her mouth hangs open for a moment, trying to find the right words-- the right response. ) But... I-if it's really okay with you...

( And she bows just once more as she introduces herself, )

I'm Sakura. It's nice to meet you.

[rememberher]

[ Lux waves a hand delicately through the air, looking so genuinely cheered in that moment. Because something like this, a person who is worried and perhaps scared, who may want to reach out but was too hesitant to do so at times... ]

It's no imposition at all! I was the one who invited you!

[ ...It reminds her of herself, when she first arrived. And while she might otherwise keep her space, the likewise small blond tentatively hooks her arm with Sakura's in a reassuring gesture of friendship. Come on! ]

You'll have to show me how festivals work, I'm afraid. I've never been to one myself.

[festal]

( She lets out a small gasp when she's grabbed but she doesn't resist. After all, Lux has proven herself to be a kind person she's willing to put her trust in. So while she can't help herself from shrinking ever so slightly, she nods, )

Some things m-may be different but I'll do my best. ( Looking up at the sky, she fans herself a bit with her free hand as she thinks, ) I wonder if there's any shaved ice... L-let's look?

[rememberher]

Shaved ice?

[ That gets the shinki to blink a few times, looking just a bit confused. Was something like that really so appealing? Well, if the other girl likes it... ]

I'm not sure, but we can certainly look.

[ Thankfully, the food stands don't appear to be nearly as crowded, and it's easier to maneuver without being swept up in a sea of people. Unhooking the other girl's arm, she still leads her along, taking everything in. ]

I had no idea that festivals like this were so lively. I've read about them, but seeing one in person is much different.

[festal]

Yes.

( Shaved ice. Perhaps one with cherry flavor, she thinks. It's a dessert so natural to her, she doesn't even think it might sound strange. )

O-oh... they're always like this! ( And for all of her anxiety with crowds, she lights up just thinking about it, ) At least b-back home. People will come from all over to see so i-it's normally more crowded than usual.

[rememberher]

Continued here